TT PREVIEW

Steve Harris – @steveharris84

MATCH DETAILS

Match details: Eastbourne Borough vs Torquay United – National League South

Venue: The Priory

Date: Saturday 19th October 2024

Kick-off: 3pm

HEAD TO HEAD

Torquay: 4

Draws: 1

Eastbourne: 1

RECENT FORM (LAST 6)

Torquay – W2 – D2 – L2

D 1-1 Aveley H

W 3-0 Chippenham Town H

L 0-2 Welling United A

L 0-3 Bishop’s Cleeve (FA Cup)

D 1-1 St Albans City H

W 1-0 Hampton A

Eastbourne – W3 – D1 – L2

W 1-0 Enfield Town H

W 1-0 Truro City A

L 0-1 Boreham Wood (FA Cup) H

D 1-1 Slough Town H

L 2-4 Chelmsford City A

W 1-0 Welling United A

TOP SCORERS

Torquay: Cody Cooke (3)

Eastbourne: Alfie Pavey (5)

EASTBOURNE FACT FILE

Year founded: 1964 (as Lagney Sports)

Nickname: The Sports

Last season’s league finish: 19th in National League South

Eastbourne notable honours:

National League South: Play-off winners: 2007-08

Sussex County League: Division One Champions: 1998-99, 2002-03

THE MANAGER – ADAM MURRAY

Many of the Plainmoor faithful will remember Adam Murray from his brief stay with United in the 2006-07 season. Murray had started his career with Derby County in the Premier League and had stints with Notts County (twice), Burton Albion, Kidderminster Harriers and Mansfield Town before enjoying arguably the most successful spell of his playing career with Carlisle United.

Whilst with the Cumbrians, he helped them win the League Two title in the 2005-06 season and reach the final of the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy, where they lost to Swansea City at the Millennium Stadium. He joined the Gulls in August 2006 for a fee of £10,000, but was sold to Macclesfield Town for £17,500 in January 2007. He then had spells with Oxford United, Luton Town, before a return to Mansfield.

Whilst with the Stags, he became assistant manager and then manager following the departure of Paul Cox in 2014. He left Field Mill in 2016 and was later appointed as manager of Boston United. Coaching spells with Burton Albion, Barnsley, West Bromwich Albion and Besiktas followed – the latter three roles saw him serve as assistant manager to Valery Ismael. In addition to this, he also had two spells as caretaker manager of Barnsley in October 2019 and October 2020.

His next managerial port of call saw him take charge of AFC Fylde in November 2022 and he led the Coasters to the National League North title in the 2022-23 season before his dismissal in October 2023. He was subsequently appointed as assistant manager at Cheltenham Town under Darrell Clarke, a role he held until his appointment at Eastbourne.

PLAYER TO WATCH – GEORGE ALEXANDER

The son of former Hull City, Leyton Orient, Millwall and Brentford striker Gary Alexander, George Alexander joined the Sports following a spell with Chelmsford City towards the end of the 2023-24 campaign. Alexander junior started his career with Millwall and made a solitary appearance before joining Bromley in 2021. He then had loan spells at National League South level with Welling United, Slough Town (twice) and Dartford before joining the Clarets on a permanent basis in February 2024.

ALEXANDER STATS – Position: Striker – Date of Birth: 14/10/00 – Height: 1.80m – Previous Clubs: Millwall, Bromley, Welling, Slough, Dartford, Chelmsford – 24/25 NLS Stats: Appearances 6, Goals 1, Yellow/Red Cards 1/0

OLD BOYS

Torquay: None

Eastbourne: None

POSSIBLE LINE-UPS

Torquay United (3-5-2): James Hamon; Jordan Dyer, Sam Dreyer, Jay Foulston; Finn Tonks, Dan Hayfield, Oscar Threlkeld, Will Jenkins Davies, Matt Carson; Ben Seymour, Cody Cooke

Eastbourne (4-3-3): Joe Wright; David Sesay, Moussa Diarra, Pierce Bird, Jack Clarke; Dominic Odusanya, Shaun Williams, Michael Klass; Yahya Bamba, Alfie Pavey, George Alexander

LAST TIME

Saturday 6th January 2024, Torquay United 2 Eastbourne Borough 2

There was a rare draw at Plainmoor, as a late goal saw United held to a 2-2 draw by Eastbourne Borough.

Callum Kealy’s first-half opener gave Borough the lead, however Dillon De Silva swiftly levelled things up moments after the restart, and Will Jenkins Davies looked to have put the men in yellow on course for all three points. There was to be a late sting in the tail for United though, as Decarrey Sheriff netted a late leveller to see the points shared.

UNITED: 1. Mark Halstead, 6. Ross Marshall (24. Calum Thomas, 90+1′), 10. Lewis Collins (8. Asa Hall, 87′), 14. Brett McGavin, 17. Dillon De Silva, 18. Will Jenkins Davies, 21. Dean Moxey (c), 23. Ollie Tomlinson, 26. Archie Harris, 30. Ethon Archer (3. Dan Martin, 81′), 32. Osman Foyo.