Torquay United’s Under 16s are already setting their sights on next season, following a superb 2023/24 campaign that saw them crowned league champions.
For the second successive season, TUFC tasted divisional success at Under-16 level, in the shape of claiming the JPL South West title.
Led by Head Coach Jordan Thomas and supported by Justin Yeates & Matthew Hard, expectations for the season were high after a promising finish to the 22/23 season, and the coaching trio were not to be disappointed.
After negotiating a difficult couple of opening fixtures safely, the U16s then went on to stamp their authority on the league, with some impressive results including defeating early leaders Yeovil 4-0 at home to take them top of the league just after Christmas.
The lads didn’t look back after that, and after maintaining control over the division thereafter, Thomas’ side eventually wrapped things up with a game to spare, with a stylish 6-3 victory away at Bridgwater ensuring the celebrations could begin in earnest.
In addition to just a solitary defeat, United’s status as worthy champions was further illustrated by the fact that the side also conceded the least, and scored the most, out of all the the teams in the division, with Coby White finishing as the side’s top goal-scorer.
The U16’s success wasn’t limited to just the league though.
An excellent cup run saw the team reach the last 16 of the Nationals, before unfortunately tasting a rare defeat via penalty kicks.
Looking back on the campaign as a whole, it’s clear that the depth in quality within the squad has played a huge part in the side scaling new heights, with Plaimoor’s player pathway also showing further evidence of success, as no less than eight members of the U16 squad made the step up a level to support Kevin Wills Under 18s throughout the course of the season.
Despite the fact that some of those players were playing with and against players up to two years older than them, none looked out of place, with forward Lucas Robinson (pictured above) just one example.
It was, of course, Lucas who netted United’s second goal in the South West Counties League Cup Final win over Bridgwater at Plainmoor last weekend, but he was by no means the only Young Gull to receive recognition for his efforts and progress this term
Along with Robinson, six other players were selected at County level to represent Devon U16s this season, with captain Owen Bailey, Toby Hard, Harvey Roache, Harry Page, Patrick Reed and Stevie Cole the other worthy recipients of the honour.
An excellent & talented group of lads, the side have certainly come a long way in sixteen months, whilst remaining very supportive of each other in the process.
This season’s achievement is testament to all the hard work they have put in on the training ground, and who knows, perhaps you will see some of them stepping up once more – this time for the first-team, in the not-too-distant future!
Congratulations on an amazing achievement, lads… Bring on 2024/25!