Top 10 Torquay Players

[AustrianAndyGull]

Continuing the 'TOP' whatever theme, who make your Top 10 FAVOURITE EVER players to have worn the hallowed Yellow shirts? Sorry for those of you who abhorr my Top 5 this and Top 10 that but i thought at least this is a subject all can have an opinion on surely?

I've only been supporting the Gulls for 7 or 8 seasons so my choices are limited but here goes.

1. Bobby Olejnik - Man mountain Austrian ( bit like me actually only my weight comes from too much food and beer ) keeper, one of the best keepers i have seen at lower levels anyway and certainly best ever to wear a Gulls shirt. A dominant force and a positive influence on the rest of the team. Oh, and did i mention he came from Austria?

[OllieGull]

No Rene!?

[Scott Brehaut]

Ok - so I am basing this on the squads since 1999/2000 season, when I first started supporting the Gulls:

GK - Bobby. Simply the best keeper I have seen since at Torquay in my time supporting them. Next best = Poke
RB - Brian McGlinchey. Simply a quality right back.
CB - Wayne Thomas. I loved this guy, and thought he was an excellent defender. Would have loved to see him and Branno together.
CB - Guy Branston. A man mountain. Put the fear of God into everybody!!
LB - Kevin Nicholson - Seems to be getting better every season
RM - Chris Zebroski - Loved this guy when he played on the wing. I know many preferred him up front, but this guy was quality when running at defenders.
CM - Lee Mansell - The guy is a legend. If I was a woman I would offer myself to him on an nightly basis. I have a huge man crush on him.
CM - Jesus - Bled yellow. I will always remember him holding the trophy aloft at Wembley and screaming out to us all "This is for you".
LM - Wayne Carlisle - controversial choice, but a quality winger in my opinion. THAT cross for Sills at Wembley along determines his idol status.
CF - David Graham - Great goalscorer for us. Should never have left.
CF - Rene Howe - Quality. Nothing else to be said.

Oh - sorry - just realised top ten....bugger. Oh well, that is my top Torquay team!!

[stevegull]

I've always been a guy for having a somewhat 'reluctant love' for some players. Normally players I feel I can relate to.

1. Tony Bedeau. Simply as he was the first player as a child that I really got excited about. I guess the kid in my liked a player who always 'did things' although now in my later years I realise these things weren't always good! He was powerful, strong and had a good turn of pace.

2. Nicky Wroe. Quality player imo. Did so much more than many gave him credit for. He had a great range of passing and mroe importantly could see where the ball needed to go to progress moves.

3. Chris Hargreaves. Even as his body creaked, his loving of a tackle never diminished. He slammed many people about but was also a very good footballer with the ball at his feet. It's a shame he didn't take the coaching role Buckle offered him, as I would love to still have him around the club.

4. Tim Sills. Regardless of his percieved lack of ability in league football I maintain Sills was a HUGE player for us. A goalscoring target man is a surprisingly rare thing and we definitely had one in Tim Sills. I'm not sure he ever lost a header and I do have a big soft spot for a target man.

5. Steve Woods. Another man who loved a tackle but also had a rare thing for a defender in the lower leagues - composure. He would stroke the ball out of defence and also liked a good old fashioned ping at goal. The main one I think of is that one against Birmingham in the FA Cup that crashed off the bar.

Will post more tomorrow.