After securing consecutive wins last weekend, Maidstone United’s lead at the top of the NL South now stands at three points after 12 matches. This Saturday, Craig Fagan’s side make the mammoth 222-mile trek to the English Riviera as they face Jimmy Ball’s Torquay United. By Jack Foulger.
HISTORY
Having formed back in 1899, the Gulls boast arguably one of the most successful histories of any team at Step 2, with a total of 85 years spent in the Football League.
Much of Torquay’s early existence saw them jump between numerous regional leagues in the Devon and wider south-western circle before election to the Football League in 1927. In the eight decades that followed, the Gulls would comfortably float between the third and fourth tiers of the pyramid before eventually suffering relegation to the Conference in 2007.
Their first spell back in non-league wouldn’t last long though, as a 2-0 play-off final victory over Cambridge United in the 2008/09 season saw Torquay return to the fourth tier after just two years away. However, history would repeat itself just five years later with the Yellow Army once again suffering relegation from the EFL before also falling through the National League’s trapdoor in 2018 to find themselves at Step 2.
For a short period following this, the Gulls looked to be on the rise again as a NL South title win in 2019 was almost followed up with another promotion in the 2020/21 campaign, where a penalty shootout defeat to Hartlepool United in the National League play-off final denied Torquay a third spell in the Football League (despite a stoppage time equaliser from future Stones’ keeper Lucas Covolan). Unfortunately, the Yellow Army were unable to push on and subsequently fell back into the sixth tier in 2023, the level which they still play at today.
Since then, Torquay have gone from the brink of extinction to being on the verge of promotion back to the National League under the stewardship of the Bryn Consortium. Last season saw a return to the fifth tier denied as a 3-2 play-off final defeat to Hornchurch consigned the Gulls to another season at Step 2.
THE SQUAD
Having lost star players Dylan Morgan and Jordan Young to higher league moves in recent weeks, the Yellow Army have arguably been forced into an impromptu squad rebuild as of late to aid their promotion hopes.
Helping to plug the gap is young loanee midfielder Caleb Roberts, who has been an everpresent in Torquay’s lineup since making the temporary switch from Plymouth Argyle in September. The 20-year-old has previously featured for the Greens in both the Championship and League One whilst also being notably named as the Gulls’ Man of the Match just last weekend in his side’s narrow FA Cup defeat.
One player that Stones fans will know well is Guyana international and striker Deon Moore, who has 10 goals to his name since arriving from Maidstone in March. Moore spent the majority of last season at ME14, featuring 40 times across all competitions whilst also netting 11 times after arriving as a trialist in summer 2025.
THE GAFFER
Currently sitting in the Gulls’ dugout is former AFC Totton manager Jimmy Ball, who is enduring an indifferent first full season in Devon since joining from the Stags back in March. In his first two months, the 51-year-old steadied a side at risk of falling out of the promotion battle before guiding Torquay to the play-off final where they narrowly fell short in the end.
This time out, he has faced a difficult start to the campaign, with his side sitting 13th in the NL South table following four victories, four draws and three defeats in their opening 11 games.
In his spell at Totton, Ball notably oversaw the Hampshire side’s promotion to the NL South after a successful Step 3 play-off campaign in the 2024/25 season shortly before playing an instrumental part in an eventual top-half finish in their maiden season at Step 2.
FORM
Despite being tipped for promotion by many, the Yellow Army have endured an inconsistent start to the campaign so far that has seen them take 16 points from a possible 33.
However, their past five league outings have seen Torquay claim three wins, with victories over Slough Town, Maidenhead United and Folkestone Invicta ensuring that the Gulls remain in touch with the chasing pack for the play-offs.
Most recently, Jimmy Ball’s side played out a home tie against NL North side Oxford City in the FA Cup, in an afternoon that ultimately ended in disappointment as a 51st-minute winner from Scott Pollock saw the away side advance to Round One. To make matters even more bitter, the Hoops were subsequently rewarded with a tie against former Premier League champions Leicester City.
HEAD-TO-HEAD
Ever since the Stones lost 2-1 away to the Gulls back in 1989, the Stones have boasted an overwhelmingly dominant record against the Devon side for almost four decades, winning 14 of the subsequent 20 meetings, while losing just once.
Most recently, the two sides played out a 1-1 draw at Plainmoor back in January in a feisty encounter that saw three players dismissed. An on-target free-kick from Riley Court put the Stones ahead midway through the first-half, shortly before midfielder Dylan Morgan brought the Yellow Army level with a close-range effort.
The last Stones’ defeat in this fixture came back in early 2023, when a 79th-minute winner from then-Gulls striker Aaron Jarvis saw Torquay claim a narrow 1-0 victory amidst a miserable league campaign for both sides, that saw both relegated.
THE STADIUM
Located less than one mile from Babbacombe seafront, the Gulls play their home matches at Plainmoor Stadium, which for the past two seasons has boasted the highest average league attendance in the NL South. With a total capacity of 6,500, the Torbay ground features two all-seater stands and two standing terraces in addition to an in-house sports bar hosting live entertainment and other sports broadcasts for both sets of supporters.
Away supporters are typically housed in Block A of Bristow’s Bench, which is one of the newest additions to Plainmoor having opened back in 2012. Situated at the north-east corner of the ground, this all-seater section offers a panoramic view of the pitch and surrounding Devon countryside.
