As the end of the 2010s approaches, I will now undertake the perhaps unenviable task of naming my ultimate eleven who have represented Torquay United between the years 2010 and 2019.
For Torquay United the past ten years have served up a number of delights: two play-off appearances, including the final at Old Trafford in the 2010-11 season and the National League South title triumph last term. However there have also been a number of disasters namely relegation from the Football League in 2013-14 and a further relegation from the National League four years later.
Throw into the mix a number of 'great escapes' in the 2012-13, 2015-16 and 2016-17 campaigns from two different leagues - League Two in 2012-13 and the National League in 2015-16 and 2016-17 - and it gives life to the proverb that life as a Torquay United fan isn't dull.
The challenge now is to name a best XI from the many players to have represented United during this period. Due to the increased frequency of the signing of loan players in recent years longer term loan signings are eligible for selection, but short term loans aren't. Unfortunately this means the likes of Adam Smith, Kieffer Moore and Rhys Healey miss out.
Here's part one of the team, which focuses on the goalkeeper and defence.
TORQUAY UNITED 2010-19: 4-4-2
GOALKEEPER: BOBBY OLEJNIK (2011-2012)
Despite only spending one season at Plainmoor after being signed by Martin Ling from Falkirk in the 2011-12 season, Austrian Bobby Olejnik made a large and lasting impact. After keeping 23 clean sheets and saving three penalties, Olejnik earned a PFA League Two team of the year nomination before joining Peterborough United for a fee of £250,000 in the summer of 2012.
RIGHT-BACK: DURRELL BERRY (2014, 2015-2016)
Durrell Berry spent two spells with Torquay United in the 2010s; his first came in the 2014-15 season when he joined the Gulls on a non-contract basis after leaving Plymouth Argyle. However, United manager Chris Hargreaves was unable to offer him a full contract to due to budgetary constraints and he signed for Cheltenham Town. Berry later re-joined United in the 2015-16 campaign in between Paul Cox's ten game spell in the charge and the arrival of Kevin Nicholson. Berry went on to become a regular for the Gulls in 'Great Escape 1' under Nicholson - with arguably his best game coming in their 4-1 win on Boxing Day which he scored his only goal for the club.
Sadly a broken leg sustained in an away fixture with Dover Athletic towards the end of the 2015-16 season ended his season early and ultimately brought the curtain down on his United career. Nevertheless he did just enough to narrowly edge out Ben Wynter who looks set to come into his own in the coming decade.
CENTRE-BACK: ANGUS MACDONALD (2012, 2012-13 & 2014-2016)
After enjoying two loan spells with the Gulls under Martin Ling, Angus MacDonald joined the Gulls on a permanent basis following their relegation from the Football League in 2014 as United aimed for an immediate return. Unfortunately, despite a promising start to the 2014-15 campaign United floundered and they ended the season in 13th place. MacDonald then found himself playing under three different managers in a short space of time and Chris Hargreaves and Paul Cox both departed in a short space of time before Kevin Nicholson was appointed. MacDonald was handed the captain's armband by Nicholson following and he proved to be another influential figure during Nicholson's first great escape. He was one of United's key performers, despite having the threat of a three-match ban for receiving a 15th yellow card hanging over him for much of the time towards the end of the 2015-16 season. His efforts later earned him a £100,000 move to Barnsley and he has since appeared for Hull City and was recently given the all-clear following a battle with bowel cancer.
CENTRE-BACK: GUY BRANSTON (2010-2011)
When Guy Branston first arrived at Plainmoor on loan from Burton Albion, there were a few question marks hanging over his head as during the previous six months with the Brewers he had acquired three red cards. However, he answered those questions emphatically with a level of professionalism and leadership that saw him play a key role in a United side that moved away from the relegation zone and went on to reach the play-offs in the following after he had signed on a permanent basis. He also won the club's player of the year award in the 2010-11 and was also named in the PFA League Two team of the season for the 2010-11 campaign.
LEFT-BACK: LIAM DAVIS (2017- PRESENT)
Over the years Torquay United have been blessed with a number of fine left-backs and it was a fiercely contested position in this team. Therefore, by a hair's breadth, Kevin Nicholson misses out to a player that he signed during his reign as manager in Liam Davis. Despite missing the first 13 games of the 2017-18 season - due to a heel injury - Davis was an ever-present for the remainder of the campaign as United dropped into National League South. He then went on to be a key figure in a United side that won the National League South title - and not only did he only play in every game of the 2018-19 campaign, but he also played in practically every minute as well, as his overlapping runs helped to set up numerous attacks. His absence has been strongly felt during United's recent poor run.
