TT BLOG

Dom Roman – @DomRoman

Dom discusses the 2025/26 Torquay United squad

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And so, we’re finally here! After what feels like a very long period of time, the Gulls jump back into competitive action this Saturday against Enfield, and the Yellow Army are ready and waiting.

So what have we got in store for the season ahead? Well the squad has continuity and also a nice freshening up of new members…new members who could make the difference and return us to the National League. Let’s discuss who’s onboard shall we…

GOALKEEPERS

#1 James Hamon – DOB: 01/07/95, Height: 1.85m, Birthplace: Guernsey, Previous Club: Truro City, TUFC Appearances/Clean Sheets: 52/19

#13 Matt Wonnacott – DOB: 31/08/04, Height: Unknown, Birthplace: Unknown, Previous Club: Wigan Ath, TUFC Appearances/Clean Sheets: 0/0

James Hamon had plenty of doubters last season, and whilst he did make errors as the year rolled on (with too many goals conceded from outside the box), he also made a number of important stops and appeared to inspire calm in the defence in front of him. He clearly has Paul Wotton’s confidence and if we can produce similar stats defensively in 25/26, then the title may well be ours for the taking. His understudy Matt Wonnacott will hope for better luck this time around! It can’t get any worse for the keeper after two injuries in 24/25, and he’ll be hoping to make a solid claim for the keeper role if Hamon suffers poor form or injury misfortune.

RATING: 7.5/10

DEFENDERS

#3 Jay Foulston – DOB: 27/11/00, Height: 1.82m, Birthplace: Swansea, Previous Club: Taunton Town, TUFC Appearances/Goals: 36/3

#4 Jordan Dyer – DOB: 29/05/01, Height: 1.83m, Birthplace: Exeter, Previous Club: Bath City, TUFC Appearances/Goals: 36/5

#5 Sam Dreyer – DOB: 03/01/04, Height: Unknown, Birthplace: Unknown, Previous Club: Peterborough, TUFC Appearances/Goals: 48/1

#14 Matt Carson – DOB: 29/04/04, Height: Unknown, Birthplace: Larne, Previous Club: Southampton, TUFC Appearances/Goals: 40/4

#16 Ed Palmer – DOB: 13/11/91, Height: 1.86m, Birthplace: Torquay, Previous Club: Truro City, TUFC Appearances/Goals: 38/2

#26 Jordan Thomas – DOB: 02/01/01, Height: 1.79m, Birthplace: London, Previous Club: Yeovil Town, TUFC Appearances/Goals: 30/1

A case of as you were in Defence, which is not a bad thing at all! At left back, Jay Foulston offers a lot of assurance and was a consistent rock in defence, whilst Matt Carson is a rough diamond who needs to improve defensively, but could blossom at Plainmoor all being well. United were linked to a number of right backs, but ended up going back to Jordan Thomas from Yeovil. Thomas does not offer the same class in defence as Foulston and can flatter to deceive in attack, but he is still a decent option and was part of a defence that was tight for much of last season.

At centre back Jordan Dyer and Sam Dreyer will look to pick up where they left off and give United one of the most solid bases in the league. Dreyer could get even better this season and that’s a scary thought for opposition strikers! Meanwhile Dyer will be hoping for less time on the side-lines with injuries this time around, his presence at the back alongside Dreyer will be vital. In reserve, Ed Palmer did exactly what was expected of him last season. A solid and physical defender who knows the league and can step in at CB and at right back, at this level, he’s a strong option to have available.

RATING: 8.5/10

MIDFIELDERS

#6 Munashe Sundire – DOB: 22/01/97, Height: 1.84m, Birthplace: Harare, Previous Club: Tamworth, TUFC Appearances/Goals: N/A

#10 Callum Dolan – DOB: 29/09/00, Height: 1.81m, Birthplace: Offerton, Previous Club: Fleetwood, TUFC Appearances/Goals: 6/2

#18 Matt Worthington – DOB: 18/12/97, Height: 1.79m, Birthplace: Southampton, Previous Club: Oldham Athletic, TUFC Appearances/Clean Sheets: 0/0

#20 Dan Hayfield – DOB: 25/01/97, Height: Unknown, Birthplace: Exeter, Previous Club: Bath City, TUFC Appearances/Goals: 49/4

#24 Sonny Blu Lo-Everton – DOB: 15/09/02, Height: 1.73m, Birthplace: London, Previous Club: Yeovil Town, TUFC Appearances/Goals: 0/0

No disrespect to Oscar Threlkeld and Dan Hayfield (not to mention Roddy Collins), but United’s midfield during 24/25 lacked spark, you could even say it was bland. That’s not the case any more. Paul Wotton has identified the weaknesses and he’s hit them hard, with Munashe Sundire bringing energy and determination, new captain Matt Worthington carrying leadership and composure, whilst Callum Dolan and Sonny Blu Lo-Everton will add different dimensions to United’s attack in different ways.

Worthington feels like a very important incoming to bring this bunch together and PW would have been particularly glad to get that one over the line. We all know what Callum Dolan can do from his first spell at the club, but can he avoid the injury setbacks that have been problematic in recent years? Time will tell. Dan Hayfield will once again be an important member of the squad (if not a shoe-in for a starting spot any more). With a long season ahead his fitness and reliability should not be under-estimated.

If the chosen midfield combination gels and our transition from defence to attack improves, then Torquay will be hard to handle.

RATING: 8/10

ATTACKERS

#7 Louis Dennis – DOB: 09/10/92, Height: 1.85m, Birthplace: London, Previous Club: Bromley, TUFC Appearances/Goals: 0/0

#8 Jordan Young – DOB: 31/07/99, Height: 1.75m, Birthplace: Chippenham, Previous Club: Yeovil Town, TUFC Appearances/Goals: 37/11

#9 Cody Cooke – DOB: 02/03/93, Height: 1.80m, Birthplace: Truro, Previous Club: Bath City, TUFC Appearances/Goals: 46/19

#11 Dylan Morgan – DOB: 20/09/02, Height: 1.75m, Birthplace: Unknown, Previous Club: Yeovil Town, TUFC Appearances/Goals: 10/0

#15 Jadyn Crosbie – DOB: 30/01/04, Height: 1.88m, Birthplace: Unknown, Previous Club: Mangotsfield, TUFC Appearances/Goals: 6/0

#17 Sonny Fish – DOB: 09/01/04, Height: 1.87m, Birthplace: Southend, Previous Club: Crawley Town, TUFC Appearances/Goals: 0/0

#27 Matt Jay – DOB: 27/02/96, Height: 1.78m, Birthplace: Torquay, Previous Club: Colchester, TUFC Appearances/Goals: 20/7

This section was almost separated into Wingers and Strikers, but the likes of Matt Jay, Louis Dennis and Jordan Young are hard to pigeon-hole into one of those areas…so I didn’t! If you contrast our list of attackers to what United had at the start of last season, then it’s like night and day, and a lot of that starts with a certain Jordan Young. Young took about 10 mins to win over the Gulls faithful, showing all his class from the off and a left foot that could probably open a can of beans (if you needed it to!). Cody Cooke was the other most prominent attacker, and he will be a key man once again, using his strength and experience to battle it out up-top and bring team mates into play.

Elsewhere Louis Dennis could be a very valuable addition, and offers versatility across the attacking positions, plus knowhow from years spent at higher levels. Matt Jay may struggle to find a place in the starting XI, but we all know the magic he possesses, a player capable of finishes from close or long range. In pre-season Dylan Morgan has been tearing it up and that should be enough to win him a place on the left hand side of the attack.

Any concerns? Well with Sonny Fish injured and Jadyn Crosbie still very inexperienced at NLS level, we lack an obvious back up for Cooke, though Dennis could well do a job! All in all our attack should create more chances and score more goals this season. If we still stutter going forward with this quality available, then questions will need to be asked.

This squad is not perfect, but they look like contenders to me, BRING IT ON!

RATING: 8/10

COYY – Dom

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