Eastbourne Borough start a testing period of the campaign with a visit to fellow promotion hopefuls Torquay United tomorrow (Saturday).
The Sports sit three points ahead of Torquay, but have played a game more than the Gulls ahead of the trip to Plainmoor.
And Torquay will be hoping to bounce back following a run of no wins in their last four – and back-to-back defeats after losing their unbeaten home record to Hampton & Richmond before going down 1-0 at fellow high-flyers Maidstone United last weekend.
The Manager
Paul Wotton joins Torquay from Truro City where he enjoyed five successful seasons, including winning promotion to the National League South in 2022. He was formerly assistant manager at Plymouth Argyle.
Wotton, who spent part of his early career playing under TUFC Football Advisor Neil Warnock during their successful time at Home Park together, is a true Argyle legend after amassing over 450 league appearances during two spells in a career that also took in spells at Southampton, Oxford United and Yeovil Town.
Danger Man
Jordan Young agreed a permanent deal with The Gulls until May 2027, arriving with an enviable reputation. Having begun his career in the EFL with Swindon Town, he went on to make seven appearances and scoring one goal before departing to join Coventry City.
Moves to Gloucester City and Chippenham Town saw Young gain valuable experience of first-team action thereafter, and after becoming a regular goalscorer at the latter, Yeovil moved to bring the former Scotland youth international to Huish Park in January 2023.
With The Glovers suffered relegation to National League South alongside The Gulls at the end of 2022/23, Jordan played a pivotal role in ensuring their time in the sixth tier was a brief but successful one, as his 16 goals in 47 outings not only secured the player a NLS championship medal, but also a place in the NLS ‘Team of the Season’.
Head-to-Head
You have to go back to 2008 for the last time the Sports beat Torquay, although there was a ten-year gap where the teams were in different leagues.
Torquay would go on to win promotion to the Football League in 2007/08, but prevailed 4-2 at Priory Lane in the Blue Square Premier. Ashley Barnes – who would go on to establish himself at Brighton and Burnley – put Borough in front, before a Matt Crabb brace and Dan Smith effort sealed an emphatic win for the Sports.
A return to Plainmoor is one of nostalgia for Adam Murray, who took charge of his first game at Borough in Devon last January – guiding a struggling side to a deserved 2-2 draw. Callum Kealy had put Borough in front at the break, before goals from Dillon De Silva and Will Jenkins Davies turned the game on its head. However, Decarrey Sheriff bundled home in stoppage time to earn Borough a point.
Earlier this season, the two teams drew 1-1 at The ReachTV Stadium – with George Alexander’s opener cancelled out by Finley Craske in the first half.
Ticket Information
Supporters making the journey to Devon tomorrow (Saturday) can purchase tickets either on the day or online in advance.
Prices: Adult: £20; Over 65/Student: £18; Under 18: £11; Under 8: £8. Under 8s must be accompanied by an adult.
Tickets are available to buy online here.
Safe journey to everyone coming to get behind the Sports!
