GULLS GEAR UP FOR THE TROPHY LAST EIGHT

After returning to winning ways against Solihull Moors on Tuesday night, Torquay United's attentions now switch to the FA Trophy as they head to Woking in the FA Trophy quarter finals. 

Since United were relegated from the Football League for a second time in 2014 they have faced the Cards 15 times across two different leagues - the National League and the National League South - and the FA Cup. Those games have served up plenty of goal fests - including a 3-3 draw at Kingfield in front of a crowd of 4,5000, which helped the Gulls to all but seal the 2018-19 National League South title - and a number of red cards. If you want drama then encounters between Torquay and Woking have served up as much tension as the likes of Line of Duty and Game of Thrones. 

Both sides have previous in the FA Trophy; the Cards have won the competitions three times (1994, 1995 and 1997) and the Gulls have been runners-up (2008). United manager Gary Johnson has also won the FA Trophy during his time as Yeovil Town manager (2002), shortly before he led the Glovers into the Football League.

With the Gulls still top of the National League - the non-league 'double' of the National League title and the FA Trophy is still on for Johnson's men. It's a feat that hasn't occured since Wycombe Wanderers won the Conference title and FA Trophy in the 1992-93 season under the management of Martin O'Neill, before he went on to enjoy his illustrious career with Norwich City, Leicester City, Glasgow Celtic, Aston Villa, Sunderland and Nottingham Forest as well as the Republic of Ireland national team. 

If United and Johnson could emulate that achievement in the 2020-21 campaign - it would surely rank as one of the biggest success stories in the history of non-league football, especially on the back of the Gulls' National League South title triumph in 2019.

FA Trophy quarter finals: 

Notts County vs Oxford City

Darlington vs Hornchurch

Aldershot Town vs Hereford FC

Woking vs Torquay United 

SIX TALKING POINTS FROM TORQUAY UNITED VERSUS FC HALIFAX TOWN

1. Gulls still top, but only just. 

Despite losing 3-2 to FC Halifax Town last night, Torquay United still remain top of the National League - but only by four points. A win against the Shaymen would have restored the seven point cushion that United held over second placed Sutton United, who won 4-1 against Wealdstone. With the U's having three games in hand over the Gulls, if they were to win all three points of them then they could comfortably overtake United.

2. Only two league wins since Danny Wright's injury. 

Since leading scorer Danny Wright was substituted with a hamstring injury against Yeovil Town on Boxing Day, United have only won twice in the league. Those wins came against Weymouth on December 28 and Barnet on January 30. It is hoped that Wright may return from injury sooner than expected - and everyone at Plainmoor will be keeping their fingers crossed that he can.

3. Asa Hall still has plenty of offer as a player. 

After being indentified by Gulls boss Gary Johnson as a potential manager of the future United skipper Asa Hall showed that he still has plenty of offer as player after netting twice from the penalty spot. Hall converted twice in the 41st and 71st minute after Shaymen right-back Jeff King conceded two penalties for the visitors. However, King had the final say on the outcome of the match as he scored the winner for Halifax with two minutes to go.

4. Aaron Nemane's absence was also felt. 

The introduction of Jake Andrews in place of the injured Kyle Cameron in the 13th minute saw United switch from a 3-5-2 formation to a 4-4-2 formation which saw Connor Lemonheigh-Evans deployed on the right hand side of midfield. It was at this point that the absence of the one-time Manchester City starlet Nemane on the right wing was keenly felt for United. The Frenchman has been a revelation for the Gulls this season, not just for his crossing ability, but for his willingness to track back as well.

5. Cameron joins an ever growing injury list. 

Aside from the result, one of the most disappointing factors of last night was the injury sustained by Kyle Cameron. The former Newcastle United youngster now joins a list that includes Lucas Covolan, Gary Warren, Fraser Kerr, Liam Davis, Dean Moxey, Aaron Nemane, Armani Little, Andrew Nelson and, of course, Danny Wright.

6. The result makes it 4-4 on aggregate over the two meetings between the sides. 

After United beat the Shaymen 2-1 at the Shay last November, the aggregate score over the two National League games between the two sides is 4-4. Who would have predicted that at the start of the season?

GARY JOHNSON'S MANAGERIAL PROTEGES

In a recent question and answer session on the official Torquay United website, Gulls boss Gary Johnson named Asa Hall as a possible manager of the future, when asked whether he could see any of his current squad as potential management material. 

Should Hall go down the managerial route he will find himself in good company, as there are currently five players who have previously served under Johnson working as managers in the Football League.

Gary Rowett - Millwall (Cambridge United)

Millwall manager Gary Rowett was a young defender who had established himself as a regular in the Cambridge United side that just been relegated from Division One - now Championship - at the end of the 1992-93 season when he featured for the U's under Gary Johnson. Midway through the 1993-94 season, Rowett earned himself a move to Everton and then went on to appear for Derby County, Birmingham City, Leicester City and Charlton Athletic amongst others. 

He started out as a manager in 2012 with Burton Albion, and he led the Brewers to the League Two play-offs twice before being appointed as Birmingham City manager in 2014. A change of ownership led to Rowett leaving St Andrews in 2016, and has gone onto manage Derby County, who he led to the Championship play-offs in 2017-18, Stoke City and Millwall. 

Gareth Ainsworth - Wycombe Wanderers (Cambridge United) 

Currently the second longest serving manager in the Football League behind Harrogate Town's Simon Weaver, Wycombe Wanderers boss Gareth Ainsworth had a brief spell playing under Gary Johnson at Cambridge United in the 1992-93 season, following the dismissal of John Beck. Ainsworth was reunited with Beck at Preston North End and Lincoln City before going onto star for the likes of Port Vale, Cardiff City, Wimbledon and Queens Park Rangers. 

As a manager, Ainsworth had two caretaker stints with QPR before taking charge of the Chairboys in the 2012-13 season and has since led them from League Two to the Championship.

Nathan Jones - Luton Town (Yeovil Town) 

Signed for Yeovil Town by Gary Johnson following their promotion to League One in the summer of 2005, Welshman Nathan Jones also worked as a coach under Johnson briefly following his return to Huish Park in January 2012. 

Later that year, Jones left Huish Park and held coaching roles at Charlton Athletic and Brighton and Hove Albion before he was given his managerial break by Luton Town in 2016. In his first season at Kenilworth Road, Jones led the Hatters to promotion from League Two as runners-up in the 2017-18 campaign and established them as a force in League One before accepting the position as Stoke City manager in 2019. Jones was sacked by the Potters after just over ten months in charge and returned to Luton once the 2019-20 Championship season restarted again following the coronavirus pandemic before leading them to safety. 

Lee Johnson - Sunderland (Yeovil Town/Bristol City)

Like father, like son, Lee Johnson has followed his dad Gary into management after playing under him at both Yeovil Town and Bristol City. Johnson started out at Oldham Athletic in 2013 and one of his early games in charge of the Latics saw him face Johnson senior's Yeovil side in April 2013. 

His next stop in his managerial was Barnsley before he followed in his father's footsteps to take charge of Bristol City in 2016. Highlights of his spell in charge at Ashton Gate included reaching the semi-finals of the EFL Cup in the 2017-18 season after beating a Manchester United side managed by Jose Mourinho in the quarter finals. Johnson junior was dismissed by the Robins in 2020 and he is currently looking to revive Sunderland's fortunes in League One. 

Grant McCann - Hull City (Peterborough United) 

Former Northern Ireland international Grant McCann was handed the Peterborough United captain's armband by Gary Johnson following his appointment as manager of the Posh in the summer of 2010.  He continued with the role in the wake of Johnson's dismissal by Peterborough chairman Darragh MacAnthony to make way for the return of Darren Ferguson midway through the 2010-11 campaign. 

After a brief playing spell back in Belfast with Linfield, McCann took charge of the Posh in 2016 and has since managed Doncaster Rovers as well as his current club Hull City.

THE LATEST INSTALLMENT IN THE TORQUAY UNITED - WOKING SAGA

Forget Games of Thrones, forget Line of Duty, if it's real drama that you are looking for then you'd need look no further than Torquay United's recent encounters with Woking.

When the Gulls face the Cards on Saturday on Kingfield, it will be the fifth time that the two sides have met in the past three seasons (2018-19, 2019-20 and the current 2020-21), not to mention the six meetings in the two campaigns prior to that (2016-17 & 2017-18). 

If the footage of these games were made into a boxset, it would surely be a bestseller. And there's still an FA Trophy quarter final in the FA Trophy to follow later this month. They include memorable comebacks, cup victories and numerous red cards and also a ‘pantomime villain’ (Ben Gerring).

Here's a recap of the previous five meetings between the two sides in the 2018-19 and 2019-20 seasons: 

September 29, 2018    Torquay United 2    Woking 2 - National League South

Local boy Jamie Reid was the star of the show as Torquay United came from behind to secure a draw with National League South leaders Woking in Gary Johnson’s first home game in charge of the Gulls. First half efforts from Max Kretzschmar and Jake Hyde gave the visitors a two-goal cushion in the first half before Reid struck with a brace in the final ten minutes to claim a point for United.

November 10, 2018    Torquay United 0    Woking 1 - FA Cup first round proper

A 48^th minute penalty from Max Kretzschmar proved to be enough to earn Woking a 1-0 win over Torquay United in the FA Cup 1^st round. Kretzschmar's spot-kick, which was awarded after Jean Yves Koue Niate felled Jamar Loza, ultimately proved to be the difference for the Cards, who then went onto beat Swindon Town in the second round before facing Premier League side Watford.

April 6, 2019    Woking 3    Torquay United 3 - National League South 

Two goals in the last ten minutes of their Vanarama National League South 'six-pointer' with Woking left Torquay United within touching distance of securing the division's title.
Greg Luer had given the Cards the lead on seven minutes before Jamie Reid equalised for United, following good work from Ruairi Keating, to score his 31st of the season and Torquay's 100th in all competitions. Luer then restored Woking's lead with his second of the game and Kieron Cadogan, cousin of Torquay left-back Liam Davis, added a third midway through the second half.
With ten minutes to go, Saikou Janneh headed home his 18th of the season after Kyle Cameron headed a Jake Andrews corner back across goal to reduce United's arrears to a single goal.
The Cards were then reduced to ten men after ex-Torquay defender Ben Gerring became the villain of the afternoon - receiving a second yellow card for a foul on Reid.
With a numerical advantage, the Gulls then saved the best for last as right-back Ben Wynter equalised with his second goal of the season to ensure that United go into the final four matches of the campaign with a seven-point gap between themselves and the Cards.

September 3, 2019    Woking 1    Torquay United 1 - National League

Ben Whitfield marked his debut for Torquay United with a goal which also served to knock Woking off top of the National League. The Cards, who were chasing a seventh successive victory, took the lead early in the second half when Dave Tarpey struck into the top-right corner after 53 minutes. Tyreke Johnson almost sealed the points for Woking but they were made to pay when Whitfield converted at the back post in the 79th minute.

December 28, 2019    Torquay United 4     Woking 1 - National League 

Despite falling behind to an early Jake Hyde strike, Torquay United rally to come from behind to hit four past Woking. Skipper Asa Hall cancelled out Hyde's opener with his second goal in as many games with a strike from distance in the 25th minute and Jamie Reid then hit his 19^th of the campaign on 37 minutes. The Cards were then reduced to ten men after Godfrey Poku received two yellow cards before Ben Whitfield and Ruairi Keating found the target for the Gulls in the 71st and 90th minutes respectively to end a run of seven straight league defeats for United. 

                                                                                     

 

                                                             

 

SIX TALKING POINTS FROM TORQUAY UNITED VERSUS WEALDSTONE

1. Waters on target. 

Billy Waters' 91st minute equaliser for United was the fifth goal that he has scored for the Gulls since arrival at Plainmoor. The former Cheltenham Town and Northampton Town striker was in the right place at the right time after skipper Asa Hall's initial effort had been blocked. It was also the third time that he has scored against Wealdstone in a Torquay United shirt, having netted a brace at Grosevenor Vale when United beat the Stones 2-1 on December 1, 2020.

2. Everything but the kitchen sink. 

In the second half, United threw everything but the kitchen sink at Wealdstone in a bid to get themselves back into the game. The pick of  United's chances fell to striker Josh Umerah on 77 minutes when he connected a corner from Ben Whitfield, but his headed effort was cleared off the line. Four minutes later, Plymouth loanee Adam Randell hit the post with a shot from the edge of the area, with Wealdstone keeper Harry Isted well beaten. United also had numerous other chances that United had before Waters levelled matters in injury time.

3. An opportunity for Olaf. 

When Rob Street joined the Gulls on loan from Crystal Palace, many United fans were wondering where youth product Olaf Koszela stood in manager Gary Johnson's plans. However, Johnson always insisted that Koszela, who has enjoyed a spell on loan at Southern League Dorchester Town this term, has a future both in the game and at the club. Koszela was named on the bench against Wealdstone and he was called upon by Johnson when he replaced Hull City loanee Max Sheaf in the 33rd minute, and set Adam Randell up for a chance that he fired over on 70 minutes.

4. Injuries taking their toll on the United squad. 

United went into the game further depleted by injuries to Dean Moxey and Armani Little that already includes goalkeeper Lucas Covolan, defenders Ben Wynter, Gary Warren, Fraser Kerr and Liam Davis, winger Aaron Nemane and strikers Danny Wright and Andrew Nelson. To compound matters further Connor Lemonheigh-Evans was serving a one-match ban for picking up five yellow cards. This was reflected by United's bench which featured Olaf Koszela and Crystal Palace loanee Rob Street, who both came on; youngsters Louis Slough and Owen Price and Truro City loanee goalkeeper James Hamon. How United might have been able to perform with a fully fit side to choose from we can only wonder. 

5. First time United have goen three home league games without a win since November 2019. 

By only drawing with Wealdstone, United have now gone three home games without a win for the first time since November-December 2019, following their 0-0 draw with Sutton United and their 2-1 defeat to Altrincham. During their previous winless league run, United lost 2-1 to Sutton on November 16, 2019, 5-1 to Stockport County in November 30, 2019 and 3-0 to Chesterfield on December 23, 2019 before ending the sequence in style with a 4-1 win over Woking on December 28, 2019. 

6. United still eight points clear. 

Despite last night's result, United remain eight points clear at the top of the National League. However, with four games in hand on the Gulls, Sutton United and Notts County, who are on 34 points and 33 points respectively, could potentially overhaul United if they win those matches. However, given how would be playing Saturday-Tuesday-Saturday in order to do it, it would be a big challenge for both sides to do it.

TONY COLLINS: FOOTBALL'S 'SUPER SPY'

Tony Collins, the first black player ever to play for Torquay United and the Football League’s first ever black manager, has died at the age of 94.

Born in Kensington in 1926, Collins was spotted by Sheffield Wednesday whilst he was serving in the Army in Italy during the Second World War. Despite never making an appearance for the Owls, Collins would appear for York City, Watford and Norwich City before Eric Webber brought him to Plainmoor in 1955.

While at Plainmoor, Collins – a left winger – would form part of one of the most exciting forward lines in the ‘old’ Division Three South, which included Ron Shaw on the right wing, Don Mills at inside-forward and Sammy Collins – United’s all-time record goal scorer and no relation - up front.

He was part of the United side that narrowly missed out on clinching the Division Three South title to Ipswich Town on goal average in the 1956-57 season.

Shortly afterwards, Collins returned to Watford and later went on to play for Crystal Palace before he was appointed as manager of Rochdale in 1959. While at Spotland, he led Dale to the 1962 League Cup final, after beating Blackburn Rovers over two legs in the semi-finals before losing to his former club Norwich in the final.

After resigning as manager of Dale in 1967, Collins didn’t manage again despite applying for numerous jobs in the Football League.

His next role in the game saw him work as a scout for Bristol City and Leeds United. His role with the West Yorkshire side saw him under Don Revie, where he complied meticulous dossiers on Leeds’ opponents that became stuff of legend as Leeds became a major force in English football.

He was also at Elland Road during Brian Clough’s infamous 44 day spell in charge. Clough also acknowledges some advice that Collins gave him in his 1994 autobiography: “I know you want to make changes and that one or two players will be on their way – but don’t rush it. Don’t be in too much of a hurry. They don’t take easily to change here, so be advised – take your time.”

Following Revie’s appointment as England manager, he was employed to compile dossiers on England’s opponents – including one which he compiled for a fixture against Scotland which was leaked to the press and led to him being dubbed as ‘football’s superspy’.

In 1976, Collins returned to Bristol City as assistant manager under Alan Dicks, which coincided with the Robins’ spell in the ‘old’ First Division between 1976 and 1980 and he even had a caretaker stint in charge at Ashton Gate in 1980 in the wake of Dicks’ departure.

Collins briefly returned to Elland Road before he was appointed as chief scout of Manchester United, and he was responsible for recommending a young Lee Sharpe, then with Torquay, to the Red Devils in 1988.

Other hopefuls that he recommended to various clubs over the course of his career included Kevin Keegan, Alan Shearer and a young Ruud Gullit who he came across during a trip to Holland.

After scouting for Queens Park Rangers, Newcastle United, Millwall and Derby County, Collins eventually retired from the game and was honoured for his services to Football by the League Manager’s Association in 2017.

Despite playing at a time when non-white players were a rarity, Collins was never affected by prejudice and few contemporary reports made reference to his colour. He even admitted himself once that he ‘never stopped to think about it.’

SOUTHPORT 0 TORQUAY UNITED 2

Torquay United booked their place in the Quarter Finals of the FA Trophy with a win over Southport in challenging weather conditions.

Goals from Josh Umerah and Billy Waters gave the Gulls their third successive win over the Sandgrounders at the Mersey Rail Community Stadium – as they bounced back from their midweek league defeat to Altrincham.

The game was given the go ahead after passing a late pitch inspection at 2.15pm and United made a strong start. The opening minutes of the game saw Ben Whitfield fire wide and Armani Little test Southport keeper Tony McMillan with a free-kick.

The Gulls were rewarded for their endeavours in the eighth minute when Adam Randell nutmegged Southport left-back Jack Doyle and produced a cross which picked out Umerah who drilled home a low shot to give the Gulls the lead.

The Sandgrounders threatened an equaliser in the 18^th minute when a Connor Woods cross found Jordan Archer, but the danger was snuffed out by the Gulls’ defence and the ball was cleared to safety.

A minute later, Little had a shot parried away by McMillan after he was teed up by Umerah.

United were forced into making an early change on 26 minutes, as Umerah limped off to be replaced by Rob Street.

Three minutes before the break, Little received the first caution of the match for a late challenge on Southport’s Jack Bainbridge.

In first half injury time, Southport carved out their best chances as a cross from Niall Watson was deflected behind for a corner. Moments later, Adam Anson saw a close range effort turned behind for another flag-kick as the Gulls maintained their lead going into the break.

Southport made a positive start to the second half as Woods connected with a cross from deep, but he could only manage a tame shot that United keeper Shaun MacDonald gathered with ease on 49 minutes.

The hosts continued to pile the pressure on the Gulls as Watson had a close range effort saved in the 52^nd minute. The rebound then fell to Jordan Archer, who then saw his shot cleared off the line by Dean Moxey.

Seven minutes later, Waters looked well placed to score a second for the Gulls but his effort was turned around the post by Sandgrounders keeper McMillan.

In the 62^nd minute, a late saving tackle from United’s stand-in skipper Kyle Cameron denied Archer as Southport continued their search for an equaliser.

Waters went close for the Gulls again on 78 minute as he saw his initial strike blocked by the Sandgrounders’ Mo Ali before connected with the rebound which was parried away by McMillan.

Deep in injury time, Waters added a second when United hit Southport on the counter attack as sub Connor Lemonheigh-Evans teed up Whitfield for a cross that was turned home by Waters.

Torquay (4-4-2): MacDonald; Randell, Lewis, Cameron, Moxey (Sherring 67); Whitfield, Sheaf, Little (Lemonheigh-Evans 46), Andrews; Umerah (Street 26), Waters