In Manager’s Speak, it’s time to dust ourselves down and go again and where we are going probably doesn’t come any tougher than Torquay United.

Even those who remain in awe of the neolithic monument on Salisbury Plain as the traffic on the A303 crawls past will be sick of the sight of it by the time we visit Weymouth at the end of the month such is the west country mileage that will have been accumulated by our hardy supporters.

Torquay United are a far different proposition to the club that we visited back in December of last year. Then, a club in financial disarray, in serious need of the takeover that finally happened in May of this year. 

We should hope to expect a warmer (not in terms of the weather) welcome than we received last season when, in all honesty, our supporters were treated very poorly. Our supporters coach arrived at Plainmoor at around 1.15 pm, only to be told that they would not be allowed into the stadium, due to stewarding issues, until 2 o’clock. After five hours of travelling, no access to toilets or food with even the club bar off limits, it was hardly ideal.

When we finally were allowed in, and the rush to the loos was complete, our footy foodie, David Knight describes the fare on offer: "Having been asked to provide a review of the catering facilities at Torquay, the reply is almost what facilities! A low grade chuck wagon parked round the corner, out of sight, greeted us on our last visit. Very limited offerings of strictly average quality. I would suggest eating/drinking before you get there, you have time as the gates don't open till 2pm.”

We can but hope that the new consortium have recognised that this was not the way to treat the paying customer, even if they are not wearing their yellow and blue. As a starter we are assured that Boots and Laces this season is away supporter friendly, the rest we wait and see.

Edit: We have been informed that the away section will open at 1.30 pm.

We are to be situated in Block A of the Bristow’s Bench stand with admission prices set at Adults £20; Concessions £18; Students/Armed Forces £16; Under-18’s £11 and Under-8 £8 and can be purchased HERE.  All tickets need to be brought online in advance. There are no away tickets sold on the turnstile. Children under 14 must be accompanied by a paying adult.

Plainmoor, it should be noted, is a cashless stadium.

Last season’s visit brought a 2-1 defeat, but an admirable performance from the Angels that was embellished with a spectacular 35 yard strike from Francis Mampolo.

Supporters arriving by car should be aware that there is no stadium parking, so considerate residential parking needs to be found.

Train travellers arriving at Torquay Station face a 2.3 mile walk to Plainmoor, or for those rather less energetic, bus 35A can be picked up from Torquay Harbourside.

On the field, Tuesday evening’s single goal away win at Salisbury leaves the Gulls in fourth place in National League South, three points adrift of leaders Eastbourne Borough but with a game in hand. They are unbeaten at Plainmoor with four wins from their seven games.

Matt Davison reviews the Torquay squad that contains a wealth of attacking threat. The player to watch in the Torquay side is undoubtably Cody Cooke. He scored 19 goals for Bath City last year including a goal in each of his two games against us last campaign, and he has scored six this campaign including one in each of the last three games.

Torquay, who are unbeaten at home since March, have an array of attacking players to choose from including Bradley Ash, Ben Seymour and Jordan Young, while midfielder Dan Hayfield, another summer addition from Bath City, jointly leads their assists chart with four.