With the signing of Finley Craske following a successful trial spell, the loan acquistion of Will Jenkins-Davies from Plymouth Argyle and the re-signing of Dan Martin, Torquay United manager Gary Johnson's squad now consists of 20 players.
As the Gulls head into their final pre-season friendly with Southampton's B side, we will take closer look at the squad that Johnson has assembled.
GOALKEEPER
Mark Halstead, Rhys Lovett
Once again Mark Halstead and Rhys Lovett will be sharing goalkeeping duties again, with Halstead acting as first choice and Lovett as his number two. Halstead established himself one of the leading goalkeepers in the National League in the 2022-23 season, with performances against Scunthorpe United, York City and Wrexham being amongst his stand-out displays. He is surely likely to emerge as a leading keeper in the National League South in the 2023-24 campaign.
In Lovett, the Gulls have a keeper who could possibly feature regularly for the majority of clubs in the division - so he's a more than capable deputy when, or if, required to step in.
DEFENCE
Shaun Donnellan, Dean Moxey, Ollie Tomlinson, Ross Marshall, Finley Craske, Callum Thomas
United manager Gary Johnson finished last season playing with a back three consisting of Shaun Donnellan and Dean Moxey with Southampton loanee Nico Lawrence, who has since been loaned out by the Saints to Colchester United in League Two. Johnson has gone with a back three again in pre-season with Donnellan, Ollie Tomlinson, who gained experience of National League South during loan spells with Taunton Town and Chippenham Town, and Finley Craske, who signed following a successful trial following his release by Plymouth Argyle, in the absence of Moxey.
Ross Marshall is back involved again with the Gulls' squad following eye surgery over the summer.
RIGHT WING-BACK
Jack Stobbs, Dylan Crowe
After making his loan move from Oldham Athletic permanent over the summer, Jack Stobbs looks set to continue in the right wing-back role in the 2023-24 campaign. Stobbs will be looking to add more goals to his game once the seson gets underway after finding the target in pre-season against Exeter City. Dylan Crowe remains as his understudy.
MIDFIELD
Kevin Dawson, Asa Hall, Tom Lapslie, Brett McGavin, Will Jenkins-Davies (loan), Ryan Hanson
In midfield, Johnson has the experienced trio of Kevin Dawson, who previously served under him at Yeovil Town and Cheltenham Town, skipper Asa Hall and Tom Lapslie to call upon. Former Ipswich Town prospect Brett McGavin has started in midfield in pre-season after being was mainly used as an impact sub in the end of season run-in in 2022-23,
which saw him come off the bench to score in the Gulls' 5-1 defeat to
Chesterfield in their penultimate away game of the campaign.
Former Dover midfielder Ryan Hanson is still with the Gulls and Johnson has added Wales Under-18 international Will Jenkins-Davies on loan from Plymouth Argyle. While following in the footsteps of former Gulls loanee Adam Randell, who has now established himself as a first team regular at Home Park, Jenkins-Davies is more similar in terms of playing style to Connor Lemonheigh and Armani Little, so therefore offers Johnson a different option.
LEFT WING-BACK
Lewis Collins, Dan Martin
Lewis Collins scored three times in 15 appearances during his loan spell from Newport County, and has been amongst the goals again in pre-season after signing for the Gulls permanently in the close season. He has found the back of the net twice in four appearances so far, including a 20 yard volleyed effort in United's 4-1 win over local rivals Exeter City, which gave the Gulls the lead. Collins can also play up front if either Aaron Jarvis or Brad Ash were unavailable.
Dan Martin earned himself a new contract in pre-season after proving his fitness and will provide more than capable cover for Collins.
STRIKER
Aaron Jarvis, Brad Ash
The fact that the Gulls have been able to retain the services of last season's leading scorer Aaron Jarvis has arguably been a bigger boost as any new signings that United have made so far. Jarvis netted 18 times in the 2023-24 campaign - which included two hat-tricks, becoming the first Gulls' player to complete that feat since Robin Stubbs in 1965-66; He will be aiming to better that tally in 2023-24.
In pre-season, Jarvis has formed a promising partnership with Brad Ash and have linked up well together so far. This was evidenced in the Gulls' 4-1 pre-season win over Exeter City when Jarvis teed up Ash for the Gulls' second goal.
Ash found the back of the net 18 times in all competitions for Weymouth in the National League South in 2022-23, and could yet overhaul that tally with United.
In: Kevin Dawson (Gloucester City), Jack Stobbs (Oldham Athletic), Bradley Ash (Weymouth), Lewis Collins (Newport County), Callum Thomas (Under-18s), Finley Craske (Plymouth Argyle), Will Jenkins-Davies (Plymouth Argyle, loan)
Out: Frank Nouble (Yeovil Town), Ali Omar (Larne), Ben Wyatt (St Albans City), Olaf Koszela and Alex Moyse (Dorchester Town), Jack Winsor (Bideford), Lewis Brooks, Jacob Mensah
Torquay United's record in pre-season in 2023-24:
Vs Reading Under-21s W 5-0 Asa Hall, Lewis Collins, Brett McGavin, Aaron Jarvis (2 1 pen)
Vs Bristol City L 2-6 Brad Ash, Aaron Jarvis
Vs Plymouth Argyle D 1-1 Brad Ash
Vs Exeter City W 4-1 Lewis Collins, Brad Ash, Jack Stobbs, Asa Hall (pen)
