TT BLOG
Luke Hunter
@gullsgullsluke
Luke and the team look ahead to the 2026/2027 National League South season.
Luke’s View…
By 3pm on Saturday, we will still be a day short of three months since the play-off final defeat – time is a funny concept in football, with a world cup summer and an action-packed pre-season between, it feels like just yesterday that I trudged away from Hornchurch with the sounds of jubilation gradually getting quieter behind me. The closing portions of that match felt longer than all of summer combined.
Saturday will also mark Jimmy Ball’s 10th competitive match as Torquay United manager – for some context, even Alan Knill racked up 13 at the end of our penultimate season playing Football League football and I certainly cannot recall being as enamoured with Knill’s philosophy in such a short space of time.
And I think that probably encapsulates how I feel going into 2026/2027. There is every reason to be a bit glum about the prospect of another season of regional football, but suspiciously, I feel quite excited about this one. There is something about Jimmy Ball that just feels right.
I think recruitment (and retention) has been flawless – not only in the calibre of players signed up, but the way the process was handled. That feels especially true given we were hindered by an extended play-off campaign. If I recall correctly, Jordan Dyer was the first to re-sign and that alone is a mark of intent, but to then have the likes of Deon Moore, Callum Morton and Dominic Bernard confirmed by the start of July, that all feels very astute.
I also felt the latter stages of last season reignited a spark on the field. Tactically things seemed to take a step forward, there was still an edge, but winning the battles seemed to be one ingredient, rather than the whole recipe. In this era of the National League South, you cannot understate how important that is – it is not just a bloodbath anymore.
Nevertheless, another tough campaign lies ahead. Dagenham will be strong, Dorking will come again, and the new arrivals – certainly those coming up into the division – look like improvements on their predecessors. Every single point will count come what spring.
For the 10th season, TorquayTalk will be there for each step of the journey. The team have shared their pre-season predictions and thoughts – hopefully we can look back on these and smile rather than grimace at the end of the season.
Thank you to the contributors:
Mark Hirst (MH)
Tom Kelly (TK)
Jonny Jones (JJ)
Chris Wade (CW)
Steve Harris (SH)
Joe Uglow (JU)
Sam Swann (SS)
Andy Charles (AC)
Dominic Roman (DR)
Matty Hayward (MHa)
Rachel Malloch (RM)
Sam Jones (SJ)
Clive Hayward CH)
WHO IS YOUR TIP FOR PLAYER OF THE SEASON AND WHY?
PREDICTION: DYLAN MORGAN AND DEON MOORE.
SJ: “I’m going to go with Dom Bernard. I think many players will have a great season, but his experience and leadership I think will help us finally clinch promotion. I also think he has a chance to be one of the best right backs in the division.”
TK: “Issac Westerndorf. He’s already a fans favourite and his strength and pace are going to cause NLS defences all sorts of bother this season. I think it will be close with Deon if he can get the goals, but Issac looks something very special.”
SH: “Dylan Morgan- a player who Jimmy Ball knows well from his time with Forest Green Rovers. He believed Dylan could have scored more goals and got more assists than he did last season, and I believe he will deliver on that.”
SS: “Callum Morton : If he stays fit, I feel that Callum will settle into JB’s system and shine for his hometown club. He looked really sharp in pre-season and I hope he enjoys his football again here.”
JJ: “Dylan Morgan. Looked very good at the end of last season when Jimmy Ball came in. I think this is the season he really kicks on.”
RM: “Sonny Blu Lo-Everton. He’s a great player and with his reverse Samson syndrome has been superb pre season.”
MH: “Dylan Morgan. Still only 23, he was outstanding in the second half of last season and can improve further”
CW: “Big season coming for Deon Moore. If he stays fit, 20 goals incoming.”
DR: “Dylan Morgan – hopefully he can build on last seasons brilliant end and get even better.”
WHO IS YOUR TIP FOR YOUNG (<21) PLAYER OF THE SEASON AND WHY?
PREDICTION: TYLER HILL.
JU: “Tyler Hill, not too many players under 21 to choose from but Hill looks like the pick of the bunch at left back. Defensively solid and likes to get forward, what’s not to like!”
CH: “I don’t think kids will get much of a look in, but will say Jonah Shaw, who seems to know where the goal is”
AC: “Harry Shield. Assuming he signs i think he will be this season’s surprise package.”
TK: “I expect it will be Tyler Hill. I was impressed with him when I saw him at Plymouth Parkway. He turned down EFL clubs to move to us so he will want to make his mark at Plainmoor. He also has experience at this level from his time in the NLN so excited to see how he progresses throughout the season.”
SH: “Tyler Hill – all of the best United side’s over the years have had decent left-backs, and Tyler has shown that he has the potential to join that list. Although he does face plenty of competition from Kian Jenkins.”
SS: “Tyler Hill : He looks like a good all rounded full back based off pre-season. He looks good going forward but as long as he can stop crosses and be solid at the back, I’ll be delighted.”
SJ: “I’m not sure how many U21s we have, but I’m going to go with Tyler Hill. Jimmy talked him up when he signed so I can see him being an important player for us.”
JJ: “I’ll go for Tyler Hill. Looks a prospect. If he can hold down the left back position I can see him in with a shout of the YPOTS.”
WHO IS YOUR TIP FOR TOP GOALSCORER AND WHY?
PREDICTION: DEON MOORE.
MH: “I’ll stick with the obvious and say Deon Moore. If we get a full season out of Morton & Westendorf, we can really spread the scoring around and even possibly have 5 players with 10+ goals”
AC: “Deon Moore. Already showing the kind of scoring form that shone at the end of the 25-26 season and looks like he will be a focal point of Jimmy Ball’s formation”
DR: “Deon Moore. If form, fitness and momentum carries over after a permanent deal then he can have a huge influence on our season.”
JU: “Deon Moore, given his impact last season, he’d surely be targeting 20-25 goals this season.”
RM: “Deon Moore Moore Moore. Gets in those positions and not too shabby aerially.”
CH: “Deon Moore. On last Friday’s evidence (Exeter) he will take some stopping”
TK: “Callum Morton. Tough one this. Deon showed his quality towards the end of last season and will no doubt be looking to solidify this form over the full course of the season, however something tells me that Callum will find his feet and be amongst the goals this season. He has bags of EFL experience and in all honesty should still be playing in the Football League if not for his recent long term injuries. Keep him fit and the goals will flow.”
SS: “Deon Moore : If he is 75% of the player he was at the end of the season, he could reach 20 goals this season. It’s a big chance for him to settle at a football club now, which his track record lacks. His strength, his hold up play and finishing were up there with the best I’ve seen in a Torquay shirt over the last couple of decades, so let’s hope he pushes on this season.”
WHICH FIXTURE ARE YOU MOST ANTICIPATING AND WHY?
A MIXED BAG!
MH: “Walton & Hersham (a), as I can walk to the Elmbridge Sports Hub, which will be like playing at Clennon Valley. They’ve had a rapid rise through the leagues, but the squad that took them up has been decimated. The side that played the first half of last season, before the manager left for Yeovil, would have been a real handful”
JU: “Dagenham & Redbridge (a) in August, an early look at how we match up against probably the strongest rival for promotion this season. Not been to Victoria Road before and definitely planning to be there this season!”
JJ: “I don’t really have one! Dagenham away comes early on (August 22nd) and will be a very interesting yard stick for the season.”
SH: “Truro City, as well as the South West derby element, Truro won’t be in this division to make up the numbers.”
MHa: “Pass”
RM: “Truro. Just because there’s that little bit of niggle and it’s one of the closer away fixtures.”
DR: “Dorking (a). I do expect them to be one of our main challengers again.”
SJ: “Truro (h). We can get revenge for them pipping us to the title.”
AC: “Truro home. About time we gave them a right hiding”
WHO DO YOU THINK WILL WIN THE LEAGUE AND WHY?
TORQUAY UNITED.
CH: “Dagenham. Money talks, and I’m not jinxing us.”
TK: “Honestly, I really believe that it will be us. I truly believe that Jimmy has got the recruitment absolutely spot on. We look a much more robust side, with more fast flowing options and plenty of pace in the squad, something that we have really lacked in the last few seasons. You expect Dagenham & Dorking to be challenging, but I really believe it’s our time. It will have it’s twists and turns, but under Jimmy Ball, I believe.”
MH: “It should be now or never for Torquay. We missed a huge opportunity last season, when 80 points was still only 4 points off Worthing. I’d expect a 10 point improvement and 90 should be enough. We should score enough goals, I just hope there isn’t a late move for Sam Dreyer which scuppers defensive plans. The keeper needs to be one of the best 3 in the league too. I fear Chelmsford will be the nearest challenger”
SJ: “I think us. Dagenham will be the favourites, but I love our transfer business so far and I think Jimmy will make us much more resiliant. I can see us grinding out many more wins that we have done previously, which should be enough to get us over the line.”
MHa: “If it’s not us, I reckon it’ll be Dagenham.”
SS: “Torquay : The NLS will get stronger every year, but I’m always going to back us under Jimmy Ball with this amount of talent in our squad. Bring on another year of NLS chaos…”
SH: “Dagenham and Redbridge – once their new signings click they will take some stopping. Also in Lee Allison, they have a bright young manager who knows the league.”
AC: “Dagenham. More financial power than anyone as long as KSI and his fellow investors don’t get bored”
RM: “We just have to, don’t we. 2 seasons close but no cigar…..3 is the magic number.”
WHO IS THE NATIONAL LEAGUE SOUTH DARK HORSE?
FARNHAM TOWN.
JJ: “Farnham keep getting promoted and can see them comfortably midtable. Chelmsford aren’t really dark horses with money at their disposal but can see them making play offs this year.”
JU: “Farnham Town, some good business this summer and well backed by their owner.”
DR: “Braintree”
CH: “Maidstone”
TK: “Farnham Town & Folkestone Invicta. The quality of sides coming up from the Isthmian League continues to grow year on year. Farnham have experienced a rapid climb to the NLS and I know they have a owner who is ambitious and committed in financing them up towards the EFL in future years. A lot of teams will find it difficult picking up points at the Memorial Ground I think. Folkestone Invicta I have seen on predictions for an outside chance of a play-off spot and I agree. They ran away with the Isthmian League last season and I think will like Farnham take plenty of points off visiting teams this season.”
SS: “Maidstone : I’m not too sure if they are too big of a club for dark horse in this division, but Darren Cook put them as favourites on our NLS season preview, so I’m blindly following him.”
AC: “Farnham. Newly promoted to this level but they have progressed a huge amount from the team I saw fairly recently at Combined Counties level. They really shouldn’t struggle.”
SH: “Farnham Town – very often newly promoted sides in this league make a big impact, and I think they have got the potential to make a big impression.”
ARE THERE ANY OTHER NLS PLAYERS YOU’RE EXCITED TO SEE?
MH: “WSM signed a forward from Barry called Ollie Hulbert who has been prolific in the League of Wales. Maybe he’s the new Eifion Williams?”
RM: “Be good to see Shaun Donnellan again, only because he was a super lovely lad at Torquay.”
SJ: “I’ve always been a fan of Harry Beautyman, so its good to see him back in the NLS.”
DR: “All about the Gulls for me, though it will interesting to see how Daggers get on.”
CH: “No. PE teachers and pensioners”
JU: “Not really”
TK: “I’ll be interested to see if Andy Carroll gets more playing time this season. Sam & Jordan had him in their back pockets in the 0-0 draw at Plainmoor last season. I’ll be interested to see whether his assistant manager role keeps him off the pitch more often than on it this season.”
CW: “Not especially. All about us!”
SH: “Macaulay Bonne of Billericay Town – a player with plenty of Football League pedigree. Could he emulate Chelmsford City’s Lyle Taylor’s feat of scoring 20 goals last season.”
WHO WILL BE THE NATIONAL LEAGUE SOUTH TOP GOALSCORER?
JJ: “Josh Barrett”
MH: “Joe Pigott has scored plenty of goal in the EFL and was Folkestone’s main man in winning promotion last season”
SJ: “I’m going to be optimistic and say Deon Moore.”
RM: “Deon Moore Moore Moore.”
CH: “Some prick who does it as a side hustle”
DR: “Tyler Harvey”
SS: “Deon Moore”
JU: “Deon Moore”
WHAT WILL TORQUAY UNITED’S FINAL LEAGUE POSITION BE?
AVERAGE PREDICTION: 1.41.
AC: “2nd and promoted through the playoffs beating Chelmsford in the final and making Mark Cooper cry”
JJ: “Second. Play off winners 😅”
RM: “The tide is high and I’m holding on, Torquay’s gonna be your number 1.”
SJ: “1st. Don’t you know Pump it up, the Gulls are going up.”
SH: “2nd – and play off winners in front of a home crowd.”
TK: “1st. It’s got to be our time! COYY”
MH: “1st – subject to Sam Dreyer staying”
SS: “1st”
TORQUAYTALK 