TALKING POINTS

Steve Harris

@steveharris84

Steve discusses the last day of the season

LOCAL BOYS DONE GOOD

There was a decidedly local flavour to the Gulls’ display against Havant & Waterlooville as a number of local boys made a big impact in the game.

Austen Booth opened his account for his hometown club on 27 minutes with a stunning half volley from distance, whilst Torquay-born Plymouth Argyle loanee Will Jenkins-Davies took his tally for the season to eight with a first half brace.

Then in the second half, first year pro Callum Thomas made a steady cameo appearance after replacing Dean Moxey and sub Jacob Wellington, who has been a stand out player in United’s Under-18 side, had a hand in Arkell Jude-Boyd’s fifth (more on that below) and also went close himself with a shot that went wide.

SIX FOR JUDE-BOYD

Since he joined the Gulls on loan from Queens Park Rangers, Arkell Jude-Boyd has shown that he has all the attributes of a modern day full-back, in terms of athleticism and his ability on the ball that is very similar in style to Liverpool’s Trent Alexander-Arnold.

Jude-Boyd has also chipped in with a number of goals and he took his tally to six with seven minutes to go, as he found the target after Jacob Wellington had seen his effort blocked.

He is the latest in a series of loan signings who have appeared for United in recent seasons, a list that includes Sinclair Armstrong, Stephen Duke-McKenna and Dillon De Silva, and he also won the club’s young player of the season award.

DEAN MOXEY

Veteran Dean Moxey capped a campaign where he has proved to be one of United’s more consistent performers by being voted as the club’s player of the season.

Moxey, who turned 38 in January, has rolled back the years on numerous occasions this season and his reading of the game befits a player who has played at the highest level (he appeared for Crystal Palace in the Premier League earlier in his career).

The question is ‘will we be seeing him at Plainmoor again next season?’

AARON DOWNES

After stepping in as interim manager following the departure of Gary Johnson and the announcement that the Gulls would be filing for Administration, Aaron Downes has done an admirable job in helping United avoid relegation from the National League South.

Not only did Downes have to deal with the ten point deduction which came with Administration, he also had to contend with seeing the Gulls deducted an additional point for fielding an ineligible player.

However, with a record of played 13, won five, drawn 3 and lost 5, Downes led United to safety with a win over Taunton Town in their penultimate league fixture. Now the question is: ‘what part, if any, will the Aussie be playing for the Gulls going forward?’

1ST DOUBLE OF THE SEASON

United’s win over Havant and Waterlooville ensured that they completed the double over one of their National League South opponents for the first time this season, having beaten the Hawks 2-0 at Westleigh Park last November.

It is the first time that the Gulls have completed the double over one of their divisional opponents on the final day of a campaign since they beat Barnet 3-2 on the final day of the 2000-01 campaign.

THE YELLOW ARMY

In the past there has been suggestions that Torquay United fans lack passion, but to that I say those who accuse others of lacking passion are those without passion themselves.

With a crowd of 3,379 to witness what was a ‘dead rubber’ – as the Gulls had retained their National League South status against Taunton in midweek – and an average attendance of 2,404 in a season where they haven’t been able to consistently maintain a promotion challenge, the fans have proved they undoubtedly care about their football club.

BBC Radio Devon commentator Paul Mulhern probably summed up the club best live on air when he said: ‘It’s where strangers become acquaintances and acquaintances become friends and in some cases friends become family, and the fact that they’ve been kept at arm’s length for the last few years needs to change and needs to change quickly’.