Kevin Dearden

He is still fat and round!

James Hunt is a Torquay fan. Here he salutes the one-and-only Kevin Dearden

Torquay United have had quite a history of so-so goalkeepers in recent years. The keepers we had could either save shots, collect crosses or distribute the ball - we were lucky if we got a keeper who could do two! Then, upon the appointment of Roy McFarland at Plainmoor, he noticed the need for a new goalkeeper as part of a whole new team he was after. We had just come off the back of that last-day victory at Barnet to keep us in the League, but who would want to play for a club who were favourites to lose their League status? Maybe someone who wanted to further their career? Get into coaching? Someone who wanted a challenge? Along comes Kevin Dearden.

The first time I saw Kevin Dearden, there was that feeling I'm sure many others will have had. 'Why have we got such a short, fat guy in goal?' We conceded three in that game - every goal that went in was watched by a statuesque Kevin. I had a chat with a friend on the way home from that game, and he backed Kevin. OK, no good saves were made, but if there was absolutely no chance of getting there, what was the point of going for it? That, it seemed, made little sense to me, but to Torquay United it was exactly what was needed. Kevin knew his limitations and the team grew and was rebuilt around him (only two current first-team regulars have been at Plainmoor for more than two years). 

Kevin's defence knew exactly what he would come for and what he wouldn't. Previous keepers came and flapped at crosses, lost it with defenders waiting for the keeper to collect, and we conceded a tap-in. By the end of last season, Torquay were safe in 17th place in the league, partly due to Kevin's heroics in goal. At last, Torquay had someone who could stand up and be counted in goal, someone who wasn't learning the game or leaving it. Torquay's future looked, at last, to be in safe hands.

The new season started fairly enough for Torquay, moving to joint top recently. Kevin was then hit with an injury forcing him to miss three games - which we lost. Coincidence? Maybe not.