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Steve Harris

@steveharris84

Steve continues to pick his top 50 players from the last 10 years

20 – DURRELL BERRY (2014 & 2015-16)

Durrell Berry’s first spell with Torquay United came in the 2014-15 season when he joined the Gulls on a non-contract basis after leaving Plymouth Argyle. However, United manager Chris Hargreaves was unable to offer him a full contract to due to budgetary constraints and he signed for Cheltenham Town. He re-joined United in the 2015-16 campaign in between Paul Cox’s ten game spell in the charge and the arrival of Kevin Nicholson. Berry went on to become a regular for the Gulls in ‘Great Escape 1’ under Nicholson – with arguably his best game coming in their 4-1 win on Boxing Day in which he scored his only goal for the club. Sadly, a broken leg sustained in an away fixture with Dover Athletic towards the end of the 2015-16 season ultimately brought the curtain down on his United career.

BERRY STATS – POSITION: FULL BACK, APPEARANCES: 45, GOALS 1

19 – NICO LAWRENCE (2023)

Young central defender Nico Lawrence joined on loan from Southampton in the second half of the 2022-23 season and produced a series of displays that belied his years to win the club’s Young Player of the Year award.

LAWRENCE STATS – POSITION: CENTRE BACK, APPEARANCES: 22, GOALS 0

18 – JOE LEWIS (2019-20 & 2021-22)

After a promising loan spell from Swansea City in the 2019-20 campaign, which was cut short by the outbreak of Covid-19, Joe Lewis returned to Plainmoor midway through the 2020-21 season on a permanent basis. He became a regular in the heart of the Gulls’ back four, as they missed out on promotion to the EFL. In the 2021-22 campaign, Lewis was United’s joint-third top scorer with six goals, including a memorable strike in a 5-0 home win over Wealdstone which saw him pick up the ball inside his own half before finding the back of the net from 25 yards

LEWIS STATS – POSITION: CENTRE BACK, APPEARANCES: 99, GOALS 6

17 – AARON NEMANE (2019-21)

With clubs like Manchester City and Rangers on his CV, Aaron Nemane signed for the Gulls in December 2019 and he showed glimpses of his ability prior to the Covid-19 enforced suspension of the National League in 2019-20. However, once action resumed in the 2020-21 campaign, he became a first team regular before injury ended his season early.

NEMANE STATS – POSITION: WINGER, APPEARANCES: 35, GOALS 4

16 – SAIKOU JANNEH (2018-19 & 2019)

Saikou Janneh joined the Gulls on loan in a double swoop that also saw Connor Lemonheigh-Evans return to Plainmoor for a second spell. He soon formed an exciting partnership with Jamie Reid and his pace proved to be a handful for National League South defences. He found the back of the net times in all competitions and netted a hat-trick in a 4-1 win over Concord Rangers in November 2018.

JANNEH STATS – POSITION: STRIKER, APPEARANCES: 44, GOALS 20

15 – DANNY RACCHI (2016)

Another of the clutch of signings made by Kevin Nicholson in the January transfer window of 2016 was central midfielder Danny Racchi, formerly of Huddersfield Town, Scottish side Kilmarnock and FC Valur of Iceland. His arrival helped to galvanise United and his debut away to Boreham Wood, which United won 1-0, proved to be the start of their first ‘great escape’ under Nicholson. Racchi’s experience and know-how proved to be important for the Gulls and although he only made 14 appearances in all – the club’s financial situation at the time meant he wasn’t able to commit to the club long term – his eye for a pass and his ability to help break up play added some much needed grit to the United midfield.

RACCHI STATS – POSITION: MIDFIELDER, APPEARANCES: 17, GOALS 0

14 – LIAM DAVIS (2017-21)

Despite missing the first 13 games of the 2017-18 season – due to a heel injury – Davis was an ever-present for the remainder of the campaign as United dropped into National League South. He then went on to be a key figure in a United side that won the National League South title – and not only did he only play in every game of the 2018-19 campaign, but he also played in practically every minute as well, as his overlapping runs helped to set up numerous attacks. An injury sustained in an FA Cup tie with Maidstone United in the 2019-20 campaign, which he never managed to recover from brought his time at Plainmoor to an end.

DAVIS STATS – POSITION: FULL BACK, APPEARANCES: 100, GOALS 3

13 – BEN WHITFIELD (2019-21)

Wideman Ben Whitfield joined the Gulls early in the 2019-20 season following his release from Port Vale and resurrected his career during his stay at Plainmoor. Capable of playing on either flank, Whitfield scored six goals and chipped in with 13 assists during the 2020-21 campaign before moving to Stockport County.

WHITFIELD STATS – POSITION: WINGER, APPEARANCES: 65, GOALS 13

12 – STEPHEN DUKE-MCKENNA (2022)

The arrival of Stephen Duke-McKenna on loan from QPR brought some much needed pace and trickery into the United side and he also scored a couple of goals, including a fine individual effort against Chesterfield on the final day of the 2021-22 season.

MCKENNA STATS – POSITION: MIDFIELDER, APPEARANCES: 21, GOALS 3

11 – SINCLAIR ARMSTRONG (2021-22)

Sinclair Armstrong got his first taste of senior football when he joined the Gulls on loan from Queens Park Rangers and he marked his debut with a goal in a 2-0 win over King’s Lynn Town at Plainmoor. He was also on target in a 2-1 win away to Weymouth. During his time at Plainmoor, Armstrong also appeared for the Republic of Ireland at Under-19 level and has since gone on to appear for their Under-21 and senior sides.