The names of those involved may have changed and it might be in a different division - but the scenario is very much the same.
Torquay United are top of their league and five points clear of their nearest challenger under a manager with a track record of winning promotion throughout his career, after their opening nine games.
At the time of writing in 2020, amidst the uncertainities which the Covid-19 pandemic has brought, this is the reality for United under Gary Johnson - a manager with six promotions to his name. The Gulls are top of the National League with 22 points - five clear of second placed Sutton United who have 17 to their name.
However, this was also the case for the Gulls after their opening nine games into the 1990-91 season in the 'old Division Four' - now League Two - under Dave Smith. Like Johnson, Smith was one of the most experienced managers in the lower leagues, and he was looking to secure a fifth promotion to go alongside those that he had previously won with Mansfield Town, Southend United (twice) and Plymouth Argyle.
Backed with serious finance following the summer takeover by Mike Bateson, Smith had added former Argyle striker Tommy Tynan and central defender Wes Saunders to the side that had finished the 1989-90 campaign in 15th place - after being 23rd in the table when he was appointed as the successor to the late Cyril Knowles.
United had won six and drawn three of their opening nine league fixtures - which would form the basis of the then club record 15-match unbeaten league that would stand until January 2019 when Johnson's National League South title winning side completed a run of 16 league fixtures without defeat.
Another parrallel can be found between United's classes of 1990-91 and 2020-21 by the fact that their ninth game of their respective campaigns saw them win 2-1. In 1990, goals from Tynan and Sean Joyce sealed a 2-1 win over Blackpool - the team the Gulls would memorably defeat on penalties in the play-off final at Wembley. While in 2020, Asa Hall and Connor Lemonheigh-Evans were on target to secure a 2-1 away win over FC Halifax Town.
The 1990-91 season would end in promotion for United, albeit through the play-offs and after Smith had been replaced by manager by youth team coach John Impey. As for what the remainder of the 2020-21 campaign will bring for the Gulls it would take a brave person to predict, given the coronavirus pandemic, but it will certainly be looked back on as a memorable one.
The Division Four table as of October 6, 1990 after Torquay United's opening nine matches:
| P | W | D | L | F | A | GD | Pts | ||
| 1 | Torquay United | 9 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 17 | 9 | 8 | 21 |
| 2 | Burnley | 9 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 16 | 10 | 6 | 16 |
| 3 | Stockport County | 9 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 14 | 8 | 6 | 16 |
| 4 | Rochdale | 9 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 14 | 10 | 4 | 16 |
| 5 | Darlington | 9 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 13 | 7 | 6 | 15 |
| 6 | Doncaster Rovers | 8 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 13 | 8 | 5 | 15 |
| 7 | Northampton Town | 9 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 12 | 11 | 1 | 15 |
| 8 | Cardiff City | 9 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 11 | 7 | 4 | 14 |
| 9 | Peterborough United | 9 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 9 | 7 | 2 | 13 |
| 10 | Maidstone United | 8 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 14 | 8 | 6 | 12 |
| 11 | Gillingham | 9 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 12 | 12 | 0 | 12 |
| 12 | Blackpool | 9 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 11 | 10 | 1 | 11 |
| 13 | Hereford United | 9 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 10 | 10 | 0 | 10 |
| 14 | Scarborough | 8 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 8 | 8 | 0 | 10 |
| 15 | Hartlepool United | 8 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 7 | 12 | -5 | 10 |
| 16 | Carlisle United | 9 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 11 | 15 | -4 | 9 |
| 17 | Scunthorpe United | 9 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 9 | 17 | -8 | 9 |
| 18 | Walsall | 9 | 1 | 5 | 3 | 10 | 13 | -3 | 8 |
| 19 | Chesterfield | 9 | 1 | 5 | 3 | 9 | 12 | -3 | 8 |
| 20 | Lincoln City | 8 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 9 | 12 | -3 | 8 |
| 21 | York City | 7 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 7 | -1 | 7 |
| 22 | Aldershot | 9 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 12 | 21 | -9 | 7 |
| 23 | Wrexham | 7 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 8 | 12 | -4 | 6 |
| 24 | Halifax Town | 8 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 9 | -9 | 2 |
