Every Wednesday in the Herald Express, our Torquay United correspondent Richard Hughes takes a sideways look at what's going on in the World of the Gulls - and this week, he realises his age after Torquay's youngsters did the business in the FA Trophy.
As I sit here at the kitchen table, full of the kind of cold that might knock another man out, I am wondering what to write this week’s column about. You see, when the team is winning there is not much scope for complaining, moaning, cajoling – it’s ‘more of the same please, boys’ – but that doesn’t really make for interesting reading.
In recent weeks I have done my bit on the questioning-the-board front – though I do note they haven’t got back to TUST yet – and after that 4-1 win at Frome Town on Saturday, I can hardly criticise the manager’s tactics. So, as I pull another paper hanky from my mansize box (that mum picked up from Sainsbury’s), I would like to ponder age – yes, and some players’ lack of it.
Jacob Wellington was 16 when he started the game at Frome on Saturday. I have just worked out (it wasn’t hard), that I could have a grandson of 16 had I got going early enough and my next generation had been equally as quick off the mark. I think Wellington must be the first Torquay player that could qualify as grandson-age for me.
Read More - Torquay United risk pays off as youngsters seal FA Trophy win
Read More - Frome Town 1 Torquay United 4 - Gulls ease into FA Trophy round four
I remember falling into a deep malaise when I was watching Lee Sharpe from the old grandstand and realising he was the first Torquay player I had ever seen on the pitch that was younger than me. But this is in a whole nother ballpark. Grandson-age for Goodness Sake.
No pressure Jacob. I bet the family is immensely proud. And if you don’t get a call again for some time, you just need to remember that when Sharpey made his debut for Torquay as a 16-year-old in 1987, he didn’t play for the first team again for another seven or so months. And look what he went on to do! He starred in the first series of Love Island...
To be fair, it was a gamble for Johnson to play such a young line up, with two more whippersnappers coming off the bench.
Imagine the furory had it all gone wrong and Torquay had been beaten there. This column would be a completely different one today, that’s for sure.
Johnson said: “You do what you think is right, as always. We have to pick a team that is right for that day. And right for the club’s situation – with the injuries and things. And then you just hope that the boys show what it is they show in training and what they have learned.
“People like Callum Thomas came through it and he looked a very good player. A lot of them were young if you look at Theo Williams, Will Jenkins Davis, there were a lot of youngsters out there. Along with the youngsters out of the youth team.
“We had a chat with them. They had to do a job. We know them and we have had recommendations from the youth department – and me and Downsey have seen them quite a few times, so there was an opportunity and they took it.
“That was great and three of them made their first-team debuts, which was fantastic, especially when one of them was only 16 – and he played an hour. They were up against a strong group of blokes in Frome, they weren’t kids, and they put it about a little bit, like they do, and we handled it very well.”
The squad, excluding the young lads, had 24 players in it ahead of the Frome game. Injured were Aaron Jarvis, Kevin Dawson, Jack Stobbs,, Finlay Craske, Asa Hall and Dan Martin. I think it is probably fair to say that Mark Halstead, Tom Lapslie, Brad Ash, Dillon De Silva and Dean Moxey were rested. Ethon Archer was cup-tied and Shaun Donnellan seems to be out of favour.
Considering Aaron Downes said last week that Martin and Craskecould be back soon, that could leave the squad in a pretty healthy state for Saturday – and beyond. It’s all guesswork for me and you of course as to who really is going to be available for the visit of Hemel Hempstead Town on Saturday – but each time you think there might be a real problem this season, a solution does seem to have been found.
Callum Thomas was the body that filled the bench when there weren’t enough players – that was, until Tuesday night last week and his introduction in the 3-1 home win Weymouth. The 19-year-old was composed and sure-footed playing in defence and when he made his only mistake – a wayward pass – the ball went to Dylan Crowe anyway. At Frome he started and was excellent.
Suddenly, Thomas is not there to make up the numbers – he is a known quantity (and quality). Now excuse me, all this writing about energetic young people while fighting this cold has taken its toll –and I am taking myself to bed. I suddenly feel every minute of my 52 years and I need my rest – but, of course, all the best experienced players need a tactical rest sometime.
Get the best stories delivered to your inbox every day. Choose what you love here
Torquay Unted youngsters not just there to make up the numbers, insists old man
6
1
13.12.2023
Every Wednesday in the Herald Express, our Torquay United correspondent Richard Hughes takes a sideways look at what's going on in the World of the Gulls - and this week, he realises his age after Torquay's youngsters did the business in the FA Trophy.
As I sit here at the kitchen table, full of the kind of cold that might knock another man out, I am wondering what to write this week’s column about. You see, when the team is winning there is not much scope for complaining, moaning, cajoling – it’s ‘more of the same please, boys’ – but that doesn’t really make for interesting reading.
In recent weeks I have done my bit on the questioning-the-board front – though I do note they haven’t got back to TUST yet – and after that 4-1 win at Frome Town on Saturday, I can hardly criticise the manager’s tactics. So, as I pull another paper hanky from my mansize box (that mum picked up from Sainsbury’s), I would like to ponder age – yes, and some players’ lack of it.
Jacob Wellington was 16 when he started the game at Frome on Saturday. I have just worked out (it wasn’t hard), that I could have a grandson of 16 had I got going early enough and my next generation had been equally as quick off the mark. I think Wellington must be the first Torquay........
© Devon Live
visit website
login
who are we?
contact us
qosheapp
Toi Staff
Gideon Levy
Belen Fernandez
Andrew Mitrovica
Mort Laitner
Nikkei Editorial
Rami G Khouri
Ali Fathollah-Nejad
