TORQUAY RETURN TO WINNING WAYS ON THE ROAD

 At the end of a difficult week, Torquay United returned to winning ways with a 3-0 victory over National League South strugglers Walton and Hersham. 

Matt Jay set the Gulls on their way with a delicate chip in the first half before second half strikes from substitute Cody Cooke and Jacob Beaumont-Clark sealed an impressive win on the road for Jimmy Ball's side. 

It was United's third win on the travels in the league this season, and the first of a run of four away fixtures, which includes Hemel Hempstead Town (November 10), Horsham (FA Trophy November 14) and Braintree Town (November 21), before they round off the month of November with home games against Chesham United (November 24) and Chelmsford City (November 28). 

GULLS NEED TO GET WINS ON THE BOARD

 It wasn't meant to be this way. 

After losing in the National League South play-off final to Hornchurch last May, many fans expected Torquay United to bounce back and be challenging again for promotion. 

However, for one reason or another, that hasn't happened for the Gulls as yet and they find themselves 16th in the National League South table after 13 games, with four wins, five draws and four defeats. 

Manager Jimmy Ball has had to deal with a serious period of transition which has seen United lose a source of over 50 goals following the departures of Jordan Young (18), Louis Dennis (16), Dylan Morgan (13) and Callum Dolan (5) - with the former three all departing Plainmoor following the start of the 2026-27 campaign. 

In addition to this, last season's first choice centre back pairing of Jordan Dyer and Sam Dreyer - which was arguably the best in the division - has been dismantled due to an ACL injury to Jordan Dyer and Sam Dreyer's move to Harrogate Town. 

All this has served to crank up the pressure on Ball. 

Attacking midfielder Sonny Blu Lo-Everton currently leads the Gulls' goal scoring charts with five goals, which includes a hat-trick against AFC Stoneham in the FA Cup second qualifying round, but he is currently injured. 

Deon Moore was a sensation last season, scoring eight times after joining on a short-term deal following his release by Maidstone United, but has only scored three times in a season which has seen him miss a number of games due to an international call-up for Guyana. 

Nevertheless, points wise, United are closer to the top seven than they are to the relegation zone and need to hit a winning run, starting with Walton and Hersham away tomorrow, or they risk disappearing beyond the point of no return as far as reaching even a play-off spot is concerned. 

TALKING POINTS FROM TORQUAY UNITED VERSUS MAIDSTONE UNITED

 1. Harry Shield excels again. 

For the third home game in a row, Harry Shield was one of Torquay's star performers and deservedly claimed the sponsor's man of the match award. 

Primarily a right-back, Shield was deployed as a right wing-back in manager Jimmy Ball's 5-3-2 formation and he played a key role in the opening goal of the game in the 27th minute. His cross from the right was inadvertently turned into the back of his own net by Maidstone's Franky Hvid. 

2. Kian Jenkins produces a solid display at left wing-back. 

Whilst Harry Shield looked sharp at right wing-back, Kian Jenkins produced arguably his best display for the Gulls to date at left wing-back. 

Like Shield, Jenkins dealt well with Maidstone's attacks and was strong offensively as well. 

Although, it's still too early to be comparing them to Jim McNichol and Tom Kelly (1987-88) and Andy Gurney and Paul Gibbs (1997-98), they are both acquitting themselves well to life at Plainmoor. 

3. A day to forget for Cody Cooke. 

Saturday was a day that Gulls striker Cody Cooke will want to forget in a hurry; firstly he saw his penalty turned behind for a corner by Maidstone keeper Lenny Holden in the 32nd minute. Then, with six minutes to go, his sliced headed clearance landed straight in the path of Franky Hvid who nodded home the Stones' equaliser. 

Nevertheless, Cody did work hard and put a real shift in, and helped to tee up Deon Moore for a chance in the 56th minute which was parried away by Holden. 

4. Matt Jay 

The term 'thinking man's footballer' could easily be applied to Matt Jay, who recently announced that he will be combining his playing duties with that of head of youth at the club. 

Having made a big contribution when coming off the bench this season, he also had a big impact on starting against Maidstone in weather conditions that weren't ideal for a cultured ball player like Jay. 

However, Jay made an impact as he helped win the penalty on 31 minutes and also had a shot from the edge of the penalty area in the second half that narrowly cleared the cross bar. 

5. Another draw.

Although the Gulls remain unbeaten at home in National League South, they also have drawn five at Plainmoor - which gives them the joint-third highest number of draws in the division. 

It's a record that they jointly hold with Hemel Hempstead Town and Dorking Wanderers, Horsham are second on the list with six while to Chelmsford City who have nine draws to their name. 

As former Plymouth Argyle manager Paul Sturrock, who won five promotions in England and Scotland, once said: 'draws can kill, as it's better to win one and draw one.'

Two draws will earn you two points, whereas a win and a loss earns you three and the challenge facing Jimmy Ball and United is to turn those draws into wins. 

ROY MCFARLAND AT TORQUAY UNITED: THE GREAT 'WHAT IF?'

25 years ago last summer, former Derby County and England defender Roy McFarland  

"If you ever get the chance to manage on the south coast, take it - wherever it is." 

That was the advice given to Roy McFarland by Peter Taylor, who himself famously succeeded his long time managerial partner Brian Clough as Brighton and Hove Albion manager, rather than join Clough during his now infamous 44-day spell in charge of Leeds United, before being reunited with Clough at Nottingham Forest. 

It was a piece of wisdom that was heeded by McFarland when he was appointed as Torquay United manager in the summer of 2001. At this point in time, the Gulls had just retained their league status on the final day of the 2000-01 campaign with a 3-2 win over Barnet at Underhill, and McFarland had taken the managerial reins after caretaker manager Colin Lee had turned down the chance to take the job on a full-time basis. 

With 28 caps for England to his name and two league titles won with Derby County in 1971-72 and 1974-75, the first of which came under Clough and Taylor, McFarland had one of the strongest playing pedigrees of any Torquay United manager. As a manager, he had won promotions from the fourth tier with Bradford City (1981-82) and Cambridge United (1998-99), which marked him out as the ideal candidate to revive the Gulls' fortunes. 

Amongst McFarland's first moves were to bring in David Preece, his former number two at Cambridge, in as his assistant and made Alex Russell, who also served under him at the Abbey Stadium, his first signing. 

In the league, United didn't get off to a great start as they lost their opening two league games against Bristol Rovers and York City before turning on the style to beat AFC Bournemouth 2-0 at Dorchester Town's Avenue Stadium (Dean Court was being redeveloped at the time). A stunning 40 yard strike from David Graham and a second half effort from Chris Brandon sealed a 2-0 win over a Cherries' side that featured a young Eddie Howe. 

As a reward, the Gulls were drawn away to Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane, which was the first domestic football match in the UK to take place after the 9/11 attacks in the USA. In a game that was shown live on the ill-fated ITV Digital channel, United gave a good account of themselves, losing 2-0 after the half-time introduction of England star Teddy Sheringham helping to turn the match in Spurs' favour. 

The match helped to boost the club's coffers, which were further boosted with a £100,000 sale of teenage centre back Mike Williamson to Southampton. 

Nevertheless, the first half of the season saw much chopping and changing. The 2000-01 player of the season Jimmy Aggrey left Plainmoor after playing just two games under McFarland, and a similar fate befell 1999-00 skipper Brian Healy. Goalkeeper Stuart Jones, who famously saved a penalty against Barnet on the final day in 2000-01, also departed the club as Kevin Dearden proved to be an immovable object in goal, being an ever present and player of the season in 2001-02. 

Club record signing Eifion Williams was also on the move as he joined Hartlepool United for £30,000 in February 2002. 

Many others also came and went, including tough tackling central midfielder Gary Brabin, who was sent off twice in the space of four matches against his former club Hull City and in a Devon derby with Exeter City. 

In addition to this, McFarland also transfer listed Tony Bedeau and David Graham, and in his 2014 autobiography, Roy Mac: Clough’s Champion, McFarland imagines what his former bosses from his own playing days at Derby County, Brian Clough and Peter Taylor, would have made of Graham. He wonders what Taylor would have seen in Graham and whether Clough would have persisted with him or driven him to the train station and bought him a one-way ticket back to his native Edinburgh.

And persist with Graham he did, as he finished the 2001-02 season as United's top scorer with nine goals. 

After reaching a season high position of 11th place at the end of October 2001, the Gulls only won once in 18 games. Nevertheless, a 3-1 away win at Darlington, which saw Alex Russell score his only career hat-trick, helped to start a revival which saw them lose three of their last 12 fixtures, which included a then club record run of six clean sheets. 

However, after their final day draw with Swansea City came the bombshell that McFarland and Preece would both be leaving the club in the wake of the collapse of the ITV Digital deal with the Football League, which left many lower league clubs facing financial peril. 

McFarland had been informed by chairman Mike Bateson that he would have to work without Preece as his assistant, which McFarland refused to and decided to resign. 

Bateson then, of course, turned to Leroy Rosenior as manager who then famously led the Gulls to automatic promotion for the first time in 38 years in the 2003-04 campaign. 

Many of the 16 man squad who clinched promotion of the final day in 2003-04 were signed by McFarland, including Reuben Hazell, Steve Woods, Alex Russell, David Woozley, Jason Fowler and Lee Canoville; Goalkeeper Kevin Dearden, who was voted as the club's player of the year for the 2001-02 campaign, only missed out through injury. 

Although Rosenior made a number of astute additions to the squad he inherited such as Martin Gritton, Jo Kuffour, Arjan Van Heusden, Craig Taylor and Brian McGlinchey, the core of the squad that achieved that success were signed by McFarland, which has always left many what he and Preece could have achieved if they had carried on. 

Could they have repeated the success that they had had with Cambridge? 

Maybe, McFarland and Preece were reported to be looking at some serious signings who would have helped the Gulls challenge for promotion. 

However, it is also worth mentioning that some years before McFarland took charge the late Cyril Knowles arrived at Plainmoor in 1987 after winning promotion from the 'old' Fourth Division with Darlington in the 1984-85 campaign, and keeping them in the 'old' Third Division in 1985-86. After McFarland left Plainmoor, Martin Ling led Leyton Orient to promotion from  League Two in the 2005-06 season and kept them in League One in 2006-07. 

Both Knowles and Ling guided United to the play-offs after coming agonisingly close to winning automatic promotion, so the question is 'would McFarland have emulated their efforts or Rosenior's? 

The truth is that we will never really know, but many of McFarland signings such as Russell, Fowler, Woods and Dearden still trip off the tongue of most Gulls' fans to this day. Which is as fine a legacy as any. 

Footnote: As a young hopeful with Tranmere Rovers, McFarland was spotted by Peter Taylor whilst appearing for Rovers against Torquay United in 1967. 

PARKWAY GIVEN A SHOT AT CREATING MORE HISTORY

 After reaching the FA Cup 1st round for the first time in their history, Plymouth Parkway will now welcome Southern Premier Division South rivals Berkhamsted to Bolitho Park. 

Only nine places separate the two sides - Parkway in 2nd, Berkhamsted in 11th - and it promises to be a closely fought contest. 

Parkway's tie won't be the only tie taking place in the city during the first weekend in November, as Plymouth Argyle host either Spalding Town of National League North or Alvechurch of Southern Premier Division Central. 

Exeter City, meanwhile, will face a trip north to face Huddersfield Town who are flying high in League One. 

If Yeovil Town overcome Leatherhead in their FA Cup fourth qualifying round replay at Huish Park, they will be rewarded with a trip to League Two side Chesterfield. 

TALKING POINTS FROM TORQUAY UNITED VERSUS OXFORD CITY FA CUP

 1. The wait to reach the first round again goes on.  

United's wait to the reach the first round proper of the FA Cup now stretches to four years following their defeat to Oxford City. 

The Gulls' 2-2 draw with Derby County in the 2022-23 season, which was televised by ITV and followed by a 5-0 loss at Pride Park in the replay, remains their last appearance in the main stage of the competition - for another year at least!

Nevertheless, this season's efforts in the competition currently stands as United's best FA Cup run since the Bryn Consortium's takeover in 2024. 

2. Harry Shield continues to show great maturity at right-back. 

Once again, young right-back Harry Shield was amongst the pick of United's performers as continues to make the position on the right hand side of the Gulls' defence his own. 

Shield was strong defensively and also got forward to good effect as well, producing a number of dangerous crosses. In the first half, he cut inside onto his left foot and almost caught out Oxford City keeper Jonny Maxted. Then in the second half, he had another cross which appeared to have been handled by Oxford City skipper Josh Ashby, and then with 11 minutes to go he picked out substitute Cody Cooke, who was denied by the acrobatics of Maxted. 

3. A solid display from Luke Browne. 

Another positive from Saturday's game was the performance of Notts County loanee Luke Browne in the centre of defence. 

The Republic of Ireland Under-19 international was solid throughout and showed a few moments of class, as he continues his footballing education at Plainmoor. 

His form also helps to enhance the Gulls' reputation as a good club to loan young players to. 

4. Focusing on the league. 

I know it's a cliche, but United are now free to concentrate on the league (and the FA Trophy, of course!)

Whilst it would have provided the club with a boost to reach the first round, both in terms of finance and morale, if you offered any Gulls fan the choice between a lengthy run in the competition or promotion to the National League, then the majority would choose the latter. 

Now it's over to Jimmy Ball and the players starting with Maidstone United at home next Saturday. 

FA CUP FOURTH QUALIFYING ROUND PREVIEW 2026-27

 The 2026-27 FA Cup fourth qualifying round will see Torquay United, Plymouth Parkway, Yeovil Town and Truro City looking to create their own piece of FA Cup history. 

Torquay United will be aiming to reach the first round proper for the first time since 2022-23, when they took Derby County to a replay at Pride Park after drawing 2-2 at Plainmoor in a match that was televised live on ITV1. Manager Jimmy Ball reached the first round proper last season with his former club AFC Totton and he also has his own family history with the competition, as his father, Alan, won the competition as a player with Arsenal in 1971. 

Meanwhile, Plymouth Parkway, who are currently riding high in Southern League Premier South, are looking to create their own piece of history in the competition, as they are one game away from reaching the first round proper for the first time ever against fellow Southern League Premier South outfit Chertsey. 

Yeovil Town have a reputation of being FA Cup giantkillers, but the boot will be on the other foot when they face Isthmian Premier League side Leatherhead, who themselves have an FA Cup giant killing heritage. The Tanners famously reached the fourth round in the 1974-75 season, when inspired by their talisman Chris Kelly, where they took Leicester City, then of the 'old' First Division, to a replay. 

Truro City are also facing a team with a strong FA Cup pedigree in Sutton United, who defeated Coventry City in the 1988-89 season. 

TALKING POINTS FROM TORQUAY UNITED VERSUS SLOUGH TOWN

 1. Matt Jay makes another a big impact from the bench. 

Matt Jay once again proved to be a super sub for Torquay United as he helped to inspire the Gulls to recover from being a goal down to beat Slough Town at Plainmoor. 

Former Exeter City starlet Jay replaced Dan Hayfield in the 62nd minute and found the back of the net within a minute of coming on, as he fired home after a ball into the box from Caleb Roberts had been blocked. 

It was the third time that Jay had found the back of the net for United after also rising from the bench to score against Tonbridge Angels away and at home to Folkestone Invicta. On both of those occasions, Jay netted what turned out to be the winning, but this time he helped to inspire a comeback. 

2. Callum Morton nets his first league goal for his hometown club. 

After opening his competitive goal scoring account for the club in the FA Cup against AFC Stoneham, Callum Morton struck with his first league goal for the Gulls against Slough Town. 

Morton, who had entered the fray at half-time in place of Sean Robertson, pounced in the 70th minute after fellow sub Angelo Cappello had seen his effort parried by Slough keeper Kilian Barrett. 

He then turned provider, firstly for Jacob Beaumont-Clark on 87 minutes and then for Notts County loanee Luke Browne in the first minute of injury time. 

As well doubling his goalscoring tally to two, Morton also doubled his assist tally for the season to four, as he also provided assists for Sonny Blu Lo-Everton and Matt Worthington in the FA Cup against AFC Stoneham and Tonbridge Angels respectively. 

3. Jacob Beaumont-Clark's brace. 

The early season departures of Jordan Young and Dylan Morgan deprived the Gulls of a source of over 30 goals, but Jacob Beaumont-Clark could yet play a major part in filling the void left by their moves to Worthing and Crawley Town, as he took his tally for the season to four with a late brace against Slough. 

Beaumont-Clark, who only had a handful of appearances for Everton Under-21s to his name before arriving at Plainmoor, is now firmly on course to hit double figures for the 2026-27 campaign. 

4. Competition for the right back slot. 

Throughout the 2026-27 season, the left-back slot has been heavily contested between Kian Jenkins and Tyler Hill, but there could also be equally strong competition for the right-back position between Harry Shield and Dom Bernard. 

In Bernard's recent absence through injury, former Plymouth Argyle youngster Shield has filled in and produced another solid display against Slough. 

It's something that will give manager Jimmy Ball plenty of food for though once Bernard returns from injury. 

5. Luke Browne's goal. 

Notts County loanee Luke Browne got in on the goal scoring against Slough as he drilled home a low drive from the edge of the penalty area after being teed up by Callum Morton. 

It was only Browne's third appearance since arriving at Plainmoor from Meadow Park, but there must surely be a possibility of his loan spell with the Gulls being extended. 

Older readers may recall reading Steak, Diana Ross: the diary of a footballing nobody by David McVay, which included a section on his loan spell with United from the Magpies. It is not known yet whether Browne decides to publish memoirs of his own playing career!

DEON ON THE SCORE SHEET FOR GOLDEN JAGUARS

 Torquay United striker Deon Moore signed off from CONCACAF Nations League duty with Guyana with a brace in the Golden Jaguars made it four wins out of four against Dominica. 

Moore netted a brace as Guyana won 8-1 to complete a double over Dominica, who they had beaten 5-1 three days earlier with Moore also finding the target. 

The results against Dominica followed a 1-0 win over Puerto Rico and a 2-0 victory over the Cayman Islands, as they secured promotion to CONCACAF Nations League Group A, progression to the competition's semi-finals and qualification for the CONCACAF Gold Cup. 

By appearing for the Golden Jaguars whilst with United, Moore joins a list of players who have appeared internationally for Caribbean nations, which includes Gregory Goodridge and Mark Hall (Barbados), Rodney Jack (St Vincent and Grenadines) and Tony Bedeau (Grenada). 

UNITED AND PARKWAY PROGRESS TO FOURTH QUALIFYING ROUND

 There will be a strong Devonian presence in the FA Cup fourth qualifying round draw after Torquay United and Plymouth Parkway both progressed from the third qualifying round. 

The Gulls will be appearing in the final qualifying stage of the competition for the first time since the 2023-24 campaign after they came away from Kent with a 1-0 victory over fellow National League South side Tonbridge Angels. 

Skipper Matt Worthington connected with a low ball from Callum Morton in the 55th minute to score his first goal of the season, as United secured their third away over the Angels in the last 12 months - after winning 2-1 on the final day of the 2025-26 campaign also winning by the same score line earlier this season. 

Current Southern League Premier South leaders Plymouth Parkway came from behind to beat Horsham at Bolitho Park. Ronan Silva put the Hornets in front in the first half before Parkway equalised in the 68th minute when Rio Garside headed home a Jenson Ireland corner. Three minutes later, another corner from Ireland was nodded home, this time by Reece Thomson as Parkway sealed their place in the next round. 

TALKING POINTS FROM TORQUAY UNITED VERSUS AFC STONEHAM FA CUP

 1. Sonny Blu Lo-Everton's purple patch. 

Sonny Blu Lo-Everton went into Saturday's FA Cup second qualifying round tie having scored two goals in two games for United in National League South, a figure that he increased on Saturday to five goals in three games with his first career hat-trick. 

United were already 2-1 in front when Lo-Everton opened his account for the afternoon when Callum Morton threaded a ball through him to calmly slot home. Then in first half injury time, Lo-Everton struck with his second with a strike from the edge of the penalty area following a short corner routine from the Gulls. 

In the second half, he added his third when he pounced on a loose ball in the penalty area to complete his first hat-trick, becoming the second Torquay United player under Jimmy Ball's reign as manager; the first being Dylan Morgan against Bath City on Easter Monday 2026. 

After the match, Ball stated that he believed Lo-Everton needed to score more goals to reflect his ability, and that he is more than capable of scoring double figures. 

2. Callum Morton's first goal for his hometown club. 

After growing up supporting the Gulls, Callum Morton finally signed for Torquay United during the close season, and scored his first goal for the club at Plainmoor against AFC Stoneham. 

Morton started up front as the focal point of United's attack and he turned home a cross from Sonny Blu Lo-Everton in the seventh minute to open his account for the Gulls. 

He will no doubt be hoping that he gave manager Jimmy Ball something to think about regarding his selection for future matches. 

3. Taylor Scarff's debut. 

Saturday's match also saw new signing Taylor Scarff make his debut for the Gulls after joining from Plymouth Parkway. Scarff, 26, who has also been capped by British Virgin Islands, started his career in the academies of Liverpool and Yeovil Town before appearing for Cornish side Mount Gould and Tavistock before joining Parkway. 

In the opening minutes, play was briefly held up when he underwent treatment for a blood injury, but he carried on once he had been patched up. He was eventually replaced by Monashe Sundire on 56 minutes. 

His arrival gives Jimmy Ball another option in the centre of defence, alongside Oludare Olufunwa, Jake Wannell and, once he returns from injury, Jordan Dyer. 

4. A first FA Cup in three years. 

Saturday's victory over AFC Stoneham was the first FA Cup tie that Torquay United have won since they beat Hungerford Town 5-0 on September 30, 2023, under Gary Johnson. 

Since then, United have twice exited the competition in the second qualifying round against Bishops Cleeve in 2024-25 and against AFC Totton, then managed by Jimmy Ball. 

5. A tribute to Kevin Miller. 

In his post-match interview, Jimmy Ball paid tribute his former Exeter City teammate and former Torquay United player and goalkeeper coach Kevin Miller, who died recently at the age of 57. 

Miller had loan spell with the Gulls from Southampton in the 2006-07 season, and later worked as a goalkeeper coach under Kevin Nicholson during the 2015-16 campaign. 

KEVIN MILLER 1969-2026

 The South West football community received a shock recently following the sudden passing of former Exeter City and Torquay United goalkeeper Kevin Miller at the age of 57. 

Miller originally joined the Grecians in 1989 from Newquay, and he played a starring role in the City that won the Fourth Division title in the 1989-90 campaign under Terry Cooper. It was a side that is still fondly remembered by Grecians' fans, and his teammates included the likes of Scot Hiley, Richard Dryden and Chris Vinnicombe, all of whom, like Miller, would go on to grace a higher level. 

In 1993, Miller followed Cooper to Birmingham City before moving on to Watford, where he won the Hornet's player of the year award twice, as his form at Vicarage Road helped him to earn a £1.5million move to the Premier League with Crystal Palace. 

A transfer to Barnsley then followed where he stayed for three years before making the return to St James Park in 2002. However, his return coincided with the season that the Grecians were relegated from the Football League under the ownership of John Russell and Mike Lewis, which also saw Uri Geller serve on the club's board. The season also saw the club go through three managers in John Cornforth, Neil McNab and Gary Peters. 

Further spells in the Football League followed for Miller with Bristol Rovers, Derby County, Southampton and Torquay United before he returned to his native Cornwall to sign for Bodmin Town. 

After he retired from playing, Miller worked as a goalkeeper coach for Torquay United and Exeter City, as well as a stint as manager of Exmouth Town. At the time of his passing, he had been working as goalkeeper coach at Wigan Athletic, a role which saw him reunited with former Grecians boss Gary Caldwell. 

His sudden passing is a huge loss to his family and friends and football in the South West has lost one of its true heroes. 

TALKING POINTS FROM TORQUAY UNITED VERSUS DORKING WANDERERS

 1. Jake Wannell's sending off. 

True to form, Torquay United's National League South encounter with Dorking Wanderers lived up to its billing, as both teams scored four goals between them. 

However, the drama didn't stop there. 

The Gulls spent the last 11 minutes of normal time, as well as the seven minutes of injury time added on, playing with ten men after skipper Jake Wannell received a second yellow card, after speaking to referee following a foul on leading scorer Deon Moore. In addition to this, United also played the closing stages with a makeshift centre back pairing after new signing Oladare Olufenwa went off injured to be replaced by Tyler Hill, who later found himself playing alongside central midfielder Dan Hayfield, who entered the fray after Wannell was dismissed. 

After the match, Wannell took to Twitter/X and when describing the incident said: "To clear up the sending off, the ref said five minutes prior that one more tackle on Deon would be a yellow. I simply asked the ref after another foul on Deon I said you told me it would be a booking for there player. Which is apparently dissent. No swearing whatsoever."

2. Deon Moore and Sonny Blu Lo-Everton amongst the goals. 

During a seven day spell which saw the Gulls secure seven points from a possible nine with wins over Folkestone Invicta (3-2) and Maidenhead United (4-0) and a draw with Dorking Wanderers (2-2), Deon Moore and Sonny Blu Lo-Everton found themselves amongst the goals. 

Moore was on target against Folkestone and then opened the scoring against Dorking. Lo-Everton scored United's second against Maidenhead after sub Matt Jay teed him up for a shot from 20 yards, which saw him open his account for the season. He then drilled home a low free-kick to level matters in the 68th minute. 

With Jordan Young and Dylan Morgan having departed, and Louis Dennis seemingly on the verge of his departure, Moore and Lo-Everton seem destined to take on the mantle of being United's main source of goals. 

Don't be surprised to see both hit double figures this season. 

3. Caleb Roberts and Tegan Finn. 

After making their debuts away to Maidenhead United in midweek, the majority of the Plainmoor faithful got their first glimpses of Plymouth Argyle loanees Caleb Roberts and Tegan Finn in the flesh. 

Both were involved the thick of the action in the first half as Roberts had a shot from distance turned behind for a corner by Dorking keeper Glenn Morris in the sixth minute and he later had a shot blocked. 

Finn, meanwhile, played a role in United's opener as his shot was stopped by Morris in the 23rd minute which landed in the path of Deon Moore who duly slotted home. He later had an effort that hit the post, as the Gulls dominated the first half, but still only went in at the break at 1-1. 

In recent seasons, Adam Randell and Will Jenkins-Davies have become key members of the United squad after joining on loan from the Pilgrims. Indeed, Randell went on to captain the club before moving to Bristol City in the summer of 2025, after he returned from a season long loan at Plainmoor in the 2020-21 season.  

Roberts will be with the Gulls until January 2027 and Finn has joined initially for a month. However, don't be surprised to see those deals extended. 

4. Still unbeaten at home. 

United's draw with Dorking keeps their home unbeaten record for 2026-27 intact, but United boss Jimmy Ball will be disappointed that they have only one once in five encounters at Plainmoor. 

In terms of their overall play, the Gulls have created enough chances to win more at one game in front of their own fans, and hopefully they will make that dominance count on a regular basis. 

TALKING POINTS FROM TORQUAY UNITED VERSUS FOLKESTONE INVICTA

 1. A first home win of the season. 

After three successive draws, Torquay United finally tasted victory in front of their own fans with victory over Folkestone Invicta. 

First half goals from Jacob Beaumont-Clark and Deon Moore set the Gulls on their way before they were pegged back early in the second half, as Liam Smith and Donell Thomas struck for Folkestone. 

However, despite weathering the storm for a long period in the second half, substitute Matt Jay struck to score his second goal of the campaign after fellow sub Cody Cooke had been denied by Folkestone keeper Ted Collins. 

The result proved to be a massive boost for all concerned and hopefully they'll be plenty more to cheer about at Plainmoor in the coming week and months. 

2. Jacob Beaumont-Clark.

Over the years, Torquay United have unearthed a number of players who might be regarded as 'rough diamonds' who they've polished up and sold on for a profit. 

Examples range from Mike Mahoney and Colin Lee in the 1970s through to the likes of Phil King and Lee Sharpe in the 1980s, Rodney Jack amongst others in the 1990s, David Graham in 2000s and names such as Eunan O'Kane and Angus MacDonald in more recent times. 

After a fortnight which saw Dylan Morgan and Sam Dreyer both depart Plainmoor for 'undisclosed fees' - the Gulls might have discovered another prospect who could earn them another fee in the form of winger Jacob Beaumont-Clark. 

In what was his third appearance for the club, Beaumont-Clark received the ball from right-back Dom Bernard and cut inside onto his left foot and found the top corner with his first goal for United. 

It was a contender for goal of the season, if ever there was one. 

If Beaumont-Clark can continue to replicate his display on Saturday on a regular basis, then he will soon attract interest from higher up the pyramid. 

3. Sonny Blu Lo-Everton. 

After being in and out of the United side this season, Sonny Blu Lo-Everton was restored to the 'number ten' role just behind lone striker Deon Moore which he occupied during the latter stages of the 2025-26 campaign. 

It was a move that paid dividends for United manager Jimmy Ball as Lo-Everton provided the assist for United's second goal as he ran at the Folkestone Invicta defence before threading the ball through to Deon Moore, who calmly slotted home. 

In the second half, Lo-Everton showed a different side to his game as United looked to get back into the game after conceding twice. By playing in a more advanced role, hopefully in addition to getting more assists, he'll get more chances to score goals himself. 

4. A turning point. 

In the 2008-09 season under Paul Buckle after an indifferent start, which saw them win only once in the opening seven league fixtures, the Gulls beat Northwich Victoria 2-1 thanks to a late penalty from Tim Sills. 

The result proved to be a turning point for United as they remained unbeaten in their next 13 matches, as they lifted themselves back into promotion contention in a season in which they went up via the play-offs. 

If the Gulls do indeed end up celebrating a return to the National League at the end of the current campaign, hopefully after winning a play-off final at Plainmoor, Matt Jay's winner will be looked back on as a turning point for the Gulls season in a similar way to Sills' penalty is often viewed as being. 

TALKING POINTS FROM TORQUAY UNITED VERSUS HAMPTON AND RICHMOND BOROUGH

 1. Cody Cooke's goalscoring return. 

Before Saturday, Cody Cooke's previous start for Torquay United came on February 28 in the Gulls' 5-0 defeat at home to Chelmsford City, when he sustained a shoulder injury which saw him miss the remainder of the 

However, after making a number of appearances as a substitute in pre-season and at the start of the current campaign, Cooke was handed what was his first start under Jimmy Ball (the aforementioned Chelmsford defeat proved to be Paul Wotton's final game in charge), and marked it with a goal. 

Cooke's fellow forward Moore had seen his initial effort blocked by Beavers keeper Marco Underwood in the 22nd minute, but Cooke was on hand to pounce on the rebound. 

His return to fitness is a major boost for both Ball and United, and his experience could yet to prove to be an asset for the Gulls,

2. The wait for the first home win goes on. 

Despite having already tasted victory on their travels against Tonbridge Angels, the Gulls are still yet to experience victory at Plainmoor in the 2026-27 campaign. 

Saturday's draw against Hampton and Richmond was the third on the trot for United, and you could sense the frustration at full-time and in Jimmy Ball's post-match interview. 

Nevertheless, United had chances to score with Deon Moore going close on several occasions, Jake Wannell saw a header blocked on the line and Jordan Young had a free-kick turned behind late on. 

Sooner or later, some of these chances will go in, surely!

3. Jacob Beaumont-Clark shows glimpses of what life could be like after Dylan Morgan. 

After Dylan Morgan completed a move to the EFL with Crawley Town, United manager Jimmy Ball moved quickly to bring in former Everton youngster Jacob Beaumont-Clark as his replacement. 

Beaumont-Clark had previously made five appearances for the Toffees Under-21 side in the EFL Trophy, scoring once. However, his substitute cameo for the Gulls was his first senior league appearance. 

He demonstrated that he has plenty of pace and trickery and even attempted a couple of efforts on goal. In addition to his, he also showed that he was prepared to track back and defend on one occasion. 

Like a number of former academy players, there are aspects of his game which he needs to iron out, but there is definitely potential there based on his debut showing. 

4. On another day, Deon Moore could have had a hat-trick. 

United striker Deon Moore will probably look back on Saturday's game and I think 'on another day, I could have scored a hat-trick.' 

Firstly, Moore was denied by a block from Hampton and Richmond keeper Marco Underwood on 22 minutes, from which Cody Cooke scored from the rebound, he then headed a cross from Sonny Blu Lo-Everton wide in the 33rd minute and two minutes later, he dispossessed Beavers defence Luis Fernandez before seeing his shot parried behind by Underwood. 

Moore's goals at the end of last season played a big part in helping United reach last season's Play-off final, and surely the goals will come for him if he keeps getting in the right positions. 

WHAT THE MODERN DAY TORQUAY UNITED COULD LEARN FROM LEROY ROSENIOR'S CLASS OF 2004

 The year 2022 won't be remembered as a vintage one by Torquay United fans; the Gulls ended the 2021-22 season with an 11th place finish in the National League with exits at the first stage of both cup competitions that they entered. 

It was also the year that the Gulls' automatic promotion success under Leroy Rosenior in the 2003-04 campaign officially became closer in time to United's Bryn the Police Dog inspired 'great escape' in 1986-87. 

However, despite that achievement slowly disappearing into the midst of time, there is still something that Jimmy Ball's modern day Torquay United can learn from Rosenior's class of 2004 - namely the importance of developing strong partnerships all over the pitch. 

One of the most crucial of these partnerships was the pairing of Steve Woods and skipper Craig Taylor at centre back. Taylor had made a big impression during a loan spell at Plainmoor from Plymouth Argyle in the 2002-03 season before returning to the Gulls on a permanent basis in the summer of 2003. Taylor proved to be an excellent foil for the more cultured Woods, who was more comfortable on the ball than your average lower league centre-back - although Taylor could play a bit himself. 

On the left hand side of defence, Brian McGlinchey made the left-back position his own after joining on loan from Plymouth Argyle in September before signing permanently in January 2004, and linked up well with left winger Kevin Hill. With Hill not being an out-and-out pacey winger, he would often set up Northern Irishman McGlinchey for a number of overlapping runs where he provided plenty of ammunition to United's forward line of David Graham, Jo Kuffour and Martin Gritton in the form of crosses. 

Hill's own crossing ability was an underrated aspect of his game, but his ability to outjump unsuspecting opponents taller than his own five foot nine inch frame made him a valuable asset, and he could be relied upon to chip in with the odd goal. 

In contrast, the right hand side of the pitch saw a number of different combinations, as United started the season with Lee Canoville as right-back, with Jason Fowler on the right of midfield. However, an injury to Canoville saw centre-back Reuben Hazell fill in for him. Meanwhile, issues with injury which would later force Fowler to retire in February 2005, which saw his position filled at different times by the late Tony Bedeau and Liam Rosenior, son of Leroy, who joined on loan from Fulham. 

The season before, 2002-03, had seen Fowler playing the centre of midfield alongside another midfield maestro in the form of Alex Russell. With two PFA team of the season nominations (2002-03 & 2003-04), a player of the year award win in 2002-03 and, of course, promotion in 2003-04, Russell must surely go down as the club's most decorated player of all-time? 

Alongside tough-tackling local lad Matt Hockley, Russell played some of the best football of his four years at Plainmoor, as the 'conductor of the Torquay United orchestra.' Hockley's role in the side would often  see him win the ball for Russell and then make himself available receive it, which Russell would regularly do. This helped him to raise his own personal levels as he enjoyed the finest season of his eight years with the Gulls. 

Up front, United enjoyed the benefits of having two 30 plus goal-a-season strike partnerships in the form of David Graham and Martin Gritton in 2002-03, with 15 and 16 goals respectively, and Graham and former Arsenal trainee Jo Kuffour in 2003-04 with respective tallies of 23 and 11. 

The partnership of Graham and Kuffour wasn't your typical lower-league forward pairing. Neither were a conventional target man,  Graham's touch and movement was also so good that could play the role of a target man. Both men also possessed a level of pace and trickery which was often difficult to handle for most Division Three defences. Although Gritton fitted the bill of a target man, he had a 'good touch for a big man' and tirelessly pressed opposition defences to create space for teammates. 

Whilst certain partnerships within the current United squad were already in place when Jimmy Ball arrived, and there are new ones which are still developing. 

Nevertheless, when they all come together, they will so to good effect - just as they did in 2003-04. 

SEASON PREVIEW 2026-27: PLYMOUTH ARGYLE

 The big talking point from the Pilgrims' close season was the sale of Lauret Tolaj to Bristol City for a fee of £4million. Naturally, Argyle would be disappointed to lose a centre forward of Tolaj's calibre - however, it represents an excellent return on the £1.2million that Argyle paid Port Vale for his services. 

Cleverley has moved quickly to identify a replacement for him by completing the signing of Will Evans from Mansfield Town for £400,000. Evans, who made his name in the League of Wales with Cardiff Met University and Bala Town before joining the professional ranks at the age of 24 with Newport County in 2022, scored for the Stags against Arsenal in the FA Cup, as he netted 11 times in 52 appearances in all competitions for Nigel Clough's side. 

In addition to Evans, the Pilgrims have recruited plenty of players with previous experience of League One in the form of Alex Hartridge, Harvey White and last season's loan signing Alex Mitchell following his release by Charlton Athletic. 

Argyle fell short of reaching the play-offs last season and they looked well equipped to mount another challenge to reach the top six. However, a lot will depend on how well Evans can link up with Bim Pepple, However, don't rule out on young striker Owen Oseni getting in on the goalscoring act. 

Scoring goals will most probably determine how well the Pilgrims perform in 2026-27, and if they can fill the void left by the departure of Tolaj, then the likelihood is that they would have improved on last season's eight-placed finish. 

In: Alex Hartridge (Wycombe Wanderers),  Harvey White (Stevenage), Alex Mitchell (Charlton Athletic), Will Evans (Mansfield Town), Jack Storer (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Murphy Cooper (Queens Park Rangers)

Out: Conor Hazard (Wycombe Wanderers), Brendan Galloway, Joe Ralls, Zak Baker (Torquay United), Jack Matthews (Truro City), Joe Hatch (Barnstaple Town), Nathanael Ogbeta, Brendan Galloway, Ayman Benarous, Jamie Paterson, Callum Wright (Hibernian)

Player to Watch: Bim Pepple

With Lourent Tolaj now departed, Bim Pepple has taken over the mantle as Argyle's main man. Pepple narrowly missed out on a place in Jesse Marsch's Canadian squad for the 2026 World Cup. If he can replicate his form of last season, then he may well be attracting the kind of interest that Tolaj did over the summer. 

SEASON PREVIEW 2026-27: EXETER CITY

 After last season's relegation from League One, it will be a case of going back to their roots for Exeter City, as they head into 2026-27, with Matt Taylor's squad possessing a strong accent on youth. 

Last season, players like Kieran Wilson, Ed James, Charlie Cummins, George Birch and Frankie Phillips were out on both at clubs such as Torquay United, Weston Super Mare, Taunton Town and Plymouth Parkway. 

Now, they are all forming part of the Grecians' first team squad for the forthcoming season. 

The well of youth talent to emerge from the club in recent years, which has included the likes of Matt Grimes, Ethan Ampadu and Ollie Watkins, might be running low. However, it may not be completely dry, and the St James Park faithful will be hoping that proves to be the case. 

Meanwhile, while the aforementioned individuals might earn the Grecians a financial windfall in the future, the club's current most saleable asset Jayden Wareham, who scored 20 goals in 2025-26, is being linked with a whole host of clubs. Any fee earned from his sale will help give Exeter some more financial breathing space. 

Although the Grecians squad does possess a strong accent on youth, Taylor will possibly be on the lookout for some more experienced recruits who can guide them. He may also dip into the loan market as well. 

A defeat to local rivals Plymouth Argyle in the Carabao Cup in their first game wasn't ideal, but Taylor will still be looking to add to his squad before their league campaign gets underway. 

Following their last relegation from the third tier at the end of the 2011-12 season, it was five years before the Grecians reached the League Two play-offs - where they were beaten by Blackpool in the final in 2016-17. The current campaign represents the start of a rebuilding cycle, which may take time. 

How long that time period will be, no one is 100% sure yet. 

In: Josh Gordon (Barrow), Taylor Perry (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Harry Kite (Truro City), Ethan Sutherland (Wolves, loan)

Out: Josh Magennis (Stevenage), Ilmari Niskanen (Blackpool), Pierce Sweeney (Cheltenham Town), Johnly Yfeko (Kilmarnock), Jack Aitcheson, Jack McMillan, Kevin McDonald, Danny Andrew

Player to Watch: Reece Cole

With Jayden Wareham increasingly linked with a move away from St James Park, Reece Cole's experience and pedigree will be even more important as one of the older players in the squad at the age of 28. Not to mention his goals from midfield; he found the back of the net seven times in 39 appearances in all competitions. 

LATE SHOW FOR PILGRIMS TAKES THEM THROUGH AGAINST GRECIANS

 Debutant Alex Hartridge became an instant hero for Plymouth Argyle as he opened the scoring against his former club Exeter City late on in their Carabao Cup first round tie at Home Park. 

The game looked set to head to penalties when Hartridge nodded home a corner in the 91st minute, which was later followed by a second from Canadian striker Bim Pepple moments later. 

It was the first League Cup tie between the two sides since 1985 and the first cup meeting outside the EFL Trophy since the two sides faced each other in the FA Cup second round in the 1996-97 campaign. 

The Pilgrims reward for winning is a tie against Premier League new boys Coventry City, which will see manager Tom Cleverley go head to head with Frank Lampard. 

TALKING POINTS FROM TORQUAY UNITED VERSUS HORSHAM

 1. Opening days are seldom always perfect. 

In the mind of a lot of managers, the first day of the season is also regarded as the last day of pre-season. It's the first time that a team can put into practice everything that they have worked on in both pre-season friendlies and training, and sometimes things don't go quite to plan - as evidenced by the Gulls' display against Horsham on the opening day of 2026-27. 

United started positively as Deon Moore opened the scoring in the 13th minute, but Greg Luer equalised for the visitors on 54 minutes. Isaac Westendorf was denied a debut goal in the 67 minutes (see point number 3) before Horsham came close to taking the lead three minutes later when Jamie Yila was denied by United keeper Toby Savin with a, b block that fell to sub Ronan Silva who blasted over. 

Subs Matt Jay and Cody Cooke had chances late on, but the Gulls were forced to settle for a point instead of the three that the fans had been hoping for. 

However, there have been examples of where the opening day of the season hasn't quite gone to plan for United over the years, but they've still gone on to have good campaigns. They include the goalless draw on a late Sunday afternoon at Plainmoor against Grays Athletic in Paul Buckle's first game in charge in 2007-08. However, United bounced back to go on a six-match unbeaten run, and eventually finished the campaign in third place after challenging for the title before eventually winning promotion a year later. 

Four years later, Martin Ling had succeeded Buckle and oversaw a 2-2 draw with Burton Albion on the opening day of the 2011-12 campaign, in which debutant goalkeeper Bobby Olejnik made a number of big saves to keep the score level. United, of course, eventually clicked and ended up reaching the play-offs. 

Jimmy Ball will now spend the week assessing what went right and what went for wrong for the Gulls before they head to Tonbridge Angels next Saturday. 

2. Harry Shield. 

After some promising displays in pre-season as Trialist A, Harry Shield signed a contract with the club, with his signing being funded by the Torquay United Supporter's Trust's Forever Yellow fund. 

Shield, who can play as a right-back and as a right midfielder, was selected by Jimmy Ball in place of Jordan Young, who was absent on paternity leave after his partner recently gave birth, and underlined Ball's faith in him with a promising first half display.

His second minute cross picked out fellow debutant Isaac Westendorf, who fired over, and he made several dangerous runs which asked questions of the Horsham defence. 

He was eventually replaced by Callum Morton on 56 minutes after picking up a knock, but his display bodes well for the future. 

3. Isaac Westendorf's goal disallowed. 

Isaac Westendorf looked to have restored the Gulls lead on 67 minutes, after Horsham's Greg Luer had cancelled out Deon Moore's 13th minute opener in the 54th minute, when he headed home a cross from Dom Bernard. 

However, it was disallowed as the ball was deemed to have gone out of play before Bernard made his cross. 

Replays have shown that the ball may not have gone out of play, which won't be of much consolation to Westendorf who was denied a debut goal. 

4. Callum Morton's debut. 

Over a decade after he joined Yeovil Town's academy after the Gulls disbanded their youth academy in 2015, Callum Morton finally got to make his debut for his hometown club who he grew up supporting. 

Morton entered the fray in the 56th minute in place of Harry Shield and he showed a willingness to run in behind and stretch the Horsham defence. 

His next milestone will be his first goal for the club, and if he achieves that feat at Plainmoor then the roar it would generate deserves to be heard for miles. 

5. A bumper crowd. 

United's crowd of 4,219 was by far and away the biggest crowd in both National League's North and South, and it was only beaten by three attendances in the National League. 

Scunthorpe United versus Yeovil Town attracted a crowd of 5,111, Hartlepool United versus Barrow was attended by 5,830 and the biggest crowd of the day of 8,394 witnessed Carlisle United's clash with Worthing at Brunton Park. 

SEASON PREVIEW 2026-27: YEOVIL TOWN

 After two years of treading water in the National League since winning promotion from National League South in 2023-24, Yeovil Town are now looking upwards with some much needed stability. 

When he arrived at Huish Park from Southern League side Walton and Hersham in November 2025, Billy Rowley was the Glovers' fourth manager of the 2025-26 campaign, following the dismissal of Mark Cooper, the short living reign of Danny Webb and the interim spell of Richard Dryden. 

However, in the wake of the overhaul of the squad which he inherited, the players at Rowley's disposal are now very much his own. Despite Rowley saying that he sees this campaign as part of a two-year plan, he wants attack the National League in the 2026-27 season. 

Owner Prabhu Srinivasan stated that investing in the playing side was his top priority, which he has delivered on and Rowley has been able to bring in 15 new faces, including Zain Westbrooke from Doncaster Rovers and Slasi Spasov from Southend United, the latter cost the Glovers an undisclosed fee. 

An improvement on last season's 16th placed finish would represent a step in the right direction for the Glovers, ahead of a possible play-off push in 2027-28. However, if they gel quickly, then things could move a lot quicker for the Glovers in the short-term. 

This summer also marked the end of an era, as Jake Wannell became the last member of their 2023-24 National League South winning squad to depart Huish Park. 

In: Zain Westbrooke (Doncaster Rovers), Jos Barker, Mason Obeng & Johl Powell (Walton and Hersham), Jack Kingdon (Cardiff City), Joe Gubbins & Slavi Spasov (Southend United), Archie Davies (Carlisle United), Loick Ayina (Salford City, loan), Ben Radcliffe (Crawley Town, loan), Joe Haigh (Dagenham and Redbridge), Charlie Lennon (Barnsley, loan). Ste Walker (Scarborough Athletic), Jordan Norville-Williams (Dorking Wanderers), Hayden Muller (Sutton United), Joy Mukena (Crawley Town), 

Out: Jake Wannell (Torquay United), Harvey Greenslade (Truro City), Dan Ellison (Salisbury FC, loan), Aaron Jarvis (Hednesford Town), Alex Whittle (Farnborough), Kyle Ferguson, Finn Cousins-Dawson, Josh Sims

Player to Watch: Luke McCormick 

After missing the final months of last season through injury, central midfielder Luke McCormick has returned with a number of strong displays in pre-season and has been handed the captain's armband by Billy Rowley. At the age of 27, he states he is ready to lead by example and possibly better his return of eight goals in 35 appearances in all competitions from last season. 

SEASON PREVIEW 2026-27: TORQUAY UNITED

In Jimmy Ball's first full season as manager, Torquay United will be aiming to go one better and finally win promotion back to the National League after two seasons of missing out in the play-offs. 

Over the summer, he has brought in ten new faces as he bids to freshen up the United squad that he inherited from Paul Wotton towards the end of the 2025-26 campaign. Importantly, Ball has also managed to retain the services of Deon Moore who found the back eight times towards the end of last season. 

One aspect which Ball has addressed is the shortage of pace within the squad, which is reflected by the additions of striker Isaac Westendorf, right winger Sean Robertson, right back Dom Bernard and left back Tyler Hill. 

Another area where Ball has strengthened the United squad is the forward line, as in addition to re-signing Moore and signing Westendorf, Ball has brought local boy Callum Morton back to the club over a decade after he left to join Yeovil Town's academy. Morton has since enjoyed a decent career in the lower leagues with the likes of Fleetwood Town, Salford City and Bristol Rovers, which has been punctuated by injuries. However, he will be looking to find the back of the net on a regular basis and help fire United back into the National League. 

The Gulls' former Yeovil Town quartet of Matt Worthington, Jordan Young, Dylan Morgan and Sonny Blu Lo-Everton, who all won the National League South title with the Glovers in the 2023-24 campaign, has increased five with the signing of centre back Jake Wannell. 

Ball has also brought in two new goalkeepers following the release of James Hamon and Seb Stacey's return to his parent club, MK Dons, with the signings of Zak Baker and Toby Savin from Plymouth Argyle and Shrewsbury Town respectively. 

After missing out on the title on goal difference in 2024-25 and losing in the promotion final last term, Ball's signings 

In: Zak Baker & Harry Shield (Plymouth Argyle), Callum Morton (Worthing), Isaac Westendorf (Oxford City), Tyler Hill (Spennymoor United), Sean Robertson (Cliftonville), Kian Jenkins (Briton Ferry), Dom Bernard (Weston Super Mare), Toby Savin (Wigan Athletic), Jake Wannell (Yeovil Town) 

Out: Callum Dolan (Kidderminster Harriers), Jay Foulston (Merthyr Town), Ed Palmer (Tiverton Town), Matt Carson (Portadown), Matt Wonnacott (Exmouth Town), Sonny Fish (Dover Athletic), James Hamon

Player to Watch: Callum Morton

After over a decade after he left the club to join Yeovil Town's academy when the club disbanded its youth set-up in 2015, striker Callum Morton will finally get the chance to play for his hometown club that he grew up supporting. 

Morton has recent experience of scoring in League Two for Bristol Rovers last season before he was released by Steve Evans before joining eventual National League South champions Worthing for a short spell. He arrives at Plainmoor with a point to prove, and if he stays fit he will surely be amongst the goals. 

TALKING POINTS FROM TORQUAY UNITED VERSUS CARDIFF CITY UNDER 21S

 1. Deon Moore at the double. 

Aside from the host of new signings made by United manager Jimmy Ball over the summer, the retention of the signature of striker Deon Moore on a new deal was the one piece of recruitment that the United faithful wanted to get over the line. 

He showed glimpses of the form that he showed as he netted a brace in the Gulls' 5-0 win over Cardiff City Under-21s. First of all, he tapped home in the eighth minute after Sonny Blu Lo-Everton had seen his initial shot parried by young Bluebirds keeper Jake Dennis. Then, on 22 minutes, he found the target after strike partner Callum Morton cushioned a ball into the box from Tyler Hill, after the Bluebirds had failed to clear a Jordan Young corner, into his path and he duly slotted home. 

If Moore can replicate his form towards the end of last season, which saw him find the back of the net eight times, he could become the first United player to net 20 goals a season or more since Jamie Reid in the 2019-20 season. 

2. Matt Worthington shows the fans the 'real' Matt Worthington. 

After his arrival as manager last March, Jimmy Ball declared that he wanted to see a different Matt Worthington to the one that they had previously seen. Worthington was a figure who was well known to Ball, who signed him as a schoolboy with Portsmouth at the age of 13, and the Plainmoor faithful are now starting to see the version of Worthington that Ball believes that he is capable of being. 

Worthington opened the scoring for the Gulls and he nicked the ball off the Cardiff backline before drilling a low strike into the bottom corner in the seventh minute. Through out the game, he was always on the move up and the down the pitch, instead of being pigeon-holed in one position as he produced a display that was akin to a 'non-league Bryan Robson.'

3. Competition for places. 

With 23 players available to him for selection, as well as trialist A, Jimmy Ball was able to field virtually two different XIs against Cardiff City Under-21s in each half. Only Matt Worthington and Sam Dreyer featured for the entire 90 minutes, as Ball looked to experiment with different formations. 

For example, in the second half, he went with a front three of Jordan Young on the right, Deon Moore in the centre and Dylan Morgan on the left, after starting Moore up front alongside Callum Morton in the first half. 

The left-back spot has the potential to be hotly contested between Tyler Hill and Kian Jenkins, who both played one half each. 

Friday's final friendly promises to be an interesting one. 

4. Cody's back. 

Saturday's friendly also saw the return from injury of Cody Cooke as he came on as a sub in the 76th minute for Deon Moore in what was his first appearance since he sustained a dislocated shoulder in Paul Wotton's final game in charge against Chelmsford City last February. 

It was the first time that Jimmy Ball would have seen Cooke in action, and his experience will be of huge benefit to forward line that currently includes Callum Morton, Isaac Westendorf and Deon Moore as well as Sonny Fish. 

ALAN BALL: THE EXETER CITY DIARIES

 The youngest member of England's 1966 World Cup winning side, Alan Ball's managerial career was at a crossroads when he was appointed as Exeter City manager early in the 1991-92 season. 

After a successful playing career with Blackpool, Everton, Arsenal and Southampton and England, Ball's time as a manager had seen a number of ups and downs. He had led Portsmouth back to the top-flight in the 1986-87 campaign. However, Pompey were relegated during the 1987-88 season and he was dismissed in January 1989. Ball then had a spell as an assistant manager to Jock Wallace at Colchester United and to Mick Mills at Stoke City, where he replaced the latter after his departure - but was later sacked himself in February 1991. 

Ball arrived at St James Park as the successor to his former England teammate Terry Cooper, who like Ball was part of Sir Alf Ramsey's England squad for the 1970 World Cup in Mexico. Cooper had previously led the Grecians to the Fourth Division title in the 1989-90 season before successfully keeping them in the third tier in 1990-91, making him a tough act to follow. 

At this time, City chairman Ivor Doble was also suspended from football, which saw the return to the role of former chairman Gerald Vallance, and financial issues at the club were starting to mount. 

However, after losing his first game in charge - a 6-3 defeat to West Bromwich Albion, Ball oversaw a Rumbelows Cup exit against Birmingham City, then managed by Cooper, before he won his first game in a 1-0 Devon derby victory over Torquay United at St James Park. 

As well as bringing through young players through the club's youth policy, Ball also used his contacts to good effect, as he made Steve Moran, a former teammate of his at Southampton and an ex-England Under-21 international, one of his first signings. Moran would finish 1991-92 as the Grecians' top scorer with 20 goals as Ball guided the club to safety. 

In the 1992-93 season, Ball once again kept the Grecians in the newly rebranded Division Two, following the creation of the Premier League, and he guided the club to a memorable league double over arch rivals Plymouth Argyle, who were managed by another of Ball's former international colleagues in the form of Peter Shilton. He also led them to the Southern Area final of the Autoglass Trophy, where they were beaten by Port Vale. 

Whilst with the Grecians, Ball was also part of Graham Taylor's England backroom staff at the 1992 European Championship in Sweden. 

In January 1994, Ball eventually left St James Park to manage Southampton, who he successfully kept in the Premier League by getting the best out of the club's talisman Matt Le Tissier, who scored six goals in his first four games in charge. 

After guiding the Saints to a tenth place finish in the Premier League in 1994-95, Ball was tempted away to Manchester City by his former England teammate Francis Lee, who had just completed a takeover of the club. Sadly, his time at Maine Road proved to be unsuccessful as the club were relegated from the Premier League in the 1995-96 campaign, and he resigned early in the 1996-97 season. 

Whilst in charge of Manchester City, Ball returned to St James Park to pay £500,000 to the Grecians for Martin 'Buster' Phillips - a young player who he had handed his professional debut to, and predicted that he would become the country's first '£10 million player.' 

Ball would return to Portsmouth for a second spell in January 1998, which would last until December 1999, after which he decided to retire from management. 

He also formed part of a family managerial dynasty, as his father Alan senior took charge of Halifax Town, Preston North End and Southport and his son Jimmy had a caretaker spell in charge of Forest Green Rovers in 2021, and is currently managing Torquay United. 

Ball sadly died of a heart attack in April 2007, whilst attempting to put out a bonfire at his home in Hampshire, which made him the first member of England's 1966 team to pass away since Bobby Moore's death from Cancer in 1993. 

ALAN BANKS 1938-2026

 After starting his career with Liverpool, where he played under the great Bill Shankly, Alan Banks later become synonymous with football in the South West following spells with Exeter City and Plymouth Argyle. 

He marked his debut for the Anfield club with a goal on his debut in a 1-1 draw with Brighton and Hove Albion, but he would drop into non-league football with Cambridge City. 

Banks scored 129 goals in the Varsity which alerted the Grecians to his potential, as he joined them in November 1963 and he netted 18 goals in the 1963-64 campaign and helped City to win their first ever promotion from the Fourth Division. 

In 1966, he moved to Home Park after the Grecians were relegated from the Third Division, but only remained with the Pilgrims for just over a year before returning to St James Park. 

Over the next six years, Banks topped the Grecians' goal scoring charts three times and became the club's record goal scorer - which he held until it was beaten by Tony Kellow. In addition to this, he scored in their FA Cup third round tie with Manchester United in 1968 at St James Park, which the Grecians lost 3-1.

Spells with Poole Town and Tiverton Town followed before he retired from playing. 

He later owned a Sports Shop in Exeter and also returned to St James Park as a matchday host. 

BALL'S SIGNINGS SHOW UNITED'S NEED FOR SPEED

 Pace has long been considered one of the most important assets in modern football, whether it be in attacking transitions, in defensive pressing, in one versus one situations or when manipulating space. 

It was an asset that Torquay United utilised fully in their National League South title winning campaign in 2018-19 under Gary Johnson. 

The Gulls' side was packed with pacey individuals, including full-backs Ben Wynter and Liam Davis, French winger Kalvin Kalala and the strike pairing of Jamie Reid and Saikou Janneh, who scored 51 goals between them.

Then you also had wide man Opi Edwards in reserve, and that's not to say anything of centre midfielder Connor Lemonheigh-Evans and centre back Kyle Cameron, who both possessed the ability to accelerate quickly when required to. 

And it's an approach that current United boss Jimmy Ball has looked to adopt with his recruitment ahead of the 2026-27 campaign. To date, Ball has signed Callum Morton and Isaac Westendorf to play up front and former Forest Green winger Shaun Robertson. While Morton may not be a lightning fast as Westendorf or Robertson, he does possess the ability to run in behind and stretch defences, as evidenced by the goal he scored for Bristol Rovers against Crewe Alexandra which can be found on YouTube. 

This was something that the Gulls used to good effect last season following the signing of Deon Moore, a player who may yet still sign a new deal with the club, who demonstrated the ability to run in behind and stretch opposition defences on numerous occasions towards the end of the 2025-26 campaign. 

As well as offering United the opportunity to stretch opposition defences, quick players also offer the option of being able to speed the game back up again if your opponents try to slow the game down. 

In addition of his attacking plans, Ball hasn't limited himself searching for pace in his defensive players, as shown by the acquisition of left-back Tyler Hill from Spennymoor United. 

One thing that will be guaranteed at Plainmoor will be that the Gulls are likely to have speediest team that they have had for a good few years. 

ENGLAND VETERANS WIN NINTH TITLE WITH SOUTH WEST INFLUENCE

 England Veterans secured a record ninth Seniors World Cup in Thailand against their French counterparts with significant contributions from several players who have previously plied their trade in the South West. 

The senior Three Lions triumphed 4-0 in the final with former Plymouth Argyle and Truro City striker Barry Hayles netting the opening goal, with ex Exeter City striker Jamie Cureton and one time Pilgrims central midfielder Karl Duguid also finding the target. 

Hayles and Duguid were part of a quartet of former Argyle players in the squad which included goalkeeper Luke McCormick and midfielder David Norris. They were joined in the squad by former Torquay United, Exeter City and Yeovil Town central midfielder Alex Russell, who was appearing in his sixth tournament at the age of 53, and came off the bench in the final.

They ended the tournament with a 100% record as they beat host Thailand 2-0 in the opening game before defeating Taiwan 4-1 and ended the group with a 3-0 victory over USA. A thumping 5-2 triumph over Australia in the semi-finals followed which set up their meeting with France in the final. 

This year, they were joined in the squad by former Aston Villa, Manchester City, Everton and England midfielder Gareth Barry, who appeared for England in the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, and ex Aston Villa winger Lee Hendrie, who was also capped by England. 

FORMER SOUTH WEST STARS SET TO SHINE FOR ENGLAND VETERANS

This summer all eyes will be on the USA, Canada and Mexico this summer for the 23rd FIFA World Cup, a number of Football League favourites will be playing out their own version of the game's greatest show in Thailand for England Veterans. 

Whilst Thomas Tuchel's side will be aiming to end 60 years old of hurt across the pond, the Senior Three Lions will be looking to secure their ninth Seniors World Cup. 

Amongst their number will be former Torquay United, Exeter City and Yeovil Town midfielder Alex Russell, who will be looking to lift the prize for the fifth time. Russell spent four years at Plainmoor between 2001 and 2005, during which time he won the club's player of the season award in 2002-03, automatic promotion under Leroy Rosenior in 2003-04 and was named in the PFA Division Three team of the season twice. 

In addition to Russell, there will also be a quartet of ex-Plymouth Argyle players in the form of goalkeeper Luke McCormick, midfielders Karl Duguid and David Norris and striker Barry Hayles. McCormick and Norris were both part of the Pilgrims Division Two title winning side in 2003-04 under Paul Sturrock, and then Bobby Williamson. 

This year, they will also been joined by a duo who graced the Premier League and received England senior honours in the form of the ex-Aston Villa pair Gareth Barry and Lee Hendrie. 

In order to reach the final, England will need to negotiate a group that includes Iran, Taiwan and the USA before a potential semi-final with hosts Thailand, France, last season's runners-up Australia and New Zealand. 

A FIRST TROPHY FOR OLLIE WATKINS

 While Aston Villa's Europa League final triumph over German side Freiburg marked the Villains' first European success since 1982 and their first trophy of any kind since 1996, it also provided striker Ollie Watkins with the first medal of his career. 

Goals from Youri Tielemans, Emi Buendia and Morgan Rogers sealed a 3-0 victory for Villa in Istanbul with Prince William, the future King of England, looking on, as Watkins secured his first honour with the club. 

Given everything that the Torbay-born, but Newton Abbot raised striker has achieved as a player, from scoring for England in the semi-finals and winning several individual awards, it is surprising that a player of his calibre had yet to win a trophy or a promotion. 

In the 2016-17 season, he was part of the Exeter City side that lost to Blackpool in the League Two play-off against Blackpool - which proved to be his final appearance for the Grecians before his move to Brentford in the summer. However, his displays did help him to win the EFL Young player of the year award for 2017. 

After he joined Brentford, Watkins continued his upward trajectory as a player as he won the Championship player of the year prize for the 2019-20 campaign. Nevertheless, by the time that the Bees eventually made it to the Premier League in 2020-21, he had already secured his move to Villa Park. 

With Champions League football assured for Villa for the 2026-27 season, further success could yet follow for Watkins, who is also one of number of players waiting for Thomas Tuchel's England squad announcement for the World Cup in USA, Canada and Mexico. 

A HOMECOMING FOR CALLUM MORTON

 Over a decade after he left the club when they closed their youth department, Callum Morton has returned to his hometown club as Torquay United's first summer signing by manager Jimmy Ball. 

Morton, 26, has experienced a journeyed career since he first left Plainmoor as he initially followed former United youth coach Geoff Harrop to Yeovil Town when he joined their academy before becoming a scholar at Huish Park. 

After scoring against West Bromwich Albion's youth side in the FA Youth Cup for the Glovers, the Baggies paid an undisclosed fee to bring him to the Hawthorns. 

Whilst with the Baggies, Morton was loaned out to Braintree Town, Northampton Town, Lincoln City, Fleetwood Town and Peterborough United. He was close to joining the Gulls on loan in the 2019-20 season under Gary Johnson. 

His spell with Northampton in 2019-20 proved to be the most fruitful of his loan stints, as he netted twice against Cheltenham Town in the League Two play-offs, a feat which he then followed up by finding the target in the final against Exeter City that the Cobblers won 4-0. 

Moves away from the Hawthorns followed for Morton to Fleetwood and then Salford City, who later loaned him out to Forest Green Rovers and to Northampton for the second time in his career. 

In November 2025, he joined Bristol Rovers on a short-term deal and scored on his first start for the Pirates against Crewe Alexandra in a 1-1 on December 19, 2025. However, he was let go by Rovers' boss Steve Evans in February 2026. 

Morton then joined the Gulls' National League South promotion rivals Worthing, who eventually clinched the league title - and the Plainmoor faithful will be hoping he can play a part in another promotion from the NLS in the 2026-27 season. 

SNATCHED FROM THE JAWS OF VICTORY

 Everything seemed to be written in the stars for the Gulls to come out on top against Hornchurch in the National League South play-off final. 

It was 39 years to the day that Bryn the Police dog sunk his teeth into Jim McNichol to force the added time that helped United to draw 2-2 with Crewe Alexandra on the final day of the 1986-87 season at Plainmoor. In addition to this, it was also 22 years and a day since one of the most glorious days in the club's history when the Gulls beat Southend United 2-1 at Roots Hall with goals from Steve Woods and David Graham to clinch their first automatic promotion in 38 years under Leroy Rosenior. 

However, the events at the Hornchurch Stadium will rank alongside more infamous days such as United's 2-1 defeat to Colchester United in 2004-05, which condemned the Gulls to an immediate return to the fourth tier almost exactly a year to the day since their aforementioned success under Rosenior. 

At Hornchurch, United couldn't have got off to a better start when Deon Moore latched onto a ball over the top from Sam Dreyer before racing through on goal to slot home in the eighth minute. 

Player of the year Sonny Blu Lo-Everton then tested the Urchins' Wolverhampton Wanderers loanee keeper Arthur Nasta from 25 yards, but then Hornchurch started to gain a foothold in the game. 

They were rewarded for their endeavours on the stroke of half time when loanee keeper Seb Stacey dashed off his line and brought down Urchins winger Charlie Pegram, prompting referee Matthew Norton to point to the point. Striker Dominic Poleon then stepped up to convert the spot-kick and levelled matters. 

On 78 minutes, the Gulls regained their lead when a precision pass from sub Callum Dolan picked out Moore, who finely drilled home his eighth goal in six games. 

Just as it looked as though United would be marking their return to the National League, Hornchurch sub Henry Hearn bundled home after a cross from fellow sub Darren McQueen caused havoc in the Gulls' box. 

Early in injury time, United came agonisingly close to restoring their lead when Nasta denied a header from Dan Hayfield. 

Just when penalties seemed to be a certainty, Sam Ling, the son of the former United manager Martin, popped up to give the Urchins the lead for the first time in the match. The Torquay United connection in the Hornchurch camp didn't end there, as they are managed by former Gulls loanee Daryl McMahon. 

So, a fourth season in the sixth tier now beckons for United and it's worth noting that the 2026-27 campaign will mark 100 years since the Gulls were first elected to the Football League. 

Could it be a good omen for next year? 

REMEMBERING BARNET - 25 YEARS ON

 Former Swansea City, Brighton and Hove Albion, Chelsea and West Ham United manager Graham Potter will be taking charge of Sweden in this summer's World Cup in the USA, Canada and Mexico. 

However, a quarter of a century ago, Potter had an indirect role in one of the most talked about matches in the history of Torquay United - as his goal for York City at Plainmoor on April 28, 2001 helped to set up United's final day decider against Barnet in the 2000-01 campaign. 

The Gulls were battling relegation from the Football League in their last home game of the season against the Minstermen under the interim managerial reign of Colin Lee, after Wes Saunders was dismissed just over a month earlier. 

After a 2-1 midweek win over Darlington at Plainmoor, the Gulls were searching for another win which would have taken them a step closer to survival against the Minstermen. 

York started brightly and took the lead through Michael Basham before Kevin Hill headed home his ninth of the season on 59 minutes to level matters. The Gulls pushed and pushed for a winner and it looked as though that they had found one with four minutes to go when Jimmy Aggrey nodded home a corner to put United 2-1. 

Sadly, that wasn't the end of the action as Minstermen left-back Potter got the final touch on a corner that ensured that the Gulls would need a result in the final fixture of the campaign against Barnet, who themselves needed all three. 

As a 17-year old A-Level student, with dreams of pursuing a career in Sports Journalism, I can remember getting off the train and heading straight to the ground as the game wasn't all ticket. There were several fans who weren't lucky enough to get inside Barnet's Underhill ground. One person decided to climb nearby tree, whilst others were forced to watch the game from an Indian wine bar, where they followed updates on Sky Sports Soccer Saturday. 

For the match itself, Lee made three changes to the side that drew with York City as Eifion Williams returned to the starting line-up at the expense of the suspended Khalid Chalqi, which meant Tony Bedeau switched to the right hand side of midfield and Stuart Jones returned in goal in place of Ryan Northmore.

Jones had been absent for much of the calendar year due to injury and had only made one appearance for the Gulls during that time against Kidderminster Harriers.  

Despite being up against the strong gusts of wind which were sweeping Underhill, Torquay started the match more positively than their hosts as Eifion Williams went close early on.

Barnet were soon forced into an early substitution after three minutes, as youngster Danny Naisbitt replaced the injured Lee Harrison in goal.

Torquay took full advantage of playing down Underhill’s famous sloping pitch, as David Graham had a good claim for a penalty turned down after he was felled by Barnet skipper Greg Heald.

The Gulls’ sustained pressure paid off when midfielder Jason Rees opened the scoring with a 25-yard effort in the 10^th minute.

Seven minutes later, Rees exited the field of play and was replaced by Mick O’Brien who added extra guile to the midfield. Shortly after coming on O’Brien came close to scoring one of his specialist free-kicks, with an effort from beyond the half-way line which glanced narrowly wide.

In the 25^th minute, the Gulls won a corner on the right hand side, which was taken by Paul Holmes and found Kevin Hill who nodded home his 10^th goal of the season to give United a two-goal cushion.

His effort put him top of the Gulls’ goal scoring charts – one ahead of Williams on nine – not a bad feat for a midfielder.

Torquay continued to dominate the game territorially, but the nerves of the travelling supporters were made to shake as referee Robert Beeby penalised Player of the Year Jimmy Aggrey for hand- ball in the 40^th minute and pointed to the penalty spot. 

Darren Currie then stepped up to take the penalty for the Bees. Strangely enough Currie – the nephew of former England midfielder Tony Currie who had a brief spell with the Gulls towards the end of his career – was also the son-in-law of referee Beeby.

 However, Jones in the Torquay goal guessed the direction of his spot-kick correctly to pull off his third penalty save of the season.

This proved to be a crucial turning point in the game as it started the move which led to Torquay’s third goal.

From the resulting goal kick the Gulls got the ball forward quickly towards Williams, who then linked up with his fellow striker David Graham to enable Graham to extend Torquay’s lead to three on 43 minutes.

Two minutes later, referee Beeby blew his whistle to mark the half-time break and the Gulls’ fans who had made the journey to North London could be reasonably confident that a three-goal cushion would be hard for Barnet to overturn.

One obstacle that United would have to overcome in the second 45 minutes, as well as the eleven men of Barnet, would be the famous Underhill slope that they were now playing up instead of down.

Their travelling support certainly had their hearts in their mouths on the hour mark, when on loan right-back Ryan Green inadvertently stumbled and turned the ball past Jones to reduce the Bees arrears to two goals.

Eight minutes later, the Gulls were forced into making a second change as John Gayle came on to replace Williams who was struggling with a rib injury.

Two male streakers then appeared from the Barnet crowd and infuriated Bees skipper Heald, who displayed his anger at their presence before they disappeared into the abyss of the home end Gents.

The hosts scored a controversial second goal in the 76^th minute through Wayne Purser, when it looked as though Jones had been fouled in the build-up to it.

 With Barnet in the ascendency, the Gulls’ rear guard spent the final 14 minutes of the match defending as though their lives depended on it. Skipper Lee Russell led by example producing a series of match saving challenges and Aggrey and Bedeau both followed suit; Hill and Holmes also made a series of important clearances which snuffed out Barnet’s chances of equalising, or even going on to snatch a late winner.

When the final whistle blew, the 2,000 or so Torquay fans who made the trek to Underhill breathed a huge sigh of relief as United pulled off a ‘Great Escape’ that ranked alongside the Gulls’ 2-2 draw against Crewe Alexandra in 1987.

25 years on, memories of the game have greater poignancy as two of the players who featured, Paul Holmes and Tony Bedeau, are sadly no longer with us. 

Torquay (4-4-2): Stuart Jones; Ryan Green, Jimmy Aggrey, Lee Russell, Paul Holmes; Tony Bedeau, Richard Kell, Jason Rees (Mick O’Brien 30), Kevin Hill; Eifion Williams (John Gayle 55), David Graham (Alex Watson 90);

United's clash with Barnet is one of the games featured in Torquay United: A History in 50 Matches which is available here: torquayunitedahistoryin50 — Torquay United: A History in 50 Matches

TALKING POINTS FROM TORQUAY UNITED VERSUS DORKING WANDERERS

1. An excellent team display. 

First of all, I would like to congratulate the team in what was a tremendous team display and arguably United's best display of the season, and also arguably one of their finest performances during their tenure in National League South. 

The Gulls went into the play-offs off the back of winning four of out of their last five National League South fixtures, and their display against Dorking at Plainmoor shows that they have taken the momentum from those matches into their play-off campaign. 

Now they just need to do it all again in the final against Hornchurch. 

 2. Moore and Moore from Deon. 

The goals continue to flow for striker Deon Moore as he took his tally for the season to six with a brace against Dorking Wanderers. 

Moore had netted his fourth of the season in their final day win over Tonbridge Angels, which sealed the Gulls' place in the play-offs, and he once again amongst the goals as the Gulls emerged as emphatic winners. 

He opened the scoring in the 21st minute after Sonny Blu Lo-Everton made a bursting run into the box before finding Moore who slotted home what was his fifth of the campaign. In the second half, he completed his double on 59 minutes with Lo-Everton the architect again as he teed up Dylan Morgan for a shot that hit the post and Moore was on hand to pounce on the rebound. 

As well as his goals, Moore's hold up play was also good and made a number of dangerous runs which stretched the Dorking defence, which helped him earn your correspondent's choice as man of the match. 

3. Matt Worthington. 

Gulls' boss Jimmy Ball has known skipper Matt Worthington since he signed him as an academy player with Portsmouth as a youngster. Since Ball arrived at Plainmoor he has looked to make Worthington into more of an attacking minded central midfielder who affects the game higher up the pitch, instead of one who drops deep to receive the ball off his defenders. 

This approach has resulted in Worthington producing more dynamic performances, and his display against Dorking as he teed up Dylan Morgan for a shot that drew a stunning one-handed save from Harrison Foulkes on 16 minutes. 

He later had headed home what looked liked United's opener on 20 minutes, but it was ruled out for offside. However, the Gulls didn't have to wait long until they broke the deadlock as Deon Moore opened the scoring for United moments later. 

4. Sonny Blu Lo-Everton a major creative influence. 

Playing in the number ten role just behind Deon Moore, the Gulls' newly crowned player of the year Sonny Blu Lo-Everton was arguably United's greatest creative force against Dorking Wanderers. 

Manager Jimmy Ball's gameplan allowed Lo-Everton to get on the ball and affect the game, which was something that he did to good effect. 

In addition to providing the assist for Deon Moore's opener, Lo-Everton also teed up Jordan Young for the Gulls' fourth of the afternoon on 77 minutes, and started the move that led to United's third and Moore's second. 

The only thing that could be argued that was missing from his display was a goal of his own.

5. Monashe Sundire's unsung role. 

Monashe Sundire's time at Plainmoor has been very stop-start due to injury, and due to an unfortunate collision with Dan Hayfield, he was substituted on 58 minutes and was replaced by Will Tizzard. 

Sundire was brought into the side by Jimmy Ball to man mark Dorking skipper Charlie Carter, who went into the game as their joint-top scorer with 11 goals from the centre of midfield. The Zimbabwean-born midfielder successfully nullified Carter, and also helped give the likes of Jordan Young, Matt Worthington, Sonny Blu Lo-Everton and Dylan Morgan greater licence to get forward. 

6. Jordan Young takes his tally to 18 for the campaign. 

For three seasons in a row, Jordan Young has hit double figures for goals in National League South, scoring 16 for Yeovil Town in 2023-24 and 11 and 18 for the Gulls in the 2024-25 and 2025-26 campaigns. 

Another brace against Hornchurch in next week's play-off final would take his current tally to 20, which is something that would please manager Jimmy Ball greatly, as he has demanded that the Gulls are more front footed and ruthless in front of goal since his appointment. 

TORQUAY UNITED IN THE PLAY-OFFS: PART THREE

 2010-11

Two years after their return to the Football League, the Gulls would be involved in the League Two Play-offs, following a seventh-place finish during the 2010-11 league campaign.

In the semi-finals, United faced a Shrewsbury Town side who they had beaten 5-0 at Plainmoor a couple of months earlier in which Jake Robinson had netted a brace for the Gulls while on loan from the Shrews. Robinson lined up for United again in the first leg at home, but he wasn’t on target on this occasion as efforts from Chris Zebroski and Eunan O’Kane secured a 2-0 win for United. A goalless draw in the return fixture at the Greenhous Meadow set up a meeting with Stevenage at Old Trafford.

Due to Wembley hosting the 2011 UEFA Champions League between Manchester United and Barcelona, both the League Two final between the Gulls and Stevenage and the League One final between Peterborough United and Huddersfield Town were switched to Old Trafford. 20 years beforehand, Manchester United had beaten Barcelona in the 1991 European Cup Winner’s Cup final and Torquay had beaten Blackpool in the Fourth Division Play-off final – the question was could lightning strike twice?

Sadly, both the United’s of Torquay and Manchester lost their respective finals 1-0 and 3-1 – and the Gulls’ defeat proved to be Paul Buckle’s final game as manager as he departed Plainmoor for Bristol Rovers.

Shrewsbury Town W 2-0               Chris Zebroski, Eunan O’Kane

Shrewsbury Town A D 0-0

Stevenage N L 0-1

2011-12: 

Despite Paul Buckle’s move to the Memorial Stadium, the Gulls regrouped and rebuilt under his successor as they reached the Play-offs again in the 2011-12 season, after missing out on automatic promotion on the final day of the campaign. However, United fell short in the semi-final with Cheltenham Town as they lost 2-0 at Whaddon Road in the first leg before slipping to a 2-1 defeat in the second leg at Plainmoor, with Taiwo Atieno netting what proved to be a mere consolation goal.

 Cheltenham Town A L 0-2

Cheltenham Town H L 1-2            Taiwo Atieno

2020-21: 

United were relegated back to the National League at the end of the 2013-14, season and four years later they were relegated again - this time to National League South in 2017-18. 

However, the appointment of Gary Johnson as manager in September 2018 led to a revival in the Gulls' fortunes - as they won promotion to National League South at the first attempt in 2018-19 as champions. 

Two years down the line, after missing out on the National League title at the expense of Sutton United, a new play-off format awaited the Gulls in the Covid-19 impacted 2020-21 campaign.

A one-off home tie with Notts County awaited United after the Magpies won their 5^th versus 6^th play-off eliminator with Chesterfield.

 Returning striker Danny Wright gave Torquay a dream start with just 30 seconds on the clock as Dean Moxey throw to Joe Lewis, and his curling cross found Wright eight yards out. The header was helped in by a deflection off County's Adam Chicksen, but it sent a sun-soaked Plainmoor crowd into raptures.

Wright's return was a closely-guarded secret in the run-up to the game, and he couldn't have hoped for a greater impact.

Torquay continued on the front foot and pushed forward at every opportunity and visiting keeper Sam Slocombe needed to be quick off his line to deny the impressive Lemonheigh-Evans as Torquay pushed on in search of a second goal.

However, County levelled matters before the break when Ruben Rodrigues headed home at the near post.

Wright restored the Gulls’ lead in the opening minutes of the second half, sweeping in a Randell cross, but Adam Chicksen quickly levelled the scores again.

With no further score in the 90 minutes, the game went into extra time.

United skipper Asa Hall gave the home side the lead for the third time with a stooping header in the 100th minute, and in stoppage time at the end of the first period Dean Moxey scored United's fourth from the penalty spot to seal the Gulls’ passage to the final at Ashton Gate against Hartlepool United.

Torquay were livid when they controversially had a seventh-minute goal ruled out for a push after Cameron had got his head on the end of Adam Randell's floated free-kick, with replays not immediately picking up the infringement that referee Simon Mather spotted.

That seemed to galvanise Pools as Armstrong had two chances to put his side ahead soon after, first seeing his close-range effort deflected over by Joe Lewis before he had a header pushed wide by a diving Covolan.

It was Armstrong - who was a thorn in Torquay's side for much of the first half - who provided the breakthrough as the forward excellently controlled Rhys Oates' shot on the edge of the six-yard box and had the strength to turn Sam Sherring and blast in off the underside of the crossbar.

The Gulls were lucky not to be two goals down in the final seconds of the half as Oates found himself unmarked from a corner and saw a powerful header parried over the bar by Covolan.

Cameron had another goal chalked off after an hour, this time being adjudged to have fouled goalkeeper James as he went for the ball, and it seemed as though it would not be Torquay's day as Hartlepool almost scored a second in the final five minutes as Mark Shelton and Gavan Holohan had shots blocked.

Torquay threw everything at their opponents in the final minutes and Billy Waters missed a close-range effort in the 89th minute before Covolan came up in the fifth minute of stoppage time for Torquay's final corner.

Although it was initially cleared, Covolan stayed up field and when the ball was played back in, he rose highest to head past James and send the game into an extra 30 minutes.

Waters had a couple of efforts blocked in the first period of extra time as his Torquay team-mate Jake Andrews was stretchered off with a serious-looking leg injury, but with both sides tiring chances were few and far between before Danny Elliott had a shot blocked for Pools in the final minute as the game went to penalties.

Johnson’s men were hoping to emulate the Class of 1990-91 who won promotion to Division Three at Wembley on penalties. Sadly, this time though, the shoot-out went against them.

Neither side started the penalty kick contest well.

Nicky Featherstone saw his saved by Covolan, before Waters slipped and saw his effort go wide.

Armstrong, a scorer in normal time, also saw his effort palmed away by Covolan, before Wright struck the upright.

Mark Shelton was the first to succeed, and Hall followed suit. Jamie Sterry scored, then Lewis matched him.

Luke Molyneux put his away, as did Little, so we moved to sudden death. Danny Elliot sent Covolan the wrong way, and Lemonheigh-Evans coolly slotted his in to draw level again.

Hartlepool had the advantage of going first, and when Ryan Donaldson scored, the pressure on Matt Buse was immense. Sadly, he missed, hitting the bar, leaving Hartlepool to celebrate.

2024-25: 

Two years after losing to Hartlepool at Ashton Gate, the Gulls were relegated back to the National League South and were placed in Administration by then chairman Clarke Osborne a year later.

The club were rescued from Administration the Bryn Consortium, set about rebuilding the club. They appointed Neil Warnock as a football advisor, with former Plymouth Argyle skipper Paul Wotton joining the club from Truro City to become the club’s new manager.

With only one player under contract, Wotton set about building a hardworking side who were tough to beat, but added more flair to his squad over the course of the campaign.

On the final day of the National League South campaign, the Gulls travelled to Hemel Hempstead Town needing to better the result of Wotton’s former club Truro to clinch the title, and a return to the National League after two years away.

Despite United winning 4-1 against the Tudors, with Cody Cooke netting a hat-trick and Jordan Young also finding the target, they ended up finishing second on goal difference – and Boreham Wood awaited them in the play-offs at Plainmoor.

Unfortunately, the Gulls found the Wood too strong an opponent, as they lost 1-0 courtesy of Matthew Rush’s 59^th minute effort for the visitors. 

2024-25

Boreham Wood H L 0-1