If Kevin Nicholson needs any inspiration following his appointment as manager of Torquay United, he could do a lot worse than examine the achievements of the late Howard Kendall.
A number of similarities can be found between Nicholson and Kendall; namely the fact that the pair were key members of successful teams of the clubs they later became manager of.
Nicholson had been a stalwart of the Gulls side that won promotion back into the league under Paul Buckle in the 2008-09 season, and remained a key part of the teams that reached the League Two Play-offs under Buckle and Martin Ling.
Kendall was part of an Everton midfield holy trinity that also included the late Alan Ball and Colin Harvey, who helped the Toffees to win the league title in the 1969-70 campaign.
The duo also arrived as managers at the Launa Windows Stadium and Goodison Park respectively as player-managers, even though the playing side of Kendall's managerial role at Everton proved to be extremely brief.
Although Kendall would oversee one of the most successful ever eras in Everton's history, which saw the Toffees win two league titles, one FA Cup and one European Cup Winner's Cup - he did have overcome a difficult spell in at the start of his reign.
At one stage, a run of six wins in 21 league fixtures prompted Kendall to offer his resignation which was rejected by his Chairman Philip Carter, but the first of what proved to be three spells in charge at Goodison Park was changed on one moment of inspiration.
In a League Cup Quarter Final with Oxford United during the 1983-84 season, in which Everton were trailing by a goal to nil, U's defender Kevin Brock mis-timed a back pass which Adrian Heath latched on to and scored an equaliser for the Toffees.
Had Everton lost that tie, it is not inconceivable that Kendall could have lost his job.
Everton then won the replay 4-1 and went on to reach the final, which they lost to Liverpool after a replay and also won the FA Cup - the first of their trophies won during Kendall's reign - when they beat Watford 2-0 through goals from Graeme Sharp and Andy Gray.
Nicholson's reign as Gulls manager so far has seen Torquay win once in six games, including an early FA Cup exit at the hands of Basingstoke Town - who joined the list of non-league sides to lose to and beat United in the cup that includes Yeovil Town, Sutton United and Harrogate Town.
A career defining moment like the Brock back pass could be around the corner for Nicholson, but with a number of home games coming up later in the season against Welling United, FC Halifax Town, Kidderminster Harriers and Southport still to come - the Gulls fate is still very much in their hands.
Saturday 31 October 2015
Thursday 22 October 2015
BACK TO THE FUTURE FOR ARGYLE
In the week that saw the marking of the date that Marty McFly and Doc Brown travelled back to in Back to the Future 2, Plymouth Argyle's present is looking familiar to the time in which the duo started their journey from.
On October 21st 1985, the Pilgrims were managed by a Scotsman in the form of Dave Smith just like they were on the same date in 2015 in the form of current manager Derek Adams.
Like Smith, Adams has embraced the city of Plymouth and built a bond with its loyal fanbase since his appointment in the summer.
In the film, there were a number of differences between the way of the life in the Western world between 1985 and 2015, and there has certainly been several big changes to the approach of a Plymouth Argyle manager in the intervening three decades.
Whilst hoverbonds and flying cars are not in the mind of the current Argyle boss, different ideas on a range of things from tactics, sports science and diet and nutrition certainly are.
One factor that links the two Scots is the prospect of a promotion, which Smith led the Pilgrims to at the end of the 1985-86 from the 'old' Division Three. Their promotion challenge was spearheaded by the return of Tommy Tynan on loan from Rotherham United, and - in 2015 - Adams also has Argyle's most prolific scorer since Tynan, Reuben Reid, currently at his disposal.
In Back to the Future 2, it was predicted that the Chicago Cubs would finally win Baseball's World Series, but there is no such predictions were made on the future of English football; let alone Plymouth Argyle.
It would be fitting if the Pilgrims were able to mark their own 30th anniversary with another promotion triumph with a side that fans could compare to their 1985-86 side.
On October 21st 1985, the Pilgrims were managed by a Scotsman in the form of Dave Smith just like they were on the same date in 2015 in the form of current manager Derek Adams.
Like Smith, Adams has embraced the city of Plymouth and built a bond with its loyal fanbase since his appointment in the summer.
In the film, there were a number of differences between the way of the life in the Western world between 1985 and 2015, and there has certainly been several big changes to the approach of a Plymouth Argyle manager in the intervening three decades.
Whilst hoverbonds and flying cars are not in the mind of the current Argyle boss, different ideas on a range of things from tactics, sports science and diet and nutrition certainly are.
One factor that links the two Scots is the prospect of a promotion, which Smith led the Pilgrims to at the end of the 1985-86 from the 'old' Division Three. Their promotion challenge was spearheaded by the return of Tommy Tynan on loan from Rotherham United, and - in 2015 - Adams also has Argyle's most prolific scorer since Tynan, Reuben Reid, currently at his disposal.
In Back to the Future 2, it was predicted that the Chicago Cubs would finally win Baseball's World Series, but there is no such predictions were made on the future of English football; let alone Plymouth Argyle.
It would be fitting if the Pilgrims were able to mark their own 30th anniversary with another promotion triumph with a side that fans could compare to their 1985-86 side.
Saturday 10 October 2015
GULLS END 12-MATCH WINLESS RUN AGAINST SOUTHPORT
Torquay United recorded their first win under the reign of player-manager Kevin Nicholson with a slender victory away at Southport.
Alex Fisher scored the game's decisive in the opening minute, when he turned home a corner from Dan Butler to score his fifth goal of the season.
Louis Briscoe was unlucky not to add a second shortly afterwards when he had an effort cleared off the line, but the Gulls managed to hang on to secure their first win in 12 matches and their first clean sheet since the opening day of the campaign against Macclesfield Town.
The win was a big boost to United, who had previously tasted defeat in Nicholson's first two games in charge against Aldershot Town and Dover Athletic.
Next up for United is a trip to Woking on Tuesday night, which is then followed by a home fixture with Play-off chasing Grimsby Town next Saturday.
By that point, Nicholson might have drafted in an assistant to work alongside himself and goalkeeper coach Kenny Veysey.
Alex Fisher scored the game's decisive in the opening minute, when he turned home a corner from Dan Butler to score his fifth goal of the season.
Louis Briscoe was unlucky not to add a second shortly afterwards when he had an effort cleared off the line, but the Gulls managed to hang on to secure their first win in 12 matches and their first clean sheet since the opening day of the campaign against Macclesfield Town.
The win was a big boost to United, who had previously tasted defeat in Nicholson's first two games in charge against Aldershot Town and Dover Athletic.
Next up for United is a trip to Woking on Tuesday night, which is then followed by a home fixture with Play-off chasing Grimsby Town next Saturday.
By that point, Nicholson might have drafted in an assistant to work alongside himself and goalkeeper coach Kenny Veysey.
Thursday 8 October 2015
ARGYLE CLAIM DERBY WIN IN 5,000TH GAME
Plymouth Argyle manager Derek Adams' first experience of a Devon Derby proved to be a positive one as the Pilgrims defeated Exeter City in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy - in what the clubs' 5,000th competitive game.
Goals from loanees Hiram Boateng and Craig Tanner secured a 2-0 win for Argyle, in what will be the first of at least three clashes between the Pilgrims and Grecians this season in front of a crowd of nearly 10,000.
Since Adams was appointed as successor to John Sheridan as Pilgrims manager in the summer, everything the Scotsman has seemingly turned to gold - with only the Dockyard Derby defeat at Portsmouth the only relatively minor blemish on his copybook.
With Argyle currently sitting pretty at the top of League Two at the moment, Adams is looking a good bet to join his fellow countrymen Dave Smith and Paul Sturrock in leading the Pilgrims to promotion.
However, many of the Green Army will be eagerly anticipating the draw for the next round of the competition. Historically, Argyle's record in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy - and its previous incarnations - has been poor; Devon neighbours Torquay United have reached the final and Exeter City have made the Southern Area final three times.
But if Adams is able to change that this season, then a fan base he has already galvanised since his arrival could have the prospect of a Wembley final to look forward to - something the Pilgrims have only managed once in 1996.
Goals from loanees Hiram Boateng and Craig Tanner secured a 2-0 win for Argyle, in what will be the first of at least three clashes between the Pilgrims and Grecians this season in front of a crowd of nearly 10,000.
Since Adams was appointed as successor to John Sheridan as Pilgrims manager in the summer, everything the Scotsman has seemingly turned to gold - with only the Dockyard Derby defeat at Portsmouth the only relatively minor blemish on his copybook.
With Argyle currently sitting pretty at the top of League Two at the moment, Adams is looking a good bet to join his fellow countrymen Dave Smith and Paul Sturrock in leading the Pilgrims to promotion.
However, many of the Green Army will be eagerly anticipating the draw for the next round of the competition. Historically, Argyle's record in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy - and its previous incarnations - has been poor; Devon neighbours Torquay United have reached the final and Exeter City have made the Southern Area final three times.
But if Adams is able to change that this season, then a fan base he has already galvanised since his arrival could have the prospect of a Wembley final to look forward to - something the Pilgrims have only managed once in 1996.
Thursday 1 October 2015
NICHOLSON GEARING UP FOR MANAGERIAL DEBUT
Between 2007 and 2014, Kevin Nicholson made 312 appearances for Torquay United as a left-back - but on Saturday, against Aldershot Town, he takes charge of the Gulls for the first time as manager.
Nicholson, 34, will be United's first player-manager since Don O'Riordan, who was in charge at Plainmoor between 1993 and 1995, and their fifth post-war manager who has combined playing with managing the team.
He takes charge of a side that has lost its previous three league encounters, which included a 7-3 reverse against Bromley - United's biggest defeat in the last 20 years, and haven't kept a clean sheet since the opening day of the season against Macclesfield Town.
The situation facing the former Sheffield Wednesday starlet is similar to the challenge that faced Carl Fletcher in the 2011-12 season when he was placed in charge of Plymouth Argyle.
Like Nicholson, Fletcher didn't have any previous managerial experience but on taking charge of a side that had only picked up one from their opening 11 league fixtures, marooned at the bottom of the table and were in Administration.
However, Fletcher, to his credit, guided the Pilgrims to a 2-0 victory against Macclesfield and eventually guided Argyle to safety, which was secured with a 1-1 draw in their penultimate home game of the campaign against Oxford United.
If Nicholson is able to emulate what Fletcher achieved in his first game in charge then the United board's decision to hand him his managerial bow would be seen as a positive one.
As a player, Nicholson always made the most of his available talents and his ability from set pieces provided many assists during his seven years as a Gulls' stalwart.
He also took his coaching and is currently towards completing his UEFA A licence, and a number of his former team-mates identified him as a future manager, whilst playing alongside him.
Having played under a range of different managers during his career, including Paul Buckle, Martin Ling, Alan Knill and Chris Hargreaves during his time at Plainmoor - as well as Jim Harvey during his time at Forest Green Rovers, he will no doubt be looking to take different ideas from each and every manager that he has served under.
On his arrival, Nicholson has already made his mark by appointing Angus MacDonald as captain, but he is still yet to announce the appointment of a new assistant manager.
Several names have been mentioned as possibilities, including former Gulls' assistant manager Shaun North, and an experienced assistant could be a real asset to Nicholson.
In an interview with the media, when asked what he was looking for in a number he replied: "I want them to be honest, I want them to have their opinion and I want someone who's going to stand up to me if he thinks that I'm wrong,"
If Nicholson is able to bring in a person who fits that criteria, it will be to the Gulls' benefit and - ultimately - their experience, if he goes down the road of appointing an older, wiser head, could also help to improve the knowledge that he has already acquired to date.
Nicholson, 34, will be United's first player-manager since Don O'Riordan, who was in charge at Plainmoor between 1993 and 1995, and their fifth post-war manager who has combined playing with managing the team.
He takes charge of a side that has lost its previous three league encounters, which included a 7-3 reverse against Bromley - United's biggest defeat in the last 20 years, and haven't kept a clean sheet since the opening day of the season against Macclesfield Town.
The situation facing the former Sheffield Wednesday starlet is similar to the challenge that faced Carl Fletcher in the 2011-12 season when he was placed in charge of Plymouth Argyle.
Like Nicholson, Fletcher didn't have any previous managerial experience but on taking charge of a side that had only picked up one from their opening 11 league fixtures, marooned at the bottom of the table and were in Administration.
However, Fletcher, to his credit, guided the Pilgrims to a 2-0 victory against Macclesfield and eventually guided Argyle to safety, which was secured with a 1-1 draw in their penultimate home game of the campaign against Oxford United.
If Nicholson is able to emulate what Fletcher achieved in his first game in charge then the United board's decision to hand him his managerial bow would be seen as a positive one.
As a player, Nicholson always made the most of his available talents and his ability from set pieces provided many assists during his seven years as a Gulls' stalwart.
He also took his coaching and is currently towards completing his UEFA A licence, and a number of his former team-mates identified him as a future manager, whilst playing alongside him.
Having played under a range of different managers during his career, including Paul Buckle, Martin Ling, Alan Knill and Chris Hargreaves during his time at Plainmoor - as well as Jim Harvey during his time at Forest Green Rovers, he will no doubt be looking to take different ideas from each and every manager that he has served under.
On his arrival, Nicholson has already made his mark by appointing Angus MacDonald as captain, but he is still yet to announce the appointment of a new assistant manager.
Several names have been mentioned as possibilities, including former Gulls' assistant manager Shaun North, and an experienced assistant could be a real asset to Nicholson.
In an interview with the media, when asked what he was looking for in a number he replied: "I want them to be honest, I want them to have their opinion and I want someone who's going to stand up to me if he thinks that I'm wrong,"
If Nicholson is able to bring in a person who fits that criteria, it will be to the Gulls' benefit and - ultimately - their experience, if he goes down the road of appointing an older, wiser head, could also help to improve the knowledge that he has already acquired to date.
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