Last Friday's World Cup qualifiers saw two former Yeovil Town loanees score important goals for the Home Nations, which could be of great value to their respective international futures.
Andros Townsend, who appeared 10 times for the Glovers on loan from Tottenham Hotspur during the 2008-09 season, marked his England debut with the Three Lions' third goal in their 4-1 victory over Montenegro.
Should England qualify for the finals in Brazil next summer, there is every chance that Townsend, 22, could be on the plane as part of Roy Hodgson's 23 man squad.
After establishing himself as a regular at Spurs, there is no reason why he can't go on to become a regular for his country as well.
In scoring on his England debut, he emulated another former Yeovil loanee Steven Caulker who also completed that feat when he netted on his first start for Hodgson's men in their 4-2 friendly defeat against Sweden last year.
That appearance remains Caulker's only international cap to date, he also received four for Team GB at last summer's Olympics, but there is no reason to suggest why he and Townsend couldn't one day line-up for the Three Lions together.
Caulker is currently 21-and at the same age Rio Ferdinand had only won seven caps and Sol Campbell had been capped just the once.
Also, at 21-John Terry was still waiting for his first cap, which he didn't received until he turned 22.
Caulker's summer move to Cardiff shouldn't act as hindrance to his long-term prospects as Gary Cahill was transferred by Aston Villa to Bolton, but he is now a regular at Chelsea alongside Terry-and a Champions League winner to boot.
A year before Townsend arrived at Huish Park, Welsh striker Simon Church appeared six times for the Glovers on loan from Reading.
On Friday, he scored Wales' decisive goal in their qualifier with Macedonia, which ensured that they avoided finishing bottom of their group and possibly kept manager Chris Coleman in a job.
The qualifier also marked the final home international for talismanic striker Craig Bellamy, and Church, who is currently plying his trade at Charlton Athletic, could potentially fill the void left by the former Newcastle, Liverpool and West Ham forward.
Monday, 14 October 2013
Thursday, 10 October 2013
LET BATTLE COMMENCE
This Saturday, the naval cities of Plymouth and Portsmouth go head-to-head as Plymouth Argyle entertain Portsmouth for the first 'Dockyard Derby' in the league in over 20 years.
Their last meeting was on New Years' Day 1992 when the Pilgrims won 3-2 with goals from Robbie Turner, Dwight Marshall and Andy 'Jock' Morrison, whilst Mark Chamberlain, the father of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, and future England midfielder Darren Anderton replied for Pompey.
Since then, they have meet three times in very different circumstances.
The first time came in the 1998-99 season, when they faced each other over two legs in a Worthington Cup first round tie, which Pompey won 6-3 on aggregate.
During the 2007-08 season, they met at Fratton Park in the fourth round of the FA Cup. By this time, Pompey were an established Premiership side and Argyle were in the Championship.
Despite the Pilgrims taking an early lead through Chris Clark, Pompey hit back with goals from Lassana Diarra and Niko Krancjar as they secured a 2-1 win as they booked their place in the next round, before eventually going on to win the cup after beating Cardiff City in the final.
The most recent meeting between the two sides came in the first round of the Capital One Cup, when Argyle now back in League Two, after a lengthy spell in Administration, faced what was a virtual Pompey youth side as they were in Administration themselves.
Goals from Wolves loanee, Johnny Gorman, Paris Cowan-Hall and Nick Chadwick booked the Pilgrims' place in the second round, where they were beaten on penalties by Burnley.
With Argyle and Pompey currently 17th and 15th in the League Two table, respective managers John Sheridan and Guy Whittingham will both be seeing Saturday's clash, which is being televised on Sky Sports, as an opportunity to kick-start their individual seasons.
Their last meeting was on New Years' Day 1992 when the Pilgrims won 3-2 with goals from Robbie Turner, Dwight Marshall and Andy 'Jock' Morrison, whilst Mark Chamberlain, the father of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, and future England midfielder Darren Anderton replied for Pompey.
Since then, they have meet three times in very different circumstances.
The first time came in the 1998-99 season, when they faced each other over two legs in a Worthington Cup first round tie, which Pompey won 6-3 on aggregate.
During the 2007-08 season, they met at Fratton Park in the fourth round of the FA Cup. By this time, Pompey were an established Premiership side and Argyle were in the Championship.
Despite the Pilgrims taking an early lead through Chris Clark, Pompey hit back with goals from Lassana Diarra and Niko Krancjar as they secured a 2-1 win as they booked their place in the next round, before eventually going on to win the cup after beating Cardiff City in the final.
The most recent meeting between the two sides came in the first round of the Capital One Cup, when Argyle now back in League Two, after a lengthy spell in Administration, faced what was a virtual Pompey youth side as they were in Administration themselves.
Goals from Wolves loanee, Johnny Gorman, Paris Cowan-Hall and Nick Chadwick booked the Pilgrims' place in the second round, where they were beaten on penalties by Burnley.
With Argyle and Pompey currently 17th and 15th in the League Two table, respective managers John Sheridan and Guy Whittingham will both be seeing Saturday's clash, which is being televised on Sky Sports, as an opportunity to kick-start their individual seasons.
Saturday, 5 October 2013
WHEN MANCHESTER UNITED CAME TO HOME PARK
It is a commonly held view that the Exeter Chiefs' recent exploits in Rugby Union's Heineken Cup are the only major European campaigns with links to Devon since the Spanish Armada.
Wrong.
On October 5th 1977, Plymouth Argyle's Home Park ground hosted a European Cup Winners' Cup first round tie between Manchester United and St Etienne in the only competitive European football match to be played in England to the west of Southampton.
The first leg of the tie was played on Wednesday September 1977, in France, and was marred by crowd trouble 45 minutes before the kick-off of the match, which ended 1-1.
As an initial punishment, the Red Devils were banned from the competition and St Etienne were awarded a bye into the second round.
However, United appealed against the ban and were later re-instated in the competition on one condition: that the second leg of the tie was played at a ground 200 miles or more from Old Trafford.
Keen to avoid a repeat of the trouble that had occurred in the first meeting, the Red Devils' board were keen to seek out a ground in a remote location, which ticketless fans would think twice about travelling to.
In the end they finally plumped on Plymouth Argyle's Home Park, the most southerly and westerly ground in the Football League, as their chosen location.
At that time Argyle were managed by Mike Kelly and had just been relegated to the 'old' Third Division.
So keen the Red Devils were to avoid any crowd trouble that the Pilgrims were even put in charge of the distribution and sale of the match tickets.
As part of their distribution plans, the Pilgrims introduced a scheme whereby any fans who attended their league fixture on October 1st 1977 against Gillingham would be entitled to a voucher that would enable the holder to buy two tickets for the match.
With neither side being able to claim home advantage, St Etienne made a promising start to the match as they looked to involve their French international playmaker Dominque Rocheteau at every opportunity.
However, United grew in confidence as the half wore on and took the lead on 33 minutes when Stuart Pearson connected with a Steve Coppell cross to give the Red Devils a 2-1 lead on aggregate.
In the 65th minute, Coppell went from being provider to scorer when he slotted home after latching onto a long, inch-perfect pass from Arthur Albiston to give United a 2-0 win on the night and a 3-1 victory on aggregate.
Whilst Manchester United bowed out of the competition in the next round against Porto, the official attendance of 31,634 the potential of football as a spectator sport in the South West.
Only Argyle's 1984 FA Cup Quarter Final against Derby County, which attracted a crowd of 34,365, has surpassed the crowd figure for the visit of the Red Devils.
The Manchester United side that played against St Etienne at Home Park: (4-4-2)
Alex Stepney, Jimmy Nicholl, Arthur Albiston, Sammy McIlroy (Ashley Grimes), Brian Greenhoff, Martin Buchan, Steve Coppell, Jimmy Greenhoff, Stuart Pearson (Chris McGrath), Lou Macari, Gordon Hill
Footnote:
In May 2012, two of that Manchester United side who played at Home Park that night-Arthur Albiston and Sammy McIlroy- returned to Home Park to play a team of Plymouth Argyle legends in a match organised by the Green Taverners to help to raise funds for the club's staff who went without pay whilst Argyle were in Administration.
During the period in between, Jimmy Nicholl, Steve Coppell and Lou Macari all returned to Home Park as managers of Millwall, Crystal Palace and Stoke City respectively.
Wrong.
On October 5th 1977, Plymouth Argyle's Home Park ground hosted a European Cup Winners' Cup first round tie between Manchester United and St Etienne in the only competitive European football match to be played in England to the west of Southampton.
The first leg of the tie was played on Wednesday September 1977, in France, and was marred by crowd trouble 45 minutes before the kick-off of the match, which ended 1-1.
As an initial punishment, the Red Devils were banned from the competition and St Etienne were awarded a bye into the second round.
However, United appealed against the ban and were later re-instated in the competition on one condition: that the second leg of the tie was played at a ground 200 miles or more from Old Trafford.
Keen to avoid a repeat of the trouble that had occurred in the first meeting, the Red Devils' board were keen to seek out a ground in a remote location, which ticketless fans would think twice about travelling to.
In the end they finally plumped on Plymouth Argyle's Home Park, the most southerly and westerly ground in the Football League, as their chosen location.
At that time Argyle were managed by Mike Kelly and had just been relegated to the 'old' Third Division.
So keen the Red Devils were to avoid any crowd trouble that the Pilgrims were even put in charge of the distribution and sale of the match tickets.
As part of their distribution plans, the Pilgrims introduced a scheme whereby any fans who attended their league fixture on October 1st 1977 against Gillingham would be entitled to a voucher that would enable the holder to buy two tickets for the match.
With neither side being able to claim home advantage, St Etienne made a promising start to the match as they looked to involve their French international playmaker Dominque Rocheteau at every opportunity.
However, United grew in confidence as the half wore on and took the lead on 33 minutes when Stuart Pearson connected with a Steve Coppell cross to give the Red Devils a 2-1 lead on aggregate.
In the 65th minute, Coppell went from being provider to scorer when he slotted home after latching onto a long, inch-perfect pass from Arthur Albiston to give United a 2-0 win on the night and a 3-1 victory on aggregate.
Whilst Manchester United bowed out of the competition in the next round against Porto, the official attendance of 31,634 the potential of football as a spectator sport in the South West.
Only Argyle's 1984 FA Cup Quarter Final against Derby County, which attracted a crowd of 34,365, has surpassed the crowd figure for the visit of the Red Devils.
The Manchester United side that played against St Etienne at Home Park: (4-4-2)
Alex Stepney, Jimmy Nicholl, Arthur Albiston, Sammy McIlroy (Ashley Grimes), Brian Greenhoff, Martin Buchan, Steve Coppell, Jimmy Greenhoff, Stuart Pearson (Chris McGrath), Lou Macari, Gordon Hill
Footnote:
In May 2012, two of that Manchester United side who played at Home Park that night-Arthur Albiston and Sammy McIlroy- returned to Home Park to play a team of Plymouth Argyle legends in a match organised by the Green Taverners to help to raise funds for the club's staff who went without pay whilst Argyle were in Administration.
During the period in between, Jimmy Nicholl, Steve Coppell and Lou Macari all returned to Home Park as managers of Millwall, Crystal Palace and Stoke City respectively.
GRECIANS WIN THE FIRST OF SIX
Exeter City claimed the three points in the first of the 2013-14 season's six Devon derbies thanks to two late goals from Alan Gow and Scott Bennett.
Aaron Davies had given the Grecians the lead before Luke Young equalised with a free-kick, but former Pilgrim Gow and Bennett, who netted twice last week against Fleetwood, struck for the Grecians in the last ten minutes of the match to wrap up all three points.
The win represents an improvement for the Grecians as they failed to record wins against the Pilgrims, Torquay or Bristol Rovers last season.
However,in the current campaign, Exeter have now beaten two of those teams as they defeated Bristol Rovers on the opening day of the season.
Aaron Davies had given the Grecians the lead before Luke Young equalised with a free-kick, but former Pilgrim Gow and Bennett, who netted twice last week against Fleetwood, struck for the Grecians in the last ten minutes of the match to wrap up all three points.
The win represents an improvement for the Grecians as they failed to record wins against the Pilgrims, Torquay or Bristol Rovers last season.
However,in the current campaign, Exeter have now beaten two of those teams as they defeated Bristol Rovers on the opening day of the season.
Thursday, 3 October 2013
THE FIRST OF THE SEASON
The first Devon derby of the 2013-14 season between Exeter City and Plymouth Argyle will be the third meeting between the two sides in the space of a year, and promises to be as keenly contested as the other two.
Their first encounter, last December, at St James Park ended in a 1-1 draw with Liam Sercombe and Joe Lennox finding the score sheet for the Grecians and the Pilgrims respectively.
Three months later-in what was the 60th league meeting between the two sides- Argyle came out on top thanks to a first half injury time winner from on-loan winger Jason Banton, which boosted the Pilgrims' survival hopes and dented Exeter's Play-Off hopes.
It also helped Banton to secure the Npower League Two Player of the Month award for March 2013, as well as the Manager of the Month prize for Argyle boss John Sheridan.
On Saturday, the Grecians will be looking to continue their impressive early season form and a home win over their fierce local rivals would be the perfect way to follow up their 2-1 away last week against high flying Fleetwood Town.
Argyle, on the other hand, are heading into the match looking for a performance to kick-start their league campaign and a timely boost ahead of their first league encounter in over 20 years with Portsmouth next weekend, which is being broadcasted live on Sky Sports.
With the Grecians in sixth place in the League Two table and the Pilgrims in 15th place, recent form would indicate that on current form the Grecians would be favourites.
However, in local derbies form can often disappear out of the window.
Their first encounter, last December, at St James Park ended in a 1-1 draw with Liam Sercombe and Joe Lennox finding the score sheet for the Grecians and the Pilgrims respectively.
Three months later-in what was the 60th league meeting between the two sides- Argyle came out on top thanks to a first half injury time winner from on-loan winger Jason Banton, which boosted the Pilgrims' survival hopes and dented Exeter's Play-Off hopes.
It also helped Banton to secure the Npower League Two Player of the Month award for March 2013, as well as the Manager of the Month prize for Argyle boss John Sheridan.
On Saturday, the Grecians will be looking to continue their impressive early season form and a home win over their fierce local rivals would be the perfect way to follow up their 2-1 away last week against high flying Fleetwood Town.
Argyle, on the other hand, are heading into the match looking for a performance to kick-start their league campaign and a timely boost ahead of their first league encounter in over 20 years with Portsmouth next weekend, which is being broadcasted live on Sky Sports.
With the Grecians in sixth place in the League Two table and the Pilgrims in 15th place, recent form would indicate that on current form the Grecians would be favourites.
However, in local derbies form can often disappear out of the window.
Sunday, 29 September 2013
AZEEZ BECOMES TORQUAY'S 1,000TH PLAYER
Ade Azeez's debut for Torquay United against Newport County proved to be a memorable one for a variety of reasons.
Firstly, the Charlton Athletic starlet marked his first appearance for the Gulls with a goal, which was also his first as a professional footballer.
Secondly, he became the 1,000th player to appear for Torquay since they first entered the Football League in 1927.
Former trainee Danny Sullivan became the 999th to appear for United when he was handed his professional debut by Alan Knill against Morecambe at the Globe Arena on August 10th, and there was some anticipation as to who the 1,000th player to appear for Torquay would be.
Firstly, the Charlton Athletic starlet marked his first appearance for the Gulls with a goal, which was also his first as a professional footballer.
Secondly, he became the 1,000th player to appear for Torquay since they first entered the Football League in 1927.
Former trainee Danny Sullivan became the 999th to appear for United when he was handed his professional debut by Alan Knill against Morecambe at the Globe Arena on August 10th, and there was some anticipation as to who the 1,000th player to appear for Torquay would be.
A list of other significant numbers and a few randoms:
100: Don Welsh
211: Sammy Collins
308: Robin Stubbs
538: Mark Loram
592: Lee Sharpe
601: Dean Edwards
705: Rodney Jack
899: Lee Mansell
925: Kevin Nicholson
Friday, 27 September 2013
GULLS ADD ADEEZ
Torquay United manager Alan Knill has moved to boost the attacking options available to him with the signing of young striker Ade Azeez on a one-month's youth loan from Charlton Athletic.
Azeez, 19, has made one appearance for the Addicks so far in his career, against Huddersfield Town on January 5th 2013, and has also had loan spells with Wycombe Wanderers and Leyton Orient previously in his career.
In addition to this, Ade has represented England at Under-19 level and last season helped the Addicks' Under-21 squad win the Professional Development League.
Azeez, 19, has made one appearance for the Addicks so far in his career, against Huddersfield Town on January 5th 2013, and has also had loan spells with Wycombe Wanderers and Leyton Orient previously in his career.
In addition to this, Ade has represented England at Under-19 level and last season helped the Addicks' Under-21 squad win the Professional Development League.
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