Tonight's Johnstone's Paint Trophy Southern Area Quarter Final clash between Plymouth Argyle and Exeter City will be the first time that the two sides have faced each other since February 26th 2002.
Argyle, at the time, were on their way to clinching the Division Three title with a record 102 points and Exeter were later to lose their league status just over a year later.
Since then the Grecians have regained their league status and, following back to back promotions, are now establishing themselves as a League One club. The Pilgrims, on the other hand, were relegated from the Championship last season and have been extremely inconsistent during the current campaign.
It will also be the first time that the respective managers Peter Reid and Paul Tisdale have faced each other.
During his career as a player and as a manager, Reid has experienced derby matches in Merseyside, Manchester and the North East, so his experiences may prove to be beneficial to his players.
Tisdale has enjoyed consecutive promotions with the Grecians and guided them to a league win over Leeds United last season, only a week after the Yorkshire side had knocked Manchester United out of the FA Cup, so he is no stranger to big occasions.
For whoever does come out on top, they will be within three matches of a possible trip to Wembley and will also hold local bragging rights. However, the loser will be even keener for revenge when the two sides meet in the league on December 11th.
Tuesday, 9 November 2010
Monday, 8 November 2010
PETER SHILTON: THE ARGYLE YEARS #2
Following their relegation on the final day of the 1991-92 season, Peter Shilton set about trying to assemble a squad that would lead the Pilgrims to promotion from the 'new' Division Two at the first attempt.
New faces soon arrived at Home Park, including Warren Joyce, Paul Dalton and Steve Castle who arrived from Preston North End, Hartlepool United and Leyton Orient respectively.
Right back Gary Poole later joined from Southend United and he was to be later joined by Paul Boardman, son of the comedian Stan. and former Everton goalkeeper, and understudy to Neville Southall, Ray Newland.
There were also a number of departures from Home Park as Nicky Marker joined Blackburn Rovers, with Keith Hill and Craig Skinner moving in the opposite direction and Rhys Wilmot joined Grimsby Town.
Argyle were installed by the bookmakers as the third favourites to win the Second Division title and that confidence seemed justified as the Pilgrims drew 0-0 with Mansfield Town on the opening day and they followed up that result with a 3-0 win at home to Bradford City.
However, the wind would soon be knocked out of Argyle's sails as Shilton received the first red card of his career against Hull City for bringing down the Tigers' Graeme Atkinson.
Their form also wasn't helped by injuries to key summer signings Paul Dalton and Steve Castle as the Home Park treatment read like a who's who of the Pilgrims squad.
The club's inconsistent form on the pitch wasn't helped either by the tempteous relationship between Shilton and Chairman Dan McCauley. This came to a head following a 3-0 defeat at home to Exeter City, which prompted an angry rant from McCauley in which he threatened to stop the players' wages.
Their response to the defeat and the criticism of the Chairman was defeat promotion chasing West Bromwich Albion 5-2 at the Hawthorns. However, their inconsistencies during the season meant that the Pilgrims would finish the campaign in 14th place, a position which arguably wasn't truly reflective of the talent of the players at Home Park at the time.
New faces soon arrived at Home Park, including Warren Joyce, Paul Dalton and Steve Castle who arrived from Preston North End, Hartlepool United and Leyton Orient respectively.
Right back Gary Poole later joined from Southend United and he was to be later joined by Paul Boardman, son of the comedian Stan. and former Everton goalkeeper, and understudy to Neville Southall, Ray Newland.
There were also a number of departures from Home Park as Nicky Marker joined Blackburn Rovers, with Keith Hill and Craig Skinner moving in the opposite direction and Rhys Wilmot joined Grimsby Town.
Argyle were installed by the bookmakers as the third favourites to win the Second Division title and that confidence seemed justified as the Pilgrims drew 0-0 with Mansfield Town on the opening day and they followed up that result with a 3-0 win at home to Bradford City.
However, the wind would soon be knocked out of Argyle's sails as Shilton received the first red card of his career against Hull City for bringing down the Tigers' Graeme Atkinson.
Their form also wasn't helped by injuries to key summer signings Paul Dalton and Steve Castle as the Home Park treatment read like a who's who of the Pilgrims squad.
The club's inconsistent form on the pitch wasn't helped either by the tempteous relationship between Shilton and Chairman Dan McCauley. This came to a head following a 3-0 defeat at home to Exeter City, which prompted an angry rant from McCauley in which he threatened to stop the players' wages.
Their response to the defeat and the criticism of the Chairman was defeat promotion chasing West Bromwich Albion 5-2 at the Hawthorns. However, their inconsistencies during the season meant that the Pilgrims would finish the campaign in 14th place, a position which arguably wasn't truly reflective of the talent of the players at Home Park at the time.
Sunday, 7 November 2010
O'KANE TO ANSWER NORTHERN IRELAND UNDER-21 CALL
Torquay United midfielder Eunan O'Kane has been called up to the Northern Ireland Under-21 squad for forthcoming international with Scotland on November 17th.
If selected, Eunan will become only the second Torquay United contracted player to play senior level international football for one of the home nations. The only other player to achieve this feat was Alex Lawless, who appeared for Wales Under-21's against Northern Ireland in February 2006.
Eunan has represented Northern Ireland at all levels from Under-16's to the Under-21's, for whom he currently has three caps, and we would like to take the opportunity to wish him well with his future international prospects.
If selected, Eunan will become only the second Torquay United contracted player to play senior level international football for one of the home nations. The only other player to achieve this feat was Alex Lawless, who appeared for Wales Under-21's against Northern Ireland in February 2006.
Eunan has represented Northern Ireland at all levels from Under-16's to the Under-21's, for whom he currently has three caps, and we would like to take the opportunity to wish him well with his future international prospects.
GULLS AND GLOVERS CONTINUE TO FLY THE FLAG
Torquay United and Yeovil Town remain the only South West teams left in the 2010-11 FA Cup following yesterday's 1st round matches.
The Gulls came away from Field Mill with a 1-0 victory over their former Conference rivals Mansfield Town courtesy of an 87th minute strike from Elliot Benyon. Today's second round draw saw Torquay rewarded for their efforts with a home tie against either Walsall or Fleetwood Town.
Yeovil will on their travels again in the second round after defeating Rushden & Diamonds by a single goal at Nene Park from Andy Williams. A trip to either Hartlepool United or Vauxhall Motors awaits the Glovers in round two.
Exeter City and Plymouth Argyle both bowed out of the competition in disappointing fashion. The Grecians were beaten 2-0 at League Two promotion chasers Bury and Argyle were comprehensively beaten 4-0 by Swindon Town at Home Park.
However, both the Grecians and the Pilgrims will have the chance to make amends for their disappointing cup exits when they face each other in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy Southern Quarter Finals on Tuesday.
The Gulls came away from Field Mill with a 1-0 victory over their former Conference rivals Mansfield Town courtesy of an 87th minute strike from Elliot Benyon. Today's second round draw saw Torquay rewarded for their efforts with a home tie against either Walsall or Fleetwood Town.
Yeovil will on their travels again in the second round after defeating Rushden & Diamonds by a single goal at Nene Park from Andy Williams. A trip to either Hartlepool United or Vauxhall Motors awaits the Glovers in round two.
Exeter City and Plymouth Argyle both bowed out of the competition in disappointing fashion. The Grecians were beaten 2-0 at League Two promotion chasers Bury and Argyle were comprehensively beaten 4-0 by Swindon Town at Home Park.
However, both the Grecians and the Pilgrims will have the chance to make amends for their disappointing cup exits when they face each other in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy Southern Quarter Finals on Tuesday.
Friday, 5 November 2010
FA CUP 1ST ROUND PREVIEW
This Saturday will see all four South West league sides embark on the road that will lead to Wembley in May as they get their 2010-11 FA Cup campaigns under way.
Plymouth Argyle were the only side given a home draw in the first round and they take on Swindon Town at Home Park. who they defeated 3-2 at the County Ground earlier in the season.
The Robins will no doubt be looking for revenge for that defeat but Peter Reid and Paul Mariner, both FA Cup winners during their playing days with Everton and Ipswich respectively, will be keen for the Pilgrims to enjoy a good run in the competition to boost their finances.
Torquay United have enjoyed good runs in the cup in recent years and have got as far as the second round stage in the past three seasons under Paul Buckle. In the 2008-09 campaign, the Gulls memorably beat Blackpool in the third round before narrowly bowing out to Coventry City in the fourth round.
This season, the Gulls travel to their former Conference rivals Mansfield Town, a side who are striving to get back into the Football League under David Holdsworth, who feature former Gulls Adam Murray and Tyrone Thompson in their ranks. It is also worth noting that under Buckle, the Gulls have only ever lost one cup tie against a side in a lower league than themselves ( St Albans City in the Setanta Shield in the 2007-08 season).
Another side tackling one of their former Conference contemporaries is Yeovil Town who face Rushden & Diamonds at Nene Park. Back in the 2000-01, the Diamonds pipped the Glovers to the Conference title, which meant Yeovil would have to wait a further two seasons before they realised their dream of achieving League status.
However, the wait proved to be worthwhile as the Glovers quickly established themselves as a Football League side. Sadly for the Yeovil faithful, their cup form in recent years has been poor and they have been knocked out by non-league sides in three of the last four seasons, including a defeat at the hands of the Diamonds in the 2006-07 campaign. This is a record which Terry Skiverton will be looking to improve on.
Finally Exeter City travel to Greater Manchester to face League Two high flyers Bury. Grecians boss Paul Tisdale will have Jamie Cureton, Richard Logan and Richard Duffy available again after illness.
It is nearly six years since Exeter famously reached the third round and held Manchester United to a goalless draw and Tisdale will be looking to the Grecians side that appeared that day as a great source of inspiration.
Plymouth Argyle were the only side given a home draw in the first round and they take on Swindon Town at Home Park. who they defeated 3-2 at the County Ground earlier in the season.
The Robins will no doubt be looking for revenge for that defeat but Peter Reid and Paul Mariner, both FA Cup winners during their playing days with Everton and Ipswich respectively, will be keen for the Pilgrims to enjoy a good run in the competition to boost their finances.
Torquay United have enjoyed good runs in the cup in recent years and have got as far as the second round stage in the past three seasons under Paul Buckle. In the 2008-09 campaign, the Gulls memorably beat Blackpool in the third round before narrowly bowing out to Coventry City in the fourth round.
This season, the Gulls travel to their former Conference rivals Mansfield Town, a side who are striving to get back into the Football League under David Holdsworth, who feature former Gulls Adam Murray and Tyrone Thompson in their ranks. It is also worth noting that under Buckle, the Gulls have only ever lost one cup tie against a side in a lower league than themselves ( St Albans City in the Setanta Shield in the 2007-08 season).
Another side tackling one of their former Conference contemporaries is Yeovil Town who face Rushden & Diamonds at Nene Park. Back in the 2000-01, the Diamonds pipped the Glovers to the Conference title, which meant Yeovil would have to wait a further two seasons before they realised their dream of achieving League status.
However, the wait proved to be worthwhile as the Glovers quickly established themselves as a Football League side. Sadly for the Yeovil faithful, their cup form in recent years has been poor and they have been knocked out by non-league sides in three of the last four seasons, including a defeat at the hands of the Diamonds in the 2006-07 campaign. This is a record which Terry Skiverton will be looking to improve on.
Finally Exeter City travel to Greater Manchester to face League Two high flyers Bury. Grecians boss Paul Tisdale will have Jamie Cureton, Richard Logan and Richard Duffy available again after illness.
It is nearly six years since Exeter famously reached the third round and held Manchester United to a goalless draw and Tisdale will be looking to the Grecians side that appeared that day as a great source of inspiration.
Thursday, 4 November 2010
PETER SHILTON: THE ARGYLE YEARS #1
With Former England goalkeeper and Plymouth Argyle Peter Shilton recently appearing on Saturday evening's on Strictly Come Dancing, we will be looking back at his reign as manager of the Pilgrims as part of a four part series.
On March 2nd 1992, England goalkeeping legend Peter Shilton was unveiled as the new manager of Plymouth Argyle.
He replaced David Kemp after new Chairman Dan McCauley decided it was a time of fresh direction at Home Park following a 1-0 home defeat at the hands of John Beck's Cambridge United.
At the time of his appointment, Argyle were battling against relegation from the 'old' Division Two, the Championship in new money, and had spent a number of seasons treading water after winning promotion under Dave Smith in 1986.
Although Shilton had little in the way of managerial experience and despite the old saying in the game that goalkeepers don't make good managers, he had played under managerial greats such as Sir Alf Ramsey, Brian Clough and Sir Bobby Robson, so many followers of the Pilgrims were keen to see what he had learnt from playing under such names.
One of his first acts as manager was to appoint his former Nottingham Forest team-mate John McGovern as his assistant.
Shilton's managerial debut came against one of his former club's Derby County as the Pilgrims picked up a creditable 1-1 draw.
New signings were quickly made as striker Kevin Nugent was recruited from Leyton Orient and midfielder Steve McCall, a UEFA Cup winner with Ipswich Town in 1981, arrived from Sheffield Wednesday.
However, despite the new arrivals, Shilton was unable to pull Argyle clear of the relegation zone as they went into their final game of the season at home to promotion Blackburn Rovers, then managed by Kenny Dalglish, needing a win to stay up.
A crowd of 17,459 poured into Home Park to witness the encounter which the Pilgrims lost 3-1 as David Speedie bagged a hat-trick for Rovers which propelled them into the Play-Offs, which they later won to secure promotion to the Premier League, and condemned Argyle to a place into the 'new' Division Two.
The next task for Shilton was to build a side that could lead the Pilgrims to promotion at the first attempt.
On March 2nd 1992, England goalkeeping legend Peter Shilton was unveiled as the new manager of Plymouth Argyle.
He replaced David Kemp after new Chairman Dan McCauley decided it was a time of fresh direction at Home Park following a 1-0 home defeat at the hands of John Beck's Cambridge United.
At the time of his appointment, Argyle were battling against relegation from the 'old' Division Two, the Championship in new money, and had spent a number of seasons treading water after winning promotion under Dave Smith in 1986.
Although Shilton had little in the way of managerial experience and despite the old saying in the game that goalkeepers don't make good managers, he had played under managerial greats such as Sir Alf Ramsey, Brian Clough and Sir Bobby Robson, so many followers of the Pilgrims were keen to see what he had learnt from playing under such names.
One of his first acts as manager was to appoint his former Nottingham Forest team-mate John McGovern as his assistant.
Shilton's managerial debut came against one of his former club's Derby County as the Pilgrims picked up a creditable 1-1 draw.
New signings were quickly made as striker Kevin Nugent was recruited from Leyton Orient and midfielder Steve McCall, a UEFA Cup winner with Ipswich Town in 1981, arrived from Sheffield Wednesday.
However, despite the new arrivals, Shilton was unable to pull Argyle clear of the relegation zone as they went into their final game of the season at home to promotion Blackburn Rovers, then managed by Kenny Dalglish, needing a win to stay up.
A crowd of 17,459 poured into Home Park to witness the encounter which the Pilgrims lost 3-1 as David Speedie bagged a hat-trick for Rovers which propelled them into the Play-Offs, which they later won to secure promotion to the Premier League, and condemned Argyle to a place into the 'new' Division Two.
The next task for Shilton was to build a side that could lead the Pilgrims to promotion at the first attempt.
Monday, 1 November 2010
JOHN BENSON 1942-2010
Many followers of Torquay United will no doubt be shocked by the recent death of former skipper John Benson.
Born in Arbroath in 1942, John was brought to Plainmoor in 1964 by Eric Webber and became a cornerstone of the United side that enjoyed much success under Webber's predecessor Frank O'Farrell.
Prior to the arrival of O'Farrell, John appeared in the Torquay side that held Tottenham Hotspur to a 3-3 draw in the FA Cup Third Round in the 1964-65 season.
Originally signed as a wing-half, John was converted into a sweeper by O'Farrell and skippered the Gulls to promotion from Division Four in O'Farrell's first full season in charge, the 1965-66 campaign.
He then became a cornerstone of the United side that became an established force in the 'old' Third Division before he joined AFC Bournemouth in 1970, becoming one of a number of Torquay players who were enticed to Dean Court by his former Gulls team-mate John Bond.
After he retired from playing, John managed Bournemouth, Manchester City and Wigan Athletic and also coached at Norwich City and held roles in Dubai and Kuwait. In recent years, he was part of Steve Bruce's backroom staff at Birmingham City, Wigan Athletic and Sunderland.
Born in Arbroath in 1942, John was brought to Plainmoor in 1964 by Eric Webber and became a cornerstone of the United side that enjoyed much success under Webber's predecessor Frank O'Farrell.
Prior to the arrival of O'Farrell, John appeared in the Torquay side that held Tottenham Hotspur to a 3-3 draw in the FA Cup Third Round in the 1964-65 season.
Originally signed as a wing-half, John was converted into a sweeper by O'Farrell and skippered the Gulls to promotion from Division Four in O'Farrell's first full season in charge, the 1965-66 campaign.
He then became a cornerstone of the United side that became an established force in the 'old' Third Division before he joined AFC Bournemouth in 1970, becoming one of a number of Torquay players who were enticed to Dean Court by his former Gulls team-mate John Bond.
After he retired from playing, John managed Bournemouth, Manchester City and Wigan Athletic and also coached at Norwich City and held roles in Dubai and Kuwait. In recent years, he was part of Steve Bruce's backroom staff at Birmingham City, Wigan Athletic and Sunderland.
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