When a definitive history of professional football in the South West is eventually compiled, it will contain a number of favourable paragraphs devoted to Torquay United defender Dean Moxey.
After making his debut for his hometown club Exeter City as a teenager, Moxey, who turns 36 next month, went on to appear at Championship level for Derby County, Crystal Palace (who he would also feature for 20 times in the Premier League) and Bolton Wanderers over a number of years.
He returned to St James Park for a second spell with the Grecians before joining Gary Johnson's Gulls in the summer of 2020, for whom he made his 600th senior appearance for in their recent 2-1 defeat to Eastleigh.
It is a journey that started for Moxey in the 2003-04 season, when he made his debut on October 18, 2003 against Accrington Stanley. He was one of a number of youngsters who were thrown into the Grecians' first team by then manager Eamonn Dolan due to the financial situation at the club which had arisen following their relegation from the Football League in 2003.
In the following 2004-05 campaign, he started to make a name for himself as he scored with a 45-yard strike against Doncaster Rovers in the second round of the FA Cup, which helped to set up City's memorable tie with Manchester United in round three. The Grecians famously held the Red Devils to a goalless draw at Old Trafford before losing the replay 2-0 at St James Park, and Moxey would feature in both matches.
Over the next few years, Moxey would remain an integral part of the Grecians under Alex Inglethorpe, and then under his successor Paul Tisdale and was part of the City side who would win back-to-back promotions between the Conference and League One between 2007 and 2009 before joining Derby County in the summer of 2009.
Several strong seasons with the Rams earned him a move to Crystal Palace, who he helped to win promotion to the Premier League in the 2012-13 campaign under the guidance of Ian Holloway. His solitary season in the top-flight saw him make 20 appearances for the Eagles before he was on the move again, this time to Bolton Wanderers.
While with the Trotters, he helped them to win promotion from League One in the 2016-17 season before he rejoined the Grecians. On returning to where it all began, he featured in two League Two Play-off finals - against Coventry City in 2018 and Northampton Town in 2020 - before he signed for Torquay United in the summer of 2020.
In his first season at Plainmoor, he helped the Gulls to reach the 2021 National League Play-off final, where they were beaten on penalties by Hartlepool United. After starting out playing on the left wing or at left back, Moxey is currently appearing at centre back for United - and he is passing on the experiences he has gained throughout his lengthy career onto the Gulls' young pros.
