Defender Ryan goes from Plainmoor terraces to first team
Ryan Law has signed for Torquay United from Plymouth Argyle. - Credit: Dave Rowntree/PPAUK
Torquay United's signing of Ryan Law from Plymouth Argyle completes a terraces-to-first-team story for the young Gulls supporting defender.
Law, 21, has joined on a month's loan to help United through an injury-hit spell at left-back, and he made his debut as a second-half sub in this week's 4-1 defeat at Maidenhead United.
Although he graduated through the Argyle Academy, and has played five first-team games, the Kingsteignton-based starlet hails from a passionate 'yellow-and-blue' family and he spent many of his teenage years cheering from the Popular Side.
Ryan's dad is former Torquay striker and physio Gareth Law, now Exeter City's 'head of physio', and his younger brother Harley is still a 'Popside' regular whenever fans are allowed into Plainmoor.
"I was so proud when Ryan finally got on the pitch in a yellow shirt," said Gareth.
"Match days are normally very strange in our house - obviously I'm at Exeter City, Ryan heads off with Plymouth Argyle and Harley still stands on the Popside (when it's allowed) following the Gulls.
"You can imagine the banter when we all meet up later in the evening!"
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Law Sr was a Torquay trainee and three years a pro (1999-2002), scoring once in 17 appearances, most off the bench.
He went on to be a prolific goal scorer in semi-pro and amateur football. But it was the late Norman Medhurst, United's physio at the time, who inspired him to take up sports physiotherapy.
Law spent ten years with United's medical department before moving to Plymouth in 2018 and Exeter a year later.
United have been forced to play midfielder Jake Andrews or right-footed centre-back Joe Lewis at left-back, because of injuries to Dean Moxey and Liam Davis.
But Law Jr shaped well enough at Maidenhead to show that he could start in United's forthcoming matches.
The club's draining injury-list now includes winger Ben Whitfield, who jarred his right knee at Boreham Wood (0-0) last weekend, but hopes are rising that he may only be out for a week or two, rather than longer as first feared.
