HARGREAVES AND JOHNSON GEAR UP FOR 'CIDER COLLIDER'

Prior to the start of the 2014-15 season, Torquay United met Yeovil Town in pre-season friendly with Chris Hargreaves at the helm of the Gulls and Gary Johnson in charge of the Glovers. 

However, when they meet each other in the National League in the 2022-23 campaign, possibly over the festive period, they will do so in the opposite roles to the ones that they held eight years ago after Hargreaves recently took charge at Huish Park. 

In his first managerial role since he left Plainmoor in 2015, Hargreaves' long term aim is to emulate what Johnson achieved with the Glovers nearly 20 years ago - namely to lead them into the Football League. As a player, he famously captained the Gulls to promotion from the Blue Square Premier, as it was then known, in 2009 alongside his newly appointed assistant Chris Todd. 

After leading the Glovers into the Football League in 2003, Johnson then went on to lead Yeovil into League One in 2005 before Bristol City secured his services. He then steered the Robins into the Championship in the 2006-07 campaign, which he then followed up leading them to the Championship play-off final in 2008, where they were beaten by Hull City. 

Johnson left Ashton Gate in 2010 and spells with Peterborough United and Northampton Town before he returned to Huish Park midway through the 2011-12 season. In the following 2012-13 campaign, he guided the Glovers into the Championship against the odds - as they beat Brentford 2-1 in the League One play-off final. However, their stay in the second tier only lasted for one season and he then departed Huish Park in January 2015. 

Next up for Johnson was a spell in charge of Cheltenham Town, who led to the National League title at the first attempt in 2015-16, and he remained with the Robins until his dismissal in early September 2018 - shortly before his arrival at Plainmoor. 

His impact with the Gulls was immediate as he led them to the National League South title in the 2018-19 season, after being in 14th place at the time of his appointment. Two years later, the Gulls missed out on a return to the Football League when they lost on penalties in the National League play-off final against Hartlepool United. 

As well as the connections both men have with the opposing club adding an extra dimension to next season's fixtures, it will also be the only local derby for either side following Weymouth's relegation to National League South. They may not be in the same county, but they both have stands sponsored by Thatcher's Cider - so 'Cider Collider' sounds like quite an apt name for when they both meet. 

JOHNSON LOOKING TO REBUILD

For the second season in a row Torquay United manager Gary Johnson is facing another rebuild after several of his squad opted to seek pastures new. 

Attacking midfielders Armani Little and Connor Lemonheigh-Evans have turned down new deals with the club and 2021-22 Player of the Year Shaun MacDonald has also decided to try and secure a contract in the EFL. In addition to this, veteran striker Danny Wright and right back Ben Wynter have opted to search for new clubs nearer their families in Gloucester and London respectively. 

They could yet be joined by centre back Joe Lewis who the Gulls will be due compensation for, as he under the age of 24. 

With nearly all of those players mentioned above, Johnson had a hand in their recruitment. Lemonheigh-Evans, MacDonald and Wynter were all first brought to the club by his predecessor Gary Owers, but Johnson did bring Lemonheigh-Evans back for his second and third loan stints before signing him permanently in the summer of 2020 and he re-signed MacDonald in September 2021, after his departure at the end of the 2020-21 campaign. 

The three R's - recruitment, recruitment, recruitment - or the three C's - contacts, contacts and contacts - have always been important for every Torquay United manager due to the number of factors, most notably the club's geographical location. Financial considerations and budgets also have to be taken into account too. 

Last summer, Johnson had to contend with the departures of Lucas Covolan (Port Vale), Kyle Cameron & Aaron Nemane (Notts County) and Ben Whitfield (Stockport County). However, due to the late finish of the 2020-21 season due to United's play-off campaign - which saw the Gulls agonisingly miss out on a return to the EFL, as they lost to penalties to Hartlepool United. 

Nevertheless, with a longer amount of time to plan and prepare and although Johnson had talked of 'marquee' signings, it is worth mentioning a number of players that United have signed over the years haven't been considered as 'marquee' arrivals. 

Two examples include David Graham, whose star had fallen from his early days with Rangers, which saw him appear in the UEFA Cup and in an Old Firm game for the Gers. Then there is Eunan O'Kane, who arrived from Northern Irish side Coleraine after returning to the province following his release by Everton. When they eventually left Plainmoor, it was for fees of £215,000 and £175,000 respectively, which could certainly be described as 'marquee.'