A LASTING LEGACY

One legacy of Leroy Rosenior’s three-and-a-half year spell in charge of Torquay United – long before his infamously brief ten-minute stint in 2007- is the Launa Windows Stadium (Plainmoor in old money) faithful have had an expectation of attacking, passing football. 

It was a style of play that was characterised by midfield pass masters such as Alex Russell and Jason Fowler. This has meant that subsequent Gulls’ managers have almost been obliged to accommodate a Nicky Wroe, a Eunan O’Kane and, more recently, a Luke Young into their respective sides. 

However, Leroy didn’t transform the group of players that he inherited from Roy McFarland in 2002 into the promotion winners which they later became in the 2003-04 campaign overnight. 

In his first season in charge, the 2002-03 campaign, the former West Ham striker oversaw plenty free flowing and free scoring, attractive football. 

The Gulls scored 77 goals in all competitions, 71 of which came in the league, that included 31 from the strike partnership of Martin Gritton and David Graham who found the back of the net 16 and 15 times respectively.

Whilst scoring goals came easily to Leroy’s Gulls, conceding them at the other end proved to be an Achilles heel as they conceded 71 in the league and a further eight in cup competitions.

It was a flaw that ensured that Torquay finished the campaign on the periphery of the Division Three promotion race in 9^th place. 

Fast forward to the present day and Chris Hargreaves’s Gulls of the 2014-15 campaign are experiencing a similar headache. 

In the current Vanarama Conference season to date, Torquay are the joint-second highest scorers with 38 goals with second placed Grimsby Town – leaders Barnet are the highest scorers with 50. 

Nevertheless, due to the 29 goals that they have conceded, the Gulls find themselves in 10^th place in the league table with 32 points, four short of the Play-off zone. 

The conundrum facing Hargreaves now is finding a way of strengthening the defensive base behind his more attack-minded players such as Young, leading scorer Ryan Bowman and wide men Louis Briscoe and Toby Ajala. 

His recent addition of ex-Plymouth Argyle right-back Durrell Berry on non-contract terms is certainly a step in the right direction. 

After overseeing his first campaign in charge, Leroy swooped to bring Craig Taylor to Plainmoor on a permanent basis, following a successful loan spell from the Pilgrims, moved Matt Hockley into centre midfield to partner the more cultured Russell. He later brought in Brian McGlinchey as left-back from Argyle following a successful loan spell. 

The end result was that the Gulls won automatic promotion for the first time in 38 years and finding players of similar ilk on what is an extremely limited budget is the challenge now facing Hargreaves.

Unfortunately, in the current financial climate, players may have to leave before new arrivals can be sought. 

However, it is often forgotten that Taylor’s central defensive partner, Steve Woods, spent the entirety of the 2003-04 season at Plainmoor under non-contract terms.

TEAM OF THE YEAR

Yeovil Town Ladies capped their debut season in the FA Women's Super League by being voted as Women's Super League Two Club of the Year.

The Glovers, who finished fifth in Women’s Super League Two and play their home games at Sherborne Town’s Jones Stadium, received the award after meeting criteria that includes demonstrating success in areas such as success on and off the pitch, supporting a range of programmes to help develop players, supporting the RESPECT campaign, community work and overcoming challenges.

One challenge that the club met successfully was the departure of manager Sarah Lawler, who stood down midway through the season after accepting a new job as a development coach with the FA; her assistant, Jamie Sherwood, stepped into the breach before his appointment was made permanent at the end of the season.

Lawler had spent 11 years with the club, which included several as a player, and she had been an influential figure in helping the club achieve Women’s Super League status.

At their new level, Yeovil found themselves competing against some illustrious clubs in women’s footballing circles, such as eventual champions Sunderland Ladies, Doncaster Belles and Millwall Lionesses.

They also encountered some of the games’ better known players including Reading Ladies’ England striker Fran Kirby and Sue Smith, an iconic figure in the women’s game, who turned out for Doncaster Belles. The Belles were also managed by former Plymouth Argyle striker Gordon Staniforth.

After losing their opening fixture against Reading Ladies, the Glovers won their opening home league match 4-1 against the London Bees with midfielder Stacey Pearson scoring a hat-trick.

One of the Glovers great strengths as the season wore on was their team spirit and for a club whose motto is ‘achieve by unity’ that level of togetherness stood them in good stead over the course of the campaign.

Another was their strong spine, which comprised of goalkeeper Rachel ‘Dodge’ Simkin, centre backs Natalie Haigh and skipper Rachael Edwards and midfielders Jade Radburn-Lorton and Katie Sherwood, wife of manager Jamie.

They all helped provide a strong defensive base for more attack-minded players such as Welsh international trio Helen Bleazard, Ellie Curson and leading scorer Sarah Wiltshire.

Since her arrival during the mid-season from Watford Ladies, Wiltshire scored 11 goals in eight matches to finish the campaign as the club’s leading scorer, and the third top scorer in the league behind Reading’s Kirby (24) and Sunderland’s Beth Mead (13).

Other key performers included Welsh international right-back Nicola Cousins who joined mid-season from Cardiff City Ladies.

The Glovers have ambitions to reach Women’s Super League One within the next three years, but they will be aiming for that target without Katie Sherwood and Rachael Edwards, both of whom announced their retirement at the end of the season.

For skipper Edwards, it was the end of a career that very nearly didn’t happen at all; whilst in her teens she suffered a knee injury and was told that she wouldn’t be able to kick a ball in anger again.

However, after making a successful comeback in her mid-twenties, she joined Yeovil Town Ladies eight years ago and led the team out in their opening fixture at the Madjeski Stadium against Reading.

Nevertheless her retirement doesn’t spell the end of her involvement with the Glovers – as she has now become a director of the club and will no doubt be playing a key role in any future progress.

GULLS GET THEIR BUZZ BACK AT THE HIVE

Torquay United’s 3-2 win over Barnet on Tuesday night must surely rank alongside two other victories by the same score line against the Bees.

Those two wins, in the 2000-01 and 2012-13 seasons respectively, both played a crucial role in helping the Gulls retain their Football League status.

In 2001, they travelled to Underhill - under the guidance of Colin Lee - and raced into a two-goal lead courtesy of a 25-yarder from Jason Rees and a header from Kevin Hill.

The Bees were then awarded a penalty after Jimmy Aggrey was adjudged to have handled the ball, but Gulls keeper Stuart Jones guessed correctly and saved Darren Currie’s spot-kick.

David Graham then increased Torquay’s lead to three shortly before the half-time break before Barnet fought back in the second half thanks to a Ryan Green own goal and a Wayne Purser effort.

12 years later, the Gulls defeated the Bees by the same score line at Plainmoor to seal a win that played a major part in helping their survival cause.

Elliot Benyon gave Torquay a first half lead, which was cancelled out by a Jake Hyde equalised for Barnet, who were then managed by former Dutch star Edgar Davids.

Billy Bodin and Brian Saah then increased the Gulls’ lead to two goals before Hyde struck again to complete his brace, but they couldn’t find an equaliser as Torquay took a massive step towards securing their League Two status.

Whereas those results helped United to beat the drop, this latest triumph at the Hive - Barnet’s current home since 2013 - could prove to be the catalyst which gets their attempt to win promotion from the Vanarama Conference back on track.

The win ends a run of four successive defeats in all competitions, and a run of six losses in seven competitive fixtures.

Louis Briscoe opened the scoring for United before Ryan Bowman appeared to have doubled their advantage, but his effort was later accredited to Bees keeper- and former Plymouth Argyle custodian- Graham Stack to give the Gulls a two-goal advantage going into the half-time break.

Spanish substitute Luisma Villa then pulled a goal back for the hosts before Briscoe completed his brace on 65 minutes with his sixth of the campaign, which puts level with Luke Young as United’s leading goal scorer, to restore their two-goal cushion.

Another Bees’ sub Bernard Mensah reduced their deficit to a single goal, but the Gulls’ defence held firm and Toby Ajala and Duane Ofori-Acheampong could have added to their tally late in the game.

Next up for the Gulls is a home clash with fellow Play-off chasers Forest Green Rovers on Saturday.

PILGRIMS AND GLOVERS THROUGH, BUT GRECIANS ARE OUT

Plymouth Argyle and Yeovil Town booked their places in the second round of the FA Cup with wins over AFC Fylde and Crawley Town respectively, but Exeter City bowed out to Warrington Town.

The Pilgrims saw off their Vanarama Conference North opponents thanks to headed efforts from Peter Hartley and Marvin Morgan, and the Glovers defeated their fellow League One outfit by a single goal courtesy of a strike from Jordy Hiwula.

Meanwhile, Exeter City did not enjoy such fortune as they were eliminated by Warrington Town, the lowest ranked team left in the competition.

Warrington skipper Craig Robinson, brother of MK Dons manager Karl, powered home a David Mannix corner after seven minutes, which proved to be decisive for the Cheshire side managed by Shaun Reid, the brother of former Plymouth Argyle manager, Peter Reid, as they held on to clinch victory.

The Grecians went close as David Noble hit the woodwork and Matt Grimes had a shot cleared off the line, but it was to no avail as they bowed out of the cup.

A MAD DOG AND TWO ENGLISHMEN

Torquay United return to Vanarama Conference action on Tuesday night as their management team of Chris Hargreaves and Lee Hodges pit their managerial wits against a Barnet side managed by Martin Allen, a manager whom they both played under during their careers.

Gulls boss Hargreaves spent one season under Allen, also known by his nickname 'Mad Dog', at Brentford during the 2004-05 campaign, during which time the Bees reached the Play-offs in League One, where they were beaten by Sheffield Wednesday in the semi-finals, after finishing fourth in the league.

His assistant Hodges briefly played under Allen at whilst at Reading, when the current Barnet manager was assistant to Alan Pardew, before he was brought to Home Park by Paul Sturrock during the 2000-01 season.

The match itself, which is being broadcast live on BT Sport, will be the Gulls' first visit to the Hive, Barnet's new ground, which they moved to at the start of last season, and the occasion will rekindle memories of many previous encounters between the two sides at Underhill- including the final day decider between the two sides in the 2000-01 season, which Torquay won 3-2.

Nevertheless, after experiencing six losses in their last seven in all competitions, the Gulls will be looking to arrest that decline; and if they are able to do so on Tuesday night it could prove to be an encounter as equally memorable as that May day meeting at Underhill in 2001.

GRECIANS TO FACE REID THE YOUNGER, WHILST ARGYLE PLOUGH A FYLDE

Exeter City and Plymouth Argyle begin their FA Cup campaigns against northern non-league opposition next weekend.

The Grecians, who haven't reached the third round of the competition since they took Manchester United to a replay in the 2004-05 season, face Northern League side Warrington Town, who are managed by Shaun Reid- the younger of brother of former Pilgrims' manager Peter Reid, who is currently managing AFC Mumbai in the Indian Super League.

Reid also had a brief spell as assistant to his elder brother at Home Park whilst the Pilgrims were in Administration in 2011.

The game will be screened live on BBC2 on Friday night (November 7th).

Meanwhile, Argyle will be hosting AFC Fylde, the current leaders of the Vanarama Conference North, who have a manager who knows a thing or two about cup giant-killings.

The Coasters are managed by former Tranmere Rovers defender Dave Challinor, whose infamous long throws proved to be an important weapon as they reached the final of the 2000 Worthington Cup- where they lost to Leicester City- and enjoyed numerous another cup runs, which saw them claim numerous Premier League scalps including Middlesbrough, Sunderland, Southampton and Everton.

However, Pilgrims' boss John Sheridan has enjoyed great pedigree in cups,  as both a player and as a manager, having helped Sheffield Wednesday win the Rumbelows Cup in 1991- in which he scored the winning goal- and he also guided Chesterfield to the Johnstone's Paint Trophy final in 2011, where they beat Paolo Di Canio's Swindon Town; so he will be keen to avoid a potential banana skin.

NICHO HAUNTS GULLS ON HALLOWEEN WEEKEND

Torquay United received a reminder of campaigns past on Halloween weekend 2014, as former left-back Kevin Nicholson scored the decisive goal in their defeat at Kidderminster Harriers.

Marvin Johnson opened the scoring for Harriers after four minutes before Nicholson- who was released by the Gulls in the summer after seven years and over 300 appearances- struck with a free-kick in the 26th minute.

United produced a late rally as Australian defender Aaron Downes headed home a Luke Young corner in the 89th minute to score his fifth goal of the season- the Aussie had managed to find the back of the net four times for the Gulls in the 2013-14 campaign- before Young almost snatched a point in injury time with a free-kick that Kidderminster keeper Danny Lewis turned behind for a corner.

The result now means the Gulls have conceded 18 goals in their last seven matches in all competitions, of which Torquay have lost six, a sequence which has seen them drop to 12th in the Vanarama Conference table.

With former Plymouth Argyle right-back Durrell Berry now on board on non-contract terms, manager Chris Hargreaves now has a week and a half until his side are next in action when they travel to leaders Barnet.