This time last week, Tom Cruise featured for Torquay United in their St Lukes Devon Bowl victory over Liverton United.
Four years earlier, Cruise had been appearing for Arsenal in the UEFA Champions League against Olympiakos, a tie that incidentally took place again on the same night as the Gulls' Devon Bowl encounter at Coach Road.
Cruise scored Torquay's equaliser on the night against their South West Peninsular League opponents, which levelled the score at 2-2 and sent the tie to penalties.
His performance earned him praise from manager Martin Ling who described his attitude as being 'spot on' in a match that was being played on a difficult surface.
During his time at the Emirates Stadium, he had served as understudy to Gael Clichy and Kieran Gibbs, whilst currently at Plainmoor, he is serving as the second choice left back behind Kevin Nicholson who, of course, was named in the PFA League Two Team of the Season for the 2011-12 campaign.
So far this season, Cruise has made several cameo appearances for the Gulls and the signs are that he could yet prove to be the long term successor to Nicholson in the left back role.
Over the last 20 years, Torquay United have had a number of fine left-backs, including John Uzzell, Tom Kelly, Paul Gibbs, Robbie Herrera, Brian McGlinchey and, in recent years, Nicholson.
It is also no coincidence that they have all played in some of the Gulls' most successful teams over the years and if the future proves to be bright for Tom Cruise, it could also prove to be bright for Torquay United as well.
