Team

Richard Baker

The older statesman of the team, raising the average age by a number of years, he recently moved on as the head of Torbay Police prior to his imminent retirement from the service. He developed a passion for football playing for his county whilst growing up in London. A keen, albeit armchair QPR fan, he continued to play for local police teams well into his 40s and still regularly enjoys five-a-side. He will spend much of his new found free time supporting various charitable organisations and supporting Rangers

Jason Braund

Some say this was a man crafted by a god looking to create the new Rio Ferdinand. Others say he is no ordinary man and is in fact the footballing greats re-incarnated in one. His team mates say he should think himself lucky enough to grace the same pitch as the under 10s and should be reminded that two left feet do not make the game ‘beautiful’. At the mere age of 29 (he knows he looks younger!), he has carved out a ‘successful’ career as a centre half with Ashburton FC, where own goals and injuries have made him a local favourite.

Rob Clement

Blessed with two left feet, an octagonal shaped head and more recently an enormous belly, he has burdened various local sides throughout England and Germany during his service in the Army. Having tired of winning his is now seeing out his career playing seven-a-side in the Torbay League.

 

Ian Clenahan

At 43 years of age, Scouse was one of the first names on the team sheet for this game. Only because they have to have five over 40s playing today! A poacher turned gamekeeper springs to mind as Scouse spent all his playing career ‘up front’ always scoring his fair share of goals. He has played at South Western League level for the Devon & Cornwall Police Team in the 90s (when he was 12 and ½ years of age) but spent the majority of his career locally in the South Devon Premier League playing for Kingsteignton Athletic for many years. His highlights during this time were winning two Herald Cups and scoring the winner in the first final. More recently his pace has disappeared and his power has receded alarmingly, making him a hindrance to every team he plays in.

Shaun Friend

He is 33 years old, 6’3 tall and 15 stones of solid muscle with some fat. A striker or defender, he started his playing career at Galmpton as a young boy before working himself up to the first team where he won the Herald Cup and two league cups He has also played for Stoke Gabriel, Dartington, Dawlish, Newton Abbot and Dartmouth where he won the Devon League. He has also represented the Devon FA and English Police Team. He is now back at Galmpton where he intends to retire.

Tom Henry

He is a midfield maestro who enjoys a tackle. He played for St Austell and Newquay in his prime, however a succession of injuries has restricted Tom’s appearances over recent years. He still turns out for local Sunday league side in Plymouth. Claim to fame: he nutmegged Clayton Blackmore at a primary school 5-a-side tournament.

Tom Ince

He is a midfield maestro. In his day he was a class act, it’s just a shame his day was about seventeen years ago! ‘Glass-ankles’ wasn’t half bad once. His career highlights include playing for Torquay United juniors, representing England in the World Schools Football Championships in 1994 (yes seventeen years ago) and playing on the same pitch as Ian Clenahan.

 

Lee Langley

Known as the ‘Beast’ for his presence and sheer aggression, he is a versatile player who can play C/B, C/M and C/F. During his younger years his main club was Staines Town FC. By the age of 15 he was attracting the attention of QPR and Chelsea. He began training at QPR, before in sporting terms he suffered a serious knee and back injury which ended his short lived time at the top. He returned to Staines Town FC before later moving to Devon where he has played for Newton Abbot, WBB and currently Babbacombe. He is akin to Darren Anderton, not for his ability, but for his various sick notes!! He is Torbay Police’s player manager, and a lifelong Arsenal fan. He might not catch you but he will go through you!

Josh Marshall

He began his senior playing career at Paignton United then moving onto Brixham Villa. He has also competed at regimental level for the Royal Engineers whilst serving in HM Forces. A potent striker for both local clubs, he doesn’t yet seem to have found any form for the police team!

 

Jason Metcalfe

He has been playing football since he was about ten years old. He played for several local teams as a teenager and an ex-pat team whilst living in Spain for two years. He mainly played in the seven-a-side league at Clennon Valley and currently plays five-a-side for fun.

 

Lee Metherell

He is a 35 year old goalkeeper with immense experience!  A towering 5’7 tall, and of great stature, enough to put off the likes of van Persie and Nasri. He is a lifelong Arsenal fan and is looking forward to this very special day. He started playing for Torquay United Youth aged 16 years, and went on to play in two national seven-a-side tournaments with Torquay United. He went on to play for Bideford, Barnstable, Ilfracombe, Teignmouth, Liverton and finally Babbacombe Corries.  He has also represented Devon twice in his younger years. He is famous for making a stunning penalty save from Chris Hargreves in November 2010 in the match against Torquay United Allstars. He is currently the Chairman of the Torbay Police Charity Football Team. Chip him if you dare!!!!

Jim Nye

His playing career peaked at under 10s. From this sad point he was unfortunately corrupted by the oval shaped ball! He has served his penance and lost a few teeth, but has decided to come out of retirement for this very worthy cause. Treat him gently and try not to laugh when he attempts a nutmeg of an Arsenal player. In his defence he has been an Arsenal supporter for over 30 years.

Sean Philpot

He has played local football for many years winning the League and the Dartmouth Cup in the same season with Hele Rovers. His claim to fame is that he once scored a goal for the TA national football team. Sean now runs Apollo Youth Football Club, who have provided the ball boys for today’s game, so he has dusted off his boots to try and play as well as they do.

 

Ian Russell

At 49 years old he is and still playing every Saturday for WBB (Watts Blake Bearne) and still mad for it. He has been playing football forever but started seriously whilst in the RAF. He was captain of the RAF Fire Service football team for a period. After joining the police and moving to Newton Abbot in 1992, he started to play in the local leagues playing for Galmpton, Brixham United, Newton Abbot Spurs, Kingsteignton and presently WBB. During that time he was honoured to win the Herald Cup two years running with Kingsteignton. He played for the police on two occasions but with it being Plymouth based he decided to remain in the area playing local football. He is a mad Chelsea fan and is having a miserable time of it this season.

James Stock

He will realise a life’s ambition by lining up for Torbay Police FC alongside the likes of greats such as Stoppard and Friendy. His playing career includes Sussex sides Haywards Heath Town and Hassocks FC, Varndean College, Bournemouth University and current side the mighty Babbacombe Corinthians FC. He has represented Devon & Cornwall Police at home and abroad and is looking forward to turning back the clock and tearing up the Arsenal today.

Steve Stoppard

His favoured position is libero / enforcer. He has previously played for Chesterfield, Harrow, Borehamwood, Padstow, Launceston, Southgate Senior and Babbacombe Corries. His honours include various pointless league medals for numerous pubs in Sunday leagues. His sporting hero is Lee Metherell. How can someone so small can be so good?! He plays like Nobby Stiles and looks like him as well.

Martin Sutcliffe

His previous clubs include Polkerris, Kingsteignton, Totnes and Dartington, Dartmouth and Stoke Gabriel. He represented Cornwall at county schools level, and has played for Devon & Cornwall Police and England Police teams. His favoured position is centre midfield or left back / midfield.

 

Dave Thomas

He has played adult football predominately for Broadhempston United in local leagues. He plays in a deep holding role in midfield or central defence. He is not blessed with natural pace, and what he did have seems to be leaving him fairly quickly as he heads further into his thirties. He has never won a league or cup in adult football, which must be some sort of record after 14 years of playing. The highlight of his footballing career was being on the bench against the Ambulance Service on a freezing cold night watching Ian Clenahan score a screamer from 45 yards.  

Rob Youngman

His worldwide international playing career began with Liverton FC in the early 1990s then progressed to Ilsington FC. After joining the police he played for Plymouth City Police, Royal New Zealand Police and more recently Torbay Police. Whilst remaining active he has turned his playing experience into managerial skills by managing two fantasy football teams. His favoured position is right midfield.

Seg Zulhayir

He started playing football competitively at the age of 11 playing right back for Galmpton under 12s.  He  moved onto senior football in 1995 playing for Torquay CIS with the infamous Alan Slough (he used to play for Fulham with the likes of George Best ). He then left for university in 1997 and played for two local teams in Bournemouth switching positions to right wing and then striker, before returning to Galmpton United in 2002.  He transferred to Babbacombe Corinthians two seasons later and is currently playing for their 2nd team in the South Devon League, Division 5.