TT BLOG

Thomas Kelly – @tommyktufc

Tom discusses the departing Jarvis and Stobbs

AARON JARVIS

Signed from Scunthorpe United after a season of shambles at the Lincolnshire based club, which resulted in relegation to the National League, Jarvis’ looked to many to be one of those signings that could potentially be one of Gary Johnson’s best. Despite scoring just two goals in a torrid League 2 campaign, Jarvis had the look of a strong, physical figure who at a new club could find confidence in front of goal.

Typically, it would be a while before Gulls fans got their first look at their new striker as he missed all of our games in August 2022 to injury. Shock right? His debut was away at Southend as the Gulls registered a 2-1 win when he came on in the last twelve minutes.

His first goal would come in his sixth appearance in a 3-2 defeat at home to Maidenhead and he wouldn’t score again until he showed what he could do, scoring a hat-trick in a 6-1 demolition of Aldershot. He scored his second hat-trick against fellow strugglers York City in a 3-2 win which kept the Gulls survival hopes alive, before which he was named the club’s Player of the Year.

Jarv finished the season with fifteen goals in the league making him comfortably the club’s top scorer, but it wasn’t enough to help United avoid relegation and many expected the striker to leave last summer for pastures new. But he decided to stay on under Gary Johnson, and United fans were hopeful that he could improve on that number in the NLS and help lead United to a return to the NL at the first time of asking.

Sadly for Jarvis and the Yellow Army, it proved to be a difficult season as despite some early promise alongside new striker partner Brad Ash, a lengthy knee injury picked up at Weston Super Mare kept Jarv on the side-lines for over three months with no indication from a severely under pressure Gary Johnson on when he would return to fitness.

Jarvis did return in early February as Torquay lost in the final minute at home to Slough before missing the trip to Braintree to celebrate the birth of his first child. Congratulations to Mr & Mrs Jarvis!

He would play his final game in yellow away at Tonbridge in another pitiful defeat for the Gulls, being substituted in the 66th minute. Another knee injury ending our number 9’s season that had started with so much promise but ended with speculation that he was unwilling to play in fear of aggravating the injury and jeopardising a summer move.

I’m sure many in the fanbase would have liked him to stay, but there did seem a resignation especially towards the end of the season that Jarvis would move on and I wish him all the best.

Personally, I felt he struggled to make the impact we were all hoping he would have and although deadly from the penalty spot, he struggled to convert from open play when he was playing and I expect he would have been one of the higher earners at the club, so this should help free up some of the budget to look for a suitable (and possibly cheaper!) replacement going forward into next season.

Jarvis cut a frustrated figure, especially after coming back from injury and I personally felt that affected him when he was on the pitch. I said after Tonbridge I’d be surprised if we ever saw him play again and so it has come to pass. From the shambles of Scunthorpe, to a Torquay side on the brink, I hope Jarvis’ next club has a bit more stability about them and he can show everyone what he can do.

JARVIS TUFC STATS – APPEARANCES 66, GOALS 29, ASSISTS 10

JACK STOBBS

Jack joined the Gulls for the first of two spells at the club on the 14th March 2023, signing until the end of the season from Oldham Athletic. Despite a torrid campaign for Oldham in the 21/22 season, which saw the club fall out of the EFL for the first time, Stobbs was one of two players who was offered a new contract ahead of the Latic’s first season in the National League.

It would be at Plainmoor where Stobbs started his 22/23 NL campaign in glorious sunshine as both sides played out a 0-0 draw.

Stobbs made ten appearances at the start of the season, but soon found himself out of the squad and wouldn’t make an appearance for Oldham again. His debut for the Gulls was away at Gateshead in a 1-1 draw and with a few new loan signings alongside him, United nearly pulled off the great escape before succumbing to relegation on the final day of the season at Plainmoor, with Jack impressing many with his busy performances on the right wing.

Jack was signed permanently in the summer of 2023 by Gary Johnson, with United fans hoping to see more of the same from his loan spell and feeling optimistic about the new season (it wouldn’t last).

Jack made 33 league appearances in the NLS and scored twice, with his first a very clever free kick lob over the keeper in a 2-1 win at home to Braintree. However a nasty hamstring tear in a 3-1 win at home to Weymouth saw Jack miss two months of action before returning for a brief appearance in our 0-0 draw away at Farnborough.

He would then play the final fourteen games of the season often in a wing back role, and scored his second goal of the season in a 3-3 draw at home to Weston-super-Mare.

Although no doubting his attitude on the pitch, many Gulls fans found his crossing into the penalty box left a lot to be desired. He did give us that threat on the right side of the pitch from his first stint, but like a number of the players, expectations were not quite met in 23-24.

As I mentioned on our latest Gulls Eye View Episode, I like Jack and although I’m sorry to see him go, I feel that it will prove to be for the best for everyone involved. On his day, he is a quality player and I think he could be a good asset at this level. I expect he’ll look for a move nearer home and I wish him all the best in his future career.