VINTAGE NEV'S GULLS EXPLOITS

STEVE HARRIS RECALLS THE DAYS WHEN LEGENDARY GOALKEEPER NEVILLE SOUTHALL PLAYED BETWEEN THE STICKS FOR TORQUAY UNITED...

INI HIS 2012 autobiography, The Binman Chronicles, Neville Southall stated that there were just three results that he listened out for on

Saturday at 5 o’clock: “Everton, Bury and the Gulls.”

His association with Torquay United began in 1998 when he was drafted in by the then-United manager Wes Saunders following an injury to fi rst choice goalkeeper Kenny Veysey.

At the time Southall was working as a goalkeeper coach at Huddersfield Town and Tranmere Rovers - and it was his connection with Huddersfield, who were then managed by Saunders’ former Newcastle United team-mate Peter Jackson, that alerted the Gulls to his availability.

Southall had experienced a nomadic career since leaving Goodison Park in 1998 after 17 years, following spells with Southend United, Stoke City and Doncaster Rovers.

During his lengthy spell with the Toffees, he became Everton’s most decorated player ever, winning two league titles (1985 & 1987), two FA Cups (1984 & 1995) and a European Cup Winners’ Cup (1985).

He was also voted as Footballer of the Year in 1985 and won 92 caps for Wales – which was a record until it was surpassed by Chris Gunter in November 2018 – and for a time in the 1980s he was regarded as the best goalkeeper in the world.

He made his debut for United on December 12, 1998, against Hull City in a relegation ‘six-pointer’ that pitted 23rd (United) against 24th (the Tigers). The stakes could hardly have been higher for the Gulls in this encounter, as defeat would have placed them level on points with the Tigers on 18 points.