The footballing education of ex Yeovil Town loanee Steven Caulker continued last Friday night as he appeared as a substitute for Team GB in their Olympic warm-up match against Brazil.
Caulker, who made 44 league appearances for the Glovers in the 2009-10 season whilst on a season long loan deal from Tottenham Hotspur, entered the fray as a half-time substitute, at the Riverside Stadium, Middlesbrough, by which time Team GB were already two goals down.
Team GB went on to play out a goalless second half, during which time Caulker was joined on the pitch by former Plymouth Argyle loanee Scott Sinclair.
During this period, Caulker also renewed his England Under-21 central defensive partnership with West Brom defender Craig Dawson.
The duo will be hoping manager Stuart Pearce decides to renew their pairing for Team GB's opening match against Senegal at Old Trafford this coming Thursday for their opening Group A match.
As well as the Huish Park who witnessed Caulker virtually sweep the board in their Player of the Year awards in the 2009-10 campaign, new Tottenham boss Andres Villas Boas is also likely to be watching the young defender's progress at the games with interest.
Following the announcement that Ledley King is retiring from the game, there is a vacancy in the centre of the Spurs' defence that Caulker could fill should he sufficiently impress the former Porto and Chelsea manager.
This would see Caulker build on the progress he has made in the subsequent loan spells he has had since leaving Huish Park at Bristol City and with Swansea City in the Premiership last season.
Monday, 23 July 2012
Thursday, 12 July 2012
ARGYLE ADD LOWRY TO THEIR MIDFIELD COLLECTION
After Simon Walton's departure to Hartlepool United, Plymouth Argyle boss Carl Fletcher has moved to fill the void by signing former Chesterfield and Crewe midfielder Jamie Lowry.
Lowry, 25, was born in Newquay and came through the Spireites youth ranks and can play anywhere in midfield as well as right-back.
He made 10 appearances for Crewe last season and was heavily linked with a return to Gresty Road before the Pilgrims clinched his signature.
The vacancy of captain that was also vacated by Walton has been taken on by experienced 35-year old centre back Darren Purse who has described his appointment as a great honour.
He said: "I'm honoured, I know everyone says that but it is an honour to captain a football club.
"The club's been in the doldrums for three seasons and we need to start putting that winning mentality back.
"It's been mismanaged off the pitch, but now it's changed and we've got a great owner with a passion for the football club and hopefully the gaffer will get the support from him to put the players on the pitch and get promotion."
Lowry, 25, was born in Newquay and came through the Spireites youth ranks and can play anywhere in midfield as well as right-back.
He made 10 appearances for Crewe last season and was heavily linked with a return to Gresty Road before the Pilgrims clinched his signature.
The vacancy of captain that was also vacated by Walton has been taken on by experienced 35-year old centre back Darren Purse who has described his appointment as a great honour.
He said: "I'm honoured, I know everyone says that but it is an honour to captain a football club.
"The club's been in the doldrums for three seasons and we need to start putting that winning mentality back.
"It's been mismanaged off the pitch, but now it's changed and we've got a great owner with a passion for the football club and hopefully the gaffer will get the support from him to put the players on the pitch and get promotion."
Saturday, 7 July 2012
WALTS EXITS HOME PARK FOR HARTLEPOOL
In years to come, Simon Walton's career as a Plymouth Argyle player will be remembered as a series of highs and lows.
He arrived at Home Park at the start of the 2008-09 season, when the Pilgrims were still in the Championship, after Paul Sturrock paid what would have become a club record fee of £750,000, including add-on clauses.
However, the fee never surpassed the £500,000 the Pilgrims paid for Steven MacLean and Walton's early career with the Pilgrims didn't quite go to plan either as Simon failed to hold down a first team spot under Sturrock and his successor, Paul Mariner.
He only made 13 appearances in his first 12 months as an Argyle player and found himself loaned out to Blackpool, Crewe Alexandra and Sheffield United between 2009 and 2010.
His loan stint at Sheffield United also came to a premature end as he sustained an cruciate ligament injury, which saw him return to Home Park for treatment.
Towards the end of the 2010-11 campaign, he was restored to the Pilgrims starting XI by Peter Reid.
By which time the club was in Administration and Simon was one of a number of players who were forced to sign agreements to defer their wages in a bid to keep the Pilgrims alive.
Simon made his return to the Argyle side on April 9th 2011 and nine days later, he scored his first goal for the Pilgrims in a 1-0 win over MK Dons.
Unfortunately, his efforts were too late to save Argyle from a second consecutive relegation, but the story doesn't end here.
Early in the following season, Peter Reid was dismissed as manager of the Pilgrims and was replaced by Carl Fletcher at a time when Argyle only had one point to their name and were still in Administration, as James Brent's takeover of the club was yet to be finalised.
In Fletcher's first game in charge, against Macclesfield Town September 2012, he handed Simon the captaincy as the Pilgrims won 2-0 to secure their first three points of the season.
This proved to be the beginning of an Argyle revival as they went on to secure the points they needed to avoid relegation to the Blue Square Premier.
Simon finished the season as Argyle's top scorer with eight goals in 45 appearances and had agreed a deal to remain at Home Park for the 2012-13 campaign before he agreed the release from his contract to join Hartlepool United.
The move will mean he will be closer to his young daughter, Poppy, as Hartlepool is only 45 minutes away from his family base in Leeds.
At the age of 24, Simon has experienced a lot of issues that most professional footballers will face during an entire career and hopefully he will go to achieve great things in the remainder of it.
He arrived at Home Park at the start of the 2008-09 season, when the Pilgrims were still in the Championship, after Paul Sturrock paid what would have become a club record fee of £750,000, including add-on clauses.
However, the fee never surpassed the £500,000 the Pilgrims paid for Steven MacLean and Walton's early career with the Pilgrims didn't quite go to plan either as Simon failed to hold down a first team spot under Sturrock and his successor, Paul Mariner.
He only made 13 appearances in his first 12 months as an Argyle player and found himself loaned out to Blackpool, Crewe Alexandra and Sheffield United between 2009 and 2010.
His loan stint at Sheffield United also came to a premature end as he sustained an cruciate ligament injury, which saw him return to Home Park for treatment.
Towards the end of the 2010-11 campaign, he was restored to the Pilgrims starting XI by Peter Reid.
By which time the club was in Administration and Simon was one of a number of players who were forced to sign agreements to defer their wages in a bid to keep the Pilgrims alive.
Simon made his return to the Argyle side on April 9th 2011 and nine days later, he scored his first goal for the Pilgrims in a 1-0 win over MK Dons.
Unfortunately, his efforts were too late to save Argyle from a second consecutive relegation, but the story doesn't end here.
Early in the following season, Peter Reid was dismissed as manager of the Pilgrims and was replaced by Carl Fletcher at a time when Argyle only had one point to their name and were still in Administration, as James Brent's takeover of the club was yet to be finalised.
In Fletcher's first game in charge, against Macclesfield Town September 2012, he handed Simon the captaincy as the Pilgrims won 2-0 to secure their first three points of the season.
This proved to be the beginning of an Argyle revival as they went on to secure the points they needed to avoid relegation to the Blue Square Premier.
Simon finished the season as Argyle's top scorer with eight goals in 45 appearances and had agreed a deal to remain at Home Park for the 2012-13 campaign before he agreed the release from his contract to join Hartlepool United.
The move will mean he will be closer to his young daughter, Poppy, as Hartlepool is only 45 minutes away from his family base in Leeds.
At the age of 24, Simon has experienced a lot of issues that most professional footballers will face during an entire career and hopefully he will go to achieve great things in the remainder of it.
Thursday, 5 July 2012
FAMILIARITY AND CONTINUITY
As he attempts to build a side capable of challenging for promotion ahead of the 2012-13 season, Torquay United manager Martin Ling has thus far looked to recruit players familiar to him and the club.
One of his first additions to his squad, after they missed out in the Play-Offs against Cheltenham Town, was secure the signature of on loan striker Ryan Jarvis, who also played under Ling at Leyton Orient, following his release by Walsall.
His quota of former Orient players was then increased to three, defender Brian Saah also served under Ling at the Matchroom Stadium, when he snapped up experienced midfielder Craig Easton after he had completed a successful trial at Plainmoor towards the end of last season.
Easton, 33, had started last season with Dunfermline in the Scottish Premier League and had been a key player in helping Ling achieve promotion with Leyton Orient in the 2005-06 season.
He also played an influential role in helping Orient pull off an FA Cup shock against Premiership side Fulham by scoring the opening goal in their 2-1 third round victory.
Following the departure of Bobby Olejnik to Peterborough United for £300,000, Ling looked to a player who had previously spent three loan spells with the Gulls in recent years in Michael Poke.
On securing a permanent return to Plainmoor, Poke will be playing alongside a number of his former team-mates in the shape of Lee Mansell, Kevin Nicholson, Eunan O'Kane and Martin Rice.
As well as this, he will also be working again with Goalkeeper coach, Kenny Veysey, who recommended him to Ling following his release from Brighton and Hove Albion.
At the same time as Poke's return, Ling made a name signing from Arsenal in the form of left back Tom Cruise, not the Hollywood actor but a left sided defender who had previously been understudy to Gael Clichy and Kieran Gibbs at the Emirates Stadium.
His most recent acquisition is a player whom Ling has known about for a long time, so long in fact he was aware of the talents of the player in question since he could first kick a football in the form of Billy Bodin.
Both Ling and his assistant Shaun Taylor played alongside Billy's father, Paul Bodin, during their playing days at Swindon Town.
After a successful loan spell earlier in the season which saw him score five goals in 18 appearances, Ling paid a fee in the region of £70,000 to the Robins, after Paolo Di Canio deemed him surplus to requirements at the County Ground, to bring him to Plainmoor.
So any success which the Gulls enjoy this season will highlight the value of stability, familarity and continuity.
One of his first additions to his squad, after they missed out in the Play-Offs against Cheltenham Town, was secure the signature of on loan striker Ryan Jarvis, who also played under Ling at Leyton Orient, following his release by Walsall.
His quota of former Orient players was then increased to three, defender Brian Saah also served under Ling at the Matchroom Stadium, when he snapped up experienced midfielder Craig Easton after he had completed a successful trial at Plainmoor towards the end of last season.
Easton, 33, had started last season with Dunfermline in the Scottish Premier League and had been a key player in helping Ling achieve promotion with Leyton Orient in the 2005-06 season.
He also played an influential role in helping Orient pull off an FA Cup shock against Premiership side Fulham by scoring the opening goal in their 2-1 third round victory.
Following the departure of Bobby Olejnik to Peterborough United for £300,000, Ling looked to a player who had previously spent three loan spells with the Gulls in recent years in Michael Poke.
On securing a permanent return to Plainmoor, Poke will be playing alongside a number of his former team-mates in the shape of Lee Mansell, Kevin Nicholson, Eunan O'Kane and Martin Rice.
As well as this, he will also be working again with Goalkeeper coach, Kenny Veysey, who recommended him to Ling following his release from Brighton and Hove Albion.
At the same time as Poke's return, Ling made a name signing from Arsenal in the form of left back Tom Cruise, not the Hollywood actor but a left sided defender who had previously been understudy to Gael Clichy and Kieran Gibbs at the Emirates Stadium.
His most recent acquisition is a player whom Ling has known about for a long time, so long in fact he was aware of the talents of the player in question since he could first kick a football in the form of Billy Bodin.
Both Ling and his assistant Shaun Taylor played alongside Billy's father, Paul Bodin, during their playing days at Swindon Town.
After a successful loan spell earlier in the season which saw him score five goals in 18 appearances, Ling paid a fee in the region of £70,000 to the Robins, after Paolo Di Canio deemed him surplus to requirements at the County Ground, to bring him to Plainmoor.
So any success which the Gulls enjoy this season will highlight the value of stability, familarity and continuity.
Tuesday, 3 July 2012
GULLS SWOOP TO SEAL BODIN RETURN
After making no secret of his desire to see Billy Bodin back at Plainmoor, Torquay United manager Martin Ling has seen his wish granted by Swindon Town as the two parties have agreed a deal for the youngster.
The Gulls have had a transfer bid accepted by the Robins, who are managed by Paolo Di Canio, which will see the Wales Under-21 starlet join Torquay on a two-year deal once he has passed a medical.
Bodin, whose father, Paul, was a team-mate of Ling and his assistant, Shaun Taylor, during his playing days with the Wiltshire club, scored five times for the Gulls last season in 18 appearances.
This included the opening goal in Torquay's Devon derby double clinching win over Plymouth on January 2nd 2012.
The Gulls have had a transfer bid accepted by the Robins, who are managed by Paolo Di Canio, which will see the Wales Under-21 starlet join Torquay on a two-year deal once he has passed a medical.
Bodin, whose father, Paul, was a team-mate of Ling and his assistant, Shaun Taylor, during his playing days with the Wiltshire club, scored five times for the Gulls last season in 18 appearances.
This included the opening goal in Torquay's Devon derby double clinching win over Plymouth on January 2nd 2012.
COLES RETURNS TO TRAINING
Exeter City defender Danny Coles has returned to training following a freak injury that saw him break a bone in his back last season.
The 30-year old sustained the injury in a training ground challenge with goalkeeper Artur Krysiak in March after making 36 appearances for the Grecians following his move to St James Park from Bristol Rovers at the start of last season.
He will be returning to what will be an almost new look defensive unit for the Grecians after manager Paul Tisdale completed the signings of right back Kevin Amankwaah and centre back Pat Baldwin.
They both join goalkeeper Rhys Evans, signed from Conference South side Staines Town on the list of the Grecians' summer acquisitions as Paul Tisdale looks to rebuild his side following their relegation from League One.
Both Amankwaah and Baldwin are no strangers to the South West as Amankwaah started his career with Bristol City and has also had loan spells with Torquay United and Yeovil Town as well as a permanent spell with Swindon Town. Baldwin originally joined the Grecians on loan last season, but has sufficiently impressed Tisdale to earn himself a permanent deal.
The Grecians will also be hoping that Steve Perryman will return to take up the reigns as Director of Football after having heart surgery last season after being taken ill in the Grecians' final game of their League One campaign against Sheffield United.
The 30-year old sustained the injury in a training ground challenge with goalkeeper Artur Krysiak in March after making 36 appearances for the Grecians following his move to St James Park from Bristol Rovers at the start of last season.
He will be returning to what will be an almost new look defensive unit for the Grecians after manager Paul Tisdale completed the signings of right back Kevin Amankwaah and centre back Pat Baldwin.
They both join goalkeeper Rhys Evans, signed from Conference South side Staines Town on the list of the Grecians' summer acquisitions as Paul Tisdale looks to rebuild his side following their relegation from League One.
Both Amankwaah and Baldwin are no strangers to the South West as Amankwaah started his career with Bristol City and has also had loan spells with Torquay United and Yeovil Town as well as a permanent spell with Swindon Town. Baldwin originally joined the Grecians on loan last season, but has sufficiently impressed Tisdale to earn himself a permanent deal.
The Grecians will also be hoping that Steve Perryman will return to take up the reigns as Director of Football after having heart surgery last season after being taken ill in the Grecians' final game of their League One campaign against Sheffield United.
Monday, 2 July 2012
CAULKER & SINCLAIR NAMED IN TEAM GB FOOTBALL SQUAD
Two players who enjoyed successful loan spells with South West club's earlier in their careers have been called up for Stuart Pearce's Team GB Olympic squad.
Tottenham Hotspur's Steven Caulker, who spent the 2009-10 season on loan at Yeovil Town, and Swansea City's Scott Sinclair who enjoyed a successful loan stint with Plymouth Argyle during the 2006-07 campaign, have both been selected in Pearce's 18 man squad which will face group matches against Senegal, UAE and Uruguay.
Defender Caulker made his debut for the Glovers on August 8th 2009 against Tranmere Rovers and went from strength to strength thereafter and, at the end of the campaign, he virtually swept the board at the club's Player of the Year presentations.
Since leaving Huish Park, Caulker has experienced successful loan periods at Bristol City and at Swansea City last season in the Swans inaugural Premier League campaign. He has received international recognition with the England Under-21 side.
Sinclair arrived at Home Park in the 2006-07 when the then Pilgrims' boss, Ian Holloway, signed him on loan from Chelsea.
He made an immediate impact with Argyle and scored in his second appearance for the Pilgrims in an FA Cup fourth round tie against Barnet with a stunning solo effort. Sinclair followed this feat by scoring the winning goal in their fifth round match with Derby County, which helped Argyle to reach the last eight of the competition for the first time since 1984.
During his stay with the Pilgrims, he scored four times in 18 games in all competitions before he was loaned out to QPR, Charlton Athletic, Crystal Palace, Birmingham City and Wigan Athletic before signing permanently for Swansea in August 2010.
In addition to this, he has been capped seven times by England at Under-21 level and has scored once.
The 18 man squad also features a number of the UK's top young prospects including Arsenal's Aaron Ramsey, Manchester United's Tom Cleverley and Chelsea's Daniel Sturridge. Ryan Giggs, Craig Bellamy and Micah Richards have been chosen as the three over-age players allowed by each side.
Tottenham Hotspur's Steven Caulker, who spent the 2009-10 season on loan at Yeovil Town, and Swansea City's Scott Sinclair who enjoyed a successful loan stint with Plymouth Argyle during the 2006-07 campaign, have both been selected in Pearce's 18 man squad which will face group matches against Senegal, UAE and Uruguay.
Defender Caulker made his debut for the Glovers on August 8th 2009 against Tranmere Rovers and went from strength to strength thereafter and, at the end of the campaign, he virtually swept the board at the club's Player of the Year presentations.
Since leaving Huish Park, Caulker has experienced successful loan periods at Bristol City and at Swansea City last season in the Swans inaugural Premier League campaign. He has received international recognition with the England Under-21 side.
Sinclair arrived at Home Park in the 2006-07 when the then Pilgrims' boss, Ian Holloway, signed him on loan from Chelsea.
He made an immediate impact with Argyle and scored in his second appearance for the Pilgrims in an FA Cup fourth round tie against Barnet with a stunning solo effort. Sinclair followed this feat by scoring the winning goal in their fifth round match with Derby County, which helped Argyle to reach the last eight of the competition for the first time since 1984.
During his stay with the Pilgrims, he scored four times in 18 games in all competitions before he was loaned out to QPR, Charlton Athletic, Crystal Palace, Birmingham City and Wigan Athletic before signing permanently for Swansea in August 2010.
In addition to this, he has been capped seven times by England at Under-21 level and has scored once.
The 18 man squad also features a number of the UK's top young prospects including Arsenal's Aaron Ramsey, Manchester United's Tom Cleverley and Chelsea's Daniel Sturridge. Ryan Giggs, Craig Bellamy and Micah Richards have been chosen as the three over-age players allowed by each side.
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