Jamie Ward maintained his record of appearing in all four of Northern Ireland's Euro 2016 encounters, as they bowed out of the competition to Wales at the Last 16 stage.
Former Torquay United starlet Ward, who currently plays for Nottingham Forest in the Championship, tested Wales keeper Wayne Hennessey, a former Yeovil Town loanee, in the 22nd minute before he was substituted in the 69th minute in a match that was decided by an own goal from Northern Ireland's Gareth McAuley on 76 minutes.
It was the first time that Northern Ireland had progressed beyond the opening stage of a tournament finals since the 1982 World Cup in Spain, and there will be high hopes that they could qualify for the 2018 World Cup in Russia in two years time - a tournament that Ward, who will be 32 by then, could also feature in.
Sunday 26 June 2016
SUMMER TRANSFER ROUND-UP # 2
Plymouth Argyle manager Derek Adams has added another three new faces to his Plymouth Argyle squad, but has also seen another of his key performers from the 2015-16 campaign depart Home Park.
Right back Gary Miller has signed from Scottish side Partick Thistle, centre back Karleigh Osborne has joined from Bristol City - having spent much of last season on loan at AFC Wimbledon - and striker Jordan Slew arrives from Chesterfield.
Both Miller and Slew both played under Adams at Ross County and join Graham Carey and Yves Songo'o as part of Argyle's ex-Staggies contingent.
Meanwhile, winger Gregg Wylde will be leaving the Pilgrims after agreeing a deal with League One side Millwall.
In the National League, Lathaniel Rowe-Turner has returned to Torquay United as a replacement for the recently departed Dan Butler, who turned down a new deal to stay with the Gulls. Rowe-Turner originally played for Torquay between 2010 and 2012, when he joined from Leicester City, when he was the understudy to Gulls' manager Kevin Nicholson, but now he has the opportunity to make the left-back spot his own.
Right back Gary Miller has signed from Scottish side Partick Thistle, centre back Karleigh Osborne has joined from Bristol City - having spent much of last season on loan at AFC Wimbledon - and striker Jordan Slew arrives from Chesterfield.
Both Miller and Slew both played under Adams at Ross County and join Graham Carey and Yves Songo'o as part of Argyle's ex-Staggies contingent.
Meanwhile, winger Gregg Wylde will be leaving the Pilgrims after agreeing a deal with League One side Millwall.
In the National League, Lathaniel Rowe-Turner has returned to Torquay United as a replacement for the recently departed Dan Butler, who turned down a new deal to stay with the Gulls. Rowe-Turner originally played for Torquay between 2010 and 2012, when he joined from Leicester City, when he was the understudy to Gulls' manager Kevin Nicholson, but now he has the opportunity to make the left-back spot his own.
Tuesday 21 June 2016
WARD WAITING ON NORTHERN IRELAND'S EURO OUTCOME
Former Torquay United striker Jamie Ward will be waiting to see whether Northern Ireland have done enough to book a place in the last 16 of Euro 2016 as one of the tournament's best third placed sides.
Ward, 30, who currently plays in the Championship for Nottingham Forest, has appeared for Michael O'Neill's side in all three of their group games in the competition. He came on as a substitute in their opening Group C encounter with Poland and started their next two matches against Ukraine and Germany.
He is the first former Gulls player to appear at the major tournament since Paul Hall appeared for Jamaica in the 1998 World Cup and the first to feature in a European Championship since Keith Curle featured in England's opening match of Euro 92 in Sweden.
Northern Ireland could be set to face Group B winners Wales in the last 16 if they emerge as the best performing third placed team from Groups A, C and D, which will be decided after tonight's final Group D fixtures that see Spain face Croatia and Czech Republic take on Turkey.
At the time of writing, the Irish have the same number of points as Albania (three) who finished third in Group A, but they possess a superior goal difference of zero to the Albanian's minus two. ,
Therefore the Czechs would need to beat Turkey to claim their place in the last 16 at the expense of Northern Ireland, as a win will see them finish the group stage with four points.
Ward, 30, who currently plays in the Championship for Nottingham Forest, has appeared for Michael O'Neill's side in all three of their group games in the competition. He came on as a substitute in their opening Group C encounter with Poland and started their next two matches against Ukraine and Germany.
He is the first former Gulls player to appear at the major tournament since Paul Hall appeared for Jamaica in the 1998 World Cup and the first to feature in a European Championship since Keith Curle featured in England's opening match of Euro 92 in Sweden.
Northern Ireland could be set to face Group B winners Wales in the last 16 if they emerge as the best performing third placed team from Groups A, C and D, which will be decided after tonight's final Group D fixtures that see Spain face Croatia and Czech Republic take on Turkey.
At the time of writing, the Irish have the same number of points as Albania (three) who finished third in Group A, but they possess a superior goal difference of zero to the Albanian's minus two. ,
Therefore the Czechs would need to beat Turkey to claim their place in the last 16 at the expense of Northern Ireland, as a win will see them finish the group stage with four points.
EAMONN DOLAN 1967-2016
Former Exeter City player and manager Eamonn Dolan has died, following a battle with cancer.
Born in Galway, but raised in London, Dolan, 48, who was working as academy manager at Championship side Reading, first joined the Grecians as a player in 1991 from Birmingham City - a move that would mark the beginning of a 13-year association with the Grecians.
However, his playing career at St James Park would unfortunately be limited to only 26 league appearances, during which time he scored four goals, as a cancer diagnosis in 1993 forced him into retiring from the game prematurely.
Nevertheless, far from being the end of his involvement with the game his involvement with Exeter continued as he served the club in a variety of different roles.
He worked as the club's community manager, youth coach, caretaker manager before eventually becoming manager in 2003.
At this point the Grecians had been just been relegated from the Football League, and as well as struggling on the pitch Exeter were also finding life difficult off it too.
The disastrous ownership of John Russell and Mike Lewis - illusionist Uri Geller also served as a director during this period - had left the club on the brink of financial ruin as the club's Supporter's Trust stepped into takeover the day-to-day running of the Grecians.
Dolan steered the club through what was very choppy waters, as they finished in a respectable 6th position in their first season in the Conference.
He also gave first team opportunities to a number of young players, including Dean Moxey, which played a part in helping to lay the foundations of the success enjoyed by future Grecians' managers such as Alex Inglethorpe and Paul Tisdale.
In September 2004, Dolan brought the curtain down on his 13-year connection with Exeter as he joined Reading as their academy manager, a role that he held until his recent untimely death.
He made a brief return to management in 2013, as he became caretaker manager of the Royals between the managerial reigns of Brian McDermott and Nigel Adkins.
Sadly his second battle with cancer would claim his life, and it was a life which had seen him work tirelessly for both clubs he served as a coach with such great distinction.
Born in Galway, but raised in London, Dolan, 48, who was working as academy manager at Championship side Reading, first joined the Grecians as a player in 1991 from Birmingham City - a move that would mark the beginning of a 13-year association with the Grecians.
However, his playing career at St James Park would unfortunately be limited to only 26 league appearances, during which time he scored four goals, as a cancer diagnosis in 1993 forced him into retiring from the game prematurely.
Nevertheless, far from being the end of his involvement with the game his involvement with Exeter continued as he served the club in a variety of different roles.
He worked as the club's community manager, youth coach, caretaker manager before eventually becoming manager in 2003.
At this point the Grecians had been just been relegated from the Football League, and as well as struggling on the pitch Exeter were also finding life difficult off it too.
The disastrous ownership of John Russell and Mike Lewis - illusionist Uri Geller also served as a director during this period - had left the club on the brink of financial ruin as the club's Supporter's Trust stepped into takeover the day-to-day running of the Grecians.
Dolan steered the club through what was very choppy waters, as they finished in a respectable 6th position in their first season in the Conference.
He also gave first team opportunities to a number of young players, including Dean Moxey, which played a part in helping to lay the foundations of the success enjoyed by future Grecians' managers such as Alex Inglethorpe and Paul Tisdale.
In September 2004, Dolan brought the curtain down on his 13-year connection with Exeter as he joined Reading as their academy manager, a role that he held until his recent untimely death.
He made a brief return to management in 2013, as he became caretaker manager of the Royals between the managerial reigns of Brian McDermott and Nigel Adkins.
Sadly his second battle with cancer would claim his life, and it was a life which had seen him work tirelessly for both clubs he served as a coach with such great distinction.
THREE IN, ONE OUT FOR ARGYLE
Despite the disappointment of losing influential centre back Peter Hartley to Bristol Rovers, Pilgrims manager Derek Adams has boosted his squad with three new arrivals.
Midfielder Ryan Donaldson became Adams' first summer signing when he joined Argyle after rejecting an offer of a new contract with Cambridge United. Donaldson played a key role in helping the U's win promotion back into the Football League by scoring in their 2014 Conference Play-off final victory over Gateshead.
The Pilgrims' next new face was someone well known to Adams from his time as manager of Ross County in Scotland in the form of ex-Cameroon Under-20 defender Yann Songo'o, following his release by Blackburn Rovers.
Songo'o, who made 17 appearances under Adams during the 2013-14 season - where he was team-mate of Argyle midfielder Graham Carey, comes from a family which have a fine footballing pedigree. His brother, Franck, had a spell with Portsmouth, whilst his father, Jacques, represented Cameroon at the 1998 World Cup and also played with Deportivo La Coruna in Spain.
They were recently joined by Connor Smith, a player who is familiar to Adams - but for very different reasons to Songo'o. Smith, a former Republic of Ireland Under-21 international, was part of the AFC Wimbledon that defeated the Pilgrims in last season's League Two Play-off final.
Smith joins Argyle after rejecting a new deal with the Dons and will be hoping to secure a second successive promotion at Home Park.
Midfielder Ryan Donaldson became Adams' first summer signing when he joined Argyle after rejecting an offer of a new contract with Cambridge United. Donaldson played a key role in helping the U's win promotion back into the Football League by scoring in their 2014 Conference Play-off final victory over Gateshead.
The Pilgrims' next new face was someone well known to Adams from his time as manager of Ross County in Scotland in the form of ex-Cameroon Under-20 defender Yann Songo'o, following his release by Blackburn Rovers.
Songo'o, who made 17 appearances under Adams during the 2013-14 season - where he was team-mate of Argyle midfielder Graham Carey, comes from a family which have a fine footballing pedigree. His brother, Franck, had a spell with Portsmouth, whilst his father, Jacques, represented Cameroon at the 1998 World Cup and also played with Deportivo La Coruna in Spain.
They were recently joined by Connor Smith, a player who is familiar to Adams - but for very different reasons to Songo'o. Smith, a former Republic of Ireland Under-21 international, was part of the AFC Wimbledon that defeated the Pilgrims in last season's League Two Play-off final.
Smith joins Argyle after rejecting a new deal with the Dons and will be hoping to secure a second successive promotion at Home Park.
Wednesday 15 June 2016
GULLS BOSS MEETS UNIVERSE BOSS
Torquay United manager Kevin Nicholson took some time out recently from planning the Gulls' 2016-17 National League to appear in a charity cricket match with West Indian batsman Chris Gayle.
Nicholson enjoyed a partnership at the crease with the big-hitting Jamaican at South Devon Cricket Club, Newton Abbot for a Celebrity XI, which also included former England and Somerset fast bowler Andy Caddick, against a former Jockey's XI to raise funds for a number of good causes, including the Tom Maynard Trust and the Injured Jockey's Fund.
For Nicholson it was something of a well-earned respite, after devising pre-season fitness schedules for a number of his squad and adding two more new signings - all of whom are familiar to the Plainmoor faithful in their own respective ways.
American goalkeeper Brendan Moore who proved to be a big hit with the Gulls after signing on loan from Fleetwood Town joins United permanently, following his release by the Cod Army.
To fill the void left by the departures of Iffy Allen and Toby Ajala, Nicholson has drafted in Braintree winger Dan Sparkes to add with width to the Gulls' side.
United fans will no doubt remember the hat-trick that he scored for Braintree in the Iron's 5-1 win over the Gulls in the 2014-15 season, during the reign of Chris Hargreaves.
The capture of Sparkes, who scored 19 goals in 101 appearances for Braintree in four years, represents quite a coup for United as he could well have followed former Iron boss Dan Cowley to Lincoln City - just as his former teammate Alex Woodyard did.
Both signings are set to play a key part in the Gulls' continued resurgence, just as Gayle has played a part in helping to revive Cricket in the West Indies' fortunes in recent years - by helping them to win the T20 World Cup in 2012 and earlier this year (since the competition started in 2007 they are the only country to have won it twice).
Nicholson enjoyed a partnership at the crease with the big-hitting Jamaican at South Devon Cricket Club, Newton Abbot for a Celebrity XI, which also included former England and Somerset fast bowler Andy Caddick, against a former Jockey's XI to raise funds for a number of good causes, including the Tom Maynard Trust and the Injured Jockey's Fund.
For Nicholson it was something of a well-earned respite, after devising pre-season fitness schedules for a number of his squad and adding two more new signings - all of whom are familiar to the Plainmoor faithful in their own respective ways.
American goalkeeper Brendan Moore who proved to be a big hit with the Gulls after signing on loan from Fleetwood Town joins United permanently, following his release by the Cod Army.
To fill the void left by the departures of Iffy Allen and Toby Ajala, Nicholson has drafted in Braintree winger Dan Sparkes to add with width to the Gulls' side.
United fans will no doubt remember the hat-trick that he scored for Braintree in the Iron's 5-1 win over the Gulls in the 2014-15 season, during the reign of Chris Hargreaves.
The capture of Sparkes, who scored 19 goals in 101 appearances for Braintree in four years, represents quite a coup for United as he could well have followed former Iron boss Dan Cowley to Lincoln City - just as his former teammate Alex Woodyard did.
Both signings are set to play a key part in the Gulls' continued resurgence, just as Gayle has played a part in helping to revive Cricket in the West Indies' fortunes in recent years - by helping them to win the T20 World Cup in 2012 and earlier this year (since the competition started in 2007 they are the only country to have won it twice).
Thursday 9 June 2016
SUMMER 2016 TRANSFER ROUND-UP #1
So far this summer Torquay United and Exeter City have been the busiest movers in the transfer market, with both sides having made three signings already this summer.
Utility man Aman Verma has joined the Gulls permanently after spending last season on loan at Plainmoor from Kidderminster Harriers, a move that was followed by the return of Damon Lathrope and the signing of striker Brett Williams.
For the majority of United fans, the re-signing of Lathrope will re-kindle the memories of the 2011-12 season when, as part of a midfield 'holy trinity' with Eunan O'Kane and Lee Mansell, he helped the Gulls reach the League Two Play-offs.
Williams spent last season with Stevenage and Forest Green Rovers, and was on target for Forest Green in their National League Play-off semi-final with Dover Athletic.
Paul Tisdale acted quickly following the end of last season to secure the signatures of former Wales Under-21 international midfielder Lloyd James, following his release by Leyton Orient, and former Huddersfield Town and Coventry City forward Robbie Simpson, after he left Cambridge United by mutual consent.
They were followed by the arrival of Liam McAlinden from Wolves, who could fill the void left by Jayden Stockley after he turned down a permanent move to St James Park to sign for Aberdeen - following an impressive loan spell with the Grecians last season.
Utility man Aman Verma has joined the Gulls permanently after spending last season on loan at Plainmoor from Kidderminster Harriers, a move that was followed by the return of Damon Lathrope and the signing of striker Brett Williams.
For the majority of United fans, the re-signing of Lathrope will re-kindle the memories of the 2011-12 season when, as part of a midfield 'holy trinity' with Eunan O'Kane and Lee Mansell, he helped the Gulls reach the League Two Play-offs.
Williams spent last season with Stevenage and Forest Green Rovers, and was on target for Forest Green in their National League Play-off semi-final with Dover Athletic.
Paul Tisdale acted quickly following the end of last season to secure the signatures of former Wales Under-21 international midfielder Lloyd James, following his release by Leyton Orient, and former Huddersfield Town and Coventry City forward Robbie Simpson, after he left Cambridge United by mutual consent.
They were followed by the arrival of Liam McAlinden from Wolves, who could fill the void left by Jayden Stockley after he turned down a permanent move to St James Park to sign for Aberdeen - following an impressive loan spell with the Grecians last season.
Tuesday 7 June 2016
EURO 2016 PLAYERS WITH SOUTH WEST LINKS
As Euro 2016 gets underway on Friday when hosts France take on Romania, we will now take a look at some of the players taking part in the tournament whose careers have taken them to the South West.
Kari Arnason (Iceland - Plymouth Argyle): As Iceland make the first appearance in a major finals amongst their numbers will be former Plymouth Argyle utility man Kari Arnason. Gothenberg-born Arnason made 72 appearances and scored three goals for the Pilgrims between 2009 and 2011 until he was released by the club's Administrators, after he refused to defer his wages (All the Argyle staff were forced to defer their wages at the time whilst the club was in Administration).
Since leaving Home Park, Kari has had spells with Aberdeen, Rotherham United (who he won back-to-back promotions from League Two to the Championship) and his current club Malmo.
Craig Cathcart (Northern Ireland - Plymouth Argyle): Signed on loan by Paul Sturrock from Manchester United during the 2008-09 season, Craig Cathcart made 31 appearances for the Pilgrims before going on to win two promotions to the Premiership with Blackpool and Watford in 2010 and 2015 respectively. Cathcart has won 24 caps for Northern Ireland, scoring twice.
James Chester (Wales -Plymouth Argyle): Another player signed on loan from Manchester United for Plymouth Argyle by Paul Sturrock, James Chester only made three appearances for the Pilgrims before returning to Old Trafford. A move to Hull City in 2011 helped to kick-start his career, as he helped the Tigers to win promotion to the Premier League in 2013 and a year later he was part of the Hull side that faced Arsenal in the 2014 FA Cup final.
Simon Church (Wales - Yeovil Town): After making six appearances without scoring during a loan spell at Huish Park from Reading, Simon Church has enjoyed a nomadic career having spent last season on loan in the Scottish Premier League with Aberdeen from his parent club Milton Keynes Dons. He will be looking to add to the 36 caps that he has previously won for Wales during the tournament. After
Shane Duffy (Republic of Ireland - Yeovil Town): Blackburn Rovers defender Shane Duffy won the first of his two caps to date for the Republic of Ireland shortly after his loan spell with Yeovil Town during the 2013-14 season. Duffy is one of four central defenders included in Martin O'Neill's squad, along with John O'Shea, Richard Keogh and Ciaran Clark.
Wayne Hennessey (Wales- Yeovil Town): After appearing for Crystal Palace in this year's FA Cup final, Wayne Hennessey will be keeping goal for Wales in their first major finals appearance since 1958. He also enjoyed a 13-match loan spell with Yeovil during their 2013-14 Championship campaign, by which time he had won the bulk of his 54 caps for Wales.
Zoltan Stieber (Yeovil Town - Hungary): Having spent the bulk of his career playing in Germany. Zoltan Stieber's 15 match loan stint with Yeovil Town, who he joined from Aston Villa in the 2007-08 season. Stieber has been with his current club, SV Hamburg, for two years and spent last season on loan with FC Nurnberg in 2. Bundesliga.
Jamie Ward (Northern Ireland - Torquay United): Jamie Ward's time with Torquay United will always be regarded by the Plainmoor faithful as a case of what might have been. Signed by Ian Atkins from Aston Villa in 2006 and stayed with the Gulls for only six months, during which time he scored 11 goals in all competitions. It was at the end of the transfer window in January 2007 that he joined Chesterfield for a fee of £95,000 - during Chris Roberts' catastrophic reign as Chairman - which effectively ended the chances of the Gulls avoiding relegation to the Conference at the end of the season. After leaving the Spireites midway through the 2008-09 season to join Sheffield United for a fee of £330,000, which earned United a windfall of £62,500 from a 25 % sell-on clause, he later moved on to Derby County and his current club Nottingham Forest. Qualifying for Northern Ireland through his grandfather, Ward has made 17 appearances for the province and has scored twice - the second of which came in their Euro 2016 qualifying campaign against Greece.
Kari Arnason (Iceland - Plymouth Argyle): As Iceland make the first appearance in a major finals amongst their numbers will be former Plymouth Argyle utility man Kari Arnason. Gothenberg-born Arnason made 72 appearances and scored three goals for the Pilgrims between 2009 and 2011 until he was released by the club's Administrators, after he refused to defer his wages (All the Argyle staff were forced to defer their wages at the time whilst the club was in Administration).
Since leaving Home Park, Kari has had spells with Aberdeen, Rotherham United (who he won back-to-back promotions from League Two to the Championship) and his current club Malmo.
Craig Cathcart (Northern Ireland - Plymouth Argyle): Signed on loan by Paul Sturrock from Manchester United during the 2008-09 season, Craig Cathcart made 31 appearances for the Pilgrims before going on to win two promotions to the Premiership with Blackpool and Watford in 2010 and 2015 respectively. Cathcart has won 24 caps for Northern Ireland, scoring twice.
James Chester (Wales -Plymouth Argyle): Another player signed on loan from Manchester United for Plymouth Argyle by Paul Sturrock, James Chester only made three appearances for the Pilgrims before returning to Old Trafford. A move to Hull City in 2011 helped to kick-start his career, as he helped the Tigers to win promotion to the Premier League in 2013 and a year later he was part of the Hull side that faced Arsenal in the 2014 FA Cup final.
Simon Church (Wales - Yeovil Town): After making six appearances without scoring during a loan spell at Huish Park from Reading, Simon Church has enjoyed a nomadic career having spent last season on loan in the Scottish Premier League with Aberdeen from his parent club Milton Keynes Dons. He will be looking to add to the 36 caps that he has previously won for Wales during the tournament. After
Shane Duffy (Republic of Ireland - Yeovil Town): Blackburn Rovers defender Shane Duffy won the first of his two caps to date for the Republic of Ireland shortly after his loan spell with Yeovil Town during the 2013-14 season. Duffy is one of four central defenders included in Martin O'Neill's squad, along with John O'Shea, Richard Keogh and Ciaran Clark.
Wayne Hennessey (Wales- Yeovil Town): After appearing for Crystal Palace in this year's FA Cup final, Wayne Hennessey will be keeping goal for Wales in their first major finals appearance since 1958. He also enjoyed a 13-match loan spell with Yeovil during their 2013-14 Championship campaign, by which time he had won the bulk of his 54 caps for Wales.
Zoltan Stieber (Yeovil Town - Hungary): Having spent the bulk of his career playing in Germany. Zoltan Stieber's 15 match loan stint with Yeovil Town, who he joined from Aston Villa in the 2007-08 season. Stieber has been with his current club, SV Hamburg, for two years and spent last season on loan with FC Nurnberg in 2. Bundesliga.
Jamie Ward (Northern Ireland - Torquay United): Jamie Ward's time with Torquay United will always be regarded by the Plainmoor faithful as a case of what might have been. Signed by Ian Atkins from Aston Villa in 2006 and stayed with the Gulls for only six months, during which time he scored 11 goals in all competitions. It was at the end of the transfer window in January 2007 that he joined Chesterfield for a fee of £95,000 - during Chris Roberts' catastrophic reign as Chairman - which effectively ended the chances of the Gulls avoiding relegation to the Conference at the end of the season. After leaving the Spireites midway through the 2008-09 season to join Sheffield United for a fee of £330,000, which earned United a windfall of £62,500 from a 25 % sell-on clause, he later moved on to Derby County and his current club Nottingham Forest. Qualifying for Northern Ireland through his grandfather, Ward has made 17 appearances for the province and has scored twice - the second of which came in their Euro 2016 qualifying campaign against Greece.
Thursday 2 June 2016
VERMA MAKES IT A MAGNIFICENT SEVEN FOR NICHOLSON
Midfielder Aman Verma has become the seventh player that Torquay United manager Kevin Nicholson has offered a contract to commit to the Gulls for the 2016-17 campaign.
Verma, who joined United on loan from Kidderminster Harriers last November, becomes the first new signing for the Gulls, as the other six players who Nicholson has signed up are all players who were under contract last season, making his move to Plainmoor into a permanent one.
The other six include Ben Gerring, who was the first player to commit his future to the Gulls, Sam Chaney, Will Hancox - son of former Torquay striker Richard Hancox, one-time Plymouth Argyle midfield schemer Luke Young, skipper Angus MacDonald and last season's leading scorer Nathan Blissett. Nicholson will also be registered as a player himself.
With MacDonald, Young and Blissett now under contract, the Gulls' side has a reasonably strong spine, which Nicholson will hopefully add to with former loanee American Brendan Moore, who was recently released by Fleetwood Town. However, Moore is also considering an offer from the MLS in America and may favour a move nearer home.
Nicholson is now awaiting an answer from his final trio that includes left-back Dan Butler, central midfielder Courtney Richards and striker Shaun Harrad.
Of all the players he has offered new contracts to have turned down a deal is winger Toby Ajala, who returned to the Gulls in January following a brief six-month stint with Dover Athletic.
Verma, who joined United on loan from Kidderminster Harriers last November, becomes the first new signing for the Gulls, as the other six players who Nicholson has signed up are all players who were under contract last season, making his move to Plainmoor into a permanent one.
The other six include Ben Gerring, who was the first player to commit his future to the Gulls, Sam Chaney, Will Hancox - son of former Torquay striker Richard Hancox, one-time Plymouth Argyle midfield schemer Luke Young, skipper Angus MacDonald and last season's leading scorer Nathan Blissett. Nicholson will also be registered as a player himself.
With MacDonald, Young and Blissett now under contract, the Gulls' side has a reasonably strong spine, which Nicholson will hopefully add to with former loanee American Brendan Moore, who was recently released by Fleetwood Town. However, Moore is also considering an offer from the MLS in America and may favour a move nearer home.
Nicholson is now awaiting an answer from his final trio that includes left-back Dan Butler, central midfielder Courtney Richards and striker Shaun Harrad.
Of all the players he has offered new contracts to have turned down a deal is winger Toby Ajala, who returned to the Gulls in January following a brief six-month stint with Dover Athletic.
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