Memories of a kitman after 14 proud years in the Plainmoor dug-out

Handling the needs of nearly 50 players in one season to finding some urgently needed Immodium just before kick-off – it’s all been part of the job for Torquay United’s just-departed kit manager and sports therapist Russell Cleave.

One of the Gulls’ longest serving employees – he’s helped to send out United youth and first teams for more than 860 matches - was entertained in The Cove restaurant before Saturday’s 1-1 draw against Maidstone United after he became part of the recent round of redundancies.

Cleave can look back at nearly 14 years in which United has seen some of its most tempestuous times, including promotion, several near-misses, relegations, great escapes, to say nothing of the Covid pandemic and administration.

His burly figure has always been visible on the Plainmoor touchline, yet he’s been happy to remain one of the club’s backroom boys.

Cleave decided not to apply for the enlarged Kit and Clean Lead post, saying: “I can get on board with change, but I just didn’t feel that it was right for me.

“But although I wasn’t planning to leave, I’m not going with any bad feeling.

“I’ve got a lot of good friends at the club, I still want the lads to get promotion and I hope to be around to cheer them on.

“I know what it feels like to go up, and be part of a promotion. Some of the lads have experienced it in the past and some haven’t – I really hope they all do.”

Cleave first linked up with the Gulls as a work experience student from Plymouth’s Marjon University, assisting then Academy physio Gareth Law in 2012.

After he graduated with a degree in Sports Science, he began helping senior physio Damien Davey and then became No.2 to Law (now head of Plymouth Argyle’s medical department) when he stepped up.

Russell also took on first team kit duties and has continued in that role alongside Kai Hepworth and current Head of Medical Regan Miles.

“I owe Gareth a lot – he gave me my first chance, and I learned a lot from him during those early years,” he said.

The role of kit man covers a multitude of duties, not just making sure that shirts, shorts, socks and tracksuits are clean and ready for every training session and every match.

During the cash-strapped era under Kevin Nicholson, Cleave recalled: “We had 49 players come and go in one season – you can imagine what that involved.

“We’ve been through some tough times – I remember we had to travel to North Ferriby, which is near Hull, in players’ cars one year.

“And I’ll never forget a match when one of our players, who had better remain nameless, turned round in some distress and said ‘I need some Immodium, Russ, quick’.

“Luckily, I had some too!”

The 2019 NL South championship under Gary Johnson is one of Cleave’s obvious highlights, but there are others.

“I’ll never forget the way we beat Notts County (4-2) in the Play-Off Semi-Final (2021), although I felt sad for our supporters that so few could be at Plainmoor because of Covid.

“I don’t think any of us will ever get over the way we lost the Final at Ashton Gate.

“The FA Cup tie against Derby (2-2 Nov 2022) was a good one, but I also have fond memories of a couple of great escapes.

“Staying up in the National League in 2017 when we looked certain to go down so many times, was one, beating North Ferriby (2-0) with 4,000 here on the last day.

“And beating administration and the eleven-point deduction a couple of years ago was another.

“The pressure of having to win at Taunton that night was something else, but we did it.”

High on the list of Cleave’s favourite Plainmoor players is Adam Randell, who spent a season (2020-2021) on loan here before establishing himself at Plymouth Argyle and now Bristol City in the Championship.

“I just loved how humble and grown-up Adam was, even as a teenager, how determined he was to succeed and how well he did all the simple things,” Russell said.

“Then there’s lads like Asa Hall, Luke Young, of course, Angus MacDonald, Danny Racchi, who was a great character and helped us a lot at a tough time.

“Jamie Reid was always winding me up, but what a person and how well he’s done in the game.

“There’s lots more I could mention, and I still keep in touch with plenty of them.

“You have to remember – we’re not Premier League, so we’ve never had loads of money and staff everywhere.

“But everyone having to muck in and pull in the same direction is what helps to make those memories and friendships.”