TALKING POINTS FROM TORQUAY UNITED VERSUS PLYMOUTH ARGYLE

 1. A different test for the Gulls. 

After friendlies with Buckland Athletic and Tavistock so far in pte-season, facing Championship side Plymouth Argyle represented a different challenge for Torquay United - and it was a challenge that they coped with admirably. Although the Pilgrims looked more comfortable in possession, as you would expect who were four leagues higher, but the Gulls looked a solid outfit throughout. The backline looked particularly strong with Sam Dreyer and Jordan Dyer standing out in the centre of defence. 

2. Wotton versus Rooney. 

If you think back to 2004, Paul Wotton was captaining the Pilgrims to their Second Division title triumph, as they marked their return to the second tier for the first time in 12 years, and Wayne Rooney was playing a starring role for England in Euro 2004. As the pair embraced each other before kick off, the pair showed a mutual respect for one another, and Wotton also tipped Rooney to do well as Argyle manager in the build up to the game. It would probably be no surprise then if they maintain the relationship between the two clubs that has seen Adam Randell and Will Jenkins-Davies enjoy loan spells at Plainmoor in recent years. 

3. Cody Cooke makes a big impression. 

In his first outing for the Gulls since completing his move from Bath City, striker Cody Cooke made a positive impact from the bench after coming on at half time. In the 51st minute, he nodded a free-kick from Dan Hayfield wide. Moments later, he headed a corner from Matt Carson behind, but despite not finding the target, he added an extra dimension to United's attack and it wouldn't be a surprise to see him start their next friendly against Exeter City. 

4. A shout out to the Bryn Consortium. 

Before kick off, members of the Bryn Consortium including co-chairman Michael Westcott and Mark Bowes-Cavanagh were presented to the fans ahead of what was the first home fixture since they took ownership. Both Westcott and Bowes-Cavanagh made speeches to the crowd in which they paid tribute to the club's supporters, the Torquay United Supporter's Trust and to the Plymouth Argyle who came to support the club during 'Devon Day' last season. 

Since they brought the club out of Administration, United have been transformed on and off the field. With a virtually brand new squad, the appointment of Paul Wotton as manager with Neil Warnock acting as a football advisor to the board and Plainmoor has also been revamped. All of these ingredients helped to achieve a sell out crowd, and as Michael Westcott said: 'this is only the start of the journey.'

5. Stoppages for medical emergencies. 

Another talking point from the game on Saturday was the medical emergencies in the crowd which saw the game paused on multiple occasions. All incidents occurred on the Popular Side, two of which happened in the first half in the 19th and 39th minutes respectively. There was also another incident that occurred at half time and one towards the end of the second half, which resulted in a brief stoppage. 

Later on that night, the club released a statement saying that all four fans who suffered medical emergencies had recovered and didn't require hospital treatment.

JACK ROWLEY - THE MANCHESTER UNITED LEGEND WHO MANAGED PLYMOUTH ARGYLE

In addition to being the fourth ex-Everton player to have managed Plymouth Argyle, Wayne Rooney is also the second Manchester United player to taken charge of the Pilgrims after Jack Rowley. 

Like Rooney, Rowley is one of four players who have scored over 200 goals for the Red Devils. Rowley is fourth on the list with 211, behind Denis Law with 237,  Sir Bobby Charlton with 249 and Rooney with 253. One thing that is worth taking into account is that Rowley's haul was achieved despite him missing seven seasons due to the Second World War between 1939 and 1945. 

Rowley started his career with his hometown club Wolverhampton Wanderers without making a first team appearance before joining Bournemouth and Boscombe Athletic in 1937, where he scored ten goals in first 11 appearances. His form brought him to the attention of several bigger clubs and he became a Manchester United player when they paid £3,000 for his services after only eight months on the South Coast. 

Like many players of his generation, Rowley saw his career interrupted by the outbreak of the Second World War in September 1939; he served in the army during the conflict. Nevertheless, he had managed to find the back of the net 18 times in 58 appearances. 

Once professional football resumed in 1946, Sir Matt Busby had been appointed as Manchester United manager and he converted Rowley from being an outside left. to a centre forward. 

He became an integral part of the club's first success under Busby when he netted twice in the 1948 FA Cup final in which they beat Blackpool 4-2. He also helped the Red Devils' to clinch their first league title under Busby in the 1951-52 season. During this time, he also made six appearances for England, scoring six goals.

In 1955, he arrived at Home Park as player-manager and saved the Pilgrims from relegation from the Second Division in his first season (1954-55), but he was unable to keep them up in his second campaign in charge (1955-56).

After going close to promotion in the 1957-58 season, he eventually led Argyle to the Third Division South title in the 1958-59 campaign. This would be the last league title that the Pilgrims would win until they lifted the Third Division in the 2001-02 season under Paul Sturrock. 

However, Argyle struggled to adjust to life in the second tier and Rowley was dismissed in March 1960. He then went on to have two spells as manager of Oldham Athletic (1960-1963 &1968-1969), the first would see him lead the Latics to promotion from the Fourth Division in 1962-63, Ajax, Wrexham and Bradford Park Avenue.  

 

ENGLAND HEAD INTO SECOND SUCCESSIVE EUROS FINAL - THANKS TO WATKINS

 Thanks in no small part to former Exeter City striker Ollie Watkins, England will be heading into a second successive UEFA European Championship finals. 

Watkins' late strike in the semi-final against the Netherlands ensured that Gareth Southgate's Three Lions will be following up their Euro 2020 final appearance against Italy with a date with Spain in the final of Euro 2024. 

Xavi Simons had given the Dutch the lead in the first half before Harry Kane equalised with a penalty that was awarded after the intervention of VAR, which ruled that Kane had been fouled by Netherlands defender Denzel Dumfries. 

Then, just when the match appeared to be heading towards extra time, Watkins combined with fellow sub Cole Palmer and found the back of the net with a shot on the turn to seal England's place in the final. 

Watkins' late effort drew certain similarities with a goal he once scored for the Grecians on April 2, 2016, which helped them to defeat Plymouth Argyle in a Devon Derby at St James Park. 

Like England, City were trailing 1-0 after Jamille Matt gave the Pilgrims the lead before Watkins equalised in the 80th minute. He then struck again in injury time with a long range strike which found the top corner and seal all three points and a league double over Argyle. 

At the time, you couldn't thought it couldn't have been much better for Watkins, but his subsequent career with Brentford, Aston Villa and now England have seen him reach new heights. However, scoring the winner in a Devon Derby in those circumstances eight years ago would surely have played its part in helping him along the way.