The names might be different, but in term of style it could be argued that there are certain similarities.
For Kevin Ratcliffe read Kyle Cameron, for Kevin Sheedy read Jake Andrews, for Adrian Heath read Ben Whitfield and for Andy Gray read Danny Wright. As Gary Johnson looks to add the finishing touches to his Torquay United squad ahead of the 2020-21 season, his squad possesses certain players who, in terms of style, bear a passing a resembelance to Everton's league title winning side of the 1984-85 season under the late Howard Kendall.
While Kendall's signing of Gray from Wolves for a fee of £250,000 was considered something of a risk - owing to the Scotsman's long term knee problems - his arrival provided a young side full of promising talents with a leader both on and off the field; his presence helped to transform them from being a promising team full of potential into eventual league champions.
At the age of 32, Gray's move to Goodison Park represented his final chance to win one of the English game's major honours and he ended his tenure with the Toffees with an FA Cup winner's medal (1984), a league championship winner's medal (1984-85) and the European Cup Winner's Cup medal (1985). Wright might be slightly older than Gray at 35, but his arrival at Plainmoor, following his release by Solihull Moors, is arguably his last chance to add to the National League South title winner's medal he won with Histon in the 2006-07 season, the FA Trophy winner's medal he earned with Wrexham in 2013 and the National League title he won while working under Johnson in the 2015-16 campaign at Cheltenham Town.
The impact of the Covid-19 pandemic has proved to be one of the most challenging situations that English football has faced in many years, and the wider consequences of it could yet be felt for many years to come. However, the Gulls appear to be better equipped to deal with the fallout of the crisis than many other National League clubs. At the time of writing Johnson is reportedly on the verge of adding an attacking midfielder to his squad - widely tipped to be former Bristol City loanee Connor Lemonheigh-Evans - in the same week that it was announced that Dover Athletic could be on the verge of insolvency after their contracted players refused to take a 20% pay cut.
As the National League season won't be starting until October 3, the Premier League and the EFL campaigns commence on September 12, United have had to delay the start of their pre-season training, with a planned behind closed door pre-season friendly with Buckland Athletic being cancelled, and their playing staff have remained on the Government's furlough scheme.
Hopefully, once the season does get underway it will prove to be a successful one for the Gulls as they aim to do things Gary Johnson's way.
