TT PREVIEW
Steve Harris – @steveharris84
MATCH DETAILS
Match details: Billericay Town versus Torquay United, National League South
Venue: New Lodge, Billericay
Date: Saturday 26th September, 2026
Kick-off: 3pm
HEAD-TO-HEAD
Billericay: 0
Draw: 1
Torquay: 1
FORM GUIDE
Torquay (W3, D2, L1):
D 1-1 Hampton and Richmond Borough H
L 0-2 Farnham Town A
W 3-2 Folkestone Invicta H
W 4-0 Maidenhead United A
D 2-2 Dorking Wanderers H
W 6-1 AFC Stoneham H (FA Cup second qualifying round)
Billericay (W3, D1, L2):
L 0-1 Salisbury A
W 3-3 Dorking Wanderers H
W 2-1 Chesham United A
D 2-2 Maidenhead United A
W 3-2 Braintree Town H
L 1-3 Enfield Town H (FA Cup second qualifying round)
TOP GOAL-SCORERS
Torquay: Sonny Blu Lo-Everton (5)
Billericay: Jon Benton (4)
BILLERICAY FACT FILE
Year founded: 1880
Nickname: The Blues
Last season’s league finish: 3rd in the Isthmian League (promoted as
champions)
Notable honours:
Isthmian League Premier Division:
Champions: 2011-12, 2017-18
FA Vase:
Winners: 1975-76, 1976-77, 1978-79
MANAGER – DANNY SCOPES
After assisting the Cowley brothers (Danny and Nicky) during their rise through the leagues with Concord Rangers, Danny Scopes later managed the Beach Boys and guided them to the FA Trophy final in 2021, where they lost to Harrogate Town.
He took over as manager of Aveley in November 2021 and guided the Millers into National League South for the first time ever when he led them to promotion through the Isthmian League Premier play-offs last season. This was their second consecutive promotion, having won the Isthmian Division One North title in the previous campaign. He followed up this achievement by guiding the Millers to the National League South play-offs in the 2023-24 campaign, before stepping down a year later.
Scopes then moved on to Billericay in September 2025, and led the Blues to promotion from the Isthmian League Premier Division in his first campaign in charge.
PLAYER PROFILE – MACAULEY BONNE
Striker Macauley Bonne joined Billericay in February 2026 after leaving Maldon and Tiptree, a move which occurred after he had returned from international duty in the 2026 African Cup of Nations with Zimbabwe.
Bonne progressed through the Colchester United Academy and made his professional debut for the U’s in 2013, and scored his first professional goal on his 18th birthday in a match against Peterborough United.
He went on loan to Lincoln City during September and October 2016 and Woking during January and February 2017. He joined Leyton Orient in July 2017. After scoring 45 goals in the two seasons he played at Leyton Orient, he signed for Charlton Athletic for £200,000. He then moved to Queens Park Rangers for an undisclosed fee early in the 2020–21 season.
In 2021, Bonne joined his hometown club Ipswich Town on a season-long loan for the 2021-22 campaign, which he ended as the club’s second top scorer with 12 goals. He then returned to Charlton Athletic in January 2023 before having spells with Gillingham and Southend United before dropping into the Isthmian League to sign for Maldon and Tiptree in 2025.
Bonne has represented Zimbabwe at full international and under-23 levels.
PLAYER STATS:
Position: Striker
DOB: 26/10/95 (30)
Previous Club: Maldon/Tiptree
26/27 NLS Stats: Appearances 9, Goals 3, Yellow/Red Cards 1/0
OLD BOYS
Torquay United: None
Billericay: None
POSSIBLE LINE-UPS
Torquay United (4-2-3-1): Toby Savin; Dom Bernard, Oladare Olafunwa, Taylor Scarff, Kian Jenkins; Monashe Sundire, Matt Worthington; Tegan Finn, Sonny Blu Lo-Everton, Jacob Beaumont-Clark; Callum Morton
Billericay (4-2-3-1): Joe Wright; George Wind, Ben Isaacson, Ollie Parsons, Jay Porter; Taylor Clark, Siju Odelusi; Elliot Long, Callum Watts, Jon Benton; Frankie Merrifield
LAST MEETING
Last meeting: Saturday 9th March 2019, Billericay Town 0 Torquay United 2
Two quick fire second half goals secured an important win for Torquay United over Billericay Town, which keeps the Gulls top of National League South.
Substitute Kalvin Kalala struck in the 79th minutes before leading scorer Jamie Reid found the target on 81 minutes to cap a dogged and disciplined performance for United, as they bounced back from their 2-1 home defeat by Weston Super Mare seven days earlier.
Billericay, who brought former Gulls striker Jake Robinson back to face his old club, had defender Charlie Wassmer sent off near the end, but Torquay had the match won by then.
COYY – STEVE
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