Callum Dolan targeting promotion on his return to Torquay United
CALLUM Dolan knows just what he wants from the 2025/26 season after his return to Torquay United was confirmed this week: Promotion.
The 24-year-old midfielder joins the Gulls on a free transfer from League One side Fleetwood Town, who released him in the summer after making 16 appearances for the club.
Advertisement
Dolan played six games during an impressive loan spell at Plainmoor during the 2023/24 season, scoring twice. But now he is back permanently having signed a one-year deal, determined to help the Gulls get out of National South.
READ MORE: Finley Craske and Lirak Hasani turn down Torquay United deals
READ MORE: Tom Lapslie in the squad next year was something many were hoping for
'It's good to be back. It's a massive football club with a lot of clear ambition and I want to get a promotion on my CV and that is going to be my main focus,' he said.
'I have always kept an eye on the club and wanted the club to do well since being here. The fans are quite special – I could see that within my first game of being here.
Advertisement
'I have been with clubs in eight out of the top ten divisions in England, but in the past couple of years, I have had an injury that has kept me from playing as much as I would like to.
'Now I have had the surgery for that, I feel 100 per-cent ready to go and I am just glad that Torquay get me on the back end of that and this is the season I am looking to do something really special and show everyone consistently what I can do and go on to be one of the best players in this league.
Goal celebrations for Callum Dolan of Torquay United during the National League South match between Eastbourne Borough and Torquay United at Priory Lane, Eastbourne on 28 November 2023. Photo: James Whitehead/PPAUK
Manchester-born Dolan started his career at Manchester United, where he spent seven years in their Academy before joining Blackburn Rovers and then Bury.
Advertisement
After leaving Gigg Lane, Dolan played non-league football for Stockport Town before a brief stint at Altrincham. Dolan returned to the professional ranks by joining Oldham Athletic, but things turned sour for Dolan when he was sentenced to eight months in a young offender institution after being involved in a police chase on the M60. He was 18 at the time.
Following his release, Dolan spent time at Radcliffe and Matlock Town before committing to Warrington Rylands and his superb form for them led to him joining Fleetwood for an undisclosed fee, where he penned a two-and-a-half year deal.
Dolan moved to Torquay on loan, who were managed by Gary Johnson at the time and Johnson's son Lee was in charge of Fleetwood. But after six hugely impressive performances at the back end of 2023, Dolan returned to Highbury, making 13 appearances before returning to Oldham on loan at the start of last season.
Dolan made six appearances for Oldham before a long-standing injury led to him having surgery, which kept him sidelined for six months. He returned to make six further appearances at the back end of the season before his release by Fleetwood was confirmed.
Callum Dolan of Torquay United during the National League South match between Torquay United and Bath City at Plainmoor, Torquay on Saturday 4th November 2023 - PHOTO: Frankie OKeeffe/PPAUK
Still only 24, Dolan's best years are still ahead of him and after the trials and tribulations of his past, he hopes to stay fit and be part of something special at Plainmoor in 2025/26.
Advertisement
'That's the plan, that's the goal, but also to do that whilst trying to get this club promoted,' he said. 'There are players in the squad I have played against in the National League - and the league above - so I think the foundations are there to go and have a really strong season and I am just going to try and add to that and hopefully be that key that gets us over the line.
'To go and get promoted, it has to be a special environment around the club. No one team-mate or person or member of staff is more important, we all have to be working together.
'Me personally, I know I will give everything and I am sure that is what the lads will do because we have a manager like Paul (Wotton) who is massive on mentality. I'd do anything for my team-mates, but we all have to be pushing in the same direction to go and get this club promoted.'
Wotton added: 'Callum's someone that I've known about, actually, since his first loan spell at Torquay. Even though I was managing another team, it's my job to see who's doing well on loan and I've followed his career since.
Advertisement
'He brings goals from midfield, which we lacked last year. He brings tenacity as well, which we lacked last year. So, I've made no secret that I wanted to strengthen the midfield area, or rejig it.
'Callum obviously comes into that equation. He can play as a ten – he's more of an eight as well – he can get box to box. He's got an eye for a goal and I'm looking forward to working with him.'
Dolan's arrival follows those of Munashe Sundire and Louis Dennis folloing their release from Tamworth and League Two Bromley respectively as Wotton builds a squad capable of getting out of National South.
'We've had to beat off an awful lot of competition to get all three of these players. They've been offered financially better deals elsewhere, so it speaks volumes that they want to come down and play for Torquay and they want to succeed,' he said.
Advertisement
'They've bought straight into the work ethic and they're showing the right desire to move down here and play for the club.
'They fit the character of what a Torquay United player needs to be first and foremost. All three of them are ready to go.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Washington Post
28 minutes ago
- Washington Post
British sports get $1.2B from government to help host major events
LONDON — British sport is getting a cash injection of more than 900 million pounds ($1.2 billion) from the government to help with the staging of big events such as the men's European Championship soccer tournament and Grand Departs in the Tour de France. The money will also be used to help deliver a bid by soccer federations in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales to host the Women's World Cup in 2035, the government said Thursday in announcing the funding commitment.
Yahoo
30 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Somerset move top of South Group with victory against Hampshire
Somerset bounced back from defeat by Kent to see off Hampshire and move top of the South Group in the men's Vitality Blast. Will Smeed's 68 and 55 from captain Lewis Gregory helped the home side reach 209 for seven at Taunton, and that proved enough for a 17-run victory. Advertisement Captain James Vince cracked 54 from 30 balls as Hampshire made a good start to their chase but wickets fell regularly and they could only register 192 for seven. It was Somerset's sixth win from seven matches to put them ahead of Surrey, while Leicestershire continued their strong form in the North Group with a comfortable four-wicket victory against neighbours Nottinghamshire. Rehan Ahmed was the star of the show, taking two wickets as Notts were bowled out for 156 and then hitting 52 from 37 balls to help Leicestershire to 160 for six with 14 balls remaining. Essex remain winless after an agonising one-run defeat against fellow strugglers Middlesex at Lord's. Advertisement Kane Williamson was the standout with the bat for Middlesex with 53 as they were bowled out for 161 but Essex could not quite overhaul them, finishing on 160 for six. In the women's competition, The Blaze defeated Lancashire by five wickets for their fifth win from seven games. Ailsa Lister dominated Lancashire's innings with 79 from just 38 balls in a total of 150 for nine but that was overhauled by The Blaze with nearly two overs to spare. England captain Nat Sciver-Brunt hit 31 while Georgia Elwiss was unbeaten on 43 as the hosts reached 153 for five. Somerset remain winless at the bottom of the table after losing by five runs to Hampshire. Maia Bouchier, Charli Knott and Freya Kemp's 65 not out carried Hampshire to 169 for six, and Somerset could only reach 164 for six despite 60 from Niamh Holland.
Yahoo
35 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Major sporting events and grassroots sport to receive £900 million funding
More than £900 million will be committed to major sporting events and grassroots sport across the UK in a 'transformational investment' over the coming years, the Government has announced. Euro 2028, the European Athletics Championships next year and the men's and women's Tour de France Grand Departs in 2027 are among the key events set to be hosted in the country that will benefit from more than half a billion pounds in funding. At least £400 million will also be invested in new and upgraded grassroots sport facilities nationwide after the funding was outlined in last week's Spending Review, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) said. England, Scotland, Wales and the Republic of Ireland will be co-hosting Euro 2028, with the showpiece men's football tournament expected to generate up to £2.4 billion in socio-economic value alone, the DCMS said. Other major events scheduled to be held in the UK include the women's Rugby World Cup in England this summer, the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow and the Invictus Games, founded by the Duke of Sussex, in Birmingham in 2027. Earlier this month, more than 100 athletes called on the Prime Minister to support a London bid for the 2029 World Athletics Championships. But the Government is yet to commit to the bid, but has not ruled it our either, with a spokesperson saying it was working with UK Sport to secure a series of major sporting events up until 2035. However, the DCMS confirmed that work was continuing to develop a bid for the UK to host the women's Fifa World Cup in 2035. Sporting bodies and local leaders for grassroots initiatives will work closely with the department to establish what each community needs before further plans are laid out. It said the investment will not only help create jobs and boost regional prosperity, but would also reduce barriers to opportunity and 'bring communities together through shared national moments'. Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said: 'Sport tells our national story in a way few other things can, uniting communities, inspiring millions, and showcasing our nation on the global stage. 'This major backing for world-class events will drive economic growth across the country, delivering on our plan for change. 'Coupled with strong investment into grassroots sport, we're creating a complete pathway to allow the next generation of sporting heroes to train and take part in sport in communities across the UK.' The announcement comes after Ms Nandy previously pledged £100 million to upgrade sports facilities across the UK, including new and improved pitches, changing rooms, goalposts and floodlights, back in March. Nick Webborn, chairman of UK Sport, praised the new funding as having 'huge potential to drive economic growth, bring people together and inspire the next generation'. He said: 'We believe that live sport is a fundamental part of this country's social fabric. 'We are really excited to be working with the Government and support their commitment to secure the pipeline of big events beyond 2028 to ensure we can continue to reach, inspire and unite people in every corner of the country.' Stuart Andrew, the Conservative shadow culture secretary, said: 'Funding for major sporting events and grassroots sport is welcome – but the spending review was no boon for British sports. 'Rachel Reeves' tax hikes are forcing schools to sell playing fields and driving up business rates for stadiums. 'At the same time, Labour have scrapped the Opening Schools Facilities fund and the National Citizen Service – depriving young people of sporting opportunities. 'Labour must recognise that their economic mismanagement is dealing a devasting blow to the sports sector.'
