STEPHENS ONE OF MANY YOUNG LIONS STARLETS RETURNING TO WEST

Former Plymouth Argyle starlet Jack Stephens is set to return to Home Park tomorrow for England Under-20’s as the young Lions face their American counterparts in a friendly.

Stephens, 21, who hails from Torpoint, is part of the 22 man squad – managed by former Watford manager Aidy Boothroyd – face the USA at the ‘Theatre of Greens’ three days after meeting Mexico at Barnet’s the Hive.

It is nearly four years since Stephens left the Pilgrims to join his current club – Southampton - after making six appearances in an Argyle shirt. This was also a time when Argyle were in Administration.

He has spent much of this season on loan at Swindon Town in League One, which is the division the Pilgrims were playing in when he made his debut against Sheffield Wednesday in September 2010.

Also returning to the South West is goalkeeper Christian Walton who left Home Park to join Brighton and Hove Albion in 2012; former Torquay United loanee Baily Cargill and ex Exeter City starlet Matt Grimes, who left the Grecians to join Swansea City in January for £1.75million.

Manager Boothroyd will be hoping his own return to Home Park will be happier than his last visit in October 2013 with Northampton Town. On that occasion the Cobblers lost 1-0 to the Pilgrims, courtesy of a last gasp winner from Lewis Alessandra.

Squad in full:

Goalkeepers: Christian Walton (Brighton & Hove Albion), Jordan Pickford (Sunderland)

Defenders: Dominic Iorfa (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Moses Odubajo (Brentford), Dominic Ball (Cambridge United - loan from Spurs), Baily Cargill (AFC Bournemouth), Kortney Hause (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Jordan Turnbull (Swindon Town - loan from Southampton), Harry Toffolo (Swindon Town - loan from Norwich City)

Midfielders: Harrison Reed (Southampton), Jack Barmby (Leicester City), Jack Stephens (Swindon Town - loan from Southampton), Jamie Hanson (Derby County), Lewis Baker (MK Dons - loan from Chelsea), Matty Grimes (Swansea City), Ben Osborn (Nottingham Forest), Alex Mowatt (Leeds United), John Swift (Swindon Town - loan from Chelsea)

Forwards: Callum Robinson (Preston North End - loan from Aston Villa), Chuba Akpom (Arsenal), Kwame Thomas (Derby County), Chris Long (Brentford - loan from Everton)

MASON CALLED UP TO THREE LIONS SQUAD

Whilst the form of Tottenham’s Harry Kane has shone for the North London giants this season, another product of Spurs’ youth set-up – former Yeovil Town loanee Ryan Mason – has also made a big impression.

His form has also impressed England manager Roy Hodgson, who called him up to his squad for their forthcoming fixtures with Lithuania and Italy, after the withdrawal of Liverpool’s Adam Lallana through injury.

If selected for the Three Lions in either fixture, England face Lithuania at Wembley on Friday night, he will be the third former Glovers loan player to feature for England in recent years – following in the footsteps of Andros Townsend and Steven Caulker.

This is a far cry from the opening day of the 2009-10 season when Mason made his professional debut on the opening day of the season against Tranmere Rovers – along with Caulker who is currently with Queens Park Rangers.

Over the course of the season, Mason made 29 appearances in all competitions and scored six goals – which included a brace in a 3-1 win over Carlisle United on October 17^th 2009.

Following his loan spell at Huish Park, Mason has had stints on loan with Doncaster Rovers (twice), Millwall, Lorient in France and with Swindon Town last season. Whilst with the Robins, he scored his first professional hat-trick in a 5-0 win over Crewe Alexandra on August 31^st 2013.

During the current season, Mason handed his first taste of Premier League football by Spurs boss Mauricio Pocchettino.  He has formed a central midfield partnership with Nabil Bentaleb which has won many admirers, including former Manchester United and England midfielder Paul Scholes.

With Euro 2016 now just over a year away, there is every possibility that Mason might be named alongside his club mate Kane in Hodgson’s 23 man squad for the tournament that is due to be held in France.

BOWMAN BRACE HELPS GULLS BOUNCE BACK

A goal in each half from leading scorer Ryan Bowman helped Torquay United to end a three-and-a-half month spell without a home league win against a Kidderminster Harriers containing former Gull Kevin Nicholson.

Bowman, who came on as a 14th minute substitute for on-loan striker John Campbell, gave the Gulls the lead on 23 minutes - nine minutes after coming on - when he capped off a superb flowing move involving Louis Briscoe and Courtney Cameron.

It was the former Hereford and York City man's first goal in seven appearances.

Kiddy pegged United back just after the hour mark when Lee Hughes turned home an in-swinging free-kick from Nicholson to level matters.

However, Torquay regained the lead through Bowman on 65 minutes when he fired into the far corner with a right-footed drive, following good build up play between skipper Luke Young and Toby Ajala.

This proved to be enough to seal all three points, and provided a perfect tonic to the 5-1 midweek defeat against Braintree Town.

The Gulls' last victory in front of their own fans came on December 9th against FC Halifax Town, at which point Torquay were 7th in the Vanarama Conference table.

Following yesterday's victory, they are now 15th - some 16 points off the Play-off zone and 13 ahead of Welling United, who occupy the fourth and final relegation spot.

THE END OF THE CYCLE

A new era beckons for Torquay United this week following the news that Thea Bristow will be standing down as Chairman of the club.

Her and his late husband Paul's lottery win helped to fund the Gulls return to the Football League in 2009, two years after their relegation to the Conference, and she also helped to finance other projects such as Bristow's Bench and a new training ground.

Like the late Tony Boyce, whose sons Cris and Mark were part of the original consortium that took over in 2007, and Mike Bateson, who the current consortium purchased the club from in 2007, she was a director of the club before taking on the role of Chairman.

It was a role she first assumed in 2010, following the death of his husband Paul before she succeeded Simon Baker as Chairman in 2013.

However, her Chairmanship also coincided with a massive slump in the club's fortunes. During his brief reign, the club has had three managers (Martin Ling, Alan Knill and current incumbent Chris Hargreaves) and were relegated back down to the Conference.

Thea is currently being advised by former Oxford United Chairman Kelvin Thomas and is weighing up offers from potentially interested parties.

The new owners, whoever they may be, will be inheriting a debt free club after she agreed to write off the £3million she has invested in the Gulls.

HARGREAVES SEEKING INSPIRATIONAL MOMENT

If Chris Hargreaves needed any words of encouragement after Torquay United’s FA Trophy semi-final exit to Wrexham – it would be the fact that many managerial reigns have been transformed by one moment of inspiration.

Three examples that spring to mind include Howard Kendall’s first spell in charge of Everton, Sir Alex Ferguson’s 26 years as Manchester United manager and Paul Buckle’s four-year stint at Plainmoor.

The trio all overcame periods of uncertainty before guiding their teams to some of the most successful eras in their respective histories.

During the 1983-84 season, Everton were on the verge of exiting the Milk Cup at the hands of Oxford United - but Adrian Heath latched onto a Kevin Brock back pass before slotting home an equaliser for the Toffees.

Everton then reached the final of the Milk Cup, where they lost to Liverpool – after a replay, before beating Watford in that season’s FA Cup final. This proved to be the start of one of the most successful period in Everton’s history, which included league title triumphs and a European Cup Winner’s Cup success.  

During the 1989-90 campaign, after three largely unsuccessful seasons, the Old Trafford were calling for Ferguson’s head.

However, a Mark Robins winner in an FA fifth round tie against Nottingham Forest helped the Red Devils to progress to the final of the competition, where they beat Crystal Palace after a replay to secure their first trophy of his reign.

After reaching the Conference Play-offs and FA Trophy final in his first season – 2007-08 – in charge at Plainmoor, Paul Buckle’s Torquay United side – that Hargreaves was captain of – didn’t get off to the best of starts in his second campaign in charge.

But in a Sunday afternoon encounter with Northwich Victoria on September 7^th 2008, which the Gulls were drawing 1-1, they were awarded a 90^th minute penalty by referee Andrew Sainsbury for a foul on Elliot Benyon.

Leading scorer Tim Sills stepped up to take it and duly converted to secure a 2-1 victory for the Gulls. It also proved to be a catalyst for a lengthy unbeaten run that helped propel Torquay back into contention for promotion.

The Gulls were eventually promoted at the end of the season, thanks to a Play-off final victory over Cambridge United.

A similar moment of inspiration for Hargreaves would help to majorly transform his own fortunes, as well as those of the current Torquay side.

Their chances of reaching the Play-offs may seem remote at the moment, but a strong finish to their end of the current campaign would restore a sense pride and potentially lead to an increase in optimism going into next season.

It is worth remembering that most team building projects regarding Torquay United often take two or three years.

It took Kevin Hodges two years to assemble the side that reached the Division Three Play-off final in 1998, two years after being spared relegation to the Conference because of Stevenage’s ground not being up to the required standard.

Between 2001 and 2004, Roy McFarland and then Leroy Rosenior built the Gulls’ first automatic promotion winning side in a generation within three years of United’s final day survival decider against Barnet.

And in more recent times, Paul Buckle guided Torquay to promotion from the Conference in 2009, two years after the Gulls were relegated from the Football League after 80 years.

The remaining 13 fixtures of Torquay’s 2014-15 Conference campaign could help to determine whether or not Hargreaves will be leading the Gulls on another similar journey.

MCQUILKIN REWARDED WITH LONGER DEAL

As a reward for his efforts whilst playing on non-contract terms, James McQuilken has been handed a contract with Torquay United until the end of the 2014-15 season.

McQuilkin, 26, has made 12 appearances for the Gulls since November 2014, as a midfielder and at right-back, after he was released by Walsall last summer.

This news provides the Gulls with a welcome boost at the end of a week that has seen goalkeeper Jordan Seabright quit the game to take up a new career as a used car salesman.

Defender Angus MacDonald has also been fined for verbally abusing a group of Gulls fans during their FA Trophy semi-final defeat to Wrexham.

A FEW FACTS ABOUT JAMES MCQUILKIN:

• James hails from Tipton in the West Midlands, which is also the hometown of the legendary Wolverhampton Wanderers striker Steve Bull.
• He started his career with West Bromwich Albion and has represented Northern Ireland at Youth and Under-21 levels.
• He has had a spell in the Czech Republic with Tescoma Zlin between 2007 and 2009.
• On returning to England, James spent four years with Hereford United and he featured in the Bulls’ final league game on the last day of the 2011-12 season, as a substitute, which was against Torquay United.

SHEZ AND LEWI NOMINATED

Plymouth Argyle manager John Sheridan and striker Lewis Alessandra have both been nominated for the Npower League Two manager and player of the month awards for February 2015. 


Over the course of the month, Sheridan guided the Pilgrims to four wins from five games, which included wins over Accrington Stanley, Wycombe Wanderers, Cambridge United and Exeter City, prior to Saturday's defeat against Bury.


Alessandra found the back of the net in three of those victories - against Accrington, Wycombe and Cambridge - and has generally been impressive throughout.


Sheridan last won the league's monthly managerial gong for March 2013, which also coincided with Jason Banton winning the player's equivalent - could lightning strike twice for the Argyle boss?

SAINTS HAVE WEMBLEY IN SIGHTS

St Austell, of the South West Peninsular League, became only the second Cornish team ever to reach the semi-finals of the FA Vase as they defeated Ascot United at Poltair Park.

A crowd of 1,443 witnessed the Lilywhites overturn a half-time deficit of 2-1 to win 3-2 and progress through to the last four of the competition.

The hosts took the lead on eight minutes through Martin Giles before a brace from Daryl McLean saw the visitors edge ahead.

However, the Lilywhites showed real bouncebackability as second half efforts from Neil Slateford and Liam Eddy saw St Austell run out as 3-2 winners.

They have now become the first Cornish side to reach this stage of the FA Vase since Truro City did in 2007, before going on to beat AFC Totton in the final.

The semi-finals take place on March 21st and 28th.

TROPHY RUNNETH OVER FOR GULLS

Torquay United's hopes of securing a sixth Wembley appearance were ended as they crashed out of the FA Trophy semi-finals to Wrexham.

After losing the first leg at the Racecourse Stadium, the Gulls conceded three goals in the space of 11 minutes, which effectively ended the tie as a contest. It also ensured that the Red Dragons followers would be celebrating St David's Day in the knowledge that they will be returning to Wembley at the end of month, with the prospect of winning the competition that they won in 2013.

Louis Moult headed home their opener before a brace from on loan forward Kieron Morris completed the scoring for the visitors, who will be facing Conference North side North Ferriby United in the final on March 29th.

For the Gulls, on the other hand, now only have the league to concentrate on to try and improve on a current league position of 14th.

With 13 Conference fixtures left, which includes eight home games, there is plenty of pride for the Gulls to play for if nothing else.