THE ONE THAT GOT AWAY HAS SIGHTS ON EUROS

For Torquay United fans, Jamie Ward will always be regarded as the one that got away.

Ward spent just six months on the English Riviera after joining the Gulls in the summer of 2006 following his release by Aston Villa, who he had played for in an FA Youth Cup final in 2004 alongside the likes of Gary Cahill, Gabriel Agbonlahor and Luke Moore.

He was persuaded to move to south Devon by the then Torquay manager, and fellow Brummie, Ian Atkins, amid interest from Stockport County and Wrexham. 

During his time at Plainmoor, Ward was converted from being a right-winger into a centre forward and scored 11 goals in 29 appearances in all competitions before he was sold to Chesterfield in January 2007 for a fee of £95,000.

At this time the Gulls were in the midst of Chris Roberts’s brief but calamitous reign as Chairman, which plunged the club into turmoil, during a campaign in which Torquay were relegated from the Football League.

His sale effectively ended any realistic chance that the Gulls had of avoiding relegation to the Conference for the first time ever. Nevertheless, Torquay did benefit two years later from a 25% sell-on clause when Ward was sold by the Spireites to Sheffield United for a fee of £330,000.   

Ward’s career has gone from strength to strength since then, and he is currently plying his trade with Championship promotion chasers Derby County and has won 13 caps for Northern Ireland.

Now, as we head into 2015, he also has the potential to do something that the province’s favourite son George Best never managed to do: play in the finals of a major tournament as Northern Ireland are currently top of their Euro 2016 qualifying group.

Ward, who qualifies to play for Northern Ireland through his grandfather, has been ever present in all but one match during Michael O’Neill’s side’s qualifying campaign thus far, as they aim to become the first Northern Ireland side to reach the final stages of a major tournament since the 1986 World Cup in Mexico.

Northern Ireland are currently second in qualifying Group F, which includes Romania, Hungary, Finland, Faroe Islands and Euro 2004 winners Greece, after winning three of their opening four qualifiers. This run includes a 2-0 win over the Greeks, in which Ward and his strike partner Kyle Lafferty found the target.

Their qualification prospects have been enhanced by UEFA’s decision to increase the number of teams participating in the finals from 16 to 24, which means smaller countries now have a greater chance of qualifying for the main stage.

All of the nine group winners and runners-up will qualify automatically, along with hosts France and the third placed team with the highest number of points. The remaining eight third-placed teams will then go into a two-legged Play-off. So O’Neill’s men could finish third in their group and still qualify for the 2016 finals that are due to be held in France. 

Should Ward go on to represent the province in France, he will become the first ex-Gull to appear in the latter stages of a European Championships since Keith Curle represented England at Euro 92 in Sweden.

He will also be the first former Torquay player to appear in the final stages of a major tournament since Paul Hall played for Jamaica at the 1998 World Cup, which was also held in France.

MOST CRUCIAL RESULT OF THE SEASON

On a Tuesday night at a wind swept Launa Windows Stadium, Torquay United pulled off what could be their most crucial win of their campaign so far against FC Halifax Town.

The Gulls’ superior finishing proved to be the difference as first half strikes from Ryan Bowman and Duane Ofori-Acheampong sent them on their way before Lois Maynard pulled a goal back for the Shaymen with his fifth of the season.

In securing victory over the Shaymen, United have leapfrogged their Play-off rivals in the Vanarama Conference table; and they are now just two points shy of the fifth and final Play-off spot.

Defeat, however, would have left Chris Hargreaves's side five points adrift and facing an uphill battle to stay in touch over a busy festive period.

It was a result achieved with a depleted squad, as Aussie defender Aaron Downes was suspended and full-backs Durrell Berry and Thomas Cruise both missed the game through injury. The absence of the latter two saw midfielder Jamie McQuilken and teenager Levi Ives play at right-back and left-back respectively.

Next up for the Gulls is a trip to Bishop Stortford in the FA Trophy, a competition which Hargreaves captained them to the final of in 2008 where they were beaten by Ebbsfleet United.

SHERIDAN LOOKING TO HELP PILGRIMS TO BLUNT BLADES

In recent years, certainly since the 'new' Wembley was re-opened in 2007, the staging of FA Cup semi-finals at the national stadium has become normal practise.

However, over 20 years ago, it was regarded as a novelty rather than the norm when a Sheffield Wednesday side, which contained current Plymouth Argyle manager John Sheridan, played their Steel City neighbours Sheffield United, whilst Arsenal faced Tottenham Hotspur in a North London derby in the other semi-final.

The Owls defeated the Blades 2-1 after extra time and went on to face Arsenal in the final, which they lost 2-1 after a replay, and Sheridan is once again out to defeat United as his Pilgrims' side head to Bramall Lane this Saturday for an FA Cup second round tie.

Argyle, of course, have their own pedigree in the competition having famously reached the semis themselves in 1984 where they were beaten by Graham Taylor's Watford at Villa Park.

They reached the third round last season where they were beaten 3-2 by Port Vale in a replay at Home Park, after drawing 2-2 at Vale Park.

Should the Pilgrims emerge victorious, it will be the first time that they have overcome a team in a higher division than themselves since the 1998-99 season when they overcame Reading - who were then in what is now League One -  after a replay.

Argyle drew 1-1 at the Madjeski Stadium, courtesy of a late strike from Chris Hargreaves, before winning the replay by a solitary Mick Heathcote effort.

In the next round, they were beaten 3-0 by a Preston North End side managed by David Moyes.

If Saturday's tie turns out to be a draw, it will cause a minor fixture headache as Nigel Clough's Blades are due to play Southampton in the Quarter Finals of the Capital One Cup on the scheduled date of the replay - December 16th.

Also any re-match taking place a week later on December 23rd wouldn't be ideal either, as both sides have packed Christmas schedule - starting on Boxing Day - ahead of them.

So, if the match is tied the two sides may have to wait until the date that the third round matches are played - the weekend of January 3rd - to decide who progresses through to the next stage.

A LASTING LEGACY

One legacy of Leroy Rosenior’s three-and-a-half year spell in charge of Torquay United – long before his infamously brief ten-minute stint in 2007- is the Launa Windows Stadium (Plainmoor in old money) faithful have had an expectation of attacking, passing football. 

It was a style of play that was characterised by midfield pass masters such as Alex Russell and Jason Fowler. This has meant that subsequent Gulls’ managers have almost been obliged to accommodate a Nicky Wroe, a Eunan O’Kane and, more recently, a Luke Young into their respective sides. 

However, Leroy didn’t transform the group of players that he inherited from Roy McFarland in 2002 into the promotion winners which they later became in the 2003-04 campaign overnight. 

In his first season in charge, the 2002-03 campaign, the former West Ham striker oversaw plenty free flowing and free scoring, attractive football. 

The Gulls scored 77 goals in all competitions, 71 of which came in the league, that included 31 from the strike partnership of Martin Gritton and David Graham who found the back of the net 16 and 15 times respectively.

Whilst scoring goals came easily to Leroy’s Gulls, conceding them at the other end proved to be an Achilles heel as they conceded 71 in the league and a further eight in cup competitions.

It was a flaw that ensured that Torquay finished the campaign on the periphery of the Division Three promotion race in 9^th place. 

Fast forward to the present day and Chris Hargreaves’s Gulls of the 2014-15 campaign are experiencing a similar headache. 

In the current Vanarama Conference season to date, Torquay are the joint-second highest scorers with 38 goals with second placed Grimsby Town – leaders Barnet are the highest scorers with 50. 

Nevertheless, due to the 29 goals that they have conceded, the Gulls find themselves in 10^th place in the league table with 32 points, four short of the Play-off zone. 

The conundrum facing Hargreaves now is finding a way of strengthening the defensive base behind his more attack-minded players such as Young, leading scorer Ryan Bowman and wide men Louis Briscoe and Toby Ajala. 

His recent addition of ex-Plymouth Argyle right-back Durrell Berry on non-contract terms is certainly a step in the right direction. 

After overseeing his first campaign in charge, Leroy swooped to bring Craig Taylor to Plainmoor on a permanent basis, following a successful loan spell from the Pilgrims, moved Matt Hockley into centre midfield to partner the more cultured Russell. He later brought in Brian McGlinchey as left-back from Argyle following a successful loan spell. 

The end result was that the Gulls won automatic promotion for the first time in 38 years and finding players of similar ilk on what is an extremely limited budget is the challenge now facing Hargreaves.

Unfortunately, in the current financial climate, players may have to leave before new arrivals can be sought. 

However, it is often forgotten that Taylor’s central defensive partner, Steve Woods, spent the entirety of the 2003-04 season at Plainmoor under non-contract terms.

TEAM OF THE YEAR

Yeovil Town Ladies capped their debut season in the FA Women's Super League by being voted as Women's Super League Two Club of the Year.

The Glovers, who finished fifth in Women’s Super League Two and play their home games at Sherborne Town’s Jones Stadium, received the award after meeting criteria that includes demonstrating success in areas such as success on and off the pitch, supporting a range of programmes to help develop players, supporting the RESPECT campaign, community work and overcoming challenges.

One challenge that the club met successfully was the departure of manager Sarah Lawler, who stood down midway through the season after accepting a new job as a development coach with the FA; her assistant, Jamie Sherwood, stepped into the breach before his appointment was made permanent at the end of the season.

Lawler had spent 11 years with the club, which included several as a player, and she had been an influential figure in helping the club achieve Women’s Super League status.

At their new level, Yeovil found themselves competing against some illustrious clubs in women’s footballing circles, such as eventual champions Sunderland Ladies, Doncaster Belles and Millwall Lionesses.

They also encountered some of the games’ better known players including Reading Ladies’ England striker Fran Kirby and Sue Smith, an iconic figure in the women’s game, who turned out for Doncaster Belles. The Belles were also managed by former Plymouth Argyle striker Gordon Staniforth.

After losing their opening fixture against Reading Ladies, the Glovers won their opening home league match 4-1 against the London Bees with midfielder Stacey Pearson scoring a hat-trick.

One of the Glovers great strengths as the season wore on was their team spirit and for a club whose motto is ‘achieve by unity’ that level of togetherness stood them in good stead over the course of the campaign.

Another was their strong spine, which comprised of goalkeeper Rachel ‘Dodge’ Simkin, centre backs Natalie Haigh and skipper Rachael Edwards and midfielders Jade Radburn-Lorton and Katie Sherwood, wife of manager Jamie.

They all helped provide a strong defensive base for more attack-minded players such as Welsh international trio Helen Bleazard, Ellie Curson and leading scorer Sarah Wiltshire.

Since her arrival during the mid-season from Watford Ladies, Wiltshire scored 11 goals in eight matches to finish the campaign as the club’s leading scorer, and the third top scorer in the league behind Reading’s Kirby (24) and Sunderland’s Beth Mead (13).

Other key performers included Welsh international right-back Nicola Cousins who joined mid-season from Cardiff City Ladies.

The Glovers have ambitions to reach Women’s Super League One within the next three years, but they will be aiming for that target without Katie Sherwood and Rachael Edwards, both of whom announced their retirement at the end of the season.

For skipper Edwards, it was the end of a career that very nearly didn’t happen at all; whilst in her teens she suffered a knee injury and was told that she wouldn’t be able to kick a ball in anger again.

However, after making a successful comeback in her mid-twenties, she joined Yeovil Town Ladies eight years ago and led the team out in their opening fixture at the Madjeski Stadium against Reading.

Nevertheless her retirement doesn’t spell the end of her involvement with the Glovers – as she has now become a director of the club and will no doubt be playing a key role in any future progress.

GULLS GET THEIR BUZZ BACK AT THE HIVE

Torquay United’s 3-2 win over Barnet on Tuesday night must surely rank alongside two other victories by the same score line against the Bees.

Those two wins, in the 2000-01 and 2012-13 seasons respectively, both played a crucial role in helping the Gulls retain their Football League status.

In 2001, they travelled to Underhill - under the guidance of Colin Lee - and raced into a two-goal lead courtesy of a 25-yarder from Jason Rees and a header from Kevin Hill.

The Bees were then awarded a penalty after Jimmy Aggrey was adjudged to have handled the ball, but Gulls keeper Stuart Jones guessed correctly and saved Darren Currie’s spot-kick.

David Graham then increased Torquay’s lead to three shortly before the half-time break before Barnet fought back in the second half thanks to a Ryan Green own goal and a Wayne Purser effort.

12 years later, the Gulls defeated the Bees by the same score line at Plainmoor to seal a win that played a major part in helping their survival cause.

Elliot Benyon gave Torquay a first half lead, which was cancelled out by a Jake Hyde equalised for Barnet, who were then managed by former Dutch star Edgar Davids.

Billy Bodin and Brian Saah then increased the Gulls’ lead to two goals before Hyde struck again to complete his brace, but they couldn’t find an equaliser as Torquay took a massive step towards securing their League Two status.

Whereas those results helped United to beat the drop, this latest triumph at the Hive - Barnet’s current home since 2013 - could prove to be the catalyst which gets their attempt to win promotion from the Vanarama Conference back on track.

The win ends a run of four successive defeats in all competitions, and a run of six losses in seven competitive fixtures.

Louis Briscoe opened the scoring for United before Ryan Bowman appeared to have doubled their advantage, but his effort was later accredited to Bees keeper- and former Plymouth Argyle custodian- Graham Stack to give the Gulls a two-goal advantage going into the half-time break.

Spanish substitute Luisma Villa then pulled a goal back for the hosts before Briscoe completed his brace on 65 minutes with his sixth of the campaign, which puts level with Luke Young as United’s leading goal scorer, to restore their two-goal cushion.

Another Bees’ sub Bernard Mensah reduced their deficit to a single goal, but the Gulls’ defence held firm and Toby Ajala and Duane Ofori-Acheampong could have added to their tally late in the game.

Next up for the Gulls is a home clash with fellow Play-off chasers Forest Green Rovers on Saturday.

PILGRIMS AND GLOVERS THROUGH, BUT GRECIANS ARE OUT

Plymouth Argyle and Yeovil Town booked their places in the second round of the FA Cup with wins over AFC Fylde and Crawley Town respectively, but Exeter City bowed out to Warrington Town.

The Pilgrims saw off their Vanarama Conference North opponents thanks to headed efforts from Peter Hartley and Marvin Morgan, and the Glovers defeated their fellow League One outfit by a single goal courtesy of a strike from Jordy Hiwula.

Meanwhile, Exeter City did not enjoy such fortune as they were eliminated by Warrington Town, the lowest ranked team left in the competition.

Warrington skipper Craig Robinson, brother of MK Dons manager Karl, powered home a David Mannix corner after seven minutes, which proved to be decisive for the Cheshire side managed by Shaun Reid, the brother of former Plymouth Argyle manager, Peter Reid, as they held on to clinch victory.

The Grecians went close as David Noble hit the woodwork and Matt Grimes had a shot cleared off the line, but it was to no avail as they bowed out of the cup.