Gulls captain: 'I don’t think anything can stop us'

Captain Asa Hall says there is a strong belief in Torquay United’s squad that the Gulls have what it takes to turn their flying start into long-awaited promotion back to the Football League in 2021.

Gary Johnson’s men take a six-point lead at the top of the National League into the opening Christmas/New Year game against West Country rivals Yeovil Town at Plainmoor on Boxing Day.

Midfielder Hall, 34, will complete a three-match suspension on Saturday, but he will be back for Monday’s trip to Weymouth and the Yeovil return at Huish Park on January 2.

“I’m gutted to miss Boxing Day – it’s my favourite day of the year,” said Hall.

“I feel like I’ve been playing well, and it’s very frustrating to come out of a team that’s winning games.

“But it could have been worse – it might have been three Saturdays – and I’ve taken the chance to rest a little, so I can come back fresh again.”

Former Birmingham, Oxford Utd, Shrewsbury, Cheltenham Town and Barrow player Hall was a key man in the Cheltenham team which won the National League under Johnson in 2016.

Captain of that side was current Gulls assistant manager Aaron Downes, plus leading scorer Danny Wright and striker Billy Waters.

Torquay’s 32 points from 14 games is four more than Cheltenham had at the same stage five years ago.

“In our position, you usually grind out the season, and then you click with 10-15 games to go and the gaffer can hand it over to us to finish the job,” said Hall.

“Although we’ve started so well, we’ve still got a long way to go.

“But there’s a great belief in the camp, and we know we’ve got the tools to win games, score heavily and we’ve also defended well.

“Everything is done, from the top of the club through the gaffer, Aaron and the staff, to help us to play with freedom and replicate our best form in every game.

“I don’t think anything can stop us if we keep working as hard as we have done so far.”