Sean & Sheena Melhuish with United Youth Manager Matt Williams

Torquay United have today launched the future of the club. A new group of Youth Trainee's have been unveiled this afternoon as well as a sponsor for the Youth Department in Sean Melhuish and his company City Link Builders Ltd.

This is a massive step for Torquay United as we endeavour to supply the first team with our own home grown talent. Chief Executive Colin Lee was first to speak at today's press conference-'The youth set-up was always going to be a major part of the club but trying to fund that area as well as run a football club and first team worthy of Torquay United was going to be difficult to do straight away. Today is about Sean Melhuish and City Link Builders who have become our sponsor of youth and without the financial support that Sean and his company have put in I can assure you that this would never have happened so quickly. This is a fantastic day for Torquay United, it's a day that has come a lot quicker than we anticipated and we thank Sean for his input.

'We are sure that this relationship will go on for a long time because none of us have entered into this on a short term arrangement.

'We want this to be a long term project and an avenue to produce players for the first team. The success of any youth set-up is how many players you can eventually get into your first team and we are very, very determined to do that.'

Gulls Chairman Alex Rowe was keen to stress that the youth department was always high on the consortium's list of priorities-'We were determined that we would have a youth set-up and develop youth in the wider sense of the word as quickly as we could.

'It is a matter of great pride as a football club that we can make this announcement today but we could not have done it without Sean and Sheena's help along with City Link Builders.'

Sean Melhuish from City Link Builders emphasized his wish that the youth team are given every opportunity at Torquay United-'I am honoured to be here today for this new beginning at Plainmoor. I know that Colin Lee and the Board of Directors considered this one of the priorities in the running of the football club. When Colin offered me the chance to be financially involved in the new Youth scheme, I jumped at the chance. As a fan of the Youth system I know that this is an integral part of the football club.

'Most importantly it gives hope to local players that one day they may play for their beloved club. I'm delighted for Paul Buckle who has shown so much energy and commitment to our club over the last twelve months and now with the inception of the Youth system I'm sure his input will be greatly appreciated. I cannot wait for the day where Paul plays a Torquay United Youth player in his first team.'