THE NATIONAL LEAGUE SOUTH TITLE RACE REMAINS AS INTRIGUING AS EVER

 As the 2024-25 National League South title race enters its final furlong, the identity of the eventual winner may not be revealed until the final day. 

With five games to go, Torquay United manager Paul Wotton is predicting that the season could go down to the last five minutes of the final game. Nevertheless, Wotton has never mentioned the 'p' word, or the 'c' word over the course of the campaign. I'll let you make your own mind up what those two words are, but I'll give you a hint that it's a policy that Wotton's former boss Paul Sturrock followed during the 2001-02 season during his first spell as Plymouth Argyle manager, which, incidentally, ended very successfully for the Pilgrims. 

Wotton has always made it clear that he never looks further ahead than the next game, and a policy of only controlling what he has control over is probably a sensible one at this moment in time. Nevertheless, with a trip to Hemel Hempstead Town on the final day of the season for United, Wotton's prediction of the campaign being decided in its last five minutes would be keeping with the Gulls' history, which includes several 'final-day deciders' in the South East of England. 

The only one of the Gulls' fellow promotion contenders that they still to have face are Truro City, who they travel to on Good Friday; the same day that league leaders Worthing travel to Eastbourne Borough. The league had been seen as Worthing's to lose, and - in addition to Eastbourne - they still have to face Truro City (away) and Dorking Wanderers (home). They also have the lowest goal difference of the top eight, which could yet prove to be an achilles heel for them. 

Eastbourne and Truro are managed by Adam Murray and John Askey, who both have experience of winning promotions from National League North, Murray with AFC Fylde (2022-23) and Askey with York City (2021-22), and should they achieve another one with the South, it would represent an historic feat. For Askey, it would represent a treble for him, as he also has a promotion from the National League with Macclesfield Town (2017-18) to his name.

As far as the race for the play-offs goes, Weston Super Mare are very much a team to keep an eye on, even though they currently sit outside the top seven. If they can maintain the form that has seen them win five out of their last nine, they look set to be part of the shake-up.  

For all of those interested, be it a vested one or a casual one, the best advice I can give is to 'strap yourself in and enjoy the ride!'

 

WHAT THE GULLS DID NEXT

The story of how Torquay United made the most of their bizarre escape from relegation and beyond. 

On May 9, 1987, Torquay United drew 2-2 with Crewe Alexandra to retain their Football League status.

This was no ordinary game as the Gulls went into the game as one of three teams who were in danger being relegated from the first ever to be automatically relegated from the Football League, along with Lincoln City and Burnley.

The final round of Division Four fixtures would also see Burnley play host Leyton Orient whilst Lincoln entertained Swansea City. Such was the level of interest generated in East Lancashire that a crowd of 15,000 poured into Turf Moor causing kick off to be delayed by 15 minutes.

At half-time, the Gulls trailed 2-0 against a Crewe side, who contained two future England internationals in David Platt and Geoff Thomas. However, Jim McNichol pulled a goal back in the second half through a free kick, which proved to be a timely boost as Burnley had taken the lead against Orient through Neil Grewcock.

Meanwhile at Sincil Bank, Lincoln were losing to Swansea, thanks to a strike from veteran Scottish midfielder Tommy Hutchinson, which meant an equaliser was now a necessity for United.

The Gulls then received an unlikely lifeline when a police dog named Bryn broke free from his handler, PC John Harris, and sunk his teeth into McNichol’s leg.

 “I was chasing the ball but the dog thought I was running straight at the policeman,” McNichol recalls. “The dog gave me a large bite in the top of my leg, it was a bit of a shock.”

McNichol was soon patched up and carried on and Paul Dobson equalised in the extra time which was added on whilst McNichol received treatment for his bite, which stopped United becoming the first club to be automatically relegated from the Football League, as Lincoln City – who had lost 2-0 Swansea City - went down instead (Burnley had avoided the drop by beating Leyton Orient).

However, far from being a stay of execution for United, it provided them with a shot at redemption as the subsequent seasons saw them enjoy one of the most successful spells in the club’s history.

In the following 1987-88 season, they narrowly missed out on promotion under the late Cyril Knowles; they also managed to beat Tottenham Hotspur, who included the likes of Ray Clemence, Gary Mabbutt, Ossie Ardiles and Chris Waddle amongst their ranks, 1-0 in the Littlewoods Cup with Derek ‘the Dude’ Dawkins scoring the winner.

The campaign was also notable for the emergence of a young Lee Sharpe, and striker Dave Caldwell recalls the way that Knowles helped to toughen up the young Sharpe, which Sharpe also detailed in his 2005 autobiography My Idea of Fun.

Caldwell said: “When Lee Sharpe first arrived at the club he was something of a one-trick pony. He used to go around in circles, but Cyril soon toughened him up.” After making 19 appearances and scoring three goals, Sharpe joined Manchester United for a fee of £185,000 – a record for a teenager at the time.

This was followed up with their first Wembley appearance in 1989 against Bolton Wanderers in the Sherpa Van Trophy final, after beating a Wolverhampton Wanderers side spearheaded by Steve Bull against the odds in the Southern Area final.

Then in the 1989-90 season, they claimed one of the greatest FA Cup scalps in their history when they beat West Ham United in the third round with teenage substitute Paul Hirons netting the game’s decisive goal. Left-back John Uzzell captained the Gulls on that day; an occasion that he remembers vividly.

“That was a great day,” said Uzzell.  “I still remember in the changing room before the game Dave Smith (the manager) got everyone in a circle and we started to chant: ‘We can, we will’ as loudly as we could – and then we went out and won 1-0.”

Over a year later, the Gulls won promotion through the Play-offs against Blackpool in 1991 – becoming the first side to win a Football League Play-off final on penalties. For midfielder Chris Myers, who re-joined the Gulls in the summer of 1990 after being released in 1988, winning promotion and scoring one of United’s five successful spot-kicks represented a dream come true.

“To take one of the penalties, the fifth one, was surreal. John Impey (the manager) asked me if I fancied taking one and I said yes, without thinking about what I had just agreed to!” said Myers.

“It seemed like ages to get to my penalty, but I was able to hit it hard into the corner with a little help from the keeper (Steve McIlhargy) who got a hand to it. Another boyhood dream achieved by scoring at Wembley.”

These events were followed by numerous highs and lows in the 1990s and the 2000s, including a return to Wembley in 1998 in the Division Three Play-offs, their final day relegation decider against Barnet in 2001, their first automatic promotion in 38 years under Leroy Rosenior in 2004, as well as their first ever relegation from the Football League in 2007 and subsequent return under Paul Buckle in 2009.

The book is on sale at https://torquayunitedahistoryin50.bigcartel.com/product/after-the-jaws-of-victory

An abridged version of this article appeared in Late Tackle Magazine Issue 97 March/April 2025. 

                                              

TALKING POINTS FROM TORQUAY UNITED VERSUS BATH CITY

 1. Cody Cooke the super sub against his former club. 

In a game that saw a number of players facing their former club, it was perhaps fitting that the winning goal would be scored by one of Torquay United's ex-Bath City contignent in the form of Cody Cooke. 

Cooke had entered their fray in place of Will Jenkins Davies in the 52nd minute to partner Offrande Zanzala. He then reacted quickest after Romans' keeper Harvey Wiles-Richards had failed to hold on to a powerful long range strike from Jordan Young on 67 minutes. 

His effort takes his tally for the season to 14, which makes him comfortably the Gulls' leading scorer. 

2. A strong defensive display. 

For the third time in four games, the Gulls kept a clean sheet and so effective was their display that goalkeeper James Hamon was never seriously tested, other than a long range shot from Alex Fisher. United's back four, which comprised of Finley Craske, Jordan Dyer, Sam Dreyer and Jay Foulston, successfully kept the Romans, who were very well organised. 

It also saw a number of intriguing battles between Sam Dreyer versus Alex Fisher and Finley Craske versus Ewan Clark. 

3. Jordan Young's creativity. 

 Especially in the second half, Jordan Young was United's most potent attacking threat and always looked as though he could make something happen. He also played a key role in United's goal, as it was his shot that parried by Bath keeper Harvey Wiles-Richards into the path of Cody Cooke who slotted home.

4. Only three points behind the league leaders. 

The National League South table remains as tight as ever, as their result against Bath moves the Gulls up to 5th in the table with 74 points, and they currently trail league leaders Worthing by three points. 

United are only seperated by fourth placed Dorking Wanderers on goal difference, with Truro City in second place on 76 points and Eastbourne Borough are third with 75. 

The upcoming Easter Bank Holiday games look set to be crucial in deciding the outcome of the 2024-25 campaign, as the Gulls travel to Truro City on Good Friday and Worthing travel to Eastbourne before hosting Dorking on Easter Monday. 

United had seven cup finals before, now that number is down to six.

5. Highest attendance of the season. 

The 5,205 that witnessed the Gulls' clash with the Romans was not only United's highest attendance of the season, it was also their second highest crowd in National League South ever. Only the crowd of 5,153 in the final home game of the 2018-19 campaign, when they received the National League South trophy, has surpassed today's attendance. 

On the same day in National League North, Scunthorpe United attracted a crowd of over 8,274 for their fixture with Chester FC which, like United's crowd, is quite incredible for the sixth tier of English football.

TORQUAY UNITED 1 BATH CITY 0

Cody Cooke proved to be a super sub for Torquay United, as he netted the winner against his former club Bath City to keep the Gulls’ promotion bid on track in front a season high crowd of 5,202.

The first chance of the game saw former Torquay striker Alex Fisher force a routine save from United keeper James Hamon with a shot from distance in the 10^th minute.

Four minutes later, the ball bounced off Matt Jay, following a scramble in the penalty area, and fell invitingly to the Gulls’ former Romans defender Jordan Dyer, who fired a shot across the face of goal.

On the half hour mark, United’s one-time Bath midfielder Dan Hayfield saw a long range effort deflected behind for a corner. From the resulting flag-kick from Jordan Young, Jay Foulston had a scuffed shot blocked.

In the second half, chances were few and far between for both sides until Hayfield had an angled shot that sailed wide in the 62^nd minute.

Five minutes later, the deadlock was broken when Young attempted an audacious strike from distance, which Romans’ keeper Harvey Wiles-Richards was unable to fully gather and sub Cooke reacted quickest to score his 14^th goal of the campaign.

On 70 minutes, Gulls’ striker Offrande Zanzala connected with a cross from Foulston before forcing a stunning save from Wiles-Richards, as United clinched all three points.

GULLS LOOKING FOR NON LEAGUE DAY INSPIRATION

 As well as celebrating Non League Day at Plainmoor when Bath City come to town, Torquay United will be looking to take another step towards a return to the National League

Last Saturday’s excellent 1-0 win at Dorking Wanderers helped to blow the National League South promotion race wide open once more, and another three points against the Romans this weekend will see hopes raised further that the Gulls can end their two-year exile from the top tier of non-league football. 

Their opponents are now managed by former Yeovil Town midfielder Darren Way, who like Gulls manager Paul Wotton hails from the city of Plymouth. Wotton also served under Way as a player during his time with the Glovers, as Way had taken on a coaching role which saw him work alongside the then Yeovil manager Terry Skiverton and his then assistant Nathan Jones. 

In addition to this, United's former Romans' trio of Jordan Dyer, Dan Hayfield and Cody Cooke are all set to feature at some point in the afternoon, whilst former Gulls' Ollie Tomlinson, Alex Fisher and Martin Horsell will likely appear in the Bath squad. Striker Brad Ash is currently on loan at Twerton Park, but won't feature as part of his loan agreement. 

Also, with Plymouth Argyle not in action due to the international break, a number of the 'Green Army' might be tempted to see former Pilgrims Finley Craske and Oscar Threlkeld, or check the progress of loanee Will Jenkins Davies. 

Exeter City are away to Lincoln City, so it will be interesting to see any of Grecians' contignent who aren't making the trip to Sincil Bank might decide to get a glimpse of former City skipper Matt Jay, as well as Jordan Dyer, Dan Hayfield or Dean Moxey.

 

FORMER YEOVIL LOANEE BURN HEADS HOME MAGPIES OPENER IN HISTORIC FINAL

 After being called up to the England squad for the first time ever, Dan Burn created another piece of personal history as he headed home Newcastle United's opening goal in the Carabao Cup victory over Liverpool, which ended the Magpies' 70 year wait for domestic silverware. 

However, it wasn't the first time that Burn had scored at Wembley, as he found the target for Yeovil Town in the 2013 League One Play-off final against Brentford - which ultimately proved to be decisive. 

Burn had started his career with Darlington in 2009, and earned himself a move to Fulham - one year after the Quakers had been relegated from the Football League. In September 2012, he joined the Glovers on loan under Gary Johnson in September, initially for a month; however, it would later be extended for the remainder of the 2012-13 season. 

The campaign saw Yeovil upset the odds to reach the League One Play-offs and were due to face a highly fancied Sheffield United side in the semi-finals. The Glovers lost the first leg with the Blades 1-0 at Bramall Lane before recording a major shock in the second leg at Huish Park to win 2-0 to reach the final. 

In the final Brentford lay in wait for Yeovil, and they raced into an early lead when Paddy Madden fired them in front in the sixth minute. Three minutes before half-time, Burn headed home a corner from Sam Foley to double the Glovers' lead. 

Harlee Dean equalised for the Bees in the second half, but Yeovil held on to win 2-1 and secure promotion to the Championship for the first time in their history. 

Burn joined Birmingham City on loan in the 2013-14 season and later had spells with Wigan Athletic and Brighton and Hove Albion before he signed for his boyhood heroes Newcastle in 2022 for a fee of £13million.

WHAT A DIFFERENCE A YEAR MAKES

 Almost a year ago, when covering Torquay United away at Tonbridge Angels for BBC Radio Devon summariser Gulls striker Martin Gritton summed up United's plight by saying that they had 'hit rock bottom - only to discover rock bottom had a basement.' 

The Gulls had not long been placed in Administration by former chairman and owner Clarke Osborne and following their 4-1 defeat to the Angels in Kent, commentator Harry Salvidge quipped that 'rock bottom has a basement, and the basement is flooding.' 

At the time, United had been hit with a ten-point deduction for filing for Administration, which was later followed by another one point deduction for an administrative error. However, thankfully a 2-1 win over Taunton Town in their penultimate league game of the campaign guaranteed their safety under the guidance of interim manager Aaron Downes - making their 5-0 win over Havant & Waterlooville on the final day of the season academic.

Thankfully, the Bryn Consortium, headed by co-chairman Michael Westcott and Mark Bowes-Cavanagh, became the Gulls' new owners and set about the repairing the damage, with the help of football advisor Neil Warnock and new manager Paul Wotton, of course, and now United are looking up, rather than down. 

At the time of writing, the Gulls recently returned from Tonbridge Angels' Longwell Stadium, this time with a 1-0 win, courtesy of Jordan Young's tenth goal of the season, as he found the back of the net after Matt Jay's initial shot bounced back off the post. The win helps to keep United on course for promotion, as they are currently sixth in a league which is incredibly tight. 

For Young. should the Gulls win promotion, it would be a second promotion from National League South for him, as it would for teammate Jay Foulston - the duo were both title winner's with Yeovil Town in 2023-24.  

In the wake of their victory over the Angels, United host Salisbury FC before heading to fellow promotion chasers Dorking Wanderers, as the 2024-25 campaign enters its final furlong. 

Hopefully come the end, we could all be saying that the clubs have climbed the staircase and are heading towards the penthouse suite of promotion to the National League and, in time, possibly even the Football League. 

What a difference the atmosphere was compared to a year ago.