Torquay slipped out of League 2 last season but have avoided the plunge into oblivion that has befallen other casualties. The Gulls have reached the Conference play-offs while manager Paul Buckle, who appeared at Wembley as a player for Colchester against Torquay, guided his team past another former Football League presence, York City, 2-1 in the semi-finals. Ebbsfleet's story has been even more remarkable: bumping along as Gravesend & Northfleet, first came a name change, second a takeover by MyFootballClub bringing 20,000 'owners' and a torrent of publicity. Victory over Conference champions Aldershot in the semis has helped, too. Though Fleet's new guardians have a theoretical input into team selection and tactics, don't doubt that it'll be Liam Daish firmly in charge here. Andrew Shields
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