Kev gets chance to take on the Gulls

FORMER Torquay United record-breaker Kevin Hill will face his old club at last when the Gulls play their final pre-season friendly against Dorchester Town at the Avenue Stadium at the end of the month.

The game will take place on Friday, July 31, at 7.45pm, rounding off a six-game build-up to United's return to the Football League.

Plainmoor legend Hill, who set a new Torquay appearance record of 474 games in the FA Trophy Final at Wembley in May 2008, joined Dorchester following his release from Torquay last summer.

He was only a couple of minutes away from earning an FA Cup appearance against United last season.

Dorchester led a First Round tie against Oxford United 1-0 at the Kassam Stadium until the U's grabbed a stoppage-time equaliser, and then won the replay.

Three weeks later they lost in the Second Round at Plainmoor 2-0.

Blue Square South club Dorchester, managed by former Yeovil defender Roy O'Brien, have a second ex-Torquay player in their ranks.

Long-serving defender Mark Jermyn was a trainee at Plainmoor before joining the Magpies in 2000, and he has since made more than 400 appearances.

United manager Paul Buckle has been trying to fill the July 31 date ever since a planned game against Weymouth fell through several weeks ago.

The Gulls play Brighton & Hove Albion at Plainmoor on Tuesday, July 28 (7.45pm), but they then faced an eleven-day gap before they meet Chesterfield at home on the opening day of the League Two season (August 8).

Now that spell has been filled — and Buckle plans to use the Saturday (August 1) to spy on one of United's early-season opponents.

United's full pre-season programme now reads: July 9 (7.30pm) Buckland Athletic A (Charity Match), July 15 (7.45pm) Plymouth Argyle H, July 18 (3pm) Bristol Rovers H, July 23 (7.45pm) Derby County H, July 28 (7.45pm) Brighton & Hove Albion H, July 31 (7.45pm) Dorchester Town A.

FOUR DOWN, one to go — that's the mid-summer out-of-contract situation for Torquay United manager Paul Buckle.

Striker Elliot Benyon, who had verbally agreed to stay with the Gulls, signed a new one-year deal at Plainmoor yesterday.

Benyon, 21, followed left-back Kevin Nicholson, goalkeeper Martin Rice and midfield skipper Chris Hargreaves in finalising new contracts.

Now there is only central defender Chris Robertson left to agree terms.

Benyon, who told the Herald Express last week of his belief that he can make an impact in League Two, is on board for a third season, following his free transfer move from Bristol City in the summer of 2007.

He has since scored 18 goals from 28 starts (45 sub appearances).

Buckle commented: "The important thing now is that he pushes on again this season, along with the other players, keeps developing and nails down a regular place in the team.

"Hopefully, Chris Robertson will agree to sign, and that will complete all the in-house business."

The Gulls' boss added that he still wants to strengthen his squad, saying: "There are a couple of things on the go, but we have got a team in place, and anything new has got to be right."

The club's trainees are already back in training, and the senior pros report back next Monday.

PLYMOUTH ARGYLE have stoked speculation that they are on the point of being sold. The Pilgrims called a press conference at Home Park today for "a major announcement regarding the future of Plymouth Argyle".

The Japanese Shonan Management Corporation, which already has a 20 per cent stake in Argyle, is believed to be on the point of acquiring a controlling interest.