Ed Palmer: ‘So important that we get off to a good start’

From the first day Paul Wotton arrived at Plainmoor as Torquay United manager, the rumour mill has swirled furiously around potential new players for the club.

One name consistently mentioned was that of defender Ed Palmer, a former United trainee who left Plainmoor in 2011 and has been a star for Wotton’s former club, Truro City.

It was, therefore, no surprise when the former KEVICC student from Totnes rejoined the Gulls last week, although the man himself admitted it was not something he ever anticipated after a decade of plying his trade with the likes of Truro, Weymouth, Tiverton and Taunton.

“I probably didn’t expect to be back here but, ten years ago, I didn't expect to see Torquay playing in the National League South,” said Palmer. “It’s weird but I’m buzzing to be back.”

Palmer’s Torquay tale began as a kid on the terraces and then a trainee during the successful years of Paul Buckle, when United had a lengthy list of top-quality defenders.

“When I grew up watching Torquay, I first went to Plainmoor at the age or around five or six and the atmosphere around the club was great, the crowds were great and the football was good to watch,” said Palmer.

“When I was at the club as a trainee, we won the Conference in my first year and then a couple of years around the play-offs. It was the Paul Buckle era and we had top centre-backs like Guy Branston, Mark Ellis and Chris Todd.”

Every footballer makes a different journey through the game and Palmer departed Plainmoor for a short stint in Australia before settling down as an accomplished centre-back for Westcountry clubs.

Now at the age of 32, Palmer believes the art of defending is something to nurture and develop over time, a lesson he learned from his first stint with the Gulls.

“I left Torquay and options were limited living down here, so I went to Australia to play for a team called Clifton Hill in Melbourne for six months,” he said. “I came back to play in the National League South and Southern League.

“Over the past couple of years, I’ve done a lot of work away from football to get myself in the right shape and I do feel more confident as a player, obviously more experienced as well.

“As a centre-back, you do get better as you get older because you have to learn the role. When I think back to my early days at Torquay with Branston, Toddy, Ellis and Lee Hodges, I knew I was nowhere near to them in terms of knowledge of the position.”

As for Wotton, Palmer is well versed in the hardworking approach that is a golden rule for the Plymouth Argyle legend, who will bring a brand new dimension to the Yellow Army.

“I’ve obviously spoken to Wottsy in the past and he knew, being local, that I would be keen to join Torquay again,” said Palmer.

“I’ve worked with Wottsy at Truro City and the Torquay fans can expect an extremely honest manager. He is pretty intense on a match-day and always creates a hardworking team, but he also wants to play good football, hopefully an exciting mix.”

Next on the radar for Palmer, Wotton and the new squad being assembled at Plainmoor is a gruelling pre-season campaign, as the Gulls taper toward that opening league fixture in August.

“I’ve been looking after myself over the summer and I’m looking forward to the challenges of pre-season,” said Palmer. “It will be a bit more training than I’m used to in pre-season, so I’m excited for that.

“It will be great to meet everyone and then all focus on that first league game on August 10. It’s really important that we get off to a good start, get the fans engaged and make sure they keep coming to Plainmoor.

“It’s going to be hard because we are a completely new team but a good first month will hopefully get the fans excited for the season ahead.”

As part of the preparations for a new campaign at Plainmoor, a Go Fund Me campaign has been established to help decorate the Popside with a superb flag to celebrate the arrival of the Bryn Consortium, heralding a new era for the Gulls.

The same group organised a similar campaign three years ago and you can support them by searching for Help Get Plainmoor Colourful on Go Fund Me.