TT BLOG

Dom Roman

@DomRoman

THE END OF 2023!

I think it’s important in life that you don’t let football results totally dictate your mood, especially when supporting Torquay United! And that has applied this year more than ever. It’s been a tough one to stomach from the start to the finish, from losing in the rain at Huish Park to losing sadly to Truro City at Plainmoor, with a lot of similar disappointments in-between. 2023 has tested us all to our limits.

There’s been moments of joy, moments that the loyal Yellow Army have deserved for their efforts and reminded us why all this time and money spent can occasionally be matched up with happiness and wins from our football team. There’s also been some decent performances from the footballers, mainly opposition footballers, but also some of ours as well! Let’s take a look at a selection of the best bits and best players from the year that was 2023 (in no particular order). Yes you’re right, this won’t take very long….

THE PLAYERS

Aaron Jarvis – Aaron Jarvis was our most consistent performer in 2022-23, and rightly came away with the Player of the Year award. This season hasn’t gone to plan though, there has been 9 goals but most of those have come from penalties, and of course he’s also been injured. Let’s hope Aaron’s eventual return gives us the impact we’ve all been hoping for.

Nico Lawrence – Nico Lawrence joined last winter on loan and soon settled into life at Plainmoor. A class act with intelligence, strength and pace, we have missed Nico’s quality ever since his loan ended.

Mark Halstead – Mark Halstead had a decent 2022-23, doing his best to keep Torquay in games at times, and winning over his doubters. He was excellent at the start of this season as well, before throwing in some jitters, but is still comfortably one of our best players of 2023.

Kevin Dawson – Kevin’s choice is a bittersweet one due to his injury problems, but during the final months of 2022-23 he was marvellous, charging around midfield and giving us much-needed fight and urgency. His return can’t come soon enough.

Dean Moxey – You did wonder if the Mox would say ‘enough is enough’ in the summer, and no-one would have blamed him. But he’s continued battling on, and has often been one of United’s better players.

THE GAMES

10/04/23 – Maidenhead United (a) NL – On a sunny Easter Monday the Yellow Army turned up to Maidenhead in great numbers, and were rewarded with a cracking performance from United. Jarvis and Nouble scored the goals in a 3-1 win…and TUFC were definitely, possibly, maybe staying up. This is also the Number 1 away day of the year.

18/02/23 – Barnet (h) NL – United had picked up a few results to start the year, and a win over play-off chasers Barnet at Plainmoor (with Tom Lapslie outstanding) was surely an indication that we could indeed stay up? The wretched form straight after would prove otherwise.

15/04/23 – York City (h) NL – Out of nowhere United had suddenly picked up four wins, and they backed this up with a 3-2 victory over York City at home. Aaron Jarvis was crowned POTY and bagged a hat trick on an optimism filled afternoon at Plainmoor.

GOALS

Brett McGavin V Chelmsford City – No surprise to see Brett feature here! The goal against Chelmsford in September was an absolute beauty, as he volleyed a clearance into the back of the net from around 20 yards out.

Brett McGavin V Weymouth – At the start of December United beat Weymouth 3-1 and the game started with a Shooter free kick that arrowed into the top right corner from about 25 yards out. Real moments of quality from the midfielder to brighten up the season.

Asa Hall V Altrincham – Yes this game. Asa Hall had already scored to bring United level, and caught the ball sweetly from 25 yards out to give us the lead and send us all into raptures.

Brett Gets Your September Goal Of The Month Vote!

THANK YOU

Thank you for taking the time to visit the site this year, we are totally committed to supporting Torquay United and I hope this passion for the Gulls shows week in week out. We will not give up on this club!

Thank you also to ALL the fantastic contributors who have answered my messages throughout the year (some would say nagging) and helped us cover every game both on social media, through the website and on YouTube. Special Mentions to Sam Swann who puts in the hours so our Gull’s Eye View episodes can be filmed every week, Chris Wade for his un-ending enthusiasm and doing lots (and lots) of articles, Rich Heesem for his tweeting, but mainly for his good company at games, Thomas Kelly for his efforts on the site and especially on Social Media which are always appreciated and also the likes of Sam Jones, Danny Burnell, Steve Harris, Luke Hunter and Groundhopping legend Clive Hayward.

I can’t promise you 2024 will be a good one for TUFC (I’m not that brave!), but I can promise continued coverage, honesty and as many articles, Social Media content and YouTube episodes from TT as we can muster. Look after each other (we all want the same thing after all, a successful football club), let’s keep pushing for better and hope that by this time next year we have regathered some pride and most importantly a place in the National League. HNY.

COYY – DOM

BOBBLE HATS – GULLS (A) BACK ON SALE!

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