NEIL WARNOCK - ARE YOU WITH ME? REVIEW

 The Princess Theatre in Torquay has played host to many pantomimes over the years, so it was quite apt that Neil Warnock - a football manager seen by many as a pantomime villain - was the star billing as his 'Are you with me?' show came to the Bay.

After guiding Torquay United to one of their many 'great escapes' during the 1992-93 season and having returned to Plainmoor to assist the Bryn Consortium as a football advisor, the Yellow Army are never much with Warnock in his current role with the Gulls, which was reflected with the turnout for the show.

The evening began with Talksport presenter, Comedian and United fan Charlie Baker acting as a warm up act with his own unique brand of Devon centric comedy. Also included in the opening period was the unveiling of two of the Gulls' latest summer signings in the form of Dan Hayfield and Joe Dyer, who joined from Bath City - complete with the videos that have accompanied each signing on social media. This was swiftly followed by the announcement that Dean Moxey had agreed a new deal to stay with the club as a player-coach. 

They were then joined on the stage by the rest of the squad, plus manager Paul Wotton and his assistant Mike Edwards, and Wotton said a few words before departing the stage exit right. 

Then to the main event with Neil Warnock, which was hosted by EFL football commentator Paul Walker, and took in Warnock's journey through professional football as both a player and a manager, which, of course, included his time in charge at Plainmoor that he spoke of fondly. At the time of his arrival at the Gulls, Warnock had recently been sacked by Notts County following their relegation from the top-flight, after he had led them to back-to-back promotions to reach the 'old' First Division, before the formation of the Premier League, and had grown disillusioned with management. 

However, steering United to safety helped to give him his passion for the game back and went on to win a record eight promotions as a manager. He also provided several insights into his managerial approach and spoke of his emphasis on man-management.

A question and answer session with former Soccer AM presenter, and Gulls fan, Helen Chamberlain followed before a mock fire was assembled and Warnock read a poem that he had written based on his career. This included a reference to every club he'd ever worked for,  which showed to be articulate and thoughtful - and belied his reputation for often being confrontational with opposition managers and referees. 

And there yet could be a couple of verses to add for his current role assisting Wotton with the Gulls.

 

 

 

TORQUAY UNITED NON-LEAGUE XI 2014-2024: PART TWO

We continue our look at the Torquay United non-league XI from 2014 and 2024 with a look at the midfield and attackers, as well as a glimpse at those who narrowly missed the cut.

Central midfield: Adam Randell 

Plymouth Argyle loanee Adam Randell made his debut for the Gulls on the opening day of the 2020-21 season against Stockport County and went on to make 48 appearances in all competitions. Although he was mainly used as a holding midfielder, Randell also appeared at right-back and right midfield, and appeared in the latter role in the 2021 Play-off final against Hartlepool United. 

His displays also helped him to win the clubs’ Young Player of the Year award and he has established himself as a first team regular with the Pilgrims on his return to Home Park, helping Argyle to reach the Championship.

Central midfield: Asa Hall

 The signing of Asa Hall in the summer of 2018 could be seen as a statement of intent to bounce back to the National League at the first attempt. However, it turned down to be a lot more besides. Hall emerged as one of the best Gulls’ captains in recent years – and he finished the 2020-21 season as top scorer in all competitions with 14 goals. He would also score the winning goal in United’s 2-1 win over Taunton Town in their penultimate game of the 2023-24 campaign, which helped the Gulls retained their National League South after losing ten points for going into Administration.

Attacking right midfield: Aaron Nemane

With clubs like Manchester City and Rangers already on his CV when he arrived at Plainmoor in December 2019, Aaron Nemane showed glimpses of his ability prior to the Covid-19 enforced suspension of the National League in 2019-20. However, once action resumed in the 2020-21 campaign, he became a first team regular before injury ended his season early.

Attacking central midfield: Connor Lemonheigh-Evans

 Connor Lemonheigh-Evans first joined United on loan under Gary Owers before returning twice more on loan under Gary Johnson before signing permanently in 2020. Lemonheigh-Evans’ arrival coincided with the time when the Gulls were relegated to National League South. However, he returned to help United win promotion at the first attempt as champions. During his second loan spell, he also appeared for the Wales Under-21 squad and scored twice for them against their Swiss counterparts before returning to Plainmoor to do the same for the Gulls in a 4-1 FA Cup fourth qualifying round tie with Winchester City.

He joined United permanently in the summer of 2020, and scored on the opening day of the 2020-21 campaign against Stockport County, and finished the season with 11 goals in all competitions as the Gulls agonisingly missed out on promotion to the EFL. He found the target another 11 times in the 2021-22 season, which included his first career hat-trick in a 5-1 win over Notts County, before joining Stockport in the summer of 2022.

Attacking left midfield: Ben Whitfield

Wideman Ben Whitfield joined the Gulls early in the 2019-20 season following his release from Port Vale and resurrected his career during his stay at Plainmoor. Capable of playing on either flank, Whitfield scored six goals and chipped in with 13 assists during the 2020-21 campaign before moving to Stockport County.

Centre forward: Jamie Reid

Torquay-born Jamie Reid had only scored 11 goals across his three separate spells with United, which included two loan spells from Exeter City before to him joining the Gulls permanently. Gary Johnson's appointment as successor to Gary Owers saw a change in his fortunes, as he finished the 2018-19 campaign with 32 goals to his name as United won the National League South title. He then found the back of the net a further 21 times in the 2019-20 season before it was curtailed by the outbreak of Covid-19. Reid later moved onto Mansfield Town and Stevenage and he has represented Northern Ireland at international level in 2024 and scored on his debut against Romania. 

Subs: 

Luke Young: 

 A stand-out performer in a struggling team during much of his stay at Plainmoor, Luke Young offered Gulls' fans a beacon of hope during what was a difficult time in the club's history. During his four years at the club, following his release by home-town club Plymouth Argyle in 2014, he was voted as the club's player of the year three times (2014-15, 2016-17 and 2017-18). His long range volley against Wrexham, the club he would later join in 2018, is regarded by many as one of the best goals ever seen at Plainmoor.

Armani Little: 

A previous foe of United’s when he featured for Woking against the Gulls in the 2018-19 season in National League South. Nevertheless, following United’s promotion success, he signed for United on a permanent basis and became a key figure in the Gulls’ midfield and finished the 2021-22 campaign as leading scorer with 15 goals, which earned him a move back into the EFL with Forest Green Rovers.

Joe Lewis: 

After a promising loan spell from Swansea City in the 2019-20 campaign, which was cut short by the outbreak of Covid-19, Joe Lewis returned to Plainmoor midway through the 2020-21 season on a permanent basis. He became a regular in the heart of the Gulls’ back four, as they missed out on promotion to the EFL. In the 2021-22 campaign, Lewis was United’s joint-third top scorer with six goals, including a memorable strike in a 5-0 home win over Wealdstone which saw him pick up the ball inside his own half before finding the back of the net from 25 yards. 

Dan Butler: 

 Despite only spending one season at Plainmoor, Dan Butler emerged as one of the best left-backs to have appeared for the Gulls in recent times. He played a key role in United’s first ‘great escape’ under Kevin Nicholson and wouldn’t have looked out of place in many of the Gulls’ more successful sides during the era in question. 

Ben Wynter: 

After a slow start to the 2018-19 season, Ben Wynter soon made the right-back spot his own for the next few seasons and grew into a leader in the process. He famously scored United's equaliser in their 'six-pointer' with Woking in April 2019 from 30 yards, which played a major role in sealing the National League South title for the Gulls. 

Ryan Bowman: 

Carlisle-born striker Ryan Bowman joined the Gulls from York City in the summer of 2014 and finished the 2014-15 campaign as top scorer with 13 goals before he joined Gateshead for £10,000.

Brendan Moore: 

One of only two Americans who have played for the Gulls, Brendan Moore initially joined on loan from Fleetwood Town in March 2016 before signing permanently in the summer of 2016. In October 2016, he produced a shot-stopping masterclass in the Gulls’ goalless draw with Aldershot Town.

TORQUAY UNITED NON-LEAGUE XI 2014-2024: PART ONE

 There have been many highs and lows since Torquay United were relegated from the Football League at the end of the 2013-14 season. During this time, we've had the 'great escapes' under Kevin Nicholson in 2015-16 and 2016-17. Relegation to National League South followed in 2017-18, but this was swiftly followed by an immediate return as champions under Gary Johnson - the club's first title since the 1926-27 campaign. 

Two years later, there was the disappointment of missing on that now infamous day at Ashton Gate in the National League Play-off final against Hartlepool United, which was then followed back relegation back to National League South in 2022-23. 

However, the decade did see some outstanding players turn out for the club, including some exciting loan signings, many of whom deserved to be part of a team who won promotion to the EFL. 

I have now taken on the arduenous task of selecting a best eleven from this period, which I've opted for a 4-2-3-1 formation, and I will start with the goalkeeper and defence. 

(The main criteria for inclusion in this team is no short term loan signings, no there is no Kieffer Moore, Rhys Healey, No Nico Lawrence or Sinclair Armstrong, but season-long loan signings are included). 

Goalkeeper: Shaun MacDonald 

Geordie goalkeeper Shaun MacDonald became a firm fans’ favourite across his two spells with the Gulls. A National League South title winner in the 2018-19 campaign, he opted to leave Plainmoor in the summer of 2021, but returned early in the 2021-22 season and went on to win the club’s Player of the Year award - becoming the first goalkeeper to win the award since Kevin Dearden in 2001-02. 

Right-back: Durrell Berry

 Durrell Berry’s first spell with Torquay United came in the 2014-15 season when he joined the Gulls on a non-contract basis after leaving Plymouth Argyle. However, United manager Chris Hargreaves was unable to offer him a full contract to due to budgetary constraints and he signed for Cheltenham Town instead. He re-joined United in the 2015-16 campaign in between Paul Cox's ten game spell in the charge and the arrival of Kevin Nicholson. Berry went on to become a regular for the Gulls in 'Great Escape 1' under Nicholson - with arguably his best game coming in their 4-1 win on Boxing Day in which he scored his only goal for the club. Sadly, a broken leg sustained in an away fixture with Dover Athletic towards the end of the 2015-16 season ultimately brought the curtain down on his United career.

Centre-back: Angus MacDonald

After enjoying two loan spells with the Gulls under Martin Ling, Angus MacDonald joined the Gulls on a permanent basis following their relegation from the Football League in 2014. Unfortunately, despite a promising start to the 2014-15 campaign, United floundered and they ended the season in 13th place. MacDonald then found himself playing under three different managers in a short space of time after Chris Hargreaves’ departure and Paul Cox brief stint in charge before Kevin Nicholson was appointed. MacDonald was handed the captain's armband by Nicholson and he proved to be another influential figure during Nicholson's first great escape. He was one of United's key performers, despite having the threat of a three-match ban for receiving a 15th yellow card hanging over him for much of the time towards the end of the 2015-16 season. His efforts later earned him a £100,000 move to Barnsley and he has since appeared for the likes Hull City and Aberdeen, and he featured for the latter in the Europa League during the 2023-24 campaign.

Centre-back: Nathan Smith 

Nathan Smith became the first loan player to win the club's player of the year award in the 2015-2016 season whilst on a season-long loan from Port Vale. Although he was only five feet ten inches tall, Smith still managed to win numerous aerial duels with players who were far taller than him, which he combined with fabulous positional sense. Since returning to Vale Park, he has been a regular for the Valiants in both Leagues One and Two.

Left-back: Liam Davis

Despite missing the first 13 games of the 2017-18 season - due to a heel injury - Davis was an ever-present for the remainder of the campaign as United dropped into National League South. He then went on to be a key figure in a United side that won the National League South title - and not only did he only play in every game of the 2018-19 campaign, but he also played in practically every minute as well, as his overlapping runs helped to set up numerous attacks. An injury sustained in an FA Cup tie with Maidstone United in the 2019-20 campaign, which he never managed to recover from, brought his time at Plainmoor to an end.

WATKINS READY AS ENGLAND BEGIN EURO 2024 CAMPAIGN

 Should Harry Kane suffer an injury over the course of England's Euro 2024 campaign, Devon-born Ollie Watkins will be ready and waiting to step into fill the void in Gareth Southgate's squad. 

Former Exeter City starlet Watkins, who was born in Torquay - but raised in Newton Abbot, is one of a handful of player in the Three Lions' squad to have progressed through the academy of a team in the EFL. 

However, whilst Watkins' rise from the Grecians academy, to Brentford, to Aston Villa and then receiving international honours has been something of a meteoric rise, but it did take him a while to establish himself as St James Park. 

Despite making his debut for Exeter on the final day of the 2013-14 season, Watkins was loaned out to Weston Super Mare in National League South during the 2014-15 campaign where he scored 10 goals in 25 appearances before returning to St James Park. 

His breakthrough season came in 2015-16, with arguably the highlight of his campaign was his brace in a Devon Derby with Plymouth Argyle, which the Grecians won 2-1 on April 2, 2016.

Entering the 2016-17 season as an established first team regular, Watkins scored 16 goals in 52 appearances in all competitions, which saw Exeter reach the League Two Play-off final where they lost to Blackpool. On a personal note, Watkins was also voted as the EFL young player of the year as he earned himself a £1.8million move to Brentford. 

Should Watkins appear for England in the tournament, he will become the second South Devon footballer to appear in a major tournament. Ipswich Town striker Kieffer Moore, who was also born in Torquay, featured for Wales in Euro 2020 and Qatar 2022. 

Watkins has always remained very grounded and has always strived to learn and improve throughout his career. He has also remained true to his roots and he was seen watching Truro City face Torquay United in a re-arranged National League South fixture at Gloucester City's Tiger Turf Stadium, as his former Grecians' academy contemporary Connor Riley-Lowe was featuring for Truro. 

Everyone who witnessed his development in grassroots football will be watching his progress with England with interest.

SEYMOUR SIGNS AS ASH IS ALSO RETAINED

 Torquay United manager Paul Wotton has moved to strengthen his forward line for the 2024-25 campaign with the capture of former Exeter City prospect Ben Seymour. 

 Seymour, 25, arrives at Plainmoor following a successful season in National League South with Hampton & Richmond, where he scored 16 goals in 46 appearances in all competitions. In addition to this, he was also named the National League South Player of the Month for October 2023.
 
Having progressed through the youth ranks of the Grecians, Seymour gained further first-team experience during loan stints with the likes of Weston-super-Mare, Yeovil Town and Bath City, before joining Plymouth Parkway, where he netted 26 times in 46 appearances in the Southern League Premier South in 2022-23. It was this form that brought him to the attention of the Beavers. 

His arrival also coincides with the news that last season's leading scorer Brad Ash agreed a new one-year deal to remain at Plainmoor, which increases Wotton's striking options to three after capturing the signature of Jaydn Crosbie from Mangotsfield Town.
 

 

HALL PROVED TO BE TORQUAY'S ACE IN THE PACK

 The first time yours truly can remember witnessing Asa Hall in action, he was wearing yellow - not of Torquay United - of Oxford United against Plymouth Argyle in a game which proved to be memorable for a variety of reasons. 

Firstly, it ended a 1-1 draw that enabled the Pilgrims to retain their Football League for the 2011-12 campaign, which they had started still in Administration. Secondly, they were a number of future Torquay United personnel involved, as Luke Young, Durrell Berry and new Gulls boss Paul Wotton appeared for Argyle and Hall, Liam Davis and Simon Heslop all appeared for Oxford. Hall also played a significant role that afternoon, as he scored a 35 yarder for the U's. 

Fast forward six years and Hall arrived at Plainmoor from Barrow as Gary Owers looked to build a side who were capable to bouncing back from the National League South at the first time of asking, after being relegated from the National League in the 2017-18 campaign. With his experience of winning the EFL Trophy with Luton Town in 2009, the National League title with Cheltenham Town in 2016 and the FA Trophy with York City in 2017, Hall's signing appeared like a statement of intent for the Gulls. 

Once the 2018-19 campaign got underway, Hall found the net once in the opening nine games against Hemel Hempstead Town on September 1, 2018 as United won three, drawn three and lost three before Gary Owers was dismissed and replaced by Gary Johnson, a familiar figure to Hall from his time at Cheltenham. Johnson was his manager during his stay at Whaddon Road when they won promotion back to the Football League at the first time of asking. 

Retaining his position as captain, Hall became a key figure as United won the National League South title - with his 30 yard strike on Boxing Day in a 4-2 win over Truro City on Boxing Day being a particular highlight. 

In the 2019-20 season, with Gulls were back in the National League, Hall once again proved to be a key player in a season that would eventually be curtailed early due to the Covid-19 pandemic. 

Then in the 2020-21 campaign, Hall had arguably his finest season during his stay at Plainmoor as he finished the campaign as top scorer with 14 goals in all competitions. This haul included two penalties in the Gulls' 6-5 defeat to Crawley Town in the first round of the FA Cup and the winning goal in a 'six-pointer' against eventually champions Sutton United in April 2021. In addition to this, he was also one of the Gulls' successful penalty takers in their penalty shoot-out defeat to Hartlepool United at Ashton Gate. 

As United fell into decline in subsequent seasons, which culminated in relegation back to the National League South in the 2022-23 season, Hall remained a mainstay in the side, scoring six goals in 30 appearances in 2021-22 and nine times in 20 appearances in 2022-23. 

However, there was one final act for Hall in the 2023-24 season, after the Gulls entered Administration and were under the interim managerial reign of Aaron Downes, as he was converted from being a central midfielder to a centre back. Hall showed great character once again, converting a penalty and helping keep a clean sheet against Hampton and Richmond Borough in March 2024, which was followed by scoring the winner against Taunton Town at Wordsworth Drive to seal a 2-1win which retained United's National League South status. 

Whoever ends up signing Hall will be getting a good character who would probably harbour ambitions of going into coaching. He briefly assisted Downes following his appointment as interim manager, and Johnson even identified him as a future manager in an online Q and A session with the fans during the 2020-21 season. 

You never know, he could yet end up back at Plainmoor one day as a coach or even as manager.

WOTTON ADDS MORE NEW FACES TO GULLS SQUAD

Paul Wotton has continued to add to his Torquay United squad, with two players who he is familiar

Comfortable in a number of positions, Threlkeld, 30, arrives at Plainmoor on a one-year contract and brings with him a wealth of EFL experience.
 
After rising through the ranks at Bolton Wanderers,  Threlkeld first signed for Plymouth Argyle as Derek Adams attempted to rebuild a side who had lost the 2016 League Two play-off final to AFC Wimbledon.

He then went on to establish himself as a firm fan's favourite at Plymouth Argyle, before moving on to Salford, Bradford and Oldham. He also had a brief spell in Belgium with Waasland-Beveren before returning to Home Park in the second half of the 2018-19 season on loan.
 
After departing League Two side Morecambe at the end of last season, Threlkeld now returns to Devon to link up with Gulls boss Paul Wotton, who was first-team coach at Argyle during the player's first spell at Home Park and assistant manager during his second spell. 

Threlkeld was then swiftly followed by the arrival of goalkeeper James Hamon who, of course, played under Wotton at Truro City. Former Exeter City keeper Hamon also had a brief loan spell at Plainmoor during the 2020-21 season. 

Wotton then added young striker Jaydn Crosbie who netted 37 goals in 48 appearances for Mangotsfield Town in the Hellenic Premier League and centre back Sam Dreyer, the son of former Luton defender John Dreyer who had a loan spell with Torquay during the 1985-86 season. 

GULLS MAKE FIRST SIGNINGS AFTER EXITING ADMINISTRATION

 Having exited Administration -  in the wake of their takeover by the Bryn Consortium - and the associated transfer embargo, Torquay United have moved to make their first signing of the summer. 

Defender Jay Foulston joins Paul Wotton’s side on a two-year deal, following a highly successful loan spell at Yeovil Town, which saw the Welshman gain a National League South winner’s medal, after making the  switch across Somerset from local rivals Taunton Town.
 
After being capped eleven times for Wales at U19 as a youngster with League Two side Newport County, Jay went on to represent Merthyr and Chippenham before playing a key role in Taunton’s rise up the footballing  pyramid.
 
 Having been a regular for The Glovers since signing for them last term, Foulston will now be looking forward to reuniting with his fellow Taunton teammate Austen Booth, who is already under contract at Plainmoor.

Foulston's arrival was swiftly followed by the news that Finley Craske has signed a new deal with the Gulls. Former Plymouth Argyle defender Craske, 21, who played under Wotton whilst on loan at Truro City, showed his versatility last season, as he made 14 appearances in the 2023-24 campaign before his season was curtailed by injury.