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.

P – TRISTAN PLUMMER

UNITED CAREER: Bristol City youngster Plummer joined Torquay United in 2009 on loan for the rest of the season, but did not fit in with Paul Buckle’s plans and played only one game before returning to Gary Johnson’s Robins team after a month.

AFTER UNITED: The winger never played for City and after loan spells at Hereford and Gillingham he was released in 2010. Disillusioned and without a contract, Plummer took a year out of the sport. He returned surprisingly in the Portuguese 2nd Division with Portimonense S.C in 2011 and played 8 times for the Algarve-based team. After that Tristan played for Hereford, Weston-super-Mare, Aldershot Town (playing against United in 14-15), Weymouth and Frome Town, before joining Western League side Bitton in 2019. Bitton withdrew from the League in late October 2022, and there’s no sign of Tristan finding another club since then. Outside of Football Tristan and his brothers Tremaine and Twain were signed to the cast of Channel 4 show Gogglebox in 2016, and have been regulars on the show ever since. Nicknamed the ‘3Ts’ the Plummers have built up a social media following and the brothers are apparently paid in total £1500 per month (according to OK magazine) for the gig. Not bad work if you can get it!

INTERNATIONALS: Plummer was capped at England U16s (2 caps), U17s (22 caps) and U18s (2 caps), playing alongside future England full internationals Danny Rose and Danny Welbeck. Before signing his first deal for Bristol City, he was linked to a move to Arsenal under Arsene Wenger.

FAMILY: His older brother Dwayne (not on Gogglebox!) was also a professional footballer and played for Bristol City and Bristol Rovers (amongst others) in a career spanning between 1995 & 2010. Outside of Gogglebox Twaine has played for Bradford Town and Tremaine works as a journalist, presenting a breakfast radio show on Bristol’s Ujima FM.

PLUMMER STATS: AGE: 33, BIRTHPLACE: BRISTOL, HEIGHT: 1.68M, POSITION: WINGER

TUFC STATS: SIGNED BY PAUL BUCKLE JAN 2009, APPEARANCES 1 GOALS 0

R – NEVILLE ROACH

UNITED CAREER: Ex-Reading youngster Neville Roach left the Royals in 1999 and bounced around a number of clubs before joining Roy McFarland’s United team in the summer of 2001. He spent a couple of months at the club on non-contract terms, making his debut as a sub for Eifion Williams on an opening day defeat to Bristol Rovers. He played 14 times for United, scoring once, and then left in November for pastures new.

AFTER UNITED: After leaving United he had a spell at Stevenage, then did well at Slough Town, Basingstoke Town and Eastleigh, earning a brief loan move to League 2 Oxford United in late 2005. He then returned to Basingstoke before moving between Maidenhead, Harrow, Farnborough, Uxbridge and finally Didcot who were his last club in 2009 due to a knee ligament injury. After retiring Neville managed Hartley Wintney, Thatcham Town and Bagshot Lea, and also coached at Highmoor Ibis, Marlow and Basingstoke Town, which was his most recent football-related role. Outside of Football Neville became a DJ and followed his passion for music by playing in local bars, clubs, private functions, stepping into the world of broadcasting at Reading based ‘Gold Dust Radio’. His show “Sounds for You” is a selection of Reggae, Soca, and RnB music, plus interviews with ex-Footballers, Managers, and also the local community talking about mental health and cancer issues.

INTERNATIONALS: In March 2000 Roach was called up by the Cayman Islands for World Cup Qualifiers, but never represented them after FIFA intervened, stopping Roach and a number of other British-based players from playing. Those other players included Dwayne Plummer, Wayne Allison and Barry Hayles.

OTHER INFO: He spent 6 months in Australia playing for Eastern Pride between 2000-01, but returned to England after the club was disbanded. He has recently helped organised ‘Walk & Talk’ Cancer Charity Walks. DJ Roach is a keen Liverpool FC supporter.

ROACH STATS: AGE: 44, BIRTHPLACE: READING, HEIGHT: 1.78M, POSITION: STRIKER

TUFC STATS: SIGNED BY ROY MCFARLAND AUG 2001, APPEARANCES 14, GOALS 1

R – ROMONE ROSE

UNITED CAREER: QPR youngster Romone Rose was loaned out to various teams, before finding his way to Torquay in October 2010 on a 3 month loan deal. His debut for United came in a League 2 draw with Gillingham, and he scored a cracking 20 yarder in a win over Morecambe the next week. After playing a few more games for United Rose went back to his parent club in December.

AFTER UNITED: Romone was released by QPR in 2011, and had a brief spell with Thai club Muangthong United, before moving around a number of non-league teams. He played for then non-league Newport County in the 2012 FA Trophy final (which they lost), then the likes of Wealdstone, Eastleigh, Maidenhead, Staines, Marlow, Gosport – amongst others! In 2018 Romone joined NLS side Hungerford, then took a football career break before playing for Southern League Premier Beaconsfield Town in 2021-22, which was his last noted team. There is no clues on what Rose is up to now.

QPR: The winger was a member of the Rangers’ under-18 team that won the Youth Alliance League title in 2007. He played 6 times for QPR’s senior team between 2008-10.

OTHER: One of Romone’s middle names is Adolphus. Also loaned to Torquay from QPR in October 2010 was Joe Oastler, who ended up playing 122 times for United. The TUFC XI team for his Gulls debut was: Bevan, Robertson, Nicholson, Branston, Ellis, Oastler, Mansell, Rose (Kee), O’Kane (Hemmings), Zebroski, Benyon (Gritton).