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.
