TT BLOG

Dom Roman

@DomRoman

Players come and go at Plainmoor, many stay for a while, but many stay for only a short time (especially during 2022-23). Using the alphabet and Torquay Fan Stats as my guide, I take a look at some ‘Forgotten Gulls’ who have represented Torquay United, and see what they’ve been up to since.

J – ROSSI JARVIS

UNITED CAREER: Norwich City youngster Rossi Jarvis joined Torquay United on loan at the start of 2007, and make his debut on 26th January as a late substitute for Ryan Dickson – by then the Gulls were winning 4-0 through goals from Ward and a hat trick from Lee Thorpe. Jarvis played three more games for United, starting against Barnet and Lincoln. A back injury curtailed his loan spell and he returned to the Canaries in mid-February.

AFTER UNITED: Jarvis spent the rest of the 2006-07 season on loan at Rotherham. With opportunities limited at Norwich, he moved to Luton Town in 2008 and won the Football League Trophy with the Hatters in 2009. He left for Barnet a year later, then represented Cambridge United before dropping down the divisions to join Lowestoft in 2013. He spent 5 years at the ‘Trawler Boys’, left briefly for Dereham Town, before returning to Lowestoft for the 2018-19 season. He moved back to Dereham in 2021, and then to Southern Premier League Central team Leiston in 2022. He is also employed as Welfare & Progression Officer at Norwich City.

FAMILY: Rossi’s slightly older brother Ryan Jarvis was also a youth teamer at Norwich City, and they played in one game together for the Canaries in 2006. Ryan is also an ex-Gull, playing 57 times for us between 2011-13. The two brothers can both be found at Leiston in Suffolk, where another ex-Norwich player Darren Eadie is in charge. The team finished 3rd last season (the highest league finish in the club’s history) and lost in the play-offs to Nuneaton. Rossi’s cousin Adam Tann was also a pro for Cambridge and Notts County (amongst others), and was still playing for Gorleston in the Isthmian League North last season at the age of 40.

OTHER: Jarvis played 8 games for the England U19s, team mates included future Liverpool player Adam Lallana. He also got 3 England C caps, 1 game as captain.

JARVIS STATS: AGE: 35, BIRTH PLACE: FAKENHAM, HEIGHT: 1.80M, POSITION: MIDFIELDER

TUFC STATS: SIGNED BY LUBOS KUBIK JAN 2007, APPEARANCES 64 GOALS 0

K – LLOYD KERRY

UNITED CAREER: Chesterfield-born Lloyd Kerry was a youth team player at Sheffield United when he was loaned down to Plainmoor in February 2007, as Keith Curle tried to plot a way out of relegation. The midfielder made his debut on 17th February in a 0-1 home loss to Hartlepool, immediately impressing with his ability on the ball in a team that was very low on confidence. He went onto to make 6 more appearances for the Gulls, scoring a long range strike against Wycombe in a 3-0 win (the Gulls would only triumph once more that season). Unfortunately a foot injury finished Kerry’s time at Plainmoor, and he returned to The Blades in April.

AFTER UNITED: Kerry spent time on loan in 2007-08 at his hometown Chesterfield, and then joined them permanently in the summer of 2008 having never made a first team appearance for Sheffield United. He struggled to make his mark at Chesterfield and ended up at Hinckley Town between 2010-12, and then at Tamworth between 2012-14. His next move would be to Harrogate Town in 2014, and after a loan spell at Hednesford he cemented his place in the first team squad as the Sulphurites enjoyed a very successful period under manager Simon Weaver. They won the NLN play-offs in 2018 and in 2020 beat Notts County in the NL play-off final to reach the EFL for the first time. There was also an FA Trophy win at Wembley in 2021 (rearranged from 2020). Kerry went onto play a part in Harrogate’s EFL debut, retiring in 2022 after over 220 games for the club. He remains at Harrogate as Head of Recruitment and Scouting. Simon Weaver – “He’s part of the furniture here and wears the badge with pride and will continue to do so when he’s out scouting games looking for future talent. We’re so proud he’s agreed terms to remain at the club and play an integral part in the club’s future”.

INJURY: Kerry battled back from injuries such as a fractured cheekbone and snapped cruciate ligament to play in two play-off finals and the FA Trophy final for Harrogate.

OTHER INFO: Lloyd Kerry was one of 47 (yes 47) players to pull on the Yellows shirt in the horrific 2006-07 season! The line-up on Lloyd’s debut was Miller, Andrews, Robinson, Gordon, Kerry, Mansell, Halliday (McPhee), Hockley (P Smith), Hill, Easter (Cooke), Thorpe.

KERRY STATS: AGE: 34, BIRTH PLACE: CHESTERFIELD, HEIGHT: 1.70M, POSITION: MIDFIELDER

TUFC STATS: SIGNED BY KEITH CURLE FEB 2007, APPEARANCES 7, GOALS 1

L – ANTHONY LLOYD

UNITED CAREER: Taunton-born Lloyd started his career at Huddersfield and was part of the team that was denied automatic promotion in 2004 by…Torquay. But the Terriers did still win the play-offs! With Leroy Rosenior’s Gulls back in League 2 in 2005, Lloyd moved down to Plainmoor on a loan deal in November, before joining on a permanent deal in January 2006. The full back made a place in the United line-up his own, and played in both Birmingham FA Cup 3rd Round ties in January. Not long after that, with United’s EFL place in jeopardy, Leroy Rosenior left the club. His replacement was John Cornforth and Lloyd’s last match for the Gulls came in a draw versus Chester in early March. Ian Atkins eventually taking the reins and managing a memorable great escape. Lloyd moved to York City in the summer of 2006 after turning down a new contract at United.

AFTER UNITED: Lloyd never returned to the EFL, with York City missing out on promotion in the NL play-offs in 2007. He then played for Farsley Celtic, York City again, Guiseley, Bradford Park Avenue, Stocksbridge Park Steels, North Ferriby and Ossett Town. Whilst at Farsley Celtic (according to Wikipedia) he worked in a warehouse, there are no details available on his current employment.

OTHER INFO: In 2016 Anthony teamed up with his workmates and Dad Steve to take on the Three Peaks Challenge, climbing Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and Snowdown in the space of 24 hours. This was in aid of the Cystic Fibrosis Trust. Lloyd’s career highlight was the 2004 League 2 play-off final at the Millennium Stadium, the match finished 0-0 with Huddersfield winning 4-1 on pens.