THE END OF A ROLLERCOASTER YEAR FOR TORQUAY UNITED

 When Torquay United faced Eastbourne Borough in their first competitive fixture of 2024, few could have imagined what would have followed for United in the next 12 months. 

If anyone did predict the eventual outcome for the Gulls, then Nostradamus wants his glasses back!

In the following February came the bombshell that former chairman/owner Clarke Osborne's announcement that he was intending to place the club in Administration, which resulted in United being docked ten points. Another consequence of this move was the departure of manager Gary Johnson and his assistant Aaron Downes took charge of an interim basis. 

Prior to that there had been talk of Osborne moving the club away from Plainmoor to a new ground, but that speculation ended following his announcement. The fans had also protested against Johnson in their 4-0 defeat at home to St Albans City.

On the field, the Gulls went from harbouring hopes of an outside chance of getting into the play-offs to a possible fight against relegation. Fears over a further demotion to the Southern League was eventually avoided with a 2-1 win over Taunton Town in their penultimate game of the season. 

The summer then saw the club rescued from Administration by the Bryn Consortium, who were headed by Michael Westcott and Mark Bowes-Cavanagh. The Bryn Consortium then moved to install former Gulls caretaker manager Neil Warnock as football advisor and former Plymouth Argyle captain Paul Wotton was brought in from Truro City as the club's new manager. 

In addition, the Torquay United Supporter's Trust also launched a Community Share Issue, which raised over £250,000, which allowed the Trust to purchase a 28% stake in the club. 

Wotton then set about assembling a brand new squad with only Dean Moxey, Finley Craske, Brad Ash,  Austen Booth (prior to a ban for betting on matches) and Ollie Tomlinson retained from the previous campaign. 

A win on the opening day of the new 2024-25 season over Enfield Town was followed by three more wins in their next four league fixtures. 

Despite a disappointing exit to Bishop Cleeve in the FA Cup, United are still going strong in the FA Trophy. 

At the turn of the year, they also sit on top of the National League South, a feat that seemed a long way off last February.

TALKING POINTS FROM TORQUAY UNITED VS HEMEL HEMPSTEAD TOWN

1. James Hamon's heroics. 

Goalkeeper James Hamon was twice called upon to make two important saves to keep Hemel Hempstead at bay. A minute before half time, he denied Tudors' leading scorer Ricky German who attempted a shot on the turn and then in the second half he turned a header from Hemel centre back Kyle Ajayi from a Brandon Barzey onto the bar and over. 

Hamon came away with the sponsor's man of the match prize in recognition of his efforts, which proved to be important in helping United secure the three points. 

2. Cody Cooke's ninth of the campaign. 

After missing from the spot against Weston Super Mare, Gulls' leading scorer Cody Cooke exorcised any negative he may have had about that miss as he duly converted from 12 yards after sub Matt Carson had been felled by the Tudors Brandon Barzey in the 74th minute.

It took Cooke's tally for the season to nine, which means he is almost halfway to emulating his 20-goal haul from the 2023-24 season with Bath City.

3. Matt Carson's impact off the bench. 

Northern Ireland youth international Matt Carson emerged as one of United's key performers of the early part of the season after being taken out of the firing line by manager Paul Wotton. 

However, Carson's display from the bench was remincient of his performances earlier in the campaign as he entered the fray in the 68th minute, and within 60 seconds of coming on his cross found Jordan Dyer who missed the target. Then on 73 minutes, he won the penalty which Cody Cooke converted as he drew a foul from Hemel's Brandon Barzey. 

Wotton is often keen to remind the Plainmoor faithful that it's a squad game in the modern era, so don't be surprised to see Carson continue to make an impact as the season progresses.

4. Five straight wins and ten unbeaten.

United's result against Hemel Hempstead Town extends their winning run in all competitions to five and their unbeaten sequence in all competitions to ten, which includes two FA Ttophy wins over Truro City and Horsham in addition to eight league games. 

The Gulls haven't tasted defeat since losing to Hornchurch on October 26, and their current run of eight league games without loss means they are now halfway to equalling their club record 16-match unbeaten league run, which they set during the 2018-19 season between September 2018 and January 2019.

5. Top of the table at Christmas. 

By winning against the Tudors in the final home game of 2024, Torquay United ensured that they head into the festive period as the leaders of National League South. The Gulls are currently on 43 points, two points ahead of second placed Truro City on 41 while Boreham Wood and Dorking Wanderers are a further point behind on 40 and the teams in fifth to eighth (Maidstone United, Weston Super Mare, Worthing and Eastbourne Borough) are only separated by goal difference on 39.

A TRIBUTE TO DAVE THOMAS

 When studying for my AS Level English Language coursework, one of the modules allowed a piece of original writing of my own choice. 

After having witnessed a highly dramatic Devon Derby between Torquay United and Exeter City on January 20, 2001, which was billed at the time as the 'most crucial Devon Derby' of all time - as both the Gulls and the Grecians were battling against relegation from the Football League. 

As taken as I was by the event,which saw Mark Ford spark a near-riot after scoring a penalty and Kevin Parker score a last gasp winner, I decided to write my own match report of the game and submit it as part of my coursework. 

Whether you might think that that was a good idea or not, I'll let you decide. However, when it came writing the second draft just under a month later, I asked my English teacher Mr Trott what I could do to improve it and he replied 'maybe you could write to this David Thomas who the report (I used the report in the Herald Express as the basis of it) and ask him for some advice' - or words to that effect. 

So I duly wrote to Dave Thomas and duly replied and we arranged to meet at Harmsworth House in Barton Hill Road, where the office of the Herald Express were based until 2018, on February 27, 2001 - three days before my 17th birthday I may hasten to add!

For me personally this was quite a big deal to me as I'd been reading Dave's match reports as long I had been a fan. The meeting itself proved to be an extremely positive as we went through my report and another one that I had written of a subsequent game against Rochdale, and both decided what he was suggesting would be the style I would adopt going forwards. Indeed, my report of the Torquay vs Exeter game would later form the basis of game 32 in my first book on the Gulls Torquay United: A History in 50 Matches - which Dave would later describe as 'a lovingly researched work.'

I also asked him for some more general advice about Journalism and forging a career within it. 

My path would cross with Dave's a few years later whilst on work experience with Herald Express when I was studying for my NCTJ Pre-Entry Certificate in Newspaper Journalism, and then through my involvement with Torquay United programme and the short-lived Gullsworld Magazine. 

Then in 2009, I became a regular in the Plainmoor press area working alongside Dave, firstly for the Football League Paper until 2014 and then the Non League Paper from 2015 onwards. Whilst the likes of Ross Reid, John Uzzell and Guy Henderson to name but a few have come and gone, Dave has been a constant during that time. Indeed, I was present at the unveiling of his all-time team from his 56 years of covering the Gulls' fortunes for both the Herald Express and the Torbay Weekly and reported on United's 2-0 win over Farnborough the next day. 

During Dave's 50 plus years in Journalism, he has witnessed plenty of change to the industry including the transition from the days of hot metal to the micro chip and the change from the Herald Express from being a daily paper to a weekly. Nevertheless, whilst he doesn't have a presence on social media, he did play a key role in the Herald Express Yellow Army Podcast until 2020, which he still appears on as an occasional guest. 

Journalists covering the club in the future will know of Dave, as it has been announced that the club' new media suite will be named in his honour. 

And finally from me Dave, if you decide to write a book on your time covering the Gulls - I'm definitely buying it!

TALKING POINTS FROM TORQUAY UNITED VERSUS FARNBOROUGH

 1. Four wins out of four. 

By beating Farnborough, Torquay United made it four wins out of four and nine games unbeaten in all competitions. The Gulls haven't tasted defeat since they went down 2-1 to Hornchurch on October 26, and if you subtract their FA Trophy fixtures against Truro City and Horsham from that sequence, they are currently seven without loss in the league, which leaves them half way to equalling the club record 16 match run they set when they last won the National League South title in 2018-19. 

2. A second successive clean sheet. 

As a former centre back himself Gulls manager Paul Wotton would no doubt have been delighted to see United keep a second successive clean sheet. To a man, the Gulls' back four of Jordan Thomas, Jordan Dyer, Sam Dreyer and Jay Foulston were excellent to a man to keep Farnborough, who were fifth in the table at the start of play, at bay. 

Surely Wotton's message to them would be 'more of the same please lads.' 

3. Will Jenkins-Davies nets his fourth of the campaign. 

By scoring the Gulls opening goal of the afternoon, Plymouth Argyle loanee Will Jenkins-Davies took his goal tally for the season to four, which now makes him United's joint-second top scorer with Dan Hayfield. With his loan spell with United due to expire in early January, Wotton will be hoping that he can retain his services for the remainder of the campaign. 

4. A promising debut from Jack Wood. 

Attacking midfielder Jack Wood made a promising debut after replacing Omar Mussa on 61 minutes after joining from Southend United on loan. Six minutes after entering the fray he cut inside on the right, onto his left foot, before producing a shot which was deflected behind. 

Wood has joined the Gulls for an initial 28-day period, which could be extended if he continues to build on his early cameo. 

5. Top of the league. 

For the first time since May 8, when they were top of the National League, Torquay United find themselves at the summit of a league. However, manager Paul Wotton is refusing to get carried away whilst the Gulls are only one point clear of second placed Boreham Wood. 

6. Crowds remain impressive. 

United's crowd once again topped the 3,000 mark as they drew an attendance of 3,303, which included 96 Farnborough fans. With the festive season approaching, there is speculation that their New Year's Day encounter with Truro City might draw a crowd in the region of 4,500 to 5,000.

WOTTON WINS MANAGER OF THE MONTH AWARD

Torquay United manager Paul Wotton has been awarded the Vanarama National League South Manager of the Month Award for November.

After United picked up 13 points from a possible 21 over the course of the month that saw United record three wins and four draws in the league; highlights of this sequence included a 4-2 win over then-leaders Weston-super-Mare on November 26. 

In addition to this, the Gulls also progressed in the FA Trophy at the expense of Wotton's former club Truro City. 

On receiving the award, Wotton took the opportunity to pay tribute to the efforts of everyone at the club. 

He said: "It's lovely, we've had a good month, and it's just reward for everyone's hard work at the Football Club."

The National League prize was claimed by Barnet's Dean Brennan, whilst the experienced Phil Brown, now in charge of Kidderminster Harriers, won the prize in National League North. 

ARGYLE DRAFT IN PHELAN

 In the wake of the departure of assistant manager Peter Shuttleworth, Plymouth Argyle manager Wayne Rooney has reacted quickly to bring former Manchester United number two Mike Phelan as his replacement. 

Phelan previously worked with Rooney during his first spell as assistant manager at Old Trafford, between 2008 and 2013, where he served under Sir Alex Ferguson and won numerous honours, including the club's most recent Premier League title to date in the 2012-13 campaign. 

In addition to this, Phelan has also worked as assistant manager at Blackpool, Norwich City and Hull City, who he has a brief spell in charge of, before returning to Old Trafford in 2018 to assist Ole Gunnar Solksjaer. 

As a player, Phelan started his career with Burnley and later moved on to Norwich City, Manchester United (who he won the European Cup Winner's Cup with in 1991) and West Bromwich Albion.

WHERE THERE'S A WILL THERE'S A WAY

 After a Storm Darragh enforced break, Torquay United will attempt to continue their run in the FA Trophy on Tuesday night against Horsham - and one player in particular will be looking to carry where he left off from. 

In their previous two fixtures, against Weston Super Mare and Enfield Town, the Gulls found the back of the net eight times, with Plymouth Argyle loanee midfielder Will Jenkins Davies netting three of those eight goals. 

Jenkins Davies, 20, struck once against the high flying Seagulls, as United won 4-2, which he then followed up by bagging a brace away to Enfield Town in a game in which the Gulls sealed a 4-1 victory - despite conceding early on. 

It's a haul that now means that Jenkins Davies is now almost half way to emulating the eight goals in 36 appearances in all competitions which he managed during his first spell on loan at Plainmoor during the 2023-24 campaign. 

With his loan spell with the Gulls due to come to an end in early January, there is now a question mark over his immediate future. Is he likely to remain with the Gulls on loan until the end of the current campaign, or are the Pilgrims going to recall him before loaning him out to a League Two or National League club? Then there is the possibility of United attempting to sign him on a permanent basis. 

One thing is for certain is that there certainly will have been, and probably still will be, constant dialogue between Gulls manager Paul Wotton and Pilgrims' first team coach Kevin Nancekivell. The pair know each other well from working together as part of the Home Park backroom staff under Derek Adams, and both will be looking for a solution that will serve Jenkins Davies well, in addition to the needs of United and Argyle. 

Given the sterling role that the Gulls played in the development of Adam Randell in the 2020-21 season, who has since gone on to become a regular in the Pilgrims' midfield, it would not be a surprise to see Jenkins Davies remain at Plainmoor - until the end of the season at least.

PAUL WOTTON'S COMEBACK KINGS

 By beating Enfield Town 4-1 despite conceding a penalty early on, Torquay United took the number of points that they have won in the 2024-25 campaign after going behind to 17. 

We will now take a look back at the games where the Gulls have shown bouncebackability to achieve success. 

(Torquay United scorers indicated in bold)

W 2-1 Enfield Town H - Saturday 10th August, Lewis Taaffe (4), Matt Carson (15), Brad Ash (27)

W 3-2 Chesham United A - Monday 26th August Joe Grant (36, 65), Cody Cooke (45 pen), Dan Hayfield (70), Brad Ash (90 +5)

D 1-1 Eastbourne Borough A - Saturday 19th October, George Alexander (33), Finley Craske (36)

W 2-1 Worthing H - Tuesday 22nd October, Jack Spong (36), Omar Mussa (51), Jay Foulston (72)

D 1-1 Maidstone United H - Tuesday 12th November, Charlie Seaman (39(, Jay Foulston (86)

W 4-2 Weston Super Mare H - Tuesday 26th November, Luke Coulson (17) Lirak Hasani (29), Sam Avery (42), Will Jenkins Davies (34), Cody Cooke (69,78)

W 4-1 Enfield Town A - Saturday 30th November, Sam Youngs (3 pen), Jordan Thomas (30), Will Jenkins Davies (33, 80), Jordan Young (47)