We will now complete our look at the three Devon professional club's World Cup links by looking at Exeter City's World Cup connections.
The Grecians have a direct link with England's finest hour in the competition in 1966 through former manager Alan Ball, who was one of Sir Alf Ramsey's 'wingless wonders' that won the for England for the first and only time to date against West Germany at Wembley.
After winning his first cap a year earlier- in 1965- against Yugoslavia, Ball was selected in Ramsey's 22 man squad for the competition and was one of a number of players, including hat-trick hero Sir Geoff Hurst and Martin Peters- all of whom were still in single figures for caps won when they appeared in the final, who emerged with great credit from the competition.
Indeed, it was Ball who set up Hurst for his second, which made the score 3-2 to England, and it is still debated whether the ball crossed the line to this date, but the Russian linesman on the day declared that it did so that's all that matters!
When England came to defend the crown in 1970 in Mexico, Ball was one of the first names on Ramsey's team sheet and was joined in the squad by Leeds United left back Terry Cooper, who would succeed Ball as manager of the Grecians in 1994 when his tenure in charge at St James Park, which began in July 1991, came to an end.
Cooper, whose son Mark played for the Grecians and is currently manager of Swindon Town, had two spells in the St James' Park hot seat (1988 to 1991 and 1994 to 1995).
His first spell proved to be hugely successful as he led to the Grecians to the Fourth Division title in the 1989-90 season before leaving to take charge of Birmingham City in 1991.
He returned to St James Park to replace the Southampton bound Ball in 1994, but, due to the club's serious financial problems at the time, he was unable to keep them in Division Two in the 1993-94 season.
In the following campaign- the 1994-95 season- they finished bottom of the Football League and only survived being relegated to the Conference as Macclesfield Town's ground did not meet Football League requirements. He left the club at the end of the season and was replaced as manager by Peter Fox.
Honiton born Maurice Setters, who played for the Grecians between 1954 and 1955 before moving onto West Bromwich Albion and Manchester United- where he won an FA Cup winners' medal in 1963, assisted Jack Charlton as manager of the Republic of Ireland in the 1990 and 1994 World Cups.
Setters had previously served as Charlton's assistant at Sheffield Wednesday between 1977 and 1983 and performed the same role during his reign as Ireland boss between 1986 and 1995- during which time the Irish qualified for three major tournaments: Euro 88, Italia 90 and USA 94.
Shortly after this year's finals, the Grecians will be participating in a short tour of Brazil- the host nation of the current tournament, who played their first ever competitive fixture against the Grecians, which the trip will help to commemorate.
Wednesday, 11 June 2014
LOUIS THE FIRST
When interviewed by BBC Sport after Torquay United were relegated from League Two at the end of last season- former Gulls' defender Guy Branston stated Torquay needed to recruit players who had played in and won the Conference before.
And, in making his first signing of the close season, Torquay boss Chris Hargreaves has secured the signature of a player who meets that criteria in the form of ex Mansfield Town forward Louis Briscoe, on a two-year deal.
During his five-year stay at Field Mill- which came to an end at the end of the 2013-14 campaign- Briscoe, 26, helped the Stags lift the Conference title in the 2012-13 season and was named in the Conference Team of the Season for the 2010-11 campaign, as he helped Mansfield reach the final of the FA Trophy.
After starting career with Port Vale, for whom he made four appearances, Briscoe drifted into the Midlands non-league football scene as spells with Leek Town, Hednesford, Gresley Rovers, Stafford Rangers and Ilkeston followed before he signed for the Stags in 2009.
Whilst with Mansfield, he also played for England C'.
He looks set to be the first of many new faces that Hargreaves will be looking to recruit ahead of the Gulls' opening pre-season friendly against Totnes and Dartington on July 9th.
And, in making his first signing of the close season, Torquay boss Chris Hargreaves has secured the signature of a player who meets that criteria in the form of ex Mansfield Town forward Louis Briscoe, on a two-year deal.
During his five-year stay at Field Mill- which came to an end at the end of the 2013-14 campaign- Briscoe, 26, helped the Stags lift the Conference title in the 2012-13 season and was named in the Conference Team of the Season for the 2010-11 campaign, as he helped Mansfield reach the final of the FA Trophy.
After starting career with Port Vale, for whom he made four appearances, Briscoe drifted into the Midlands non-league football scene as spells with Leek Town, Hednesford, Gresley Rovers, Stafford Rangers and Ilkeston followed before he signed for the Stags in 2009.
Whilst with Mansfield, he also played for England C'.
He looks set to be the first of many new faces that Hargreaves will be looking to recruit ahead of the Gulls' opening pre-season friendly against Totnes and Dartington on July 9th.
Tuesday, 10 June 2014
PLYMOUTH ARGYLE'S WORLD CUP CONNECTIONS
As the build up to the 2014 World Cup in Brazil continues, we will now look at the players and managers with Plymouth Argyle connections who have participated in previous tournaments.
Out of Devon's three professional clubs, Plymouth Argyle are the only side who have seen a current contracted player appear in the competition.
In the 2010 tournament in South Africa, then Pilgrims' striker Rory Fallon became the first Argyle player to feature in the finals. After scoring the crucial goal in their two-legged qualifying Play-Off victory over Bahrain, he was ever present for New Zealand as they finished third in their group, which featured Paraguay, Slovakia and Italy.
This was the latest in a long list of Pilgrims with World Cup connections, which goes back to the 1954 tournament in Switzerland when former Argyle boss Andy Beattie took charge of Scotland.
Four years later, in the 1958 competition in Sweden, future Argyle manager Billy Bingham was part of the Northern Ireland squad that reached the Quarter Finals of the tournament.
Bingham would later manage the province in the 1982 and 1986 finals in Spain and Mexico; he was assisted in both tournaments by Martin Harvey- who was assistant manager at Home Park at the time.
Also in the 1982 tournament, Paul Mariner- who spearheaded the Pilgrims' promotion in the 1974-75 season- and Peter Shilton- Argyle manager between 1992 and 1995- were part of the England squad.
Mariner formed a strike partnership with Plymouth-born Trevor Francis and found the back of the net in England's final group match, a 1-0 win over Kuwait, and Shilton was ever-present in all of England's five matches in the competition.
In 2009, Mariner returned to Home Park to work alongside then Argyle manager Paul Sturrock, who played for Scotland in the 1982 and 1986 World Cups.
Shilton also went on to play for England in the 1986 and 1990 finals, and holds the record for the highest number of clean sheets kept in World Cup finals.
One of his team-mates in the 1986 tournament in Mexico was another future Pilgrims boss in the form of midfielder Peter Reid.
He also worked alongside a former Argyle manager Mike Kelly, who worked as goalkeeper coach with Bobby Robson's squad and later performed the same role for Roy Hodgson's Switzerland in the 1994 World Cup in the USA.
Kelly's predecessor in the Home Park hot seat, Tony Waiters, was also present at the 1986 finals in Mexico. After leaving Argyle in 1977, Waiters moved to North America and became manager of the Canadian national side, and led Canada to the 1986 finals.
Current Pilgrims' manager John Sheridan represented the Republic of Ireland in the 1990 and 1994 finals as the Irish qualified for their first World Cups under Jack Charlton.
Sheridan made one appearance for the Republic in Italia 90, but was ever present during their USA 94 campaign- and started the move that led to Ray Houghton's decisive goal against Italy as they avenged their 1990 Quarter Final exit at the hands of the Italians.
Out of Devon's three professional clubs, Plymouth Argyle are the only side who have seen a current contracted player appear in the competition.
In the 2010 tournament in South Africa, then Pilgrims' striker Rory Fallon became the first Argyle player to feature in the finals. After scoring the crucial goal in their two-legged qualifying Play-Off victory over Bahrain, he was ever present for New Zealand as they finished third in their group, which featured Paraguay, Slovakia and Italy.
This was the latest in a long list of Pilgrims with World Cup connections, which goes back to the 1954 tournament in Switzerland when former Argyle boss Andy Beattie took charge of Scotland.
Four years later, in the 1958 competition in Sweden, future Argyle manager Billy Bingham was part of the Northern Ireland squad that reached the Quarter Finals of the tournament.
Bingham would later manage the province in the 1982 and 1986 finals in Spain and Mexico; he was assisted in both tournaments by Martin Harvey- who was assistant manager at Home Park at the time.
Also in the 1982 tournament, Paul Mariner- who spearheaded the Pilgrims' promotion in the 1974-75 season- and Peter Shilton- Argyle manager between 1992 and 1995- were part of the England squad.
Mariner formed a strike partnership with Plymouth-born Trevor Francis and found the back of the net in England's final group match, a 1-0 win over Kuwait, and Shilton was ever-present in all of England's five matches in the competition.
In 2009, Mariner returned to Home Park to work alongside then Argyle manager Paul Sturrock, who played for Scotland in the 1982 and 1986 World Cups.
Shilton also went on to play for England in the 1986 and 1990 finals, and holds the record for the highest number of clean sheets kept in World Cup finals.
One of his team-mates in the 1986 tournament in Mexico was another future Pilgrims boss in the form of midfielder Peter Reid.
He also worked alongside a former Argyle manager Mike Kelly, who worked as goalkeeper coach with Bobby Robson's squad and later performed the same role for Roy Hodgson's Switzerland in the 1994 World Cup in the USA.
Kelly's predecessor in the Home Park hot seat, Tony Waiters, was also present at the 1986 finals in Mexico. After leaving Argyle in 1977, Waiters moved to North America and became manager of the Canadian national side, and led Canada to the 1986 finals.
Current Pilgrims' manager John Sheridan represented the Republic of Ireland in the 1990 and 1994 finals as the Irish qualified for their first World Cups under Jack Charlton.
Sheridan made one appearance for the Republic in Italia 90, but was ever present during their USA 94 campaign- and started the move that led to Ray Houghton's decisive goal against Italy as they avenged their 1990 Quarter Final exit at the hands of the Italians.
REUBEN'S RETURN
There might have been speculation that he could have attempted by other offers- but Reuben Reid will be a Plymouth Argyle player for the 2014-15 season after agreeing a new deal to stay at Home Park.
Following his release from Yeovil Town, Reid- who netted 21 times for the Pilgrims last season whilst on a season long loan from the Glovers- had been linked with possible moves elsewhere, but has committed his future to Argyle.
Reid, 25, will now be embarking on his fourth spell with the Pilgrims after initially arriving at Home Park in 2005 before being released by Paul Sturrock in 2008.
He would later return to the Pilgrims on loan twice, firstly in January 2013 and then for a full season-long loan deal for the duration of the 2013-14 campaign where he became the first Pilgrims' striker since Tommy Tynan to score 20 or more goals in one season.
His permanent acquisition now gives Argyle manager John Sheridan a choice of strikers that can rival the best in League Two for the 2014-15 campaign, as he joins a crop of strikers that includes Deane Smalley, who signed from Oxford United earlier in the close season, Lewis Alessandra, Marvin Morgan and rookie striker Matt Lecointe.
However, Sheridan will probably be on the lookout for a new midfielder and right back after Argentinean midfielder Andres Gurrieri and right back Durrell Berry rejected new one-year deals.
Following his release from Yeovil Town, Reid- who netted 21 times for the Pilgrims last season whilst on a season long loan from the Glovers- had been linked with possible moves elsewhere, but has committed his future to Argyle.
Reid, 25, will now be embarking on his fourth spell with the Pilgrims after initially arriving at Home Park in 2005 before being released by Paul Sturrock in 2008.
He would later return to the Pilgrims on loan twice, firstly in January 2013 and then for a full season-long loan deal for the duration of the 2013-14 campaign where he became the first Pilgrims' striker since Tommy Tynan to score 20 or more goals in one season.
His permanent acquisition now gives Argyle manager John Sheridan a choice of strikers that can rival the best in League Two for the 2014-15 campaign, as he joins a crop of strikers that includes Deane Smalley, who signed from Oxford United earlier in the close season, Lewis Alessandra, Marvin Morgan and rookie striker Matt Lecointe.
However, Sheridan will probably be on the lookout for a new midfielder and right back after Argentinean midfielder Andres Gurrieri and right back Durrell Berry rejected new one-year deals.
Saturday, 7 June 2014
GULLS TERMINATE CRAIG'S CONTRACT
The summer exodus from Plainmoor continues after Torquay United terminated the contract of midfield playmaker Nathan Craig by mutual consent.
Craig, 22, a former Wales Under-21 international had previously been transfer listed by manager Chris Hargreaves, along with winger Jordan Chapell, after expressing a desire to return home to his native North Wales.
However, after making 47 appearances and scoring once- against Gillingham, directly from a corner- since arriving at Plainmoor in 2012, Craig had failed to hold down a regular first team spot whilst with United.
After starting his career with Everton, where he was selected for a Europa League game by David Moyes against BATE Borisov in the 2009-10 campaign, Craig joined the Gulls from his home town club Caernarfon Town in January 2012, following a successful trial spell.
It was hoped that he might have followed the same path as Eunan O'Kane, who had established himself as a first team regular with the Gulls- after joining from his local side in Ireland, Coleraine-before going on to join AFC Bournemouth for a fee of £175,000 in the summer of 2012.
Despite establishing himself briefly as a regular under Martin Ling, Craig fell out of favour following the arrival of Alan Knill and was unable to regain his place in the Gulls' side after the appointment of Hargreaves.
Parallels could be drawn with Mick O'Brien, a player who won an FA Youth Cup winners' medal with Everton in 1998 before joining the Gulls under Wes Saunders in 1999. He shone for a brief time at Plainmoor before falling out of favour and was eventually released by Roy McFarland.
Back to the present day, and the roster of transfer listed players at Plainmoor now stands at seven; Aaron Downes, Dale Tonge, Shaun Cooper, Ben Harding, Jordan Chapell, Karl Hawley and Elliot Benyon with Michael Poke, Martin Rice, Lee Mansell and Damon Lathrope currently considering new offers.
Craig, 22, a former Wales Under-21 international had previously been transfer listed by manager Chris Hargreaves, along with winger Jordan Chapell, after expressing a desire to return home to his native North Wales.
However, after making 47 appearances and scoring once- against Gillingham, directly from a corner- since arriving at Plainmoor in 2012, Craig had failed to hold down a regular first team spot whilst with United.
After starting his career with Everton, where he was selected for a Europa League game by David Moyes against BATE Borisov in the 2009-10 campaign, Craig joined the Gulls from his home town club Caernarfon Town in January 2012, following a successful trial spell.
It was hoped that he might have followed the same path as Eunan O'Kane, who had established himself as a first team regular with the Gulls- after joining from his local side in Ireland, Coleraine-before going on to join AFC Bournemouth for a fee of £175,000 in the summer of 2012.
Despite establishing himself briefly as a regular under Martin Ling, Craig fell out of favour following the arrival of Alan Knill and was unable to regain his place in the Gulls' side after the appointment of Hargreaves.
Parallels could be drawn with Mick O'Brien, a player who won an FA Youth Cup winners' medal with Everton in 1998 before joining the Gulls under Wes Saunders in 1999. He shone for a brief time at Plainmoor before falling out of favour and was eventually released by Roy McFarland.
Back to the present day, and the roster of transfer listed players at Plainmoor now stands at seven; Aaron Downes, Dale Tonge, Shaun Cooper, Ben Harding, Jordan Chapell, Karl Hawley and Elliot Benyon with Michael Poke, Martin Rice, Lee Mansell and Damon Lathrope currently considering new offers.
Friday, 6 June 2014
TORQUAY UNITED'S WORLD CUP LINKS
With the 2014 World Cup due to kick off in Brazil in less than a week's time, we will now look at the former Torquay United personnel who have been involved in World Cups past.
One former Gull who has been involved in the competition in recent times is former Gulls' boss Lubos Kubik, who worked as assistant manager of theUSA
Lubos has also featured at a World Cup as a player when he representedCzechoslovakia Costa Rica
One former Gull who has been involved in the competition in recent times is former Gulls' boss Lubos Kubik, who worked as assistant manager of the
Lubos has also featured at a World Cup as a player when he represented
Another former Torquay
manager who has appeared for his country in a World Cup is Bruce Rioch. Ex Aston
Villa, Derby and Everton midfielder Rioch captained
Scotland during their ill-fated 1978 campaign in Argentina under Ally McLeod
He was an ever present in a side, which lost toPeru and drew with Iran before
pulling off a surprise 3-2 win over eventual finalists Holland Middlesbrough , Millwall, Bolton Wanderers and Arsenal
amongst others.
He was an ever present in a side, which lost to
Paul Hall and Matt
Elliott both featured in Torquay’s 1990-91 Play-Off winning side and were also involved
in the 1998 World Cup Finals in France Jamaica Coventry
City Leicester City
at the time, was named in Scotland
Full back Len Graham
found his way to Plainmoor after being a non-playing member of Northern Ireland ’s squad for the 1958 tournament
in Sweden
Former Gulls physio
Norman Medhurst served as physiotherapist to the England Norman was first persuaded to
take on the role at Plainmoor by the late Cyril Knowles in 1988 and, after
discussions with the then England
boss Bobby Robson, made the move to south Devon .
He left Plainmoor for a brief spell with Plymouth Argyle in 1995 before
returning to the Gulls fold in 1998 where he remained until his retirement
during the 2004-05 season.
Also involved in two of those tournaments with England, 1986 & 1990, was Chris Waddle, who had a brief at Plainmoor during the 1998-99 when he was persuaded to sign for the Gulls by his former Newcastle teammate Wes Saunders. Waddle played a key role in helping England reach the semi-finals of Italia 90, but was one of two players- along with Stuart Pearce- who missed crucial penalties against West Germany that denied the Three Lions their first appearance in a World Cup final since 1966.
Lastly, and by no
means least, ex Plainmoor apprentice Paul Balsom worked as assistant coach to
the Swedish national side during the 2002 and 2006 competitions. He is currently
Head of Sports Science at Leicester City.
Thursday, 5 June 2014
TO B OR NOT TO B
One of the biggest footballing debates in England so far this summer - aside from who Roy Hodgson should select for England in the World Cup- has been the proposals by FA Chairman Greg Dyke about the possibility of Premier League sides fielding B teams in the lower leagues.
A month ago, Dyke- whose previous involvement with football included being a director of Manchester United and Chairman of Brentford- and the FA Commission proposed a plan that would include ten Conference sides and ten Premier League B teams playing in a newly created League Three.
Despite the fact many others major European leagues allow B teams to compete in their lower divisions, the plans have drawn widespread opposition from the Conference and many others within the game, as well as an online petition against it; but have Dyke and his colleagues may have ignored something that could already be benefiting the long term health of English football: the youth loan.
Youth loans are a type of deal that allows lower league clubs to sign players under the age of 21 and guarantee those players regular first team football. Yeovil Town and Torquay United are two such teams who have benefited from this deal in recent seasons; players such as Steven Caulker, Andros Townsend, Alex McCarthy and Tom Lawrence have turned out for the Glovers, whilst youngsters like Adam Smith and Shaquile Coulthirst have appeared for the Gulls.
In fact when Caulker was on loan at Huish Park from Tottenham Hotspur during the 2009-10 season- when he was just 18- he was facing the likes of Southampton's Rickie Lambert- a member of Hodgson's squad in Brazil this summer, and a former lower league campaigner with the likes of Macclesfield, Stockport, Rochdale and Bristol Rovers- and Leeds' Jermaine Beckford.
This experience gave him the taste of the experience that Dyke was hoping young players would be able to taste as part of his new plans.
Caulker held his own against these players with great credit before going on to represent Team GB at the London 2012 Olympics and England. He also earned himself an £8 million move to Cardiff City and is being linked with moves to Liverpool and a possible return to Spurs.
More recently, Tom Lawrence joined the Glovers from Manchester United on loan last season and on his return to Old Trafford was handed his debut by Ryan Giggs during his brief reign as Caretaker manager, following the departure of David Moyes, in a 3-1 win over Hull City.
He has since received his first international call-up for Wales.
Shaquile Coulthirst joined Torquay United on loan from Tottenham Hotspur and scored twice in six games for the Gulls as they failed to avoid relegation from the Football League.
The experience that these young players would have gained from their respective loan spells will no doubt stand them in good stead in their future careers; they are three of several players who have been loaned out by top-flight clubs in the past four to five years to lower league clubs.
Financial reality has dictated that many clubs have relied more on loan players than ever in recent years and it could be the case that Dyke and his commission maybe a bit premature with their assessments.
If in five years time, the number of home-grown players plying their trade in the top-flight has increased from the 23 % - the percentage of players qualified to play for England in the Premiership during the 2013-14 season- it currently stands at, then many within the game will point to the success of the youth loan system in helping to improve players.
Should there be no sizeable increase, then a radical alternative may need to be found; something similar to what Mr Dyke has suggested.
However, with the World Cup due to start next week these plans will probably be shelved for now, but an impressive display from an England, featuring many players who have played in the Football League or below, will help reflect the value of lower league clubs to the health of the national game.
A month ago, Dyke- whose previous involvement with football included being a director of Manchester United and Chairman of Brentford- and the FA Commission proposed a plan that would include ten Conference sides and ten Premier League B teams playing in a newly created League Three.
Despite the fact many others major European leagues allow B teams to compete in their lower divisions, the plans have drawn widespread opposition from the Conference and many others within the game, as well as an online petition against it; but have Dyke and his colleagues may have ignored something that could already be benefiting the long term health of English football: the youth loan.
Youth loans are a type of deal that allows lower league clubs to sign players under the age of 21 and guarantee those players regular first team football. Yeovil Town and Torquay United are two such teams who have benefited from this deal in recent seasons; players such as Steven Caulker, Andros Townsend, Alex McCarthy and Tom Lawrence have turned out for the Glovers, whilst youngsters like Adam Smith and Shaquile Coulthirst have appeared for the Gulls.
In fact when Caulker was on loan at Huish Park from Tottenham Hotspur during the 2009-10 season- when he was just 18- he was facing the likes of Southampton's Rickie Lambert- a member of Hodgson's squad in Brazil this summer, and a former lower league campaigner with the likes of Macclesfield, Stockport, Rochdale and Bristol Rovers- and Leeds' Jermaine Beckford.
This experience gave him the taste of the experience that Dyke was hoping young players would be able to taste as part of his new plans.
Caulker held his own against these players with great credit before going on to represent Team GB at the London 2012 Olympics and England. He also earned himself an £8 million move to Cardiff City and is being linked with moves to Liverpool and a possible return to Spurs.
More recently, Tom Lawrence joined the Glovers from Manchester United on loan last season and on his return to Old Trafford was handed his debut by Ryan Giggs during his brief reign as Caretaker manager, following the departure of David Moyes, in a 3-1 win over Hull City.
He has since received his first international call-up for Wales.
Shaquile Coulthirst joined Torquay United on loan from Tottenham Hotspur and scored twice in six games for the Gulls as they failed to avoid relegation from the Football League.
The experience that these young players would have gained from their respective loan spells will no doubt stand them in good stead in their future careers; they are three of several players who have been loaned out by top-flight clubs in the past four to five years to lower league clubs.
Financial reality has dictated that many clubs have relied more on loan players than ever in recent years and it could be the case that Dyke and his commission maybe a bit premature with their assessments.
If in five years time, the number of home-grown players plying their trade in the top-flight has increased from the 23 % - the percentage of players qualified to play for England in the Premiership during the 2013-14 season- it currently stands at, then many within the game will point to the success of the youth loan system in helping to improve players.
Should there be no sizeable increase, then a radical alternative may need to be found; something similar to what Mr Dyke has suggested.
However, with the World Cup due to start next week these plans will probably be shelved for now, but an impressive display from an England, featuring many players who have played in the Football League or below, will help reflect the value of lower league clubs to the health of the national game.
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