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.

S – IAN STONEBRIDGE

UNITED CAREER: Ian Stonebridge was a trainee at Totteham Hotspur, before moving down to Plymouth Argyle in 1999 and playing a part in two promotions. He then joined Wycombe Wanderers and was loaned to Torquay in late 2005 as the club struggled to readjust to life in League Two. His debut came on 5th November 2005 in a 1st Round FA Cup tie versus Harrogate, and he made an immediate impact with a well taken late equaliser from outside the area. He played five more games for United before returning to Wycombe due to injury.

AFTER UNITED: Stonebridge continued to struggle with injuries and ended up retiring from Football at the age of 25 due to reactive arthropathy. He came out of retirement briefly to play for Truro in 2008-09. Since then Ian has gained degrees in Applied Sport Science and Coaching at St Mark & St John University, an MSc in Sport Coaching and most recently a Doctor of Philosophy PHD at Loughborough University. He headed back to Argle as Academy Youth Development Phase Lead Coach 12-16 in 2012, and then found employment at St Mark & St John University as a Lecturer in Coach & Physical Education, where he remains to this day.

INTERNATIONALS: Stonebridge played 4 times for England U18s in 1999, representing his country alongside the likes of Gareth Barry, Michael Carrick and Joe Cole.

FAMILY: Ian’s dad Alan’s football career was featured in a comedy movie in 2018 called ‘The Bromley Boys’. The story is about the teenage David “Dave” Roberts, who becomes a fan of his local football club, Bromley FC, a club who at the time were, “the worst football team in Britain”. It’s based on an eponymous autobiographical book by author Roberts, and striker Alan was his favourite player. The cast included Brenock O’Connor, Martin McCutcheon, Alan Davies and Ewen MacIntosh (Keith from the Office).

OTHER: The striker scored 45 times for Plymouth Argyle and won two league winners medals in 2002 and 2004. He played alongside future Gulls Hargreaves, Gritton, McGlinchey, Taylor, Wills and Adams at Home Park, and is still very much involved with the club, helping to raise funds for good causes alongside the Argyle Community Trust.

STONEBRIDGE STATS: AGE: 41, BIRTHPLACE: LEWISHAM, HEIGHT: 1.83M, POSITION: STRIKER

TUFC STATS: SIGNED BY LEROY ROSENIOR NOV 2005, APPEARANCES 6 GOALS 1

T – GAVIN TOMLIN

UNITED CAREER: Tomlin was a youngster at hometown club Gillingham, but was released and then bounced around a few non-league clubs before playing for Brentford, Yeovil and then Dagenham. Paul Buckle signed the attacker on loan in March 2011 and he scored on his debut in a memorable 5-0 thumping of Shrewsbury. Tomlin was used as a winger at Plainmoor and scored 3 more league goals as United grabbed a play-off spot. He then played in all 3 play-off games including the 1-0 loss to Stevenage at Old Trafford. Buckle described Tomlin as a player that was “big, strong and has plenty of pace”. Bucks left for Bristol Rovers after the play-off final and Tomlin returned to Daggers.

AFTER UNITED: He was loaned to Gillingham next, and then moved onto Southend under Paul Sturrock in 2012, playing for the Shrimpers in a Football League Trophy Final loss to Crewe in 2013. He then spent time with Port Vale and Crawley, before dropping into non-league Football with Isthmian League Premier Division club Dulwich Hamlet in 2016. In 2018 Hamlet won promotion with a play-off victory over Hendon. In January 2019, Tomlin joined Southern Counties East League Premier Division club Cray Valley Paper Mills. The “Millers” won the league title at the end of the 2018–19 season and reached the 2019 FA Vase final. Tomlin scored in the final at Wembley Stadium, but Mills were beaten by 3–1 Chertsey Town after extra-time. He played for Cray Valley up until 2022, had a brief spell at Erith & Belvede and hasn’t played since last summer. He described himself as an ‘Entrepreneur’ in a Q&A from a couple of years ago, but that’s as much detail as I can find.

TOON ARMY: Gavin is a supporter of Newcastle United and his idol growing up was Alan Shearer (predictably!).

OTHER INFO: Tomlin’s goal-scoring debut for United is well-known for Jake Robinson playing and scoring against his parent club Shrewsbury Town.

TOMLIN STATS: AGE: 39, BIRTHPLACE: GILLINGHAM, HEIGHT: 1.83M, POSITION: WINGER/STRIKER

TUFC STATS: SIGNED BY PAUL BUCKLE MAR 2011, APPEARANCES 15, GOALS 4

V – MATT VILLIS

UNITED CAREER: Matt Villis is another Torquay-Plymouth Argyle link-up, with the young centre back joining United on loan from the Greens in 2004. The unassuming defender went onto play 22 league games, as United were relegated from League 1, and then signed permanently in the summer of 2005. Villis struggled to find a place in the team for the next two years as managers chopped and changed, and he also struggled with injuries. He was released at the end of the 2006-07 season.

AFTER UNITED: He spent the next three years with Southern League Tiverton Town, before playing for Weston-super-Mare, Tiverton again, Bideford, Yate Town and then Taunton, where he retired from playing in January 2018. On retirement he became a first team coach at Taunton Town, and he has progressed to become Assistant Manager to boss Rob Dray, with the Peacocks looking to build on a first successful season in the National League South. Outside of Football Matt worked as a Driver for Marshall Volkswagon for a number of years, but has most recently become a Postman for Royal Mail in Bridgwater.

OTHER: Matt’s senior debut came for the Gulls against Sheffield Wednesday as a substitute for Lee Canoville on 14th August 2004. That was the only time United have played the Owls in a home league fixture at Plainmoor (losing 2-4). The XI that day was: Dearden, Canoville (Villis), Owen, McGlinchey, Hockley (Akinfenwa), Bedeau, Fowler, Phillips. Russell (Hill), Gritton, Kuffour.