For no player it could be argued that the appointment of Gary Johnson as Torquay United manager has had a bigger impact on than Jamie Reid.
Torquay-born Reid, 25, had hardly set the world alight following his move from Exeter City in September 2018. With ten goals in 92 appearances across three different spells at Plainmoor between 2015 and 2018 at the end of the 2017-18 campaign, which saw United relegated from the Vanarama National League, Reid's career which had started promisingly at St James Park appeared to be going nowhere.
A Gulls' fan since childhood and part of the club's youth set-up before it was disbanded in 2004 by then chairman Mike Bateson, a decision which saw him join the Grecians' own academy, few players would have been as keen to do well for United as Reid. He had initially joined United on loan under Chris Hargreaves before returning on loan under Kevin Nicholson in the 2016-17 and 2017-18 campaigns, and the second of these loan spells was turned into the permanent move by Gary Owers.
With only one goal to his name in the 2018-19 season in the National League South at the time United decided to part company with Owers, it appeared to be a case of 'here we go again' for Reid. However, under Johnson the difference in his form was almost like comparing night to day. Reid found the back of the net eight times in his first five competitive matches under Johnson - which included a brace at home to then leaders Woking and a hat-trick away to Eastbourne Borough. He then went on to finish the campaign with 32 goals in all competitions, which helped to earn him the Vanarama National League South player of the year award as the Gulls clinched the National League South title, finishing ten points clear of second-placed Woking.
Reid's own transformation mirrors that of Paddy Madden, who previously played under Johnson at Yeovil Town between 2012 and 2014.
Madden initially joined the Glovers on loan from Carlisle United, where he found the back of the net twice in 32 league appearances after moving to the Cumbrians from League of Ireland side Bohemians. However, under Johnson at Huish Park, Madden's form couldn't have been more different from his displays at Brunton Park as he found the back of the net 23 times in 39 appearances for the Glovers in all competitions as the Glovers won promotion to the Championship for the first time in their history beating Brentford in the 2013 League One play-off final. He was later called up to the Republic of Ireland squad by Giovanni Trappatoni for a friendly against Wales in August 2013.
Since leaving Huish Park in January 2014, Madden has since gone on to appear for Scunthorpe United and Fleetwood Town.
Reid also has international credentials of his own, as earlier in his career he represented Northern Ireland at Under-21 level, who he qualifies to represent through his grandfather, and a move to the Football League at this stage of his career could help him to realise his own senior international ambitions.
At the time of writing, Northern Ireland look set to undergo a period of transition after Michael O'Neill recently stood down after nine years in charge to focus on managing Stoke City - O'Neill had initially been set to remain in charge for the province's Euro 2020 play-off matches, but they have now been postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Whoever is apponted to succeed O'Neill, St Johnstone manager Tommy Wright appears to be the current favourite to take the role, is likely to be looking to freshen up the Northern Ireland squad with a couple of new faces, and a Jamie Reid finding the back of the net in the Football League on a regular basis will no doubt attract his attentions.
There will be many watching his progress from afar in South Devon, and if he could emulate another former Gulls' striker Jamie Ward in appearing at a major tournament (Ward appeared for the province in Euro 2016) then few would be happier for him than the Plainmoor faithful who witnessed the upturn in his fortunes under Johnson.
