On Saturday 2nd January 2010, Torquay United faced Brighton and Hove Albion then of League One, in their first competitive match of the current decade in the third round of the FA Cup.
As the decade draws to a close - and with United's final game of the decade coming tomorrow against Woking in the National League - we will now take a look at the Gulls' side who faced the Seagulls at Plainmoor.
Michael Poke - Then in the middle of his third loan spell with the Gulls from Southampton, Poke would later sign for United's opponents Brighton in 2010. After failing to make an appearance for the Seagulls, Poke arrived at Plainmoor on a permanent basis in the 2012-13 season and stayed for two seasons. He later appeared for Eastleigh and Woking in the National League.
Lee Mansell- Mansell was appointed as club captain midway through the 2010-11 season, and in the subsequent 2011-12 campaign he finished the season as United's joint-top scorer, won the club's player of the year award and was named in the PFA League Two team of the season. After leaving Plainmoor in 2014, after making over 300 appearances for the Gulls, Mansell joined Bristol Rovers, where he won back-to-back promotions from the National League to League One before retiring in 2017. Upon retirement, he remained at the Memorial Stadium and became Under-18's manager.
Mark Ellis - One of several players who featured that day who are still playing, Ellis left Plainmoor in 2012 to sign for Crewe Alexandra for £80,000. Ellis then moved onto Shrewsbury Town and then joined Carlisle United following two loan spells with the Cumbrians. Further loan stints with Forest Green Rovers and Leyton Orient followed before he joined his present club Tranmere Rovers in 2018.
Kieran Charnock - After losing his place in the United side following the arrival of Guy Branston, Charnock joined Morecambe during the 2010-11 season - a move that was made permanent following a successful loan spell. Charnock then remained in his native North West as he went onto appear for Fleetwood Town, Macclesfield Town, Stockport County, Chester FC and Chorley.
Adam Smith - Then on loan from Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur, further loan spells followed at AFC Bournemouth and MK Dons before Smith made two appearances for Spurs in the 2011-12 and 2012-13 seasons. He was then loaned to Leeds United, Millwall and Derby County before he re-joined Bournemouth on a permanent basis under Eddie Howe, where he has remained a permanent following the Cherries' promotion to the Premier League. He has also capped by England at Under-21 level.
Wayne Carlisle - Northern Irishman Carlisle left the Gulls early in the 2010-11 season before he joined Truro City, where he later became assistant manager to his former Exeter City teammate and ex-Gulls right-back Steve Tully. In partnership with Tully, Carlisle won promotion to the National League South with Tully and is currently back at St James Park - working as assistant manager to Matt Taylor.
Chris Hargreaves - Chris Hargreaves' time at Torquay United as a manager came to an end later that month as he re-joined his former club Oxford United, who he helped to win promotion back to the Football League. At the end of the 2009-10 season, Hargreaves retired from playing following his release by Oxford and then embarked on a coaching career with AFC Bournemouth. He worked as development coach and first team coach with the Cherries before returning to Plainmoor as manager to succeed Alan Knill in January 2014. Hargreaves left his position with the Gulls at the end of the 2014-15 season, after being placed on gardening leave. He is currently Under-21's manager of Bristol Rovers and works as a pundit on BT Sport's coverage of the National League.
Tyrone Thompson - After he was released at the end of the 2009-10 season, Thompson had spells with Mansfield Town and Lincoln City in the National League before becoming a player's agent.
Jake Thomson - On loan from Southampton at the time of this fixture, Thomson went on to have a short spell with Exeter City in the 2010-11 season. He then dropped into non-league football with Forest Green Rovers and Newport County - prior to their promotions to the Football League.
Thomson is currently appearing for Fareham Town in the Wessex League.
Scott Rendell - Rendell was half way through a successful year-long loan spell with the Gulls with Peterborough United at the turn of the decade. During the summer of 2010, he signed for Wycombe Wanderers, who he helped to win promotion from League Two in the 2010-11 season. He then went on to play under United's then manager Paul Buckle at Bristol Rovers on loan and Luton Town. Whilst with the Hatters, Rendell scored the winning goal in their FA Cup fourth round win Norwich City, where they became the first non-league side to defeat top flight opposition in the cup since Sutton United beat Coventry City in 1989. He has since appeared in the National League with Woking, Aldershot Town and his current side Eastleigh.
Elliot Benyon - Benyon earned himself a £125,000 move to Swindon Town in January 2011 and later moved on to Southend United who he re-joined the Gulls from in 2013, initially on loan before signing permanently. He remained with United until 2015, where he failed to replicate the form he displayed in his first spell at the club. Benyon has remained in non-league football ever since and is currently appearing for Oxford City in National League South.
Subs:
Kevin Nicholson - Remained a key performer for United in the 2010-11 and 2011-12 seasons - the latter saw him named in the PFA League Two team of the season - before he was released at the end of the 2013-14 campaign. After spells with Kidderminster Harriers and Bath City, he returned to Plainmoor in 2015 as player-manager and oversaw two great escapes. Currently head of coaching with Exeter City.
Tim Sills - Left United to join Stevenage in January 2010 and had spells with several clubs including Aldershot Town, Basingstoke Town, Gosport Borough (where he appeared in the FA Trophy final) and Weymouth Town. He is currently manager of Hamworthy United in the Wessex League, a role which he combines with working as a PE teacher.
Danny Stevens - Stayed at Plainmoor until the end of the 2012-13 campaign before returning briefly in the 2013-14 season. He later went on to play for Whitehawk in National League South.
