PREVIEW

Steve Harris

@steveharris84

MATCH DETAILS

Torquay United versus Eastbourne Borough – NLS

Venue: Plainmoor

Date: Saturday 6th January 2024

Kick-off: 3pm

HEAD TO HEAD

Torquay: 4

Draw: 0

EBFC: 1

FORM GUIDE

Torquay: W, W, W, W, L, L

EBFC: L, L, W, L, L, L

TOP SCORERS

Torquay: Aaron Jarvis/Brad Ash (9 each)

EBFC: Zak Emmerson/Fletcher Holman/Decarry Sheriff (5 each)

EASTBOURNE FACTFILE

Year founded: 1964 (as Langney Sports)

Nickname: The Sports

Last season’s league finish: 8th in National League South

Eastbourne notable honours:

National League South:

Play-off winners: 2007-08

Sussex County League:

Division One Champions: 1998-99, 2002-0

MANAGER – ADAM MURRAY

Many of the Plainmoor faithful will remember Adam Murray from his brief stay with United in the 2006-07 season.

Murray had started his career with Derby County in the Premier League and had stints with Notts County (twice), Burton Albion, Kidderminster Harriers and Mansfield Town before enjoying arguably the most successful spell of his playing career with Carlisle United. Whilst with the Cumbrians, he helped them win the League Two title in the 2005-06 season and reach the final of the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy, where they lost to Swansea City at the Millennium Stadium.

He joined the Gulls in August 2006 for a fee of £10,000, but was sold to Macclesfield Town for £17,500 in January 2007. Spells with Oxford United, Luton Town and a return to Mansfield.

Whilst with the Stags, he became assistant manager and then manager following the departure of Paul Cox in 2014. He left Field Mill in 2016 and was later appointed as manager of Boston United.

Coaching spells with Burton Albion, Barnsley, West Bromwich Albion and Besiktas followed – the latter three roles saw him serve as assistant manager to Valery Ismael. In addition to this, he also had two spells as caretaker manager of Barnsley in October 2019 and October 2020.

His next managerial port of call saw him take charge of AFC Fylde in November 2022 and he led the Coasters to the National League North title in the 2022-23 season before his dismissal in October 2023.

He was subsequently appointed as assistant manager at Cheltenham Town under Darrell Clarke, a role he held until his appointment at Eastbourne.

MURRAY STATS

Date of Birth: 30/09/81 (42)

Appointed: 4th Jan 2024

Other Clubs Managed: Mansfield, Boston, Fylde

PLAYER TO WATCH – CALLUM KEALY

Australian born Callum Kealy is a proven striker at National League South and joined the Sports from Havant & Waterlooville in October 2023.

He netted 14 goals in the National League South last term – 12 of which came at Worthing before he made the switch to Havant in February 2023.

Kealy started his career with Brighton & Hove Albion, progressing through the Seagulls youth ranks before he joined Lewes upon his release in 2016.

A move to Met Police followed prior to his first spell with Worthing in July 2018. He then moved on to Sutton United in January 2020 and he helped them win the National League before a spell at Dorking. He returned to Worthing on loan in 2021, making the move permanent at the end of the 2021-22 campaign. Kealy then went on to make over 130 appearances at Woodside Road before joining Havant for an undisclosed fee in February 2023.

KEALY STATS

Position: Striker

Date of Birth: 26/09/98 (25)

Birthplace: Sydney

Height: 1.83m

Former Clubs: Brighton, Lewes, Met Police, Worthing, Sutton, Dorking, Havant

OLD BOYS

Torquay: None

EBFC: None

POSSIBLE LINE-UPS

Torquay

Mark Halstead

Dylan Crowe – Ollie Tomlinson – Dean Moxey – Archie Harris

Ethon Archer – Brett McGavin – Will Jenkins Davies

Dillon De Silva – Ross Marshall – Lewis Collins

Eastbourne

Harrison Foulkes

Scott Leslie – Archie Proctor – Michael Olarewaju – Sam Beard

Jay Beckford – Brad Berry – Lucas Defise – Leone Gravata

Callum Kealy – Billy Viga

LAST MEETING

Tuesday 28th November 2023: Eastbourne 1 Torquay United 4

Torquay United shrugged off the disappointment of their 3-0 midweek to defeat at Dartford to beat ten-man Eastbourne Borough with a display of pacy passing at all-weather Priory Lane.

The Gulls were already 2-0 up through early shots from range by Callum Dolan and Brett McGavin when the Sports had Lucas Defise sent off for a second yellow card in the 25th minute.

There was a moment or two of worry for United’s most dedicated travelling fans when Eastbourne pulled a goal back through Callum Kealy’s penalty in the 61st minute.

But Torquay made their extra man count in the closing stages, with more spectacular goals from McGavin – his fifth of the season – and an eighth of the campaign for striker Brad Ash.