Truro City boss Lee Hodges admitted that he fears yesterday's away trip to Chelmsford City could be the club's last if they fail to find a new owner by the October 11th deadline set by the Football Conference.
Should the White Tigers will be expelled from the Blue Square South if a new owner is not found by that date and former Truro manager Steve Massey, who was in charge at Treyew Road between 2004 and 2006, has already declared an interest in buying the club.
Many players have already left Treyew Road and the remainder of Hodges' squad could be set to leave after Tuesday's game with Bath City.
"I'm still keeping my fingers crossed, holding out for that phone call that someone wants to buy the club and we'll have something to look forward to." said Hodges.
The White Tigers were beaten 3-2 yesterday by Chelmsford after making the 334 mile round trip to Essex yesterday after setting off from Truro in the early hours as they couldn't afford an overnight stay.
Sunday 30 September 2012
Thursday 27 September 2012
JOHN BOND REMEMBERED
During Frank O'Farrell's first spell as manager of Torquay United between 1965 and 1968, he raised the bar on everything that had been done before or since at Plainmoor and John Bond played a part in that success.
O'Farrell used his contacts with his former club, West Ham, to good effect to bring a number of players to Plainmoor from Upton Park, which included John, Ken Brown, Bill Kitchener, Tony Scott and John Smith.
John became the first of these signings to arrive at Plainmoor when he made his debut in a 4-3 home win over Bradford City on January 26th 1966.
Only 18 months earlier, Bond had been part of the West Ham side that won the 1964 FA Cup final at Wembley, where his teammates included future World Cup winners Bobby Moore and Geoff Hurst.
Earlier in his career with the Hammers, he had been a teammate of O'Farrell's and a member of the West Ham Academy, which spawned a number of future managers, including Malcolm Allison and Dave Sexton.
He went on make a further 19 appearances for United as they won promotion from Division Four in the 1965-66 season, which was their second promotion to date.
John remained at Plainmoor until 1969, during which time he helped the Gulls to establish themselves in what is now League One and to record their highest ever league finish of 4th in the 'old' Third Division in the 1967-68.
He also ran his own newsagents in the town, which went by the name of 'Bondy's Tuckshop'.
After leaving Plainmoor, John embarked on a managerial career which saw him take charge of Bournemouth, Norwich City, Manchester City, Burnley, Swansea City, Birmingham City and Shrewsbury Town.
The highlights of his career in the dug out included taking Norwich to the 1975 League Cup final and leading Manchester City to the FA Cup final in 1981, which they lost to Tottenham Hotspur after a replay and one of the greatest cup final goals of all-time by Ricky Villa.
O'Farrell used his contacts with his former club, West Ham, to good effect to bring a number of players to Plainmoor from Upton Park, which included John, Ken Brown, Bill Kitchener, Tony Scott and John Smith.
John became the first of these signings to arrive at Plainmoor when he made his debut in a 4-3 home win over Bradford City on January 26th 1966.
Only 18 months earlier, Bond had been part of the West Ham side that won the 1964 FA Cup final at Wembley, where his teammates included future World Cup winners Bobby Moore and Geoff Hurst.
Earlier in his career with the Hammers, he had been a teammate of O'Farrell's and a member of the West Ham Academy, which spawned a number of future managers, including Malcolm Allison and Dave Sexton.
He went on make a further 19 appearances for United as they won promotion from Division Four in the 1965-66 season, which was their second promotion to date.
John remained at Plainmoor until 1969, during which time he helped the Gulls to establish themselves in what is now League One and to record their highest ever league finish of 4th in the 'old' Third Division in the 1967-68.
He also ran his own newsagents in the town, which went by the name of 'Bondy's Tuckshop'.
After leaving Plainmoor, John embarked on a managerial career which saw him take charge of Bournemouth, Norwich City, Manchester City, Burnley, Swansea City, Birmingham City and Shrewsbury Town.
The highlights of his career in the dug out included taking Norwich to the 1975 League Cup final and leading Manchester City to the FA Cup final in 1981, which they lost to Tottenham Hotspur after a replay and one of the greatest cup final goals of all-time by Ricky Villa.
Friday 21 September 2012
THE ROAD TO WEMBLEY 2013 #1
This weekend will see several of the South West's non-league side's taking part in the FA Cup second qualifying road with each side looking for success for different reasons.
Truro City, who recently entered Administration, will be looking to conjure up memories of happier times when they host AFC Totton in what will be a re-match of the 2007 FA Vase final, which the White Tigers won 3-1 at Wembley.
Many of the Truro side that featured that day including Jake Ash and Stewart Yetton and they will be looking to give the Treyew Road faithful something to smile about.
Newton Abbot based Buckland Athletic find themselves in unchartered territory as they play host to Bath City of Conference South.
However, Buckland, who gained entry to the Toolstation Western League Premier Division in the close season, after dominating the South West Peninsula League, will go into the tie in confident mood after beating Plymouth Parkway 5-1 in a replay in the previous round.
The match will also see Buckland's Dean Stevens face one of his former sides and the Devon side will be looking to ensure the Romans strikeforce of Charlie Griffin and Karl Guthrie, who have scored eight goals between them in Conference South this season, have a quiet afternoon.
Local pride will be a stake in Somerset as Frome Town of the Evo-Stik Southern Premier host Weston Super Mare of Conference South.
I would like to take this opportunity to wish all sides involved in the Cup the very best of luck.
Truro City, who recently entered Administration, will be looking to conjure up memories of happier times when they host AFC Totton in what will be a re-match of the 2007 FA Vase final, which the White Tigers won 3-1 at Wembley.
Many of the Truro side that featured that day including Jake Ash and Stewart Yetton and they will be looking to give the Treyew Road faithful something to smile about.
Newton Abbot based Buckland Athletic find themselves in unchartered territory as they play host to Bath City of Conference South.
However, Buckland, who gained entry to the Toolstation Western League Premier Division in the close season, after dominating the South West Peninsula League, will go into the tie in confident mood after beating Plymouth Parkway 5-1 in a replay in the previous round.
The match will also see Buckland's Dean Stevens face one of his former sides and the Devon side will be looking to ensure the Romans strikeforce of Charlie Griffin and Karl Guthrie, who have scored eight goals between them in Conference South this season, have a quiet afternoon.
Local pride will be a stake in Somerset as Frome Town of the Evo-Stik Southern Premier host Weston Super Mare of Conference South.
I would like to take this opportunity to wish all sides involved in the Cup the very best of luck.
GRECIANS RECEIVE TRIBUNAL WINDFALL
On top of their impressive start to their League Two campaign, which sees them lie third in the table, Exeter City have received another boost.
A Football League tribunal has declared that they will receive £275,000 from the departures of Troy Archibald-Henville and James Dunne who both left St James Park in the summer to join Swindon Town and Stevenage respectively.
As the duo were both under 24 and out of contract, the tribunal ruled that the Grecians should receive £200,000 for defender Archibald-Henville, who initially joined Exeter on loan from Tottenham Hotspur in January 2009 before signing permanently for a fee of around £50,000 a year later, and £75,000 for Dunne, who also joined the Grecians in 2009 following his release by Arsenal.
Should Swindon win promotion to the Championship, the Grecians will receive another £40,000 and another £100,000 if the Robins reach the Premiership in the deal for Archibald-Henville.
Exeter will also be entitled to an extra £20,000 when Archibald-Henville reaches the 15, 30, 45 and 60 games for the Robins and extra payments of £25,000 when Dunne plays 25 and 50 games for Stevenage.
A Football League tribunal has declared that they will receive £275,000 from the departures of Troy Archibald-Henville and James Dunne who both left St James Park in the summer to join Swindon Town and Stevenage respectively.
As the duo were both under 24 and out of contract, the tribunal ruled that the Grecians should receive £200,000 for defender Archibald-Henville, who initially joined Exeter on loan from Tottenham Hotspur in January 2009 before signing permanently for a fee of around £50,000 a year later, and £75,000 for Dunne, who also joined the Grecians in 2009 following his release by Arsenal.
Should Swindon win promotion to the Championship, the Grecians will receive another £40,000 and another £100,000 if the Robins reach the Premiership in the deal for Archibald-Henville.
Exeter will also be entitled to an extra £20,000 when Archibald-Henville reaches the 15, 30, 45 and 60 games for the Robins and extra payments of £25,000 when Dunne plays 25 and 50 games for Stevenage.
Saturday 8 September 2012
GULLS GET GLOVERS, WHILST THE PILGRIMS FACE THE SHOTS
As a reward for defeating Bristol Rovers in the opening round of the Johnstone's Paint Trophy, Yeovil Town face another local tie as they travel to Torquay United.
The Glovers have met the Gulls once in the competition in the 2004-05 season. Torquay won the tie 4-3 with Bayo Akinfenwa netting a brace.
Plymouth Argyle, who like Torquay, also received a bye into the second round, host Aldershot Town in what will be the third meeting between the two sides in the current calendar year.
The Pilgrims won the first meeting 1-0 on Easter Monday with Burnley loanee Alex MacDonald, who recently returned to Home Park for a second loan spell, scoring the game's decisive goal.
Their most recent meeting came on the opening day of the Npower League Two campaign, which Aldershot won 2-0.
The Glovers have met the Gulls once in the competition in the 2004-05 season. Torquay won the tie 4-3 with Bayo Akinfenwa netting a brace.
Plymouth Argyle, who like Torquay, also received a bye into the second round, host Aldershot Town in what will be the third meeting between the two sides in the current calendar year.
The Pilgrims won the first meeting 1-0 on Easter Monday with Burnley loanee Alex MacDonald, who recently returned to Home Park for a second loan spell, scoring the game's decisive goal.
Their most recent meeting came on the opening day of the Npower League Two campaign, which Aldershot won 2-0.
THE DEVON MINI-LEAGUE # ROUND 1
The first Devon derby of the season saw Torquay United and Plymouth Argyle share the spoils in a goalless draw.
In the first half, the Argyle backline had to be at their very best as Ian Morris and Lee Mansell both went close for the Gulls and Danny Stevens, who was making his first start of the season for the hosts, also tested the Pilgrims defence.
Argyle also carved out a chance of their own in the opening 45 minutes as Robbie Williams forced a superb save from Michael Poke from a free-kick on 40 minutes.
The Pilgrims made a strong start to the second half and Poke had to be at his best to deny Warren Feeney in the 58th minute when he turned a headed effort from the Northern Ireland striker behind for a corner.
Moments later, Conor Hourihane went close for the Pilgrims as they enjoyed the better of the second period.
Billy Bodin came close to snatching a late winner for Torquay in the 89th minute when his goal bound shot was blocked by Durrell Berry as both sides settled for a point apiece.
The next Devon derby action will be taking place in December with three matches in the space of a fortnight as the Pilgrims travel to St James Park to face Exeter City on December 15th.
A week later, the Grecians make the trip to Plainmoor, four days ahead of the re-match between the Gulls and the Pilgrims on Boxing Day.
In the first half, the Argyle backline had to be at their very best as Ian Morris and Lee Mansell both went close for the Gulls and Danny Stevens, who was making his first start of the season for the hosts, also tested the Pilgrims defence.
Argyle also carved out a chance of their own in the opening 45 minutes as Robbie Williams forced a superb save from Michael Poke from a free-kick on 40 minutes.
The Pilgrims made a strong start to the second half and Poke had to be at his best to deny Warren Feeney in the 58th minute when he turned a headed effort from the Northern Ireland striker behind for a corner.
Moments later, Conor Hourihane went close for the Pilgrims as they enjoyed the better of the second period.
Billy Bodin came close to snatching a late winner for Torquay in the 89th minute when his goal bound shot was blocked by Durrell Berry as both sides settled for a point apiece.
The next Devon derby action will be taking place in December with three matches in the space of a fortnight as the Pilgrims travel to St James Park to face Exeter City on December 15th.
A week later, the Grecians make the trip to Plainmoor, four days ahead of the re-match between the Gulls and the Pilgrims on Boxing Day.
Friday 7 September 2012
TRURO LOSE TEN POINTS
Following the announcement that they would be filing for Administration, Truro City have been deducted ten points, which sees them sink to the bottom of Blue Square Bet South.
The adjustment sees the White Tigers prop up the table with minus two points in the wake of the news that Kate Breeze, of law firm Walsh Taylor, has been appointed as the club's Administrator.
This comes following the news that Truro have seen their hearing for an unpaid tax bill, which was due to be heard on Monday, has been adjourned for a fortnight.
The adjustment sees the White Tigers prop up the table with minus two points in the wake of the news that Kate Breeze, of law firm Walsh Taylor, has been appointed as the club's Administrator.
This comes following the news that Truro have seen their hearing for an unpaid tax bill, which was due to be heard on Monday, has been adjourned for a fortnight.
DAVE SMITH- THE CIDER MAN IN PROFILE
Ahead of Saturday’s first Devon
derby of the 2012-13 campaign between Torquay United and Plymouth Argyle, we
will now take a look at the career of Dave Smith, a man who served both clubs
as manager with distinction.
Scotsman Dave Smith’s affinity with the West Country began
in 1984 when he was appointed as manager of Plymouth Argyle as successor to
Johnny Hore.
Following brief spells as a player with Burnley, Brighton
and Hove Albion and Bristol City , Smith had first entered management in 1974 when
he took charge of Mansfield
Town
Smith also guided the Stags to the Quarter Finals of the
League Cup and the Semi-Finals of the Anglo-Scottish Cup.
He later moved onto Southend United where he won two further
promotions from the fourth Division in 1978 and 1981.
Smith remained with the Shrimpers until 1983 when he left
following a takeover and spent the next year selling insurance when he returned
to the football management to take charge of the Pilgrims.
Following his appointment at Home Park
In his first full season in charge, the 1985-86 campaign, Smith
led the Pilgrims to automatic promotion from the ‘old’ Third Division, with a
second-placed finish in the table, which was clinched with a 4-0 win over Bristol City
A major factor in seeing them over the line in the season
was the re-signing of Tommy Tynan, initially on loan, from Rotherham United.
The deal was made permanent at the end of the season as Tynan went on to find
the back of the net on a regular basis for Argyle for the next few seasons.
After clinching their return to the second tier of English
football for the first time since 1977, the Pilgrims went from strength to
strength under Smith as they finished 7th in the ‘old’ Second
Division, Championship in modern day terms, in the 1986-87 season, which
remains the Pilgrims’ highest post-war league finish to date.
His achievements whilst at Argyle earned him the nickname of
‘the Ciderman’, as he became one of the Pilgrims’ most popular managers of
modern times.
There was also genuine belief amongst the Home Park
However, it wasn’t to be as Smith received an offer that he
couldn’t refuse as he left Home Park in 1988 to manage Dundee .
His spell at Dens Park would last for seven months before he made his
return to Devon when he was appointed as
manager of Torquay United in October 1989.
At the time of his arrival at Plainmoor, the Gulls were 23rd
in the ‘old’ Division Four after Cyril Knowles had resigned following a disagreement
with Chairman Lew Pope.
Nevertheless, Smith managed to stabilise Torquay and
eventually guided them to a 15th place finish in the table and led
them to the fourth round of the FA Cup. They caused a memorable upset in the third
round as they recorded a 1-0 win over West Ham United.
The following season, Smith set about building a side that
would be capable of challenging for promotion and, with money made available to
him by new Chairman Mike Bateson, he put his wealth of contacts to good use to
attract new faces to Plainmoor.
One of his first signings was former Newcastle United
defender Wes Saunders, who he paid his former club, Dundee ,
£60,000 for.
This was followed by the signings of Tommy Tynan and Peter
Whiston after they were released by the Pilgrims.
Once the campaign got under way, the Gulls got off to a
flying start and were unbeaten in their opening 14 league games of the season,
which saw them lead Division Four.
One of the key factors in this impressive run of form was
the goals of Tynan. The veteran front man proved he hadn’t lost the knack of
finding the back of the net as he scored eight goals during this sequence,
including his 300th career goal in a 3-0 win over Carlisle United on
October 27th 1990.
However, the second half of the campaign saw a number of
inconsistencies creep into their form and by April, the Gulls had dropped into
the bottom half of the table, which prompted Dave Smith to resign and retire
from football management for good.
His successor, John Impey, eventually led Torquay to promotion, via the Play-Offs as they defeated Blackpool 5-4 on penalties after drawing 2-2 in normal time, with the team which Smith had assembled.
His successor, John Impey, eventually led Torquay to promotion, via the Play-Offs as they defeated Blackpool 5-4 on penalties after drawing 2-2 in normal time, with the team which Smith had assembled.
Smith almost returned to the Home Park
In recent years, he has been running a highly successful
soccer school in the Plymouth
Wednesday 5 September 2012
PAINT IT GREEN AND WHITE
Yeovil Town are firmly on the road to Wembley after they defeated Bristol Rovers in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy to join Torquay United and Plymouth Argyle in the next stage of the competition.
A brace from Ed Upson get the Glovers on their way before he turned provider in the 90th minute to set up Sam Foley for his first goal since his summer move from Newport County.
They were also reduced to ten men when Jamie McAllister received a straight red card in the 77th minute.
The Glovers will now join Torquay and Plymouth in the next stage of the competition after they both received byes.
However, Exeter City, Southern Area finalists in 2011, bowed out of the Trophy after they were beaten on penalites 4-3 by Aldershot Town.
A brace from Ed Upson get the Glovers on their way before he turned provider in the 90th minute to set up Sam Foley for his first goal since his summer move from Newport County.
They were also reduced to ten men when Jamie McAllister received a straight red card in the 77th minute.
The Glovers will now join Torquay and Plymouth in the next stage of the competition after they both received byes.
However, Exeter City, Southern Area finalists in 2011, bowed out of the Trophy after they were beaten on penalites 4-3 by Aldershot Town.
Sunday 2 September 2012
A YELLOW PRODUCTION LINE
Waiting for Torquay United youth team players making their full debuts for the Gulls, it seems, is like waiting for buses, you spend a long time waiting for one and then two come along at once.
Following Niall Thompson's full debut for Torquay against Rochdale last week, the first full debut by a Gulls youth product since Jimmy Benefield in 2003, Kirtys MacKenzie has also made the step up from youth graduate to first team debutante.
He marked his first start for Torquay against Port Vale with an assured showing at centre back.
The development of the pair is a testament to the hard work of the youth development department at Plainmoor, now headed by Geoff Harrop, since it was relaunched in 2007 after originally being closed down by former Chairman Mike Bateson in 2004.
However, the real hard work for both Thompson and MacKenzie starts now.
One test of the real strength of youth development scheme at any football is not on whether it is able to produce players who generate big transfer fees, it's whether it can unearth players who can go on to become regulars in the first team.
The last two players to progress from the Plainmoor youth ranks in recent times and then went on to make over 100 appearances for the Gulls' first XI were Matt Hockley (2000-2008) and Steve Tully (1997-2002).
Both of the aforementioned players are still playing, Hockley for Bideford in the Evo-Stik Southern Premier) and Tully for Exeter City in Npower League Two, but before them you have to go back to Tony Bedeau (1995-2006 & 2007-2008) and Wayne Thomas (1995-2000) to find former youth team graduates who had become first team regulars.
Before their emergence, you also had the likes of Darren Moore, Chris Curran and Duane Darby playing regularly in the first team and then there was also Lee Sharpe, who made 19 appearances in the 1987-88 season before he was whisked off to Old Trafford by Sir Alex Ferguson.
It is also worth noting that players such as Garry Monk, Matthew Gregg, Luke Guttridge and Mike Williamson who had had short spells with the Gulls before moving on to other clubs after coming through the club's youth set up.
Questions will asked about why the Gulls youth system had stopped unearthing players worthy enough of first team football such as coaching and scouting of players.
One factor could be attributed to the departure of Chief Scout John James to Plymouth Argyle in the late 1990's.
It is no coincidence that during his time at Home Park, James identified a number of young players from across the South West, who have featured in the Pilgrims first team, including Brixham born Dan Gosling, who has since appeared for Everton and Newcastle United.
The fact that Gosling moved from Home Park to Everton for £2.5million in January 2008 is one that many of the Plainmoor faithful would find quite frustrating given that Gosling grew up virtually on the Gulls' doorstep and played local youth football in and around the Bay.
However, now the Plainmoor youth department is now back up and running and for messrs Thompson, MacKenzie et al there is an opportunity to progress with their careers as footballers which wouldn't have been available to them several years ago.
Following Niall Thompson's full debut for Torquay against Rochdale last week, the first full debut by a Gulls youth product since Jimmy Benefield in 2003, Kirtys MacKenzie has also made the step up from youth graduate to first team debutante.
He marked his first start for Torquay against Port Vale with an assured showing at centre back.
The development of the pair is a testament to the hard work of the youth development department at Plainmoor, now headed by Geoff Harrop, since it was relaunched in 2007 after originally being closed down by former Chairman Mike Bateson in 2004.
However, the real hard work for both Thompson and MacKenzie starts now.
One test of the real strength of youth development scheme at any football is not on whether it is able to produce players who generate big transfer fees, it's whether it can unearth players who can go on to become regulars in the first team.
The last two players to progress from the Plainmoor youth ranks in recent times and then went on to make over 100 appearances for the Gulls' first XI were Matt Hockley (2000-2008) and Steve Tully (1997-2002).
Both of the aforementioned players are still playing, Hockley for Bideford in the Evo-Stik Southern Premier) and Tully for Exeter City in Npower League Two, but before them you have to go back to Tony Bedeau (1995-2006 & 2007-2008) and Wayne Thomas (1995-2000) to find former youth team graduates who had become first team regulars.
Before their emergence, you also had the likes of Darren Moore, Chris Curran and Duane Darby playing regularly in the first team and then there was also Lee Sharpe, who made 19 appearances in the 1987-88 season before he was whisked off to Old Trafford by Sir Alex Ferguson.
It is also worth noting that players such as Garry Monk, Matthew Gregg, Luke Guttridge and Mike Williamson who had had short spells with the Gulls before moving on to other clubs after coming through the club's youth set up.
Questions will asked about why the Gulls youth system had stopped unearthing players worthy enough of first team football such as coaching and scouting of players.
One factor could be attributed to the departure of Chief Scout John James to Plymouth Argyle in the late 1990's.
It is no coincidence that during his time at Home Park, James identified a number of young players from across the South West, who have featured in the Pilgrims first team, including Brixham born Dan Gosling, who has since appeared for Everton and Newcastle United.
The fact that Gosling moved from Home Park to Everton for £2.5million in January 2008 is one that many of the Plainmoor faithful would find quite frustrating given that Gosling grew up virtually on the Gulls' doorstep and played local youth football in and around the Bay.
However, now the Plainmoor youth department is now back up and running and for messrs Thompson, MacKenzie et al there is an opportunity to progress with their careers as footballers which wouldn't have been available to them several years ago.
Saturday 1 September 2012
TRURO RECORD WIN IN FACE OF ADVERSITY
In what could possibly be their last ever fixture in Conference South, Truro City registered a win against Boreham Wood at Treyew Road.
The White Tigers, who's future is now looking extremely uncertain following the news that they are filing for Administration yesterday, took the lead in the 27th minute through club record goal scorer Stewart Yetton.
On the stroke of half-time, Truro were reduced to ten men and visitors to nine when Boreham Wood's Ben Nunn committed a rash challenge on Truro youngster Cody Cooke, which was then followed by the double dismissal of City skipper Jake Ash and Boreham Wood's Charlie O'Loughlin, following a tussle between the two players.
Full-back Ben Williams doubled Truro's lead in the second half when he headed home an Adam Kelly cross before the visitors were reduced to eight men after Luke Garrard received his marching orders for an altercation with Yetton.
The drama now switches from the pitch to the High Court as Truro face a winding up order over an unpaid tax bill of £15,000.
This announcement was made by Chairman Chris Webb, who recently took over the role after Kevin Heaney stood down from the position after he was declared bankrupt by Truro County Court a week ago.
The White Tigers, who's future is now looking extremely uncertain following the news that they are filing for Administration yesterday, took the lead in the 27th minute through club record goal scorer Stewart Yetton.
On the stroke of half-time, Truro were reduced to ten men and visitors to nine when Boreham Wood's Ben Nunn committed a rash challenge on Truro youngster Cody Cooke, which was then followed by the double dismissal of City skipper Jake Ash and Boreham Wood's Charlie O'Loughlin, following a tussle between the two players.
Full-back Ben Williams doubled Truro's lead in the second half when he headed home an Adam Kelly cross before the visitors were reduced to eight men after Luke Garrard received his marching orders for an altercation with Yetton.
The drama now switches from the pitch to the High Court as Truro face a winding up order over an unpaid tax bill of £15,000.
This announcement was made by Chairman Chris Webb, who recently took over the role after Kevin Heaney stood down from the position after he was declared bankrupt by Truro County Court a week ago.
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