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).
