Between 2007 and 2014, Kevin Nicholson made 312 appearances for Torquay United as a left-back - but on Saturday, against Aldershot Town, he takes charge of the Gulls for the first time as manager.
Nicholson, 34, will be United's first player-manager since Don O'Riordan, who was in charge at Plainmoor between 1993 and 1995, and their fifth post-war manager who has combined playing with managing the team.
He takes charge of a side that has lost its previous three league encounters, which included a 7-3 reverse against Bromley - United's biggest defeat in the last 20 years, and haven't kept a clean sheet since the opening day of the season against Macclesfield Town.
The situation facing the former Sheffield Wednesday starlet is similar to the challenge that faced Carl Fletcher in the 2011-12 season when he was placed in charge of Plymouth Argyle.
Like Nicholson, Fletcher didn't have any previous managerial experience but on taking charge of a side that had only picked up one from their opening 11 league fixtures, marooned at the bottom of the table and were in Administration.
However, Fletcher, to his credit, guided the Pilgrims to a 2-0 victory against Macclesfield and eventually guided Argyle to safety, which was secured with a 1-1 draw in their penultimate home game of the campaign against Oxford United.
If Nicholson is able to emulate what Fletcher achieved in his first game in charge then the United board's decision to hand him his managerial bow would be seen as a positive one.
As a player, Nicholson always made the most of his available talents and his ability from set pieces provided many assists during his seven years as a Gulls' stalwart.
He also took his coaching and is currently towards completing his UEFA A licence, and a number of his former team-mates identified him as a future manager, whilst playing alongside him.
Having played under a range of different managers during his career, including Paul Buckle, Martin Ling, Alan Knill and Chris Hargreaves during his time at Plainmoor - as well as Jim Harvey during his time at Forest Green Rovers, he will no doubt be looking to take different ideas from each and every manager that he has served under.
On his arrival, Nicholson has already made his mark by appointing Angus MacDonald as captain, but he is still yet to announce the appointment of a new assistant manager.
Several names have been mentioned as possibilities, including former Gulls' assistant manager Shaun North, and an experienced assistant could be a real asset to Nicholson.
In an interview with the media, when asked what he was looking for in a number he replied: "I want them to be honest, I want them to have their opinion and I want someone
who's going to stand up to me if he thinks that I'm wrong,"
If Nicholson is able to bring in a person who fits that criteria, it will be to the Gulls' benefit and - ultimately - their experience, if he goes down the road of appointing an older, wiser head, could also help to improve the knowledge that he has already acquired to date.
