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Dom Roman

@DomRoman

The Ed looks back over the last 10 years of Non-League seasons, starting with the TUFC Player of the Year winners

PLAYER OF THE YEAR: 2014-15, 2016-17 & 2017-18 – LUKE YOUNG

Luke joined Torquay United in June 2014, as Chris Hargreaves looked to gather a squad together to tackle Conference Football. The 21 year-old was instantly made captain of the Gulls, and started the season on fire, scoring spectacular goals and leading United towards the top of the table. His energy and drive was there for all to see, so was his ability to hit a long range shot or pass, and despite a poor end to the season, Young was a worthy Player of the Year. In truth his career at Plainmoor never really got better after that, the midfielder suffering major injury setbacks, whilst off the pitch things were unsettled at the club as Hargreaves was replaced by Paul Cox, before Kevin Nicholson took the reins. He would continue to give his all in a Yellow shirt whoever was in charge, and despite the injuries, still won the Player of the Year awards in 2017 & 2018 for his committed and whole-hearted displays. Sadly Luke’s last season would end in relegation under Gary Owers, by then he had made as much effort as anyone to keep United in the National League and it was time to say goodbye. Young’s next step was a move to Wrexham AFC, where he has played every since.

LUKE YOUNG STATS – TUFC: 2014-18, APPEARANCES 142, GOALS 18

2015-16 – NATHAN SMITH

Torquay United supporters have often fallen in love with loan players, mainly because they are often better than the permanent ones! 2015-16 was no different as Nathan Smith joined from Port Vale on a season long loan, and went onto have a brilliant season for the Gulls. At 5′ 11″ Smithy was not the biggest, and looked more like a full back in stature, but it was clear from early on in the season that he had the battling qualities to not only assume the role of centre back but to flourish in it. Kevin Nicholson (who took charge at the end of September) called Smith a “freak of nature” and his United team started to take shape when the Port Vale man was paired with Angus MacDonald. The defensive duo proved pivotal as Torquay achieved a memorable great escape in a hugely rocky year for the club, and supporters showed their appreciation by voting Nathan as Player & Young Player of the Year. He returned to Port Vale in 2016 and 8 years later, remains there.

NATHAN SMITH STATS – TUFC: 2015-16, APPEARANCES 44, GOALS 3

2018-19 – JAMIE REID

Jamie Reid initially joined his hometown club on loan from Exeter City in 2015, and spent the next couple of years trying to prove himself at United, but finding it difficulty to nail down a regular place in the team and also prove to the Yellow Army that he could be an important player for Torquay United. He signed a permanent deal in 2017, but doubts continued, and as Torquay were relegated to the NLS, he had become something of a scapegoat for the team’s poor form. But then manager Gary Owers was replaced Gary Johnson in September 2018, and that’s when Reidy’s career changed course. GJ made it clear that Jamie would be his main man and gave him the confidence to have a fantastic season, as goals rained in from all angles and Torquay United were transformed from mid-table misfits to champions elect. In the end he was the easy choice for Player of the Year after bagging an impressive 32 goals and 14 assists, and the transition to TUFC hero was complete. The striker would continue the form into the National League, leaving in 2020 for Mansfield and then finding success at Stevenage.

JAMIE REID STATS – TUFC: 2015-20, APPEARANCES 176, GOALS 63

2019-20 – BEN WHITFIELD

The second Port Vale link in this list, Whitfield left the Valiants to join Gary Johnson’s Torquay United in September 2019, making an immediate impact with a National League goal on his debut at Woking. Whits went onto quickly become a fans favourite with a number of enthusiastic wing displays and more goals helping United push towards the top of the league, before the team endured a mid-season slump around Xmas. Eventually the season was cancelled at the end of March due to COVID, Whitfield was given the nod for the Player of the Year and then went onto impress again in the 2020-21 season, scoring memorable against Wrexham as the Yellow Army returned to Plainmoor. Unfortunately injuries curtailed his campaign, and Whits could only watch on as United lost on pens at Ashton Gate. A move to Stockport was made soon after, and the winger now plays for Barrow.

BEN WHITFIELD STATS – TUFC: 2019-21, APPEARANCES 65, GOALS 13

2020-21 – CONNOR LEMONHEIGH-EVANS

Connor Lemonheigh-Evans initially joined United on loan in spring 2018 under Gary Owers, and then returned under Gary Johnson later that year, spending the next couple of season on loan with United and enjoying the glory of our title win in 2019. 2020-21 was Connor’s first season as a permanent player for the Gulls, and despite previous success, it felt like the attacking midfielder had something to prove. And prove it he did! The Lemon scored a late winner in the opener against Stockport, and then went onto to have an excellent season at Plainmoor, scoring numerous important goals including a late Xmas winner at Weymouth. CLE’s game was much more than goals though, with sound technique and superb fitness making him one of the most impressive players in the National League that season, and helping him to pip Asa Hall to the POTY award. In the end United would fall short at Ashton Gate, but Connor would stick around for one more season at Plainmoor, scoring a memorable hat trick against Notts County at Plainmoor. He joined Stockport in the summer of 2022.

CONNOR LEMONHEIGH-EVANS STATS – TUFC: 2018-22, APPEARANCES 164, GOALS 30

2021-22 – SHAUN MACDONALD

Loveable Geordie Shaun MacDonald originally joined the Gulls in 2018, and then went onto feature prominently in our title winning 2018-19 season, staying at the Gulls until the summer 2021, when he decided to look for a new adventure. But with Mark Halstead struggling badly at the start of the 2021-22 season, the call went out from Gary Johnson to bring Mac back, and he agreed. The news was well received by the Yellow Army, but could the keeper live up to the hype? Yes, yes he could! The goalkeeper slotted in perfectly, giving United’s beleaguered back-line much-needed assurance, collecting crosses with ease and helping United not only dash relegation fears, but also for a time anyway, carry hopes of a push for the play-offs. In the end United would finish mid-table but the keeper could be proud of his performances and his popularity extended to receiving the 2021-22 Player of the Year award. Mac then left for Cheltenham Town and is now a back-up at Exeter City.

SHAUN MACDONALD STATS – TUFC: 2018-22, APPEARANCES 114, GOALS 0

2022-23 – AARON JARVIS

Aaron Jarvis joined Torquay in 2022 after a couple of low-key spells at Sutton and Scunthorpe. Expectations were not exactly high for the striker, and an early injury stopped him from starting the season. But when the big strong target man did make his entrance, he soon started to show what he was all about, scoring a hat trick in early November against Aldershot. With the Gulls struggling towards the foot of the table, Jarvis was one of the few players to elevate his game and there was another hat-trick to enjoy against York City in April (he was named Player of the Year pre-match), as United sniffed a chance to escape the drop. As we all know they just fell short, but it had still been a fine season for the striker, scoring 15 goals in the National League and proving the doubters wrong with a number of strong displays. Jarv would stay on for another season with the Gulls in 23-24, and although goals would come (primarily through penalties0, so would injuries, and he spent the last 8 games on the side-lines watching on.

AARON JARVIS STATS – TUFC: 2022-PRESENT, APPEARANCES 66, GOALS 29

2023-24 – DEAN MOXEY

Deano joined United in 2020, and was big part of the 20-21 promotion push under Gary Johnson. Since then with the Gulls floundering the hugely experienced defender has stuck with United, and even at the age of 38 has continued to play regularly in the National League South. The Mox has been one of the few players to show consistent professionalism, and put in some big performances as United cemented their status in the league for next season, earning the votes for the 23-24 Player of the Year award. His passion to play football is clearly still there, and going by his Insta he’ll be keen for another season at Plainmoor, if required.