Recent History

Recent years have been tumultuous, with relegations to the National League South and subsequent rebuilds. Under Gary Johnson, Torquay won the National League South in 2019 and narrowly missed Football League promotion in the dramatic 2021 Play-Off Final against Hartlepool. The 2022/23 season proved to be a difficult one as the Gulls were relegated to the sixth tier once more.

Although inconsistent at times, the first half of 2023/24 seemed to bode well, with The Gulls’ last-gasp 3-2 win over Hemel Hempstead in their last home game before Christmas seeing them going second in the table, with a few nervy looks over the shoulders from leaders Yeovil, to boot.

Come the end of the campaign though, Torquay United’s very existence was under threat.

After Johnson’s departure, Interim Manager Aaron Downes steadied the ship, but after The Gulls were forced into Administration and subsequently deducted a total of eleven points, the Southern League – or no club at all – looked a distinct possibility at times during the closing weeks.

A memorable 2-1 win at relegation rivals Taunton eventually secured their status in the division with a game to spare.

Form

When the sides met in the Isuzu FA Trophy just over five weeks ago, the Gulls came into the contest on the back of an impressive 13-game unbeaten run that had them in top spot in the National League South.

Since that 5-1 defeat to Worthing in the Trophy, Torquay have only won two of their six matches. Their victory against Eastbourne Borough on Saturday put paid to a four-match winless streak.

They now sit 5th in the league table, three points behind Worthing in 2nd having played a game fewer, but just four points behind the league leaders Dorking, with a game in hand.

Last Six
08/02 – Eastbourne Borough (H) – Won 2-0
01/02 – Maidstone United (A) – Lost 1-0
25/01 – Hampton & Richmond Borough (H) – Lost 0-1
21/01 – Slough Town (A) – Drew 2-2
18/01 – St Albans City (A) – Drew 1-1
11/01 – Welling United (H) – Won 3-1

The Gaffer

Paul Wotton joined the Gulls in the summer from Truro City.

Wotton enjoyed five successful seasons at Truro City, including winning promotion to the National League South in 2022. He was formerly assistant manager at Plymouth Argyle.

Wotton, who spent part of his early career playing under TUFC Football Advisor Neil Warnock during their successful time at Home Park together, is a true Argyle legend after amassing over 450 league appearances during two spells in a career that also took in spells at Southampton, Oxford United and Yeovil Town.

The Skipper

Manchester-born Oscar Threlkeld joined the Gulls in the summer and is club captain.

Comfortable in a number of positions, Threlkeld, arrives at Plainmoor on a one-year contract and brings with him a wealth of EFL experience.

After rising through the ranks at Bolton Wanderers, Oscar went on to establish himself as a firm fan’s favourite at Plymouth Argyle, before moving on to Salford, Bradford and Oldham, as well as taking in a brief spell in Belgium with Waasland-Beveren.

After departing League Two side Morecambe at the end of last season, Threlkeld now returns to Devon to link up with Gulls boss Paul Wotton, who was first-team coach at Argyle during the player’s first spell at Home Park.

Key Player

With the second best defensive record in the league, it’s hard not to pick one of Torquay’s back three as their key player, and Sam Dreyer has been a consistent top performer for the Gulls this term.

Centre-back Sam, follows in the footsteps of his father John, who enjoyed a spell on loan with Stuart Morgan’s Torquay side during the 1985/86 season, prior to a superb career in the higher echelons of the English game with the likes of Oxford, Luton, Stoke and Bradford amongst others.

Having started out at Stevenage, moves to Biggleswade, Hendon and Bedford followed, before Dreyer junior earned himself plaudits for his displays for United’s National League South rivals Hampton & Richmond during the 2023/24 season, having made 16 appearances for The Beavers whilst on loan from League One side Peterborough United.

The defender scored in Saturday’s win over Eastbourne Borough at Plainmoor.