TT BLOG

Clive Hayward – @Byehorse

Clive blogs about departing players

Cheerio, Cheerio, Cheerio- farewell to 6 released Gulls

Parting is such sweet sorrow. It’s that time of year again: Torquay released their retained list this week, and as usual there were mixed outcomes for the squad.

Football is pretty Darwinian, and half a dozen of this season’s Gulls have definitely played their last game for the club. What follows is an attempt to sum up their careers at Plainmoor, and then to take a wild, tongue in cheek look at what might come next for them.

I have lifted appearance and goals figures from the invaluable Torquay Fan Stats website.

James Hamon- Appearances 90(1)

The Guernseyman’s big personality endeared him to many, irritated some and opinions are also sharply divided over his ability with the gloves. He played for Paul Wotton for 7 or 8 seasons, and he wasn’t long for the first team when his gaffer departed in February. In the first half of his second season, it looked like he was developing some consistency, and most would say he had improved from season one. He never entirely convinced me though, and his removal from the side after a poor run coincided with two important home wins against Salisbury and Chesham.

Sometimes he was his own worst enemy, and his tendency to “bite” whenever there was online criticism did him few favours. I often felt long shots were a weakness, but nobody should doubt his attitude or desire to get better.

Ranking: 6/10

Most likely to: Tickle a trout

Least likely to: Avoid dropping it

Matt Wonnacott- Appearances 0

The unluckiest man in TQ1. Having missed a large part of 2024/25 with a broken arm, he promptly went out on loan and broke the other one! Realistically he never got close to a first team start and couldn’t do anything to push Hamon for his spot.

Ranking: 3/10

Most likely to: Play in the Western League

Least likely to: Break any more limbs

Matt Carson- Appearances 31(13), Goals 4

Very much a case of “what could have been” for the popular young Ulsterman. He made a flying start after arriving in the summer of 2024 from Southampton. He put in several barnstorming performances down the left flank and was soon rewarded with an improved contract. It was a real feelgood story in the early days of United’s rebirth.

As the leaves fell, however, Paul Wotton moved to four at the back, and opportunities for Matty became few and far between. He didn’t seem to be well equipped defensively, and the manager preferred to play “steady Eddie” Jay Foulston at left back.

Last August, I sat in the stand at Plymouth Parkway with Paul Wotton as Matty played the second game of a loan spell for Weymouth. The Terras lost that night, and despite scoring early Matty failed to impose himself. It’s a shame. There is, surely, a player there, but his release comes as no surprise.

Ranking: 5/10

Most likely to: Buy a Guinness Zero

Least likely to: Know who Frank Carson was

Ed Palmer- Appearances 33 (39), Goals 4

Perhaps the most popular member of Paul Wotton’s squad, Ed has mainly played a supporting role in his two season Indian Summer at Plainmoor. Having come through our youth teams, Ed spent a decade up and down the non-league highways at Truro (twice) and Taunton. Having been a Truro stalwart, he jumped at the chance to sign for the Yellows and he may now retire having spent his whole career at clubs beginning with T!

If we ever needed a centre back, Ed was on hand, but he also uncomplainingly filled in at right back and even, at times, in midfield or as a makeshift, late-goal-chasing Centre Forward. He can cut hair and recently became the proud owner of a garden supplies company which urgently needs renaming as Ed’s Sheds.

Ranking: 6/10

Most likely to: Sell you more sheds than you need

Least likely to: Let you down with delivery

Aiden Edwards- Appearances 0(5), Goals 0

His Dad Mike, a veteran of 500 league games, will tell you that Aiden is a better player than he ever was. He’s very young, still quite slight and was only ever a fringe player but he’s got a lovely touch, a good engine and he moves the ball well. He plays with a smile on his face and he will be an asset for somebody: he spent some time at Brixham and you feel as though he could easily end up running the show there.

Ranking: 5/10

Most likely to: Star in the Western League

Least likely to: Suffer a dry spell

Callum Dolan- Appearances 20(6), Goals 7

I was very invested in “Cal.” Still am. You feel that Jimmy Ball’s decision to call time on his spell at Torquay will have been very finely balanced. When we picked him up last summer hopes were very high for the Stopfordian.* Released a few years ago from Manchester United and having flirted with the law, his fiery temperament had been evident in a loan spell under Gary Johnson. Callum has a burning will to win, and he’s as likely to get booked as to smash in a screamer.

His season has been difficult in many ways. An early injury limited his appearances before half an hour of madness in December saw him and instigator Matt Worthington banned and by some accounts lucky not to have been sacked. He showed flashes on his return, but a serious second injury cast doubt on whether he would be able to play again in the season.To his huge credit, he worked phenomenally hard on his rehab and made an unforgettable return with two goals in a minute off the bench against our old friends from Dorking.

His release is this season’s Omar Mussa moment. I understand and respect the manager’s call (he’s looking for a Roundhead rather than a Cavalier), but it is sad news for player and many fans alike.

* It means “he’s from Stockport”

Ranking: 6.5/10

Most likely to: Score some bangers

Least likely to: Race some bangers. Although you never know!