The case of Callum Dolan, Matt Worthington and a happier memory from the past

The Dolan-Worthington Affair may well become part of Torquay United’s folklore in the same way that The Case of Saunders/Tynan and The Kettle did in 1991.

But if the ultimate outcome proves as good as it did at Wembley nearly 25 years ago, Gulls fans will be as relieved as they are concerned right now.

Older supporters will remember how Saunders led United out for the Fourth Division Play-Off Final against Blackpool with a plaster over a gashed eyebrow, after an alleged night-out spat with team-mate Tynan only a couple of days before the match.

Not only did Saunders score with a header, but he dispatched a penalty in the shoot-out before celebrating a famous victory. Happier days!

An unhappy episode in 2025, which has been hanging over Plainmoor for more than ten days, has finally been dealt with – not an easy process either.

Midfielders Worthington, the club captain, and Dolan have both been suspended for the next four matches, for what’s believed to have been an incident which happened away from the training ground.

What lasting effect, if any, it may have on United’s fortunes this season remains to be seen.

But two things are certain.

One, the club has stressed that the matter, which has required all the hoop-jumping imaginable in this day and age, is now closed as far as further sanctions are concerned.

And second, the rest of United’s squad have been as upset about the whole business as anyone else.

Manager Paul Wotton has had to go back into the transfer market to try and cover for the loss of two of his most talented players.

Young Bolton Wanderers midfielder Sonny Sharples-Ahmed, 20, has been brought in on loan before Saturday’s home game against Eastbourne Borough (3pm).

Wotton was also chasing a second signing, believed to be a striker, ahead of what is shaping up as a crucial spell of games between now and Christmas.

After Eastbourne, United (4th) have to play Worthing (3rd) at home next Tuesday, Chelmsford City (9th) away, Tonbridge Angels at home, AFC Totton (8th) away and Weston-super-Mare (2nd) home on Boxing Day over the next five weeks.

They have the same number of points (P17 Pts 30) now as they did at this stage last season, but they built on that then with an unbeaten run of ten games which turned them into serious promotion contenders.

Can they do the same again, especially after a fresh setback which nobody could have predicted?

“We feel like we are getting a lot thrown at us,” said Wotton, “but you can either sit there and feel sorry for yourself or you can rise up and meet the challenge.

“We are a resilient bunch. We stick together, the fans as well as. We are united and we crack on.”

There are no new injury worries.

Centre-forward Cody Cooke is well on the comeback trail, although he’s yet to add kicking a ball in anger to his running work.

Louis Dennis, who was ‘rested’ for last weekend’s 2-0 FA Trophy defeat by Maidstone United, is fit.

The story of Eastbourne this season is a cautionary tale in many ways.

The full-time and ambitious Sports finished third last May under Adam Murray, partly on the back of an unbeaten home record.

Murray then left for Kidderminster Harriers, and several leading players also departed as ex-Sutton United boss Matt Gray took over.

Gray lasted less than five months, before Borough’s former manager Tommy Widdrington was persuaded to return from Aldershot Town in the middle of October.

But Eastbourne have still won only two of 19 league and cup matches, are languishing in 21st place – and they have yet to win at home!

Having said all that, it would be wrong to write them off.

They’ve obviously missed the injured George Alexander, who scored 24 goals last season, but new strikers Kai Corbett (Chelmsford) and Olu Oderoju (Boston) have both hit form of late.

They also have an experienced attacking midfielder in Mo Sagaf (Boreham Wood), and it surely won’t be long before Widdrington, who has recently brought in Harry Phipps (Sutton) and Maxwell Mullins Aldershot), starts having a real effect.

Saturday’s referee is Harry Warner (Southampton), who’s back at Plainmoor after handling United’s opening game of the season against Enfield Town.