Flurry of transfer activity at Plainmoor

Imagine being Jon Gibbes, first week on the job as club secretary at Torquay United and absolutely zero time to get your feet under the desk.

Instead of calmly adjusting to his new surroundings, Gibbes has been given the immediate task of processing a flurry of new signings at Plainmoor, with all the paperwork that entails…better to get stuck in straightaway!

First through the doors of TQ1 was the versatility and experience of Oscar Threlkeld, a player familiar to the Westcounty after a breakthrough spell with Plymouth Argyle that saw the former Bolton Wanderers junior become an established Football League performer.

Threlkeld left Home Park for Salford City and has since enjoyed spells with Bradford City, Oldham Athletic, Morecambe and Belgian club Waasland-Beveren.

The goalkeeping department will also have a new look this season, with James Hamon signing from Truro City. Born in Guernsey, Hamon came through the ranks at Exeter City and made a total of 37 appearances for the Grecians.

He gained further experience with loan spells at Hayes & Yeading and Gloucester City before making a permanent switch to Truro in 2019. Hamon has signed a one-year deal with the Gulls.

United manager Paul Wotton also won the race to sign exciting young forward Jadyn Crosbie, who was being monitored by a number of clubs after scoring an impressive 37 goals in 48 games for Mangotsfield in the Hellenic League.

The powerfully-built 20 year-old has all the ingredients to score goals and definitely ticks the box of ‘exciting prospect’.

Sam Dreyer is another promising young footballer and the name is very familiar. Sam’s dad John spent time on loan at Plainmoor in the 1985/86 season and went on to enjoy a fine career in the game with the likes of Oxford United, Luton Town, Stoke City and Bradford City.

Dreyer junior, 20, earned rave reviews for his performances in a loan stint at Hampton & Richmond last season and the former Peterborough United defender has agreed a two-year contract with the Gulls.

And breathe Jon, briefly!

Arriving from the League of Ireland in a one-year deal is midfielder Roddy Collins, another footballer with a famous father.

Collins Senior is a legend in Irish football and his 29 year-old son also made his name at home, impressing with spells at Monaghan United, Athlone Town, Derry City and Waterford. He then moved to England with Hemel Hempstead Town, Hayes & Yeading and Kings Langley.

Lirak Hasani has made the move south from Gateshead, where he made 22 appearances after moving from Doncaster Rovers. Hasani has spent time on loan with Boston, South Shields and Blyth Spartans. The attacking midfielder arrives with bags of potential.

It has been a baptism of fire for Secretary Gibbes and there are many more signings coming at Plainmoor, as Wotton looks to build a squad capable of mounting a serious promotion challenge in the National League South.