BUCKLE PREPARED ME FOR THE RIDE!

EVEN one of the most feared strikers outside the Football League needs an arm around the shoulder from time to time.

- Andy Mitchell

Tim Sills spent a good chunk of his career being sought after by Non-League’s biggest hitters and is steadily building a reputation in the dugout having collected two league titles in less than six years with Hamworthy United and Wimborne Town.

After making his name with Camberley Town, Basingstoke Town and Kingstonian, he really shot to prominence in the top tier with Aldershot Town, helping Terry Brown's men to the play-off final.

Tough stints at Oxford United and Hereford United followed before a renaissance under his greatest gaffer at Torquay United, sharing two Wembley trips, the second of which saw the Gulls soar back to League status.

WHO WAS YOUR GREATEST GAFFER AND WHY?

I would go with Paul Buckle. He really built me up at a time when I was low on confidence and made me fall in love with football again.

He gave me the platform to have probably the best two-and-a-half years of my career at Torquay and in terms of man management he was the best gaffer I had.

I needed that building up and arm around the shoulder at the time.

WHAT ARE YOUR TOP MEMORIES OF PLAYING UNDER PAUL?

The team was struggling at the start of the second season and so was I. In the first few games I had only scored one or two and ended up getting dropped for a game at home to Northwich Victoria. I wasn't happy about it but I couldn't argue too much.