1. 41 players used - 17 of which were loan signings
The only times in recent memory when Torquay United have used more players than the current campaign was 43 in the 1995-96 campaign, when their league status was saved by Stevenage's Broadhall Way home not being up to league standard, and 42 in the 2006-07 season when they were relegated from the Football League, during which time Mike Bateson sold the club to Chris Roberts before reacquiring it.
A sizeable chunk of these signings were loan acquisitions - 17 to be precise - along with five non-contract signings: Rory Fallon, Andy Haworth, Chinua Cole, Jennison Myrie-Williams and Guy Gnabouyou.
Some of those 17 excelled, such as Elliott Romain, George Dowling, Michee Efete, Alex Davey, Aaron Barnes, Connor Lemonheigh-Evans and Rhys Murphy, whilst others, including Josh McQuoid, Rhys Murphy and Callum Evans, came and went without leaving a lasting impression.
A number of younger loanees also found it hard to make the transition from Under-23 development football to the demands of playing in the National League.
If manager Gary Owers is to be successful in ensuring that the Gulls bounce back from National League South at the first attempt - he would probably be better looking at younger players who have previous experience of being on loan at clubs at National League South level or lower.
2. Robbie Herrera
When Robbie Herrera was first appointed as caretaker manager following the dismissal of Kevin Nicholson after just four games, I think both he and the Plainmoor wouldn't have expected his temporary reign to have lasted as long as it did (six weeks in total).
Although United did drop points during his six-match spell in charge against Guiseley away, Solihull Moors at home and Chester FC at home, Herrera never hid from the responsibility of managing his hometown club and his post-match interviews were always very honest in terms of his assessment of the game. He was also responsible for the permanent signings of Vincent Dorel and also brought in Michee Efete and George Dowling on loan - who all continued to feature in the first team under Owers, and Dowling even won the club's Young Player of the Year award.
3. Luke Young and Sean McGinty
The only two players to have been ever present for the Gulls in the 2017-18 season were Player of the Year Luke Young and skipper Sean McGinty. Results aside, the only way the season could have gone any better for Young would have been if he finished the season with a higher goals tally than the five that he scored. Both players featured on Owers' end of season retained list, however Young has already been linked with moves to Cheltenham Town and Yeovil Town, so it remains to be seen if both players will remain at Plainmoor for next season.
4. Rhys Healey
Had the transfer window been open when Cardiff City manager Neil Warnock arranged for Rhys Healey to go on loan to Torquay United at the end of March 2018, then the move may never have come about. Healey had been a target for Plymouth Argyle manager Derek Adams last season and he demonstrated his undoubted class by scoring six goals in seven appearances. It was a goal return that left many of the Plainmoor faithful wondering what could have happened if the move had come about a few weeks earlier. With the Pilgrims potentially on the lookout for more attacking options next season - don't be surprised if he returns to Devon to sign for Argyle next season.
5. Damon Lathrope and Ryan Higgins
It is always a sad occasion when a player is forced to retire prematurely through injury or illness, but this season two players who appeared for the Gulls in the 2017-18 campaign were forced to quit the game for those very reasons.
Damon Lathrope suffered a badly broken leg during a game for Woking, who joined in January 2018 after leaving Plainmoor, against Boreham Wood that caused damage to a number of major arteries and veins, which forced him to retire.
Summer signing Ryan Higgins, who joined United from Southport, made 16 appearances for the Gulls before returning to his native Merseyside for family reasons. It later transpired that his sister had been rushed to hospital with a serious heart condition, which was turned out was hereditary. Unfortunately for Ryan, after being screened for the condition himself, he was also diagnosed with it; one of the consequences of this was that Ryan was forced to retire from playing football immediately.
Had it not been detected in time, Ryan could potentially have suffered the same fate as former Bolton Wanderers midfielder Fabrice Muamba, who had a heart attack on the pitch whilst playing for the Trotters against Tottenham Hotspur in March 2012.
Since the announcement of the duo's retirement - the club have staged a number of collections and auctions to raise money for the pair and there will even be a charity game taking place at Plainmoor this Sunday for Damon Lathrope. Their charitable response to their conditions is arguably one of only a handful of positives that have come out of the campaign.
