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)
