TT BLOG

Dom Roman

@DomRoman

The Ed looks back over the last 10 years of Non-League seasons, with focus now on the top scorers (stats courtesy of Torquay Fan Stats)

TOP LEAGUE GOALSCORER: 2014-15 – RYAN BOWMAN (12)

Luke Young and Ryan Bowman were the headline summer signings for Chris Hargreaves in the summer of 2014, and for a time it looked like the two of them could push United back to the Football League. Bowman was a striker with only one thing on his mind, give us the ball and I’ll put it in the net! Often he did, but he would also berate his team mates if he didn’t get the right service, and as United’s form stuttered, those bad moods became more and more frequent. In the end Bowman had to make do with 12 in the league, plus some more in the Trophy as United made the the semi-finals. That was his only season at Plainmoor, as he moved to Gateshead in 2015.

RYAN BOWMAN STATS – TUFC: 2014-15, APPEARANCES 44, GOALS 18

2015-16 – NATHAN BLISSETT (8)

With United’s squad in a process of change and Kevin Nicholson searching for a winning formula, Nathan Blissett arrived in January 2016 to bring his big presence to the United attack. Bliss went onto play a key role in a memorable Great Escape, scoring the winner in a crucial afternoon at Boreham Wood, two to beat Macclesfield, and another winner at home to Southport. The tall striker had found confidence at just the right time, and Plymouth Argyle swooped for him in January 2017 to take him to Home Park.

NATHAN BLISSETT STATS – TUFC: 2016-17, APPEARANCES 44, GOALS 12

2016-17 – BRETT WILLIAMS (10)

The early signs looked good for Brett Williams at Torquay United, with some promising pre-season performances at Plainmoor. But it soon became clear that Williams was not fitting into Kevin Nicholson’s way of playing, and the striker would often be left on the subs bench as United battled against the drop. Then with relegation looking likely Williams came good, scoring two at home to Braintree and two away to Dover, as the Gulls stayed in the National League. A frustrating player, Williams was capable of scoring from any angle, but lacked the work ethic required from his manager. Unsurprisingly Nicho was happy to let the striker go that summer.

BRETT WILLIAMS STATS – TUFC: 2016-17 & 2018-19, APPEARANCES 77, GOALS 16

2017-18 – RHYS HEALEY/JAMIE REID (6)

You know it’s been a rough season when the top scorers have 6 goals! And that was 2017-18. Fair play to Rhys Healey, he only played 8 games for the club and showed why he would go on to play at a much higher level. Meanwhile, Jamie Reid was struggling to find his best position under Gary Owers, who shuffled his strikeforce around continually, without much success.

RHYS HEALEY STATS – TUFC: 2018, APPEARANCES 8, GOALS 6

2018-19 & 2019-20 – JAMIE REID (29 & 18)

Reidy looked in for another tough season at Plainmoor in 2018-19, but then Gary Johnson’s arrival made all the difference. His confidence soared, playing off the shoulder of the centre backs, Reidy was banging goals in for fun and showing what he could achieve. Alongside Janneh and Kalala, the United attack was too much for the NLS teams to handle. Jamie would then back this up in the National League in 2019-20, rocketing in an opening day strike against Boreham Wood and scoring a beautiful turn and strike on BT Sports against Aldershot. There was also braces versus Harrogate, Stockport, Barrow and Halifax, before COVID cancelled the season and Reidy moved onto Mansfield.

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

2020-21 – CONNOR LEMONHEIGH-EVANS (10)

Good teams don’t always have to have an out and out goal-scorer, and that was one of the stories of Torquay United’s 2020-21 season. Danny Wright showed early promise of being the man, but he then suffered an injury on Boxing Day, and other players had to step up. One of those was Connor Lemonheigh-Evans, a player who was enjoying his best season as a professional. Perhaps his best form came towards the end of that ‘almost’ season, when he scored 5 goals to help keep United in the title race and his skills in and around the penalty area marked him out as one of the best players in the division.

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

2021-22 – ARMANI LITTLE (15)

Having joined United on a free transfer from Oxford United in 2019, much was expected of Armani Little, and although we saw glimpses, he spent the first two years struggling for form and fitness. But it all came together for the attacking midfielder in 2021-22, as Gary Johnson put his faith in Little and although the Yellow Army took some convincing, he soon became the main man at Plainmoor, banging in braces against Maidenhead, Dover and Notts County, whilst there was plenty of goals to admire from inside and outside the box. Looking back now it’s hard to believe that supporters were sceptical about whether Little was worth a place in their team, but those were days of higher expectations and standards at Torquay United.

ARMANI LITTLE STATS – TUFC: 2019-22, APPEARANCES 90, GOALS 19

2022-23 – AARON JARVIS (15)

Goals didn’t seem likely from Aaron Jarvis, because he simply hadn’t scored many before joining United in 2022! But in the end Jarv proved one of the few bright sparks in a torrid season, scoring hat-tricks against Aldershot and York, whilst also slotting in some beauties against Maidstone and Dorking. Meanwhile, his all-round game of pace and strength marked him out as Torquay’s best player. When relegation was confirmed I think many expected him to leave for pastures new, but he wanted to play for Gary Johnson and he clearly believed that 2023-24 could be a very good one for the Gulls. The reality was vastly different.

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

2023-24 – BRAD ASH (13)

Brad Ash had been a constant source of goals for teams in the NLS before joining Torquay, and he impressed in pre-season, so expectations were high heading into the 2023-24 campaign. In the end the results were decidedly mixed. He scored a nice double to beat Slough away, then goals against Farnborough and Aveley – but after that there was spells where the striker could not buy a goal, some time on the side-lines with injury and then general inconsistency. A frustrating player to watch at times, but also a player who kept running for the cause and 13 league goals is not too bad considering it didn’t include penalties. Whether he remains at Torquay or not, I expect Ash will continue to find goals for a team at this level.