The three divisions of the National League have been suspended indefinitely due to the coronavirus outbreak.
Originally the competition, which comprises of the National League, National League North and South, had been suspended until April 3rd, but the decision has been made the suspend the leagues indefinitely.
A statement released by the National League Board said: ""The National League is currently obtaining specialist legal advice, is consulting regularly with the Football Association and other stakeholders, and is committed to involving its member clubs in a pending decision on how best to conclude the 2019-20 season,"
This latest development has ratifications for Torquay United and Yeovil Town in the National League. The Gulls still had a chance of making the play-offs and the Glovers were firmly in the play-off race. In the National League South, Weymouth Town were in the play-off zone.
The announcement comes after non-league steps three and seven were suspended indefinitely, which meant Truro City were denied a potential promotion from the Southern League Premier South and Tiverton Town were prevented from reaching the play-offs.
It is not yet know whether the results of the leagues will be expunged or if they will be decided by PPG (points per game).
The FA council are yet to ratify the decision and more than 100 clubs have also signed a petition opposing the decision to expunge the seasons of the leagues below the National League (non-league steps three to seven).
Tuesday 31 March 2020
Sunday 29 March 2020
DAN MCCAULEY RIP
Former Plymouth Argyle chairman Dan McCauley has passed away at the age of 84.
McCauley, who made his fortune from the Tiverton-based engineering firm Rotolok, had previously spells on the boards of Exeter City and Torquay United (Rotolok were the Gulls' shirt sponsors between 1986 and 1988) during the 1980s before becoming chairman of Plymouth Argyle in October 1991, at which point the Pilgrims were in Division Two (now the Championship).
He went onto spend nearly a decade at the helm at Home Park, which was a period in the club's history that certainly couldn't be described as dull. In his first season as chairman, McCauley replaced Dave Kemp as Pilgrims manager with the legendary former England goalkeeper Peter Shilton on March 2nd, 1992.
While Shilton's appointment was unable to stop the Pilgrims from being relegated into the 'new Divison Two' (now League One) at the end of the 1991-92 season, the finances made available to England's record appearance maker enabled him to bring in names such as Kevin Nugent, Steve McCall, Paul Dalton and Steve Castle. These players formed the basis of the Argyle side that agonisingly missed out on automatic promotion on the final day of the 1993-94 season before losing to Burnley in the Play-offs. This team is still widely considered to be one of the most entertaining in the Pilgrims' history, as they scored 88 league goals and conceded 56.
However, the relationship between McCauley and Shilton soured during the 1994-95 season, which resulted in Shilton leaving the club in early 1995. McCall and former England defender Russell Osman both took charge on a temporary basis, but couldn't stop Argyle being relegated to Division Three (now League Two) for the first time in their history.
In the summer of 1995, McCauley turned to serial promotion winner Neil Warnock in his quest to win promotion back to Division Two at the first attempt. It was a decision that paid off for McCauley as Warnock guided the Pilgrims to promotion via the Division Three Play-off final in 1996, where they beat Darlington 1-0. It was Warnock's fifth promotion out of the record eight that he has won in his career with Scarborough, Notts County (twice), Huddersfield Town, Argyle, Sheffield United, QPR and Cardiff City.
Once again the relationship between McCauley and Warnock deteriorated badly and Warnock left Home Park in February 1997. Warnock's assistant Mick Jones was appointed as his successor, but he was unable to prevent a return to the Third Division in 1998.
Pilgrims' record appearance holder Kevin Hodges, who had led Torquay United to the 1998 Division Three play-off final against Colchester United, was then tasked with leading the Pilgrims to another promotion from the bottom tier of the Football League. After two mid-table finishes Hodges was sacked early in the 2000-01 season and, after some persuasion from members of the Pilgrims' board, he appointed Paul Sturrock as manager - an appointment which proved to be one of the shrewdest ever made by the club.
On the eve of the 2001-02 season, McCauley finally sold up to a consortium headed by Paul Stapleton. By this time the redevelopment of the three sides of Home Park was already underway and was finally completed with the opening of the new Mayflower Stand midway through the 2019-20 campaign.
McCauley's other business interests included the Sutton Harbour Company and Drake's Island.
McCauley, who made his fortune from the Tiverton-based engineering firm Rotolok, had previously spells on the boards of Exeter City and Torquay United (Rotolok were the Gulls' shirt sponsors between 1986 and 1988) during the 1980s before becoming chairman of Plymouth Argyle in October 1991, at which point the Pilgrims were in Division Two (now the Championship).
He went onto spend nearly a decade at the helm at Home Park, which was a period in the club's history that certainly couldn't be described as dull. In his first season as chairman, McCauley replaced Dave Kemp as Pilgrims manager with the legendary former England goalkeeper Peter Shilton on March 2nd, 1992.
While Shilton's appointment was unable to stop the Pilgrims from being relegated into the 'new Divison Two' (now League One) at the end of the 1991-92 season, the finances made available to England's record appearance maker enabled him to bring in names such as Kevin Nugent, Steve McCall, Paul Dalton and Steve Castle. These players formed the basis of the Argyle side that agonisingly missed out on automatic promotion on the final day of the 1993-94 season before losing to Burnley in the Play-offs. This team is still widely considered to be one of the most entertaining in the Pilgrims' history, as they scored 88 league goals and conceded 56.
However, the relationship between McCauley and Shilton soured during the 1994-95 season, which resulted in Shilton leaving the club in early 1995. McCall and former England defender Russell Osman both took charge on a temporary basis, but couldn't stop Argyle being relegated to Division Three (now League Two) for the first time in their history.
In the summer of 1995, McCauley turned to serial promotion winner Neil Warnock in his quest to win promotion back to Division Two at the first attempt. It was a decision that paid off for McCauley as Warnock guided the Pilgrims to promotion via the Division Three Play-off final in 1996, where they beat Darlington 1-0. It was Warnock's fifth promotion out of the record eight that he has won in his career with Scarborough, Notts County (twice), Huddersfield Town, Argyle, Sheffield United, QPR and Cardiff City.
Once again the relationship between McCauley and Warnock deteriorated badly and Warnock left Home Park in February 1997. Warnock's assistant Mick Jones was appointed as his successor, but he was unable to prevent a return to the Third Division in 1998.
Pilgrims' record appearance holder Kevin Hodges, who had led Torquay United to the 1998 Division Three play-off final against Colchester United, was then tasked with leading the Pilgrims to another promotion from the bottom tier of the Football League. After two mid-table finishes Hodges was sacked early in the 2000-01 season and, after some persuasion from members of the Pilgrims' board, he appointed Paul Sturrock as manager - an appointment which proved to be one of the shrewdest ever made by the club.
On the eve of the 2001-02 season, McCauley finally sold up to a consortium headed by Paul Stapleton. By this time the redevelopment of the three sides of Home Park was already underway and was finally completed with the opening of the new Mayflower Stand midway through the 2019-20 campaign.
McCauley's other business interests included the Sutton Harbour Company and Drake's Island.
Wednesday 25 March 2020
WHEN GARY JOHNSON FACED THE GULLS AS AN OPPONENT
With the National League currently suspended and the gates of Plainmoor
locked due to the outbreak of the coronavirus, we will now look back at the occasions
when United boss Gary Johnson visited the home of the Gulls as a managerial
opponent.
March 20th, 1990 Torquay United 3 Cambridge United 0 - Division Four
The first offering of this article looks at a time when Johnson came to Plainmoor as assistant manager to John Beck with Cambridge United in the 1989-90 season. At this time the Gulls were undergoing a resurgence under Dave Smith, who had revived United's fortunes after replacing Cyril Knowles earlier in the season, and it continued against the U's as the Gulls came out as 3-0 winners.
Phil Lloyd, Dean Edwards and Dave Caldwell were on the scoresheet for United against a Cambridge side who would eventually win promotion through the play-offs - the first of two that they would win under Beck - and they also reached the Quarter Finals of the FA Cup.
April 3rd, 2004 Torquay United 2 Yeovil Town 2 - Division Three
After guiding Yeovil Town into the Football League in 2003, Johnson brought the Glovers to Plainmoor to face the Gulls in front of a sell-out Westcountry Derby.
Whilst Yeovil were chasing a play-off spot, United were in contention for automatic promotion under Leroy Rosenior which served to add further spice to the occasion.
United started brightly as Martin Gritton twice went close in the opening minutes, but it was the Glovers who took the lead on 17 minutes after Abdel El Kholti hit the post and Darren Way volleyed home the rebound. The visitors then doubled their advantage on 27 minutes through Jake Edwards, who turned home a cross from Gavin Williams, which prompted a response from Rosenior as he made an early double substitution - sending Liam Rosenior and Jo Kuffour on for Tony Bedeau and Kevin Hill.
On 44 minutes the Gulls were awarded a free-kick after Gritton was fouled by Colin Pluck on the edge of the box, Alex Russell then rolled the ball to United skipper Craig Taylor who bamboozled both the Glovers' wall and keeper Steve Collis to find the back of the net with a low strike.
In the 59th minute, the Gulls were awarded a penalty for a foul by El Kholti on David Graham, which Steve Woods stepped up to take. His initial effort was saved by Collis, but Woods made no mistake to fire home the rebound. The Glovers were later reduced to ten men after Williams received a second yellow card.
United would go on to clinch their first automatic promotion in 38 years with a 2-1 win over Southend United at Roots Hall on the final of the campaign, whilst the Glovers missed out on the play-offs on goal difference.
September 28th, 2004 Torquay United 4 Yeovil Town 3 - LDV Vans Trophy first round
Early in the following season, the two sides met again in the first round of the LDV Vans Trophy for a contest that also proved to be a cracker.
Jo Kuffour gave the Gulls the lead in the 17th minute, but the Glovers struck back through Latvian international Andreijs Stolcers who volleyed home three minutes before half-time.
In the second half, skipper Craig Taylor headed home on 53 minutes with an effort which bounced over the line after hitting the underside of the bar. Six minutes later Adebayo Akinfenwa cut through the Glovers' defence before beating Yeovil keeper Steve Collis to give United a two-goal cushion.
Adrian Caceres then reduced the Glovers' to a single goal in the 67th minute as he cut in from the left and unleashed an unstoppable strike past United's substitute keeper Kevin Dearden.
With six minutes to go, Yeovil's Polish striker Bartosz Tarachulski headed home to force the game into extra time. The game was eventually decided in the 116th minute when Akinfenwa slotted home, and then received a second yellow card by celebrating by sitting down in a sparsely populated Family Stand.
The Gulls bowed out of the competition in the next round to Northampton Town, and the two sides would swap divisions at the end of the season as United were relegated from League One and Yeovil lifted the League Two title.
August 29th, 2015 Torquay United 0 Cheltenham Town 3 - National League
March 20th, 1990 Torquay United 3 Cambridge United 0 - Division Four
The first offering of this article looks at a time when Johnson came to Plainmoor as assistant manager to John Beck with Cambridge United in the 1989-90 season. At this time the Gulls were undergoing a resurgence under Dave Smith, who had revived United's fortunes after replacing Cyril Knowles earlier in the season, and it continued against the U's as the Gulls came out as 3-0 winners.
Phil Lloyd, Dean Edwards and Dave Caldwell were on the scoresheet for United against a Cambridge side who would eventually win promotion through the play-offs - the first of two that they would win under Beck - and they also reached the Quarter Finals of the FA Cup.
April 3rd, 2004 Torquay United 2 Yeovil Town 2 - Division Three
After guiding Yeovil Town into the Football League in 2003, Johnson brought the Glovers to Plainmoor to face the Gulls in front of a sell-out Westcountry Derby.
Whilst Yeovil were chasing a play-off spot, United were in contention for automatic promotion under Leroy Rosenior which served to add further spice to the occasion.
United started brightly as Martin Gritton twice went close in the opening minutes, but it was the Glovers who took the lead on 17 minutes after Abdel El Kholti hit the post and Darren Way volleyed home the rebound. The visitors then doubled their advantage on 27 minutes through Jake Edwards, who turned home a cross from Gavin Williams, which prompted a response from Rosenior as he made an early double substitution - sending Liam Rosenior and Jo Kuffour on for Tony Bedeau and Kevin Hill.
On 44 minutes the Gulls were awarded a free-kick after Gritton was fouled by Colin Pluck on the edge of the box, Alex Russell then rolled the ball to United skipper Craig Taylor who bamboozled both the Glovers' wall and keeper Steve Collis to find the back of the net with a low strike.
In the 59th minute, the Gulls were awarded a penalty for a foul by El Kholti on David Graham, which Steve Woods stepped up to take. His initial effort was saved by Collis, but Woods made no mistake to fire home the rebound. The Glovers were later reduced to ten men after Williams received a second yellow card.
United would go on to clinch their first automatic promotion in 38 years with a 2-1 win over Southend United at Roots Hall on the final of the campaign, whilst the Glovers missed out on the play-offs on goal difference.
September 28th, 2004 Torquay United 4 Yeovil Town 3 - LDV Vans Trophy first round
Early in the following season, the two sides met again in the first round of the LDV Vans Trophy for a contest that also proved to be a cracker.
Jo Kuffour gave the Gulls the lead in the 17th minute, but the Glovers struck back through Latvian international Andreijs Stolcers who volleyed home three minutes before half-time.
In the second half, skipper Craig Taylor headed home on 53 minutes with an effort which bounced over the line after hitting the underside of the bar. Six minutes later Adebayo Akinfenwa cut through the Glovers' defence before beating Yeovil keeper Steve Collis to give United a two-goal cushion.
Adrian Caceres then reduced the Glovers' to a single goal in the 67th minute as he cut in from the left and unleashed an unstoppable strike past United's substitute keeper Kevin Dearden.
With six minutes to go, Yeovil's Polish striker Bartosz Tarachulski headed home to force the game into extra time. The game was eventually decided in the 116th minute when Akinfenwa slotted home, and then received a second yellow card by celebrating by sitting down in a sparsely populated Family Stand.
The Gulls bowed out of the competition in the next round to Northampton Town, and the two sides would swap divisions at the end of the season as United were relegated from League One and Yeovil lifted the League Two title.
August 29th, 2015 Torquay United 0 Cheltenham Town 3 - National League
Aaron Downes returned to haunt United as he helped to
inspire Cheltenham Town to victory over the Gulls.
Aussie Downes, who is currently working at
Plainmoor as assistant manager to Gary Johnson, was amongst several players
released by the Gulls in the summer of 2015 in what was a period of great
change for United. The close season also saw a takeover by a new board of
directors, headed by chairman Dave Phillips, the appointment of Dean Edwards as
director of football and Paul Cox replaced Chris Hargreaves as manager.
On his arrival at Whaddon Road, Downes was also
part of a new beginning for the Robins, as he was named as captain of a squad
that Johnson had virtually built from scratch. Current United skipper Asa Hall
was the only survivor from the Cheltenham who were relegated from the Football
League in the 2014-15 campaign.
The Robins found themselves a man down after
George McLennan saw red after eight minutes for foul on United’s on loan AFC
Bournemouth before Downes opening the scoring on 28 minutes when he headed home
a free-kick from Jack Munns. A second half brace from Danny Wright, which
included a penalty for his second, completed the scoring.
Cheltenham later went on to win the National
League title at the first attempt, whilst the Gulls avoided relegation to
National League South in their first ‘great escape’ under Kevin Nicholson.
Sunday 22 March 2020
WHAT NEXT FOR THE 2019-20 CAMPAIGN?
All being well the Premier League, the Football League and the Women's Super League should be back up and running on April 30th - after being suspended due to the coronavirus.
The National League is suspended until April 3rd - however, that could last much longer.
Finding a solution to the end of the 2019-20 campaign is by no means easy, and there is still no guarantee that play will resume after that date.
Declare the season null and void.
There have been a few suggestions from certain quarters that the 2019-20 season must be declared void. However, it is surely in everyone's best interests that all fixtures are completed. The game's governing bodies have already offered assistance in this matter; the FA have already lifted the rule that 'the season shall terminate not later than June 1st' and Euro 2020 has been postponed by UEFA to the summer of 2021.
So it would be normal service resumed next season for 2020-21, the same 20 teams in the top-flight, the same 24 in the Championship, 23 in League One following Bury's demise and 24 each in League Two and the National League.
From the logistical point of view, it makes perfect sense and given the prizes and rewards on offer in the modern game expect legal challenges to be issued against the FA left, right and centre.
It would also mean that managers who have lost their jobs over the course of the campaign would have lost them for effectively nothing.
Finish the season in full.
With ten or fewer games remaining for most clubs in League Two and the National League, cramming as many of those games as possible into one month would represent too big a challenge. If you include the early rounds of the EFL Cup, many League One and Two clubs already play eight games in the month of August, and in the National League as many league games during that period as well.
Finishing the season in full restored the sporting integrity of the competition, but with no guaranteed return date complications begin to set in. Then there is the issue of players contracts, with many deals in the National League expiring shortly after the last day of the season. This would mean, in theory, that if the resumption date was pushed back to September some teams could start the season with a brand new team.
If you examine this idea more closely, the more it becomes dependent on the season re-starting sooner rather than later.
Promote, but don't relegate.
This proposal is reportedly being considered by the Bundesliga in Germany, which would increase the German top-flight division to 22 clubs - with two teams promoted and none relegated.
If implemented in England, it would see Leeds United promoted to the Premier League and five relegated in the 2020-21 campaign. Further down the pyramid it would also see Coventry and Rotherham United promoted to the Championship and Crewe Alexandra, Swindon Town and Plymouth Argyle promoted to League One. To make up the numbers in the Football League following Bury's expulsion Barrow, Harrogate Town and Notts County would be promoted from the National League. The plan would then start to get trickier further down the pyramid as York City and Wealdstone, the respective leaders of National Leagues North and South, would be promoted to claim two of the now three vacant spaces in the National League but how would that third space be filled?
Points per game.
Our fourth and final option could probably be described as football's equivalent of cricket's Duckworth and Lewis method. It would involve calculating how many points each side has accrued per game over the course of the 2019-20 season and adding it onto their points total to determine their final league position. This would allow for a restructure which would ensure a smooth restart for the 2020-21 campaign in August or September, or possibly longer. This plan could get complicated if two teams who were in contention for promotion or relegation were due to play each other, and one of the parties wasn't happy with the predicted outcome.
The National League is suspended until April 3rd - however, that could last much longer.
Finding a solution to the end of the 2019-20 campaign is by no means easy, and there is still no guarantee that play will resume after that date.
Declare the season null and void.
There have been a few suggestions from certain quarters that the 2019-20 season must be declared void. However, it is surely in everyone's best interests that all fixtures are completed. The game's governing bodies have already offered assistance in this matter; the FA have already lifted the rule that 'the season shall terminate not later than June 1st' and Euro 2020 has been postponed by UEFA to the summer of 2021.
So it would be normal service resumed next season for 2020-21, the same 20 teams in the top-flight, the same 24 in the Championship, 23 in League One following Bury's demise and 24 each in League Two and the National League.
From the logistical point of view, it makes perfect sense and given the prizes and rewards on offer in the modern game expect legal challenges to be issued against the FA left, right and centre.
It would also mean that managers who have lost their jobs over the course of the campaign would have lost them for effectively nothing.
Finish the season in full.
With ten or fewer games remaining for most clubs in League Two and the National League, cramming as many of those games as possible into one month would represent too big a challenge. If you include the early rounds of the EFL Cup, many League One and Two clubs already play eight games in the month of August, and in the National League as many league games during that period as well.
Finishing the season in full restored the sporting integrity of the competition, but with no guaranteed return date complications begin to set in. Then there is the issue of players contracts, with many deals in the National League expiring shortly after the last day of the season. This would mean, in theory, that if the resumption date was pushed back to September some teams could start the season with a brand new team.
If you examine this idea more closely, the more it becomes dependent on the season re-starting sooner rather than later.
Promote, but don't relegate.
This proposal is reportedly being considered by the Bundesliga in Germany, which would increase the German top-flight division to 22 clubs - with two teams promoted and none relegated.
If implemented in England, it would see Leeds United promoted to the Premier League and five relegated in the 2020-21 campaign. Further down the pyramid it would also see Coventry and Rotherham United promoted to the Championship and Crewe Alexandra, Swindon Town and Plymouth Argyle promoted to League One. To make up the numbers in the Football League following Bury's expulsion Barrow, Harrogate Town and Notts County would be promoted from the National League. The plan would then start to get trickier further down the pyramid as York City and Wealdstone, the respective leaders of National Leagues North and South, would be promoted to claim two of the now three vacant spaces in the National League but how would that third space be filled?
Points per game.
Our fourth and final option could probably be described as football's equivalent of cricket's Duckworth and Lewis method. It would involve calculating how many points each side has accrued per game over the course of the 2019-20 season and adding it onto their points total to determine their final league position. This would allow for a restructure which would ensure a smooth restart for the 2020-21 campaign in August or September, or possibly longer. This plan could get complicated if two teams who were in contention for promotion or relegation were due to play each other, and one of the parties wasn't happy with the predicted outcome.
Wednesday 18 March 2020
HALL AWARD PROVIDES GULLS FAITHFUL WITH SOME LIGHT RELIEF
Torquay United skipper Asa Hall lifting the Vanarama National League player of the month award for February 2020 has provided the Plainmoor faithful with some light relief following the announcement that the National League has suspended all playing activities.
During the course of the month, United lost narrowly to league leaders Barrow - Hall's former club - before recording back-to-back wins against FC Halifax Town and Chorley.
This news comes following the announcement on Monday that the National League announced that it would be falling into line with the Premier League, Football League and Women's Super League and suspending all matches until April 3rd, 2020.
In the meantime the Gulls' players have been sent home and manager Gary Johnson has given the United squad their own individual fitness programmes, which includes running, injury prevention exercises and yoga, to follow which Johnson and his coaching staff will be monitoring via a smartphone app. The app will record all the running activities that the players have been given and Johnson has also had each player weighed and is expecting them to return from their enforced break the same weight as when they went away.
Thankfully none of the United have tested positive for the Covid-19 virus, or have shown signs of any symptoms.
In addition to this, Plainmoor will be closed until March 25th and all of the age groups in the club's Junior Premier League set-up has been suspended.
The perilous nature of non-league football was reflected by a news item that emerged from the National League this week. Barnet, who the Gulls famously met in a final-day relegation decider in the 2000-01 season from Division Three - now League Two, have served all of their non-playing staff with redundancy notices.
With many clubs in the National League for whom gate receipts and other match-day income make up a large part of their turnover, hopefully all member clubs will receive the sufficient level of support during what is proving to be an extremely testing period which is unprecedented in modern times.
During the course of the month, United lost narrowly to league leaders Barrow - Hall's former club - before recording back-to-back wins against FC Halifax Town and Chorley.
This news comes following the announcement on Monday that the National League announced that it would be falling into line with the Premier League, Football League and Women's Super League and suspending all matches until April 3rd, 2020.
In the meantime the Gulls' players have been sent home and manager Gary Johnson has given the United squad their own individual fitness programmes, which includes running, injury prevention exercises and yoga, to follow which Johnson and his coaching staff will be monitoring via a smartphone app. The app will record all the running activities that the players have been given and Johnson has also had each player weighed and is expecting them to return from their enforced break the same weight as when they went away.
Thankfully none of the United have tested positive for the Covid-19 virus, or have shown signs of any symptoms.
In addition to this, Plainmoor will be closed until March 25th and all of the age groups in the club's Junior Premier League set-up has been suspended.
The perilous nature of non-league football was reflected by a news item that emerged from the National League this week. Barnet, who the Gulls famously met in a final-day relegation decider in the 2000-01 season from Division Three - now League Two, have served all of their non-playing staff with redundancy notices.
With many clubs in the National League for whom gate receipts and other match-day income make up a large part of their turnover, hopefully all member clubs will receive the sufficient level of support during what is proving to be an extremely testing period which is unprecedented in modern times.
Sunday 15 March 2020
COVID LATEST: NATIONAL LEAGUE SET TO SUSPEND ACTIVITY
While many National League clubs played on in spite of the Premier League, the Football League and the Women's Super League suspending playing activities, Torquay United's fixture away to Boreham Wood was postponed.
The decision was made in light of the news that Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta was diagnosed with COVID-19 and due to the Wood's strong links with the Gunners - Arsenal's Under-23 and women's teams both use the Wood's Meadow Park - the decision was made to postpone the Gulls' trip to Hertfordshire.
Although Arteta hadn't visited Meadow Park for some time, several of his backroom staff who have come into contact with Arteta had been present at Meadow Park recently to attend Gunners' development and youth team games, so the decision was made to postpone United's visit along with the Arsenal Under-23's PL2 meeting with their Tottenham Hotspur counterparts and Arsenal women's WSL encounter with Spurs' Ladies.
United boss Gary Johnson described the decision as 'absolutely the right decision in the circumstances' before adding: "The only thing I can't understand is how come we are the only league that needs to be playing."
Out of the six games which did go ahead in the National League the pick of them was arguably in-form Notts County's 4-0 win over Eastleigh, but Spitfires manager Ben Strevens was very critical of the decision to play the fixture.
"The reason it went ahead is because whoever sits on the board of the National League just cared about the money," said Strevens. "There is no way whatsoever that the games should have been played. By Monday all of the games will be stopped, 100% they will."
The National League Board due to meet again on Monday afternoon to discuss whether to follow the precedent already set by the Premier League, the Football League and the Women's Super League - who have suspended all fixtures until April 3rd.
It is also widely expected that Prime Minister Boris Johnson will reverse the decision to ban public gatherings which attract crowds of 500 or more, which itself would force the National League, along with National League's North and South into hibernation.
The decision was made in light of the news that Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta was diagnosed with COVID-19 and due to the Wood's strong links with the Gunners - Arsenal's Under-23 and women's teams both use the Wood's Meadow Park - the decision was made to postpone the Gulls' trip to Hertfordshire.
Although Arteta hadn't visited Meadow Park for some time, several of his backroom staff who have come into contact with Arteta had been present at Meadow Park recently to attend Gunners' development and youth team games, so the decision was made to postpone United's visit along with the Arsenal Under-23's PL2 meeting with their Tottenham Hotspur counterparts and Arsenal women's WSL encounter with Spurs' Ladies.
United boss Gary Johnson described the decision as 'absolutely the right decision in the circumstances' before adding: "The only thing I can't understand is how come we are the only league that needs to be playing."
Out of the six games which did go ahead in the National League the pick of them was arguably in-form Notts County's 4-0 win over Eastleigh, but Spitfires manager Ben Strevens was very critical of the decision to play the fixture.
"The reason it went ahead is because whoever sits on the board of the National League just cared about the money," said Strevens. "There is no way whatsoever that the games should have been played. By Monday all of the games will be stopped, 100% they will."
The National League Board due to meet again on Monday afternoon to discuss whether to follow the precedent already set by the Premier League, the Football League and the Women's Super League - who have suspended all fixtures until April 3rd.
It is also widely expected that Prime Minister Boris Johnson will reverse the decision to ban public gatherings which attract crowds of 500 or more, which itself would force the National League, along with National League's North and South into hibernation.
Thursday 12 March 2020
SOUTH WEST CLUBS AWAIT CLARITY OVER CORONAVIRUS
Torquay United manager Gary Johnson has become the latest figure to voice his concerns about the effect that the coronavirus could have on lower league football in England.
Johnson, 64, who the most experienced manager in English football with over 30 years in management and coaching and with six promotions to his name, admits that he has never seen anything like it.
“I have had games where quite a few of the lads have caught the flu or a cold and I have been left thinking about how I am going to put a team together – but nothing like this," said Johnson.
"This is a bit more serious. It’s world-wide and it does sort of put football into perspective. I am listening to everything that goes on and we have made a lot of provisions here at the training ground and at the club to make sure that we are as vigilant as we can be in trying to stop the spread, like everyone else. We just have to wait and see how it develops. Everybody’s hoping that we are going to wake up and say ‘it’s all gone’ – but it looks like there’s a plan and all of us are going to be part of that plan - and it’s definitely going to affect our hobbies and businesses, and football comes into that category."
Traditional pre-match handshakes between teams has already been halted in a bid to stop the spread of infection, which is already having a wider reaching impact on the game.
Earlier this week Manchester City's Premier League encounter with Arsenal was postponed due to the virus; a number of Arsenal's players and club staff were in close proximity to Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis, who is also owner of Greek club Olympiakos - the Gunners' recent Europa League opponents, who has been diagnosed with the Covid-19 virus.
The possibility of playing all games in English football behind closed doors has been discussed, as has the financial implication of such a decision. Tranmere Rovers chairman Mark Palios has already indicated this decision could cost clubs in the region of £400,000 to £500,000 in lost revenue.
This has particular relevance to Plymouth Argyle and Exeter City, who are both challenging for promotion from League Two and are due to meet a week next Monday (23rd March) live on Sky Sports. There is a possibility that that encounter could yet take place behind closed doors.
Pilgrims' boss Ryan Lowe admitted that he would be 'very, very disappointed' if Argyle had to play games behind closed doors at Home Park for the remainder of the campaign.
UEFA will be meeting with the heads of all of 55 football federations next Tuesday; in the meantime the League has announced that it will continue to liaise with the Government regarding any further developments and work with clubs to ensure players, staff and supporters are updated and appraised accordingly.
Johnson, 64, who the most experienced manager in English football with over 30 years in management and coaching and with six promotions to his name, admits that he has never seen anything like it.
“I have had games where quite a few of the lads have caught the flu or a cold and I have been left thinking about how I am going to put a team together – but nothing like this," said Johnson.
"This is a bit more serious. It’s world-wide and it does sort of put football into perspective. I am listening to everything that goes on and we have made a lot of provisions here at the training ground and at the club to make sure that we are as vigilant as we can be in trying to stop the spread, like everyone else. We just have to wait and see how it develops. Everybody’s hoping that we are going to wake up and say ‘it’s all gone’ – but it looks like there’s a plan and all of us are going to be part of that plan - and it’s definitely going to affect our hobbies and businesses, and football comes into that category."
Traditional pre-match handshakes between teams has already been halted in a bid to stop the spread of infection, which is already having a wider reaching impact on the game.
Earlier this week Manchester City's Premier League encounter with Arsenal was postponed due to the virus; a number of Arsenal's players and club staff were in close proximity to Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis, who is also owner of Greek club Olympiakos - the Gunners' recent Europa League opponents, who has been diagnosed with the Covid-19 virus.
The possibility of playing all games in English football behind closed doors has been discussed, as has the financial implication of such a decision. Tranmere Rovers chairman Mark Palios has already indicated this decision could cost clubs in the region of £400,000 to £500,000 in lost revenue.
This has particular relevance to Plymouth Argyle and Exeter City, who are both challenging for promotion from League Two and are due to meet a week next Monday (23rd March) live on Sky Sports. There is a possibility that that encounter could yet take place behind closed doors.
Pilgrims' boss Ryan Lowe admitted that he would be 'very, very disappointed' if Argyle had to play games behind closed doors at Home Park for the remainder of the campaign.
UEFA will be meeting with the heads of all of 55 football federations next Tuesday; in the meantime the League has announced that it will continue to liaise with the Government regarding any further developments and work with clubs to ensure players, staff and supporters are updated and appraised accordingly.
Thursday 5 March 2020
DEVELOPING AN UNDERSTANDING
While at the top end of professional football playing with a lone striker up front has been in vogue in recent times, but in the Vanarama National League strike partnerships are very much in fashion.
Looking at the forward lines of many of the leading sides in the National League such as leaders Barrow for whom Scott Quigley and Dior Angus have helped the Bluebirds fly to the top of the table.
The same can also be said for a number of other clubs near the top of the division including Boreham Wood, who are currently mounting a serious play-off challenge with Kabby Tshimanga and former Gull Tyrone Marsh both finding the back of the net on a regular basis. Another former United striker Rhys Murphy has also formed an extremely effective partnership with Courtney Duffus at Yeovil Town.
While Torquay United have once again enjoyed the goal scoring exploits of Jamie Reid, but whereas in National League South he developed a strong partnership with Bristol City loanee Saikou Janneh, as the pair scored 50 goals between them, he hadn't replicated that same understanding with anyone following United's promotion back to the National League; that is until the arrival of Ade Azeez on loan from Newport County.
So far the Reid-Azeez partnership has yielded a goal-a-game, Azeez marked his second debut for the Gulls - he originally joined United on loan from Charlton Athletic as a teenager in the 2013-14 season - with the decisive goal of the game against FC Halifax Town. This was then followed up by a 2-0 win over Chorley, in which Reid scored United's second goal of the game, which was also his 21st of the campaign, when he turned home Ben Whitfield's cross in the 80th minute.
After the Gulls' victory over Chorley, the Gulls are now eight points clear of relegation and six off the play-offs, so a late charge for the top seven is not beyond the realms of possibility. If United are to make a late dash for the play-offs, then the goals of Reid and Azeez are highly likely to play a big part in achieving that feat.
Looking at the forward lines of many of the leading sides in the National League such as leaders Barrow for whom Scott Quigley and Dior Angus have helped the Bluebirds fly to the top of the table.
The same can also be said for a number of other clubs near the top of the division including Boreham Wood, who are currently mounting a serious play-off challenge with Kabby Tshimanga and former Gull Tyrone Marsh both finding the back of the net on a regular basis. Another former United striker Rhys Murphy has also formed an extremely effective partnership with Courtney Duffus at Yeovil Town.
While Torquay United have once again enjoyed the goal scoring exploits of Jamie Reid, but whereas in National League South he developed a strong partnership with Bristol City loanee Saikou Janneh, as the pair scored 50 goals between them, he hadn't replicated that same understanding with anyone following United's promotion back to the National League; that is until the arrival of Ade Azeez on loan from Newport County.
So far the Reid-Azeez partnership has yielded a goal-a-game, Azeez marked his second debut for the Gulls - he originally joined United on loan from Charlton Athletic as a teenager in the 2013-14 season - with the decisive goal of the game against FC Halifax Town. This was then followed up by a 2-0 win over Chorley, in which Reid scored United's second goal of the game, which was also his 21st of the campaign, when he turned home Ben Whitfield's cross in the 80th minute.
After the Gulls' victory over Chorley, the Gulls are now eight points clear of relegation and six off the play-offs, so a late charge for the top seven is not beyond the realms of possibility. If United are to make a late dash for the play-offs, then the goals of Reid and Azeez are highly likely to play a big part in achieving that feat.
Sunday 1 March 2020
FIVE THINGS WE LEARNED FROM TORQUAY UNITED VERSUS CHORLEY
1. Back to back wins for the first time since last November.
By following up last week's win over FC Halifax Town with another victory over Chorley, Torquay United secured back-to-back wins for the first time since early November 2019. Ironically that sequence included a win over FC Halifax - and that point the Gulls were fifth in the table, and firmly in play-off contention. If they can keep their current winning going then United could be able to mount a late charge for the top seven.
2. Robbie Cundy's first goal for the club.
United centre back Robbie Cundy was in the right place at the right time as he connected with Joe Lewis' free-kick to head the Gulls in front on the stroke of half-time. As well as being Cundy's maiden effort for the club, it was also the seventh United goal scored by a defender: Kyle Cameron 2, Liam Davis 2, Ben Wynter 1, Jean Yves Koue Niate 1.
3. Joe Lewis' assist and all-round display.
Throughout his loan spell with United from Swansea City, Wales Under-21 international Joe Lewis has played in the variety of different positions - at both right and left back as well central midfield. However, on Saturday, he excelled in his preferred position of centre back, alongside Robbie Cundy and Kyle Cameron against Chorley and he also provided the assist for Cundy's opener from a free-kick just inside the Chorley half.
4. The Azeez-Reid partnership is working - it just needs a few more finishing touches.
The burgeoning partnership between leading scorer Jamie Reid and Ade Azeez is working for United so far. Against Chorley, the duo showed on more than one occasion that they were on the same wavelength as each other and linked up well, but they contrived to miss three golden opportunities early in the second half after picking each other out - Azeez on 49 minutes and Reid in the 50th and 55th minutes respectively. In their defence, the wet surface and the windy conditions probably didn't help and Reid did eventually find the target for his 21st of the campaign when he tapped home Ben Whitfield's cross on 80 minutes. This now means the duo have averaged one goal a game since they started playing together.
5. Four clean sheets in six.
If scoring goals was United's forte in the first half of the campaign, keeping clean sheets is starting to become their speciality in the second half of the 2019-20 season. As well as being their second clean sheet in a row, the Gulls' shutdown against Chorley was also their fourth clean sheet in their last six matches. Also during this run, United gave only conceded four goals - two against AFC Fylde, where they won 3-2, and two against Barrow, when they went down 2-1.
By following up last week's win over FC Halifax Town with another victory over Chorley, Torquay United secured back-to-back wins for the first time since early November 2019. Ironically that sequence included a win over FC Halifax - and that point the Gulls were fifth in the table, and firmly in play-off contention. If they can keep their current winning going then United could be able to mount a late charge for the top seven.
2. Robbie Cundy's first goal for the club.
United centre back Robbie Cundy was in the right place at the right time as he connected with Joe Lewis' free-kick to head the Gulls in front on the stroke of half-time. As well as being Cundy's maiden effort for the club, it was also the seventh United goal scored by a defender: Kyle Cameron 2, Liam Davis 2, Ben Wynter 1, Jean Yves Koue Niate 1.
3. Joe Lewis' assist and all-round display.
Throughout his loan spell with United from Swansea City, Wales Under-21 international Joe Lewis has played in the variety of different positions - at both right and left back as well central midfield. However, on Saturday, he excelled in his preferred position of centre back, alongside Robbie Cundy and Kyle Cameron against Chorley and he also provided the assist for Cundy's opener from a free-kick just inside the Chorley half.
4. The Azeez-Reid partnership is working - it just needs a few more finishing touches.
The burgeoning partnership between leading scorer Jamie Reid and Ade Azeez is working for United so far. Against Chorley, the duo showed on more than one occasion that they were on the same wavelength as each other and linked up well, but they contrived to miss three golden opportunities early in the second half after picking each other out - Azeez on 49 minutes and Reid in the 50th and 55th minutes respectively. In their defence, the wet surface and the windy conditions probably didn't help and Reid did eventually find the target for his 21st of the campaign when he tapped home Ben Whitfield's cross on 80 minutes. This now means the duo have averaged one goal a game since they started playing together.
5. Four clean sheets in six.
If scoring goals was United's forte in the first half of the campaign, keeping clean sheets is starting to become their speciality in the second half of the 2019-20 season. As well as being their second clean sheet in a row, the Gulls' shutdown against Chorley was also their fourth clean sheet in their last six matches. Also during this run, United gave only conceded four goals - two against AFC Fylde, where they won 3-2, and two against Barrow, when they went down 2-1.
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