Former Exeter City stalwart Dean Moxey has just joined professional football's exclusive 600-Game Club, and the achievement has prompted Torquay United manager Gary Johnson to stress how much he values the 35-year-old defender.

Moxey's eventful career has included two spells with his hometown Grecians (309 appearances), as well as stints with Derby County and Crystal Palace, where he played a season in the Premier League, plus Bolton Wanderers and now Torquay.

His transfer fees have totalled nearly £1 million and his 'CV' also includes four promotions.

He moved to the Gulls in the summer of 2020 and will be 36 on January 14, but a series of recent polished performances are not those of a man with retirement on his mind.

Moxey may not be the most demonstrative of players on match days, but Johnson said: "He's a very big influential character, in training and in the dressing-room.

"Dean won't scream and shout at people in front of a crowd, but he'll say what he thinks in training and he'll always pull somebody aside and have a quiet word with them."

Although he was once a left midfielder with an eye for goal - he scored 24 in his first spell at St James Park - Moxey became better known as a left-back, albeit an attacking one.

He has always been very capable at left centre-back, where he played towards the end of his second spell at Exeter, and since Johnson has moved him there this season, it has looked an ideal role for him.

He has a classy left foot, can tackle, head the ball, his tactical awareness often keeps him a step ahead of opposing forwards and, of course, he has a dangerous long throw.

"Dean will play anywhere you ask him to play," said Johnson.

"He certainly doesn't mind playing as a centre-back - he's decent in the air, he reads the game so well and he's got the pace of lads like Joe (Lewis), Ben (Wynter) and young Dan Martin around him.

"He's a very big player for us these days."

Midweek Herald: Exeter City Mascot walks out with Dean Moxey of Exeter City during the Sky Bet League 2 match between Exeter City and Walsall at St James Park Exeter, Devon on Saturday 21 Dec - PHOTO: Cameron Geran/PPAUKExeter City Mascot walks out with Dean Moxey of Exeter City during the Sky Bet League 2 match between Exeter City and Walsall at St James Park Exeter, Devon on Saturday 21 Dec - PHOTO: Cameron Geran/PPAUK (Image: Pinnacle Photo Agency Ltd)

Midweek Herald: Dean Moxey of Torquay United during the National League Match between Yeovil Town and Torquay United at Huish Park on 2 Jan, 2022 in Yeovil, England (Photo by Tom Sandberg/PPAUK)Dean Moxey of Torquay United during the National League Match between Yeovil Town and Torquay United at Huish Park on 2 Jan, 2022 in Yeovil, England (Photo by Tom Sandberg/PPAUK) (Image: Pinnacle Photo Agency Ltd)