TORQUAY FACE AVELEY WITH NEW OPTIMISM

 As Torquay United prepare for the visit of Aveley to Plainmoor this Saturday, the between difference the siuation they found themselves their last meeting with the Millers in last February and the present couldn't be more stark.

On that occasion, the then Gulls owner Clarke Osborne had just served his notice to place the club in Administration, which would later result in the club received a ten-point penalty, Gary Johnson had resigned as manager and his assistant Aaron Downes had taken charge on an interim basis. 

In the end, United earned a creditable 2-2 draw with the Millers in front of an improved crowd of 3,642, an attendance that compares favourably to the 3,842 which they attracted for their opening game of the season against Enfield Town and the 3,566 who witnessed their last home game with Dorking Wanderers.

However, comparing what United were like then to the situation that they currently find themselves in is almost like comparing night to day. The club's present owners, the Bryn Consortium, brought the club out of Administration; they have since appointed Paul Wotton as manager with Neil Warnock as football advisor and a Community Share Issue which was launched recently by the club's Supporter's Trust (TUST) has more than reached its target of raising £100,000 to be invested in the club and secure a second Supporter's seat on the United board, joining TUST chair Nick Broderick. 

Add to the Gulls' fortunes on the pitch have improved, having won four of their opening five matches of the 2024-25 campaign. 

However, none of this would have been possible had it not been for the positivity created by the Bryn Consortium, headed by co-Chairman Michael Westcott and Mark Bowes-Cavanagh. 

Since they took over, they have created an enthusiasm amongst the fanbase, which has seen United sell a record 1,500 season tickets and launched a new replica shirt, with a similar yellow and blue hooped design to the one they wore between 1993 and 1995, which has sold out in the club shop. 

The contrast to their approach to engaging with the fanbase couldn't be more different to the one adopted by Osborne and his former Chief Executive George Edwards. 

Other than his appearance at Ashton Gate in the 2021 National League Play-off final, the last time Osborne was seen at an event connected to Torquay United in South Devon was during the Presentation Evening held at the English Riviera Centre following United's National League South title triumph in 2018-19. On that occasion, Osborne's profile was so low that it left you wondering if there was any point in him actually being there at all. 

Compare this to the presence of the Bryn Consortium at Neil Warnock's 'Are you with me?' show at the Princess Theatre, they all turned up en masse and all looked as though they genuinely wanted to be there. And they will - to a man - undoubtably be looking forward to enjoying further success in partnership with Wotton and Warnock. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TALKING POINTS FROM TORQUAY UNITED VERSUS DORKING WANDERERS

 1. Lirak Hasani opens his account for the Gulls. 

United midfielder Lirak Hasani opened his account for the Gulls in arguably the best way possible way when he struck from 20 yards in the 55th minute after being teed up by Dan Hayfield. 

Hopefully, it will be the first of many for the club. 

Hasani, who joined the club in the summer from Gateshead, was also responsible for taking United's set pieces, and he delivered a number of  corners, which asked plenty of questions from the Dorking defence.

Having made his initial appearances for United as a substitute, Hasani has begun to play his way into the side, and he will be looking to maintain his place in the starting line-up.

2. A hard fought win for the Gulls. 

For the first 15 minutes, Dorking looked the stronger side and enjoyed the majority of the possession. However, the Gulls had a late flurry of chances towards the end of the first half. 

However, the Gulls started the second half on the front foot and were finally rewarded for their efforts when Hasani found the back of the net on 55 minutes. 

Nevertheless, Dorking still had chances late on as skipper Charlie Carter, sub Matt Briggs and Barry Fuller all went close in the final ten minutes, but United hung on to win. 

It was also the Gulls first win over Dorking in three attempts. 

3. Ed Palmer stands out at the back. 

A few eyebrows were raised amongst the Yellow Army when Ed Palmer, a former United youth product who had a brief professional career with the club before going on to play for the likes of Truro City, Taunton Town and Weymouth re-signed for the Gulls in the summer. However, Palmer, who combines playing for United with running a Barber's Shop in Totnes, followed up scoring on his full debut for the club away to Bath City with a display that earned himself the sponsor's man of the match award. 

He also went close to scoring his second goal in as many games as he had a header blocked on the line by Dorking's Luke Moore in the 42nd minute. Moments later he attempted a long rang effort from 30 yards, which narrowly dipped over. In the second half, he also had a hand in United's goal as his pass found Dan Hayfield, who teed up Hasani for his goal. 

The centre back positions have been arguably the most heavily contested spots in the United side so far this season, and Palmer has certainly staked his claim with Jordan Dyer currently being out injured. 

4. Finley Craske produced a fine display at right wing-back. 

After he missed much of the 2023-24 campaign through injury, Torquay United fans are now starting to see the best of Finley Craske. 

Against Dorking he completed his first 90 minutes and he showed incredible athleticism as he made several marauding runs down the right hand side. 

His opposite number on the left hand side has produced a number of fine displays so far this season, so if Craske continues in this vein, they could be talked about in the same breath as Jim McNichol and Tom Kelly (1987-88) and Andy Gurney and Paul Gibbs (1997-98). 

5. United now up to third. 

We might be only four games into the new season and the new look United remained a work in progress under Paul Wotton, but Saturday's win over Dorking Wanderers lifts the Gulls up to third in the table. 

United currently trail leaders Boreham Wood by one point and are level on nine points with Slough Town and Farnborough, with only goal difference separating them. 

6. Crowd watch. 

Yesterday's attendance of 3,566 was comfortably the biggest crowd for a game in the sixth-tier, with only the 1,508 that saw Truro City defeat Enfield Town 3-1 coming close. In the National League, it was only bettered by the 3,614 which saw Hartlepool draw 1-1 with Wealdstone. It was also bigger than the 3,481 who saw Barrow defeat Port Vale in League Two. 

A special mention should also go out to the Torquay United Supporter's Trust Community Share Issue, which, at the time of writing, has raised in the region of £73,000 within days of being launched.

TALKING POINTS FROM TORQUAY UNITED VERSUS ENFIELD TOWN

1.  13 is unlucky for some - but not the Gulls. 

United's clash with Enfield saw 13 players make their debuts for the club, nine from the start and four more from the bench. The only players to have featured previously for the Gulls were James Hamon, during a loan spell in 2020-21 and last season's leading scorer Brad Ash.

It was the most number of debutants that United have fielded on an opening day since Paul Cox selected nine in his first starting line-up against Macclesfield Town in the 2015-16 campaign.

2. Ash off the mark. 

After finishing last season as the Gulls leading scorer with 14 goals, it was interested to see how Brad Ash fared in the 2024-25 campaign, especially with the increased competition from the signings of Ben Seymour, Cody Cooke and Jaydn Crosbie. However, Ash made a flying start to the new campaign when he headed home a cross from the left from Matt Carson and had chances to further add to his tally, and based on this showing he could hit double figures again.

3. Carson shows his class.

In recent years, Torquay United have been blessed with a number of fine left-backs, from Tom Kelly (1986-1989 & 1993-1996) to John Uzzell (1989-1991) to Paul Gibbs (1997-1998) to Robbie Herrera (1998-2001) to Brian McGlinchey (2003-2006) to Kevin Nicholson (2007 -2014, 2015-2017) to Liam Davis (2017-2021), and Matt Carson could join that list.

Carson, who joined from Southampton in the summer, played a key role in United’s opener as his shot from the edge of the penalty area on 15 minutes ricocheted off Enfield defender Scott Thomas before finding the back of the net to cancel out Lewis Taaffe’s opener for the visitors. He also played a key role in the Gulls’ second, and ultimately decisive, goal as it was his cross which Brad Ash connected with to head home.

What made his performance seem even more remarkable is that the Northern Ireland youth international’s only previous experience of senior competitive football was a loan spell with Braintree Town last season.

4. First opening day win since 2020-21. 

Torquay United's win over Enfield Town was the Gulls' first opening day win since the 2020-21 campaign when a late strike from Connor Lemonheigh-Evans sealed a 1-0 win over Stockport County. 

5. Parallels with Leroy Rosenior’s first game in charge.

While a lot of similarities were drawn between Paul Buckle’s first campaign in charge in 2007-08 and the beginning of Paul Wotton’s reign in 2024-25, there is one very big parallel between Leroy Rosenior’s first game in charge and Wotton’s. United marked the beginning of Rosenior’s reign with a 2-1 win over Bristol Rovers after coming from behind as an equaliser from Martin Gritton and a penalty from Alex Russell cancelled out Guiliano Grazioli’s opener for the Pirates.

6. Crowd watch. 

The crowd of 3,837 who poured into Plainmoor to witness the Gulls' opening day clash with Enfield Town was only beaten by the attendances of Southend United versus York City (7,962) and Oldham Athletic versus Braintree Town (5,552). If United can build on their display against Enfield, then they will surely continue to pack in the crowds for the duration of the campaign.

 

 

SEASON PREVIEW 2024-25: EXETER CITY

 For a club whose highest ever league finish is eighth in League Two, finishing 14th and 13th in successive seasons in the same division for Exeter City represents a reasonable achievement for the club. 

When you also take into account that the Grecians have lost Archie Collins, Josh Key, Jack Sparkes, Sam Nombe, Kevin MacDonald, Jake Caprice and Jevani Brown since the summer of 2023, then last season's 13th place finish in their second season under Gary Caldwell has possibly gone under the radar. 

Last season was a season of great contrast for the Grecians as they went 100 days without a win between September and November 2023, but rallied to obtain 21 points from the last 30 available in the campaign to finish strongly. 

Caldwell has once again found himself dealing with departures after Will Aimson has returned north to sign for Wigan Athletic, former youth products Harry Kite and Alex Hartridge decided their futures lay elsewhere. However, Caldwell has used his contacts north of the border to sign Jack McMillan and Jay Bird and the signing of Northern Ireland international Josh Magennis could prove to be a particularly shrewd acquisition if he can better last season's top scorer Reece Cole's tally of seven. 

Teenage starlet Jack Richards, currently only 16 at the time of writing, is the club's latest youth starlet that the club are hoping will follow in the footsteps of the likes of Matt Grimes and Ollie Watkins. 

In: Ryan Woods (Hull City), Jack McMillan (Partick Thistle), Jay Bird (Arbroath), Josh Magennis (Wigan Athletic), Ed Francis (Gateshead), Joe Whitworth (Crystal Palace, loan), Tristan Crama (Brentford B, loan), Johnly Yfeko (Rangers B, loan)

Out: Alex Hartridge (Wycombe Wanderers), Zak Jules (Rotherham United), Gary Woods (Greenock Morton), Tom Carroll (MK Dons), James Scott (St Mirren), Harry Kite, 

Player to watch: Josh Magennis

Northern Ireland international Josh Magennis who appeared for the province in Euro 2016 is the Grecians highest profile signing of the summer

SEASON PREVIEW 2024-25: YEOVIL TOWN

 After winning promotion as National League South champions at the first attempt, Yeovil Town are now in much healthier when they were relegated at the end of the 2022-23 season. 

Now the Glovers are back in the National League and, after four relegations in a decade, things are looking up and the stability is the key at Huish Park - after manager Mark Cooper recently agreed a new three-year deal. 

Over the summer, Cooper has moved to refresh his attacking options after the departures of Alex Fisher, Jake Hyde and Rhys Murphy with the signings of Harvey Greenslade and Aaron Jarvis. The signing of Jarvis will see him reunited with his former Torquay United strike partner Frank Nouble. Also arriving from Plainmoor is midfielder Brett McGavin, who will give Cooper a different option in the centre of the park. 

A season of consolidation appears on the cards for the Glovers, but Cooper knows the league well from his spells with Darlington and Forest Green Rovers - so they cause a few surprises along the way.

Player to watch: Aaron Jarvis

In his last season in the National League with Torquay United, Aaron Jarvis netted 18 goals in all competitions and Mark Cooper will be hoping he can be amongst the goals again in 2024-25. Jarvis is also reunited with his one-time Plainmoor strike partner Frank Nouble, and they enjoyed a purple patch towards the end of the 2022-23 season, as the Gulls almost avoided relegation from the National League.

In: Aaron Jarvis & Brett McGavin (Torquay United), Harvey Greenslade (Bristol Rovers), Matt Gould (Altrincham), Jordan Thomas (Hampton & Richmond), Finn Cousins-Dawson (Bradford City), Raphael Araoye (Bristol City), Oliver Wright (Southampton)

Out: Alex Fisher (Bath City), Rhys Murphy (Dorking Wanderers), Jake Hyde (Chelmsford City), Malachi Linton (Weymouth), Lewis Williams (Street FC), Josh Owers (AFC Totton)

SEASON PREVIEW 2024-25: TORQUAY UNITED

 The names might have changed, but the outlook is the same for Torquay United as they head into the 2024-25 National League South campaign. 

As in 2007, the Gulls found themselves under the ownership of a fan-led consortium of local businessmen who appointed an up-and-coming manager who knew the league which they found themselves in, with an experienced football person in the background to offer a guiding hand. 

Therefore, for Alex Rowe, read Michael Westcott and Mark Bowes-Cavanagh, for Paul Buckle, read Paul Wotton and for Colin Lee, read Neil Warnock. 

Another parralel between the challenge facing Buckle in 2007 and Wotton in 2024 is that they virtually had a blank canvas from which to start from. Buckle only had four players under contract when he was appointed in 2007 (Steve Woods, Lee Mansell, Kevin Hill and Lee Thorpe, who later departed the club) and Wotton inherited Austen Booth as his sole contracted player on arrival. 

Like Buckle, Wotton has looked to recruit players who have proven themselves at their current level.  Jordan Dyer, Dan Hayfield and Cody Cooke have all joined from Bath City, while James Hamon and Ed Palmer both followed Wotton to Plainmoor from his previous club Truro City. Former Exeter City striker Ben Seymour, who was Hampton and Richmond's top scorer last season with 16 goals, has returned to Devon to sign for the Gulls. Also returning to the county is Oscar Threlkeld, who played under Wotton during his coaching spell with Plymouth Argyle, who has donned the captain's armband in pre-season.

From slightly further afield, midfielders Lirak Hasani and Omar Mussa have signed from Gateshead and Dagenham & Redbridge and Roddy Collins junior, the son of the former Carlisle United boss Roddy senior, will be looking to adding some grit to the middle of the park. 

There are two factors which could ultimately determine how Torquay United perform in the 2024-25 season are how quickly the team gel - only Booth, Dean Moxey, Finley Craske, Ollie Tomlinson and Brad Ash remain from last season. The second is whether Wotton can unearth a 30 plus goal-a- season partnership from the striking roster, which includes Cooke, Ash and Seymour, who were all top scorers at their respective clubs last season, and Jadyn Crosbie, who netted 37 goals in 48 appearances for Mangotsfield Town in the Hellenic Premier League. 

Player to watch: Sam Dreyer

The son of former Oxford United and Luton Town central defender John Dreyer, who himself enjoyed a loan spell at Plainmoor during the 1985-86 season, Sam Dreyer will be looking to use his time with the Gulls to re-ignite his career following his release by Peterborough United. He caught Paul Wotton's eye during a loan spell with Hampton and Richmond Borough last season and he has emerged as a stand-out performer in pre-season.

In: Jay Foulston (Taunton Town), James Hamon and Ed Palmer (Truro City), Oscar Threlkeld (Morecambe), Jadyn Crosbie (Mangotsfield Town), Sam Dreyer (Peterborough United), Roddy Collins (Chesham), Lirak Hasani (Gateshead), Matt Carson (Southampton), Jordan Dyer, Dan Hayfield and Cody Cooke (Bath City), Omar Mussa (Dagenham & Redbridge), Matt Wonnacott (Wigan Athletic)

Out: Aaron Jarvis & Brett McGavin (Yeovil Town), Ethon Archer (Cheltenham Town), Jack Stobbs (Buxton), Asa Hall and Callum Thomas (Tiverton Town), Mark Halstead (Widnes Town), Lewis Collins, Ross Marshall (Dulwich Hamlet), Dan Martin & Rhys Lovett (Welling United)

SEASON PREVIEW 2024-25: PLYMOUTH ARGYLE

 It could be argued that Plymouth Argyle and Wayne Rooney are made for each other, after England's second highest goalscorer and appearance maker was appointed as Argyle manager in the summer. 

By following in the footsteps of Ryan Lowe, Steven Schumacher and Ian Foster, Rooney is the fourth Merseysider to manage the Pilgrims, and he also has the guidance of his former Everton youth coach Neil Dewsnip to call upon for guidance as director of football. 

In the wake of indifferent spells in charge of Derby County, DC United in the MLS and Birmingham City, Rooney is in search for a club where he can achieve some form of tangible success. He currently finds himself at a club who finished 21st in the Championship in the 2023-24 season and improving on that would be regarded as an achievement - certainly in the short term. 

Rooney also has a fairly young squad to choose from, including Welsh youth international Freddie Issaka who is being tipped to make a big impact in 2024-25. Then there are the slightly more mature talents such as Adam Randell, Bali Mumba, Michael Cooper and Morgan Whittaker, who will be looking to kick on after promising first seasons in the Championship. The latter two on that list have been linked with moves away from Home Park, Rooney will be keen to retain their services. 

One area where Rooney could come into his own as a manager might in the loan market, where he could use his contacts to good effect to bring talented younger players in need of game time to aid their development.With three loan players already recruited, Argyle have berths for two more in their squad.

His short term aim is to ensure that Argyle retain their status as a Championship club and it is a more than realistic ambition if everything falls into place for him. 

Player to Watch: Bali Mumba

While Morgan Whittaker attracted many of the headlines with his goal scoring exploits, joint record signing went under the radar a bit for the Pilgrims last season. However, 2024-25 could be the wing-back's season to shine. 

In: Nathanael Ogbeta (Manchester City), Darko Gyabi (Leeds United, loan), Muhamed Tijani (Slavia Prague, loan), Ibrahim Cissoko (Toulose, loan), Vic Palsson (DC United), Kornel Szucs (Kecskemeti)

Out: Callum Burton & Dan Scarr (Wrexham), Mikel Miller (Huddersfield Town), Jack Endacott (Tavistock)