After missing out on promotion last season, Torquay United will be aiming to go one better under Paul Wotton and clinch a return to the National League.
The Gulls narrowly missed out on winning the league title to Truro City on goal difference before losing to Boreham Wood in the play-offs, which the Wood eventually went on to win, but are looking well equipped to go again.
In response, Wotton has looked to add to his squad, particularly in the midfield, where he has reunited former Yeovil duo Sonny Blu Lo-Everton and Matt Worthington and has handed the captain's armband to the latter. The return of former loanee Callum Dolan on a permanent basis and the capture of Monashe Sundire also give Wotton more options in the centre of the park.
The experienced Louis Dennis also boosts the attacking options available to Wotton and Sonny Fish has been recruited to provide competition for last season's leading scorer Cody Cooke.
Last season, Wotton started off with a strong defence which was built on a back three of Jordan Dyer, Sam Dreyer and Jay Foulston and goalkeeper James Hamon, as the Gulls proved to be strong, resolute and tough to beat in the opening months of the season - bar their FA Cup exit to Bishops Cleeve.
Over the course of the campaign, he added more flair to the squad with the additions of Jordan Young and Dylan Morgan from Yeovil Town and Matt Jay, following his release by Colchester, and the return of Will Jenkins Davies (now Bath City) from Plymouth Argyle on loan.
With his new signings, Wotton's now has a more complete look to it and he will be looking to hit the ground running when they face Enfield Town in their first league match of the season, an occasion when the proof of the pudding will be in the eating.
Player to Watch: Matt Worthington
Central midfielder Matt Worthington returned south to join the Gulls in the summer after leaving Yeovil Town to join Oldham Athletic midway through the 2024-25 campaign. Worthington has been handed the captain's armband and will be looking to add a promotion to the one that he, along with several of his current Plainmoor teammates, won with the Glovers in 2023-24.
In: Monashe Sundire (Tamworth), Louis Dennis (Bromley), Callum Dolan (Fleetwood Town), Sonny Fish (Crawley Town), Jordan Thomas and Sonny Blu Lo-Everton (Yeovil Town), Matt Worthington (Oldham Athletic)
Out: Dean Moxey (Tiverton Town), Offrande Zanzala (Chester FC), Lirak Hasani (Truro City), Brad Ash (Bath City), Ben Seymour (Taunton Town season-long loan), Omar Mussa (Wealdstone), Oscar Threlkeld, Finley Craske
