Match Preview: The voice of calm at Plainmoor

In times of adversity and struggle, people naturally turn to a leader for guidance, and those leaders are often thrust unexpectedly into the limelight.

Step forward Aaron Downes at Torquay United.

As a player, the amiable Australian was a bruising defender, superb in the air and fearless in the tackle. He was a proper centre-half but, off the pitch, Downes was always unfailingly polite and helpful.

In my experience as a media officer at Torquay United during that time, Aaron was often the ‘go-to’ choice if we were struggling for a post-match interview or to fill a hole in the programme, because we always knew Downesy would deliver.

He speaks with eloquence and honesty, as a wider audience is now discovering since he took over as interim manager of the Gulls.

Downes was the faithful assistant boss to Gary Johnson during five-and-a-half rollercoaster years on the pitch at Plainmoor. The pair enjoyed the pleasure of promotion and the agony of relegation, and they did it together.

The departure of Johnson, following the announcement that owner Clarke Osborne planned to place the club into administration, must have been tough for Downes, who was immediately handed the task of rejuvenating a squad on a horrible run of form.

The two men remain very close and hopefully, in time, their achievements since 2019 will bringer greater memories than the tougher moments.

For now, however, Downes has completely immersed himself in the task of winning points on the pitch, while also acting as the calming spokesman for the club.

He started with a 2-2 draw at home to Aveley and then a 1-1 draw at Weymouth. Performances were on the upturn and, crucially, the lengthy injury list was finally easing.

It all culminated in a superb 4-1 demolition of Dartford on the weekend, a victory that had Plainmoor rocking. United looked incisive going forward and, on another day, could have scored a whole lot more.

Downes, as is his way, accepted the win with grace and gratitude, thanking the Yellow Army, the players and backroom staff. Well, in return, United fans thank Aaron Downes.

There is, however, not much time for ‘patting on backs’, as United welcome Taunton Town to Plainmoor tonight.

The Somerset side have endured numerous off-field problems of their own this season, with players leaving en-masse and countless postponements on their struggling pitch.

Despite that, Taunton secured a superb 3-1 win at promotion-chasing Worthing on Saturday, moving them to within a point of climbing out of the relegation zone.

Tonight will be another challenge for the Gulls but another three points (administration aside) could re-ignite those fading play-off dreams.