As we say goodbye to 2012 and hello to 2013, we will now look back at a number of games from the past year with significant links with South West Football.
January 2nd 2012 Plymouth Argyle 1 Torquay United 2 Npower League Two
For the first time since 1971, Torquay United completed the double over neighbours Plymouth Argyle.
After winning at Plainmoor in a Eunan O'Kane inspired 3-1 victory, the Gulls completed their second victory over the Pilgrims by winning 2-1 at Home Park.
Billy Bodin and Lee Mansell both found the net for the visitors before Luke Young pulled a goal back for Argyle.
February 26th 2012 Cardiff City 2 Liverpool 2 (3-2 to Liverpool on penalties) Carling Cup Final
Following his move to Cardiff City from Plymouth Argyle in the summer of 2012 would have predicted that Joe Mason would have lined up against Liverpool in a Carling Cup final, nevermind score the opening goal of the contest.
However, that is exactly what the Plymouth-born Republic of Ireland Under-21 international did when he latched onto a pass from Kenny Miller and coolly slotted the ball past Liverpool keeper Pepe Reina in the 19th minute of the match.
In doing so. Joe became the first former Pilgrims player to scored in a major final since Mike Trebilcock netted twice for Everton in the 1966 FA Cup final.
April 21st 2012 Plymouth Argyle 1 Oxford United 1 Npower League Two
When Carl Fletcher replaced Peter Reid as manager of Plymouth Argyle, the Pilgrims only had one point to their name after ten games and were still in Administration.
By the end of April, Argyle had been taken over by James Brent and secured their Football League status with a point against Oxford United at Home Park.
The Pilgrims were in front after 80 seconds through a free-kick from Robbie Williams before Asa Hall levelled for the U's on 36 minutes as Argyle got the point they needed to guarantee their safety.
August 25th 2012 Torquay United 4 Rochdale 2 Npower League Two
As well as being Torquay's first win of the 2012-13 campaign, their victory over Rochdale was also significant as it saw the full debut of teenage winger Niall Thompson and the debut of Nathan Craig.
Both players both arrived at Plainmoor via very different routes, Thompson emerged from the club's new, revamped youth system, whilst Craig came to Plainmoor from North Wales after spells with Everton, where he made an appearance in the Europa League, and Caernarfon Town whom he joined the Gulls from.
The duo could have a big part to play for Torquay in the next few years.
November 14th 2012 Sweden 4 England 2 International Friendly
England's recent friendly against Sweden is always likely to be remembered for the goals scored for Sweden by Zlatan Ibrahamovic, but it also marked the England debut of former Yeovil Town loanee Steven Caulker.
Three years earlier, Caulker joined the Glovers on a youth loan from his current club Tottenham Hotspur and then went on to become a regular at Huish Park and virtually swept the board at the club's end of season Player of the Year awards in the 2009-10 campaign.
His footballing education then continued with loans at Bristol City and Swansea City and he also earned a call-up to Stuart Pearce's England Under-21 squad before he was selected for the Team GB squad at this summer's Olympic games.
He was an ever-present for Team GB as they reached the Quarter Finals of the competition and his performances caught the eye of England manager Roy Hodgson who handed his first start against Sweden in Stockholm.
As well as making his debut in the match, he also found the target when, in the 38th minute, he headed home a free-kick from Steven Gerrard to give England a 2-1 lead, which they held until he was substituted on 74 minutes, after which it became 'the Ibrahamovic show'.
