Planet Swans ArchivesMonk and Neil Aggett were trainees at Plainmoor back in the 1990s and have remained close friends since although their careers have taken vastly different paths. Whilst Monk is the Captain of a League One winning side and ready for an assault on the Championship, Aggett is a fitness coach who works at the Riviera fitness centre in Torquay.
But it was work with Aggett last season which got Monk back to where he was having been concerned twelve months ago that his deal was up and he had missed most of the previous season through injury – and had to watch a change in management from the sidelines.
Speaking in the local Torquay paper, Monk said "I didn't take a holiday at all last year – I just came down to Torquay and worked all summer with Neil.
"I had to make sure my knee was right, and I couldn't have done that without the work I did with Neil. He was a big help.
"I won promotion and lost in a Play-Off final with them, but that kind of thing is easily forgotten in football," he said.
"But I can't blame Swansea – it was such a serious injury that the offer then was what I expected.
"And if I wasn't playing 25 games, I wouldn't have been happy at the club anyway.
"I have always been confident in my ability, and I've always been strong mentally.
"I'm probably even stronger now. In a way, it's been a good thing to have done."
Monk is also keeping a close eye on his home town team's results and they have been through two heart breaks in recent weeks. First there was defeat in the Conference play offs against local rivals Exeter and then a 1-0 defeat in last Saturday's FA Trophy final against Ebbsfleet "I was gutted when they lost in the Play-Offs to Exeter," said Garry.
"We lost in the Play-Offs to Barnsley, and it mentally shatters you.
"I feared for them in the Trophy Final, because of what they went through against Exeter.
"I watched it on TV in Cyprus, where we were having a break. It was really disappointing.
"But it's great to see that the club is so much better now, and I hope they get back into the League next season."
And Monk will be back in Torquay this summer "I love coming home and chilling out," he said.
"I've always lived by the sea, and I still do in Swansea, but there's nowhere like home."
And last summer that sentiment was spot on to our gain.
