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Steve Harris

@steveharris84

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

30 – DAN SPARKES (2016-17)

Winger Dan Sparkes made the transition from part-time football with Braintree Town to full-time football with the Gulls in the summer of 2016. Sparkes made 35 league appearances, scoring six goals before he returned to the South East to join Dagenham & Redbridge.

SPARKES STATS – POSITION: WINGER, APPEARANCES: 37, GOALS 6

29 – SHAUN MACDONALD (2018-21 & 2021-22)

Geordie goalkeeper Shaun MacDonald became a firm fans’ favourite across his two spells with the Gulls. A National League South title winner in the 2018-19 campaign, he opted to leave Plainmoor in the summer of 2021, but returned early in the 2021-22 season and went on to win the club’s Player of the Year award.

MACDONALD STATS – POSITION: GOALKEEPER, APPEARANCES: 114, GOALS 0

28 – KALVIN KALALA (2018-20)

Mercurial French winger became one of Gary Johnson’s first signings when he joined the Gulls from Cheltenham Town, where he had previously played under Johnson. He ended the 2018-19 season with ten goals, including a club record fastest league goal ever after ten seconds on the final day of the campaign against St Albans City.

KALALA STATS – POSITION: WINGER, APPEARANCES: 68, GOALS 13

27 – DEAN MOXEY (2020-PRESENT)

After joining United following his release by Exeter City, Dean Moxey has joined the select band of players who have been revered by both the Gulls and the Grecians. Whether he played as a left back or as a centre back, Moxey has been one of United’s most reliable performers during his time at Plainmoor, which was reflected by him being voted as Player of the Year in the 2023-24 campaign.

MOXEY STATS – POSITION: FULL BACK, APPEARANCES: 158, GOALS 4

26 – KYLE CAMERON (2018-21)

Former Newcastle United product Kyle Cameron was a mainstay in the centre of the Gulls’ defence in the 2018-19 campaign, and later became vice-captain. He also suffered the agony of having two goals disallowed by referee Simon Mather in the National League Play-off final against Hartlepool United at Ashton Gate in 2021 during normal time.

CAMERON STATS – POSITION: CENTRE BACK, APPEARANCES: 117, GOALS 7

25 – AARON DOWNES (2012-15)

Aussie defender Aaron Downes captained the Gulls’ during the 2014-15 season before leaving Plainmoor for Cheltenham Town in 2015. He returned to United as assistant manager in 2018 and stood in as interim manager following Gary Johnson’s departure.

DOWNES STATS – POSITION: CENTRE BACK, APPEARANCES: 120, GOALS 16

24 – RYAN BOWMAN (2014-15)

Carlisle-born striker Ryan Bowman joined the Gulls from York City in the summer of 2014 and finished the 2014-15 campaign as top scorer with 13 goals before he joined Gateshead for £10,000.

BOWMAN STATS – POSITION: STRIKER, APPEARANCES: 44, GOALS 18

23 – SAM SHERRING (2020-21)

Assured defender Sam Sherring spent the 2020-21 season on loan from AFC Bournemouth and went onto make 49 appearances in all competitions, scoring three goals.

SHERRING STATS – POSITION: CENTRE BACK, APPEARANCES: 49, GOALS 3

22 – BEN WYNER (2018-22)

After a slow start to the 2018-19 season, Ben Wynter soon made the right-back spot his own for the next few seasons and grew into a leader in the process. A model of consistency and also scorer of one of the most memorable Torquay goals in recent times.

WYNTER STATS – POSITION: FULL BACK, APPEARANCES: 160, GOALS 9

21 – DAN BUTLER (2015-16)

Despite only spending one season at Plainmoor, Dan Butler emerged as one of the best left-backs to have appeared for the Gulls in recent times. He played a key role in United’s first ‘great escape’ under Kevin Nicholson and wouldn’t have looked out of place in many of the Gulls’ more successful sides during the era in question.

BUTLER STATS – POSITION: FULL BACK, APPEARANCES: 52, GOALS 3

COYY – STEVE

The list so far:

50. Callum Dolan – 49. Toby Ajala – 48. Frank Vincent – 47. Jake Andrews – 46. Mark Halstead

45. Stephen Wearne – 44. Shaun Harrad – 43. Brett Williams – 42. Will Goodwin – 41. Nathan Blissett

40. Vincent Dorel – 39. Arkell Jude-Boyd – 38. Robbie Cundy – 37. David Fitzpatrick – 36. Frank Nouble

35. Tom Lapslie – 34. Aaron Jarvis – 33. Lucas Covolan – 32. Danny Wright – 31. Brendan Moore

30. Dan Sparkes – 29. Shaun MacDonald – 28. Kalvin Kalala – 27. Dean Moxey – 26. Kyle Cameron

25. Aaron Downes – 24. Ryan Bowman – 23. Sam Sherring – 22. Ben Wynter – 21. Dan Butler

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