Torquay United's reward for coming away from a near marathon journey to Brightlingsea Regent with a win is a home tie with Winchester City in the FA Cup fourth qualifying round.
A first half Jamie Reid penalty set the Gulls on their way in deepest Essex. This was followed in the second half by skipper Asa Hall heading home his third goal of the season before Bristol City loanee completed the scoring with his second of his loan spell from Ashton Gate to set up a tie with the Citizens, who play in the Evo-Stik Southern League Division One South and West.
Tiverton Town will have to go again against the Metropolitan Police after drawing 3-3 at Ladysmead; the reward of a home tie with National League outfit Havant and Waterlooville awaits them should they win their replay.
The only way could be Essex for Taunton Town, who could be travelling to National League South big spenders Billericay Town if they overcome St Albans City, also from National League South, on Wednesday night.
Monday, 8 October 2018
WIN TAKES ARGYLE OFF THE BOTTOM
Finally Plymouth Argyle are off the bottom of League One, following a win over AFC Wimbledon at Home Park that ends their 12-match wait for a win.
Freddie Ladapo scored the game's decisive goal on 75 minutes, with Graham Carey the architect as he produced an inch-perfect cross - following a Ruben Lameiras corner - which proved to be the difference for the Pilgrims.
It was perhaps no surprise that Argyle's winless came against the Dons, as a number of significant matches under the managerial reign of Derek Adams have taken place between them and the Pilgrims.
On the opening day of the 2015-16 season, the Pilgrims came away from AFC Wimbledon's Kingsmeadow Stadium with a 2-0 - thanks to goals from Gregg Wylde and Carey.
Then in the League Two play-off of the same campaign, in what was Argyle's second ever appearance at Wembley, the Dons won 3-0 to deny the Pilgrims promotion in Adams' first season in charge.
Saturday's fixture was Adams' 150th league game in charge at Home Park, and one that could prove to be a turning point in the current campaign.
Freddie Ladapo scored the game's decisive goal on 75 minutes, with Graham Carey the architect as he produced an inch-perfect cross - following a Ruben Lameiras corner - which proved to be the difference for the Pilgrims.
It was perhaps no surprise that Argyle's winless came against the Dons, as a number of significant matches under the managerial reign of Derek Adams have taken place between them and the Pilgrims.
On the opening day of the 2015-16 season, the Pilgrims came away from AFC Wimbledon's Kingsmeadow Stadium with a 2-0 - thanks to goals from Gregg Wylde and Carey.
Then in the League Two play-off of the same campaign, in what was Argyle's second ever appearance at Wembley, the Dons won 3-0 to deny the Pilgrims promotion in Adams' first season in charge.
Saturday's fixture was Adams' 150th league game in charge at Home Park, and one that could prove to be a turning point in the current campaign.
Sunday, 30 September 2018
FIVE THINGS WE LEARNED FROM TORQUAY UNITED VERSUS WOKING
1. The 'Gary Johnson effect' is bringing the crowds back to Plainmoor.
Before Torquay United were due to face Woking, Gary Johnson described the match as a 'six-pointer' and called on the Plainmoor faithful to be the team's '12th man'. The response to Johnson's request saw the highest recorded attendance at Plainmoor this season of 2,281 as well as the strongest vocal support that the team has received for a long time.
United's attendance figure was the second highest in both the National Leagues North and South, with only York City's clash with Guiseley eclipsing that figure, and only four National League encounters attracted bigger crowds (Leyton Orient vs Sutton United 5,627, Wrexham vs Barnet 4,727, Hartlepool United vs Aldershot Town 3,251 and Maidstone United vs Chesterfield 2,438).
United's attendance was also higher than Macclesfield Town vs Forest Green Rovers (1,581) and Crawley Town vs Yeovil Town (2,142) in Skybet League Two.
2. Jamie Reid is on fire.
By scoring a second half brace, Jamie Reid took his goal scoring tally for the season to five in all competitions - and four from three since Johnson took charge. Remarkably, at this early stage of the season, Reid is only one goal behind his tally of six goals for last season's campaign which saw the Gulls relegated from the Vanarama National League. If Reid maintains his current form, then there is every possibility that he could hit double figures this season.
3. The Bristol City connection works well for Gulls.
The 44th minute introduction by Johnson of Connor Lemonheigh-Evans and Siakou Janneh in place of Chris Regis and Ruairi Keating increased the figure of Bristol City loanees appearing on the pitch for the Gulls to four (Jake Andrews and Opi Edwards both started the game). Johnson's predecessor had made previous good use of connections that he had with Bristol City to not only bring Andrews and Edwards to the club this season, but to sign Lemonheigh-Evans and retain George Dowling, who originally joined during Robbie Herrera's caretaker spell in charge.
It's a link that is further strengthened following Johnson's appointment, as his son Lee is currently the first team manager at Bristol City.
Both Edwards and Janneh claimed the assists for both of Reid's goals as the Ashton Gate influence at Plainmoor continues to be felt and would have surely impressed the Robins' loans manager Brian Tinnion, who was in attendance.
The connection between the two clubs hasn't been this strong since Leroy Rosenior's reign as manager, when he brought Marvin Brown, Simon Clist and Craig Woodman to Plainmoor on loan from Ashton Gate. In addition to them he also signed his son Liam on loan from Fulham a year after he had left Bristol City to move to Craven Cottage.
Nevertheless, back in the present, Johnson will have to be careful over the use of further loans as he can only name five in a match day squad, and he also has Alex Bass on a season-long loan from Portsmouth in addition to the Ashton Gate quartet.
4. A first from open play.
Having only conceded six goals this season, the Gulls have by far and away the best defensive record in the Vanarama National League South. However, perhaps more interestingly, until Jake Hyde had netted Woking's second goal yesterday the Gulls were yet to concede an open goal at Plainmoor yet this season.
Both goals scored by Hampton and Richmond in their win against the Gulls in August were as a result of corners, as was Chippenham's goal in Gary Owers' final game in charge and, of course, Max Kretzschmar's opener for the Cards came from a free-kick.
5. An early substitution helps pay dividends.
The introduction Lemonheigh-Evans and Janneh before half-time helped to increase the overall tempo of the Gulls play and sent a clear message out to the players that Johnson isn't afraid to make the changes when his 'Plan A' isn't working.
Johnson's message was further emphasised by his half-time team talk several minutes later to the players, in which he stated:" You are 2-0 down, and now you've got to show me that you want to be here and you've got the character to come back".
Saturday's double change was the first time that yours truly has seen a Torquay United manager act in such a decisive way since Leroy Rosenior made the double substitution of Tony Bedeau and Mamadou Sow for Alex Lawless and Kevin Hill against Notts County on the opening day of the 2005-06 season against Notts County after 26 minutes. It was the repeat of a trick that Rosenior had repeated before against Kidderminster Harriers away in the 2002-03 season when he replaced Bedeau and Hill with Kevin Wills and Jo Kuffour and at home to a Yeovil Town side managed by Johnson in the 2003-04 campaign when he once again replaced Bedeau and Hill, this time with his son Liam and Kuffour.
Before Torquay United were due to face Woking, Gary Johnson described the match as a 'six-pointer' and called on the Plainmoor faithful to be the team's '12th man'. The response to Johnson's request saw the highest recorded attendance at Plainmoor this season of 2,281 as well as the strongest vocal support that the team has received for a long time.
United's attendance figure was the second highest in both the National Leagues North and South, with only York City's clash with Guiseley eclipsing that figure, and only four National League encounters attracted bigger crowds (Leyton Orient vs Sutton United 5,627, Wrexham vs Barnet 4,727, Hartlepool United vs Aldershot Town 3,251 and Maidstone United vs Chesterfield 2,438).
United's attendance was also higher than Macclesfield Town vs Forest Green Rovers (1,581) and Crawley Town vs Yeovil Town (2,142) in Skybet League Two.
2. Jamie Reid is on fire.
By scoring a second half brace, Jamie Reid took his goal scoring tally for the season to five in all competitions - and four from three since Johnson took charge. Remarkably, at this early stage of the season, Reid is only one goal behind his tally of six goals for last season's campaign which saw the Gulls relegated from the Vanarama National League. If Reid maintains his current form, then there is every possibility that he could hit double figures this season.
3. The Bristol City connection works well for Gulls.
The 44th minute introduction by Johnson of Connor Lemonheigh-Evans and Siakou Janneh in place of Chris Regis and Ruairi Keating increased the figure of Bristol City loanees appearing on the pitch for the Gulls to four (Jake Andrews and Opi Edwards both started the game). Johnson's predecessor had made previous good use of connections that he had with Bristol City to not only bring Andrews and Edwards to the club this season, but to sign Lemonheigh-Evans and retain George Dowling, who originally joined during Robbie Herrera's caretaker spell in charge.
It's a link that is further strengthened following Johnson's appointment, as his son Lee is currently the first team manager at Bristol City.
Both Edwards and Janneh claimed the assists for both of Reid's goals as the Ashton Gate influence at Plainmoor continues to be felt and would have surely impressed the Robins' loans manager Brian Tinnion, who was in attendance.
The connection between the two clubs hasn't been this strong since Leroy Rosenior's reign as manager, when he brought Marvin Brown, Simon Clist and Craig Woodman to Plainmoor on loan from Ashton Gate. In addition to them he also signed his son Liam on loan from Fulham a year after he had left Bristol City to move to Craven Cottage.
Nevertheless, back in the present, Johnson will have to be careful over the use of further loans as he can only name five in a match day squad, and he also has Alex Bass on a season-long loan from Portsmouth in addition to the Ashton Gate quartet.
4. A first from open play.
Having only conceded six goals this season, the Gulls have by far and away the best defensive record in the Vanarama National League South. However, perhaps more interestingly, until Jake Hyde had netted Woking's second goal yesterday the Gulls were yet to concede an open goal at Plainmoor yet this season.
Both goals scored by Hampton and Richmond in their win against the Gulls in August were as a result of corners, as was Chippenham's goal in Gary Owers' final game in charge and, of course, Max Kretzschmar's opener for the Cards came from a free-kick.
5. An early substitution helps pay dividends.
The introduction Lemonheigh-Evans and Janneh before half-time helped to increase the overall tempo of the Gulls play and sent a clear message out to the players that Johnson isn't afraid to make the changes when his 'Plan A' isn't working.
Johnson's message was further emphasised by his half-time team talk several minutes later to the players, in which he stated:" You are 2-0 down, and now you've got to show me that you want to be here and you've got the character to come back".
Saturday's double change was the first time that yours truly has seen a Torquay United manager act in such a decisive way since Leroy Rosenior made the double substitution of Tony Bedeau and Mamadou Sow for Alex Lawless and Kevin Hill against Notts County on the opening day of the 2005-06 season against Notts County after 26 minutes. It was the repeat of a trick that Rosenior had repeated before against Kidderminster Harriers away in the 2002-03 season when he replaced Bedeau and Hill with Kevin Wills and Jo Kuffour and at home to a Yeovil Town side managed by Johnson in the 2003-04 campaign when he once again replaced Bedeau and Hill, this time with his son Liam and Kuffour.
Sunday, 23 September 2018
GULLS BOOK PLACE IN NEXT ROUND WITH RECORD CUP WIN
Torquay United were in seventh heaven as they ended their near seven-year wait for an FA Cup win by putting seven past Lymington Town - a result which breaks their own FA Cup record victory.
Skipper Asa Hall and striker Ruairi Keating both had chances to give the Gulls the lead - only to be denied by Lymington keeper Nic Jones - before they eventually made the breakthrough on 36 minutes when Lymington's Lewis Brailey deflected a Ben Wynter cross into the back of his own net.
Two minutes later, United doubled their lead when a long pass from Jake Andrews found Opi Edwards, who then produced a cross which found Jamie Reid who tapped home from close range.
In the second half, the Gulls made it 3-0 on 56 minutes as a move involving Keating, Reid and Andrews resulted in Keating scoring his third of the season with a side-footed volley.
In thre 59th minute, an uncharacteristic error from Jones saw him caught off his line, which enabled Chris Regis slot home into an empty net to score his first goal for United.
Then it was the turn of substitute Brett Williams to get in on the goalscoring act as he opened his account for the campaign with a quickfire brace - in the 79th and 84th minutes respectively - the second of which was a 25-yard left footed strike.
Andrews then managed to round off the scoring in injury time with a shot on the turn - following good work from fellow Bristol City loanee Saikou Janneh - as the Gulls secured their first FA Cup victory since November 2011, when they beat Chesterfield in the first round proper.
In addition to this, the scoreline also surpasses United's previous record FA Cup win, which was a 7-1 victory over Northampton Town in 1959.
The Gulls will be joined in the third qualifying round by Tiverton Town, who beat Dorchester Town 2-0 through a River Allen free-kick and a Levi Landricombe penalty, and Taunton Town - who won 4-0 against AFC Bitton.
Weston Super Mare will require a replay after drawing 2-2 with Salisbury FC, and Truro City and Hereford FC will meet again at Plainmoor on Wednesday night following a goalless draw at Edgar Street.
However, Plymouth Parkway will not be joining them in Monday's draw after they lost 3-1 to Gloucester City.
Skipper Asa Hall and striker Ruairi Keating both had chances to give the Gulls the lead - only to be denied by Lymington keeper Nic Jones - before they eventually made the breakthrough on 36 minutes when Lymington's Lewis Brailey deflected a Ben Wynter cross into the back of his own net.
Two minutes later, United doubled their lead when a long pass from Jake Andrews found Opi Edwards, who then produced a cross which found Jamie Reid who tapped home from close range.
In the second half, the Gulls made it 3-0 on 56 minutes as a move involving Keating, Reid and Andrews resulted in Keating scoring his third of the season with a side-footed volley.
In thre 59th minute, an uncharacteristic error from Jones saw him caught off his line, which enabled Chris Regis slot home into an empty net to score his first goal for United.
Then it was the turn of substitute Brett Williams to get in on the goalscoring act as he opened his account for the campaign with a quickfire brace - in the 79th and 84th minutes respectively - the second of which was a 25-yard left footed strike.
Andrews then managed to round off the scoring in injury time with a shot on the turn - following good work from fellow Bristol City loanee Saikou Janneh - as the Gulls secured their first FA Cup victory since November 2011, when they beat Chesterfield in the first round proper.
In addition to this, the scoreline also surpasses United's previous record FA Cup win, which was a 7-1 victory over Northampton Town in 1959.
The Gulls will be joined in the third qualifying round by Tiverton Town, who beat Dorchester Town 2-0 through a River Allen free-kick and a Levi Landricombe penalty, and Taunton Town - who won 4-0 against AFC Bitton.
Weston Super Mare will require a replay after drawing 2-2 with Salisbury FC, and Truro City and Hereford FC will meet again at Plainmoor on Wednesday night following a goalless draw at Edgar Street.
However, Plymouth Parkway will not be joining them in Monday's draw after they lost 3-1 to Gloucester City.
Wednesday, 19 September 2018
THE ROAD TO WEMBLEY 2018-19 #1
The big boys may not enter until round three, nor the Football League sides in round one, but for some clubs have already started their journey on the 'Road to Wembley.'
Amongst those taking part in the FA Cup second qualifying round, where £9,000 worth of prize awaits the winners as a reward for reaching the third qualifying stage, are several South West sides who have experienced a range of fortunes in the competition in the recent past.
At 12.30pm on Saturday afternoon, and live on the BBC Red Button and on the BBC Sport website, Torquay United will be aiming to end their recent poor record in the FA Cup - the Gulls haven't won an FA Cup tie since November 2011, when they beat Chesterfield 3-1 at the Proact Stadium - as they travel to Lymington FC of the Wessex League.
New United manager Gary Johnson faced Liverpool, Charlton Athletic, Manchester United and Southampton whilst in charge of Yeovil Town and took Middlesbrough to a replay when he was
manager of Bristol Ciity, so he will no doubt be looking to improve upon the Gulls wretched run in the competition.
Later on in the afternoon, Weston Super Mare, who reached the first round of the competition in the 2014-15 season, host Salisbury FC; Tiverton Town, who have appeared three times in round one (1991-92, 1993-94 and 2001-02) host Dorchester Town - who famously knocked Plymouth Argyle out of the competition in the 2012-13 campaign at the first round stage.
Other ties see Truro City, who faced Charlton Athletic at the Valley in the first round last season, travel to Hereford FC, the phoenix club of Hereford United who memorably defeated Newcastle United in the 1971-72 season and Taunton Town, who took Barrow to a replay in the 2016-17 at the first round stage, host AFC Bitton.
These fixtures are then followed by the only tie to be played on Sunday which sees Plymouth Parkway, now of the Toolstation Western League, travel to Gloucester City, of Vanarama National League South.
Amongst those taking part in the FA Cup second qualifying round, where £9,000 worth of prize awaits the winners as a reward for reaching the third qualifying stage, are several South West sides who have experienced a range of fortunes in the competition in the recent past.
At 12.30pm on Saturday afternoon, and live on the BBC Red Button and on the BBC Sport website, Torquay United will be aiming to end their recent poor record in the FA Cup - the Gulls haven't won an FA Cup tie since November 2011, when they beat Chesterfield 3-1 at the Proact Stadium - as they travel to Lymington FC of the Wessex League.
New United manager Gary Johnson faced Liverpool, Charlton Athletic, Manchester United and Southampton whilst in charge of Yeovil Town and took Middlesbrough to a replay when he was
manager of Bristol Ciity, so he will no doubt be looking to improve upon the Gulls wretched run in the competition.
Later on in the afternoon, Weston Super Mare, who reached the first round of the competition in the 2014-15 season, host Salisbury FC; Tiverton Town, who have appeared three times in round one (1991-92, 1993-94 and 2001-02) host Dorchester Town - who famously knocked Plymouth Argyle out of the competition in the 2012-13 campaign at the first round stage.
Other ties see Truro City, who faced Charlton Athletic at the Valley in the first round last season, travel to Hereford FC, the phoenix club of Hereford United who memorably defeated Newcastle United in the 1971-72 season and Taunton Town, who took Barrow to a replay in the 2016-17 at the first round stage, host AFC Bitton.
These fixtures are then followed by the only tie to be played on Sunday which sees Plymouth Parkway, now of the Toolstation Western League, travel to Gloucester City, of Vanarama National League South.
Sunday, 16 September 2018
FIVE FACTS ABOUT GARY JOHNSON
Following Torquay United's 2-0 away win over Hungerford Town in Gary Johnson's first game in charge - we will now look at five interesting facts about the Gulls' manager.
1. Johnson started his career in football as an apprentice with Watford at the age of 16 before signing a professional in 1973. He later went on to play in Sweden for Malmo, where Bobby Houghton was manager and it was there that his coaching ambitions were first nurtured.
2. In 1993, Johnson got his first taste of Football League management at Cambridge United after serving as reserve team manager under John Beck at the Abbey Stadium between 1988 and 1993. During his time working under Beck, the U's had risen from the Football League's basement division to the brink of the top-flight in a relatively short time. He is the fourth manager in recent times to have managed the Uniteds of Torquay and Cambridge, a list that also includes Ian Atkins, Roy McFarland and Martin Ling.
3. In April 2013, Johnson senior faced Johnson junior in the dug-out as Gary's Yeovil side came up against Lee's Oldham Athletic in a League One encounter. At the time both sides needed the points for different reasons as the Latics were fighting against relegation, whilst the Glovers were heading for the play-offs. In the end, Johnson junior's Oldham came out on top to win 1-0, in a what was the first managerial head-to-head between father and son since Bill Dodgin senior's Fulham faced Bill Dodgin junior's Bristol Rovers 40 years earlier.
4. In March 2017, Johnson underwent a triple heart bypass operation after being admitted for emergency heart surgery. The heart surgeon performing the surgery was Alan Bryan - father of the then Bristol City wing-back Joe Bryan - and the operation was so successful that Johnson was able to resume his duties as Cheltenham Town manager at the start of the 2017-18 campaign. Fast forward to December 2017 and the Johnson family had another reason to be gratuitous to the Bryan family, as Bryan junior scored the winner for Bristol City, now managed by Johnson's son Lee, in a Carabao Cup Quarter Final tie against Manchester United at Ashton Gate.
5. They are three current Football League managers who played under Johnson during his time as manager Yeovil Town, including his son, Lee, who is currently manager of Bristol City (who Johnson senior led to the brink of the Premier League in 2008), Darren Way (who is manager of Yeovil Town - another of Johnson's former clubs) and Nathan Jones who is in charge of Luton Town).
1. Johnson started his career in football as an apprentice with Watford at the age of 16 before signing a professional in 1973. He later went on to play in Sweden for Malmo, where Bobby Houghton was manager and it was there that his coaching ambitions were first nurtured.
2. In 1993, Johnson got his first taste of Football League management at Cambridge United after serving as reserve team manager under John Beck at the Abbey Stadium between 1988 and 1993. During his time working under Beck, the U's had risen from the Football League's basement division to the brink of the top-flight in a relatively short time. He is the fourth manager in recent times to have managed the Uniteds of Torquay and Cambridge, a list that also includes Ian Atkins, Roy McFarland and Martin Ling.
3. In April 2013, Johnson senior faced Johnson junior in the dug-out as Gary's Yeovil side came up against Lee's Oldham Athletic in a League One encounter. At the time both sides needed the points for different reasons as the Latics were fighting against relegation, whilst the Glovers were heading for the play-offs. In the end, Johnson junior's Oldham came out on top to win 1-0, in a what was the first managerial head-to-head between father and son since Bill Dodgin senior's Fulham faced Bill Dodgin junior's Bristol Rovers 40 years earlier.
4. In March 2017, Johnson underwent a triple heart bypass operation after being admitted for emergency heart surgery. The heart surgeon performing the surgery was Alan Bryan - father of the then Bristol City wing-back Joe Bryan - and the operation was so successful that Johnson was able to resume his duties as Cheltenham Town manager at the start of the 2017-18 campaign. Fast forward to December 2017 and the Johnson family had another reason to be gratuitous to the Bryan family, as Bryan junior scored the winner for Bristol City, now managed by Johnson's son Lee, in a Carabao Cup Quarter Final tie against Manchester United at Ashton Gate.
5. They are three current Football League managers who played under Johnson during his time as manager Yeovil Town, including his son, Lee, who is currently manager of Bristol City (who Johnson senior led to the brink of the Premier League in 2008), Darren Way (who is manager of Yeovil Town - another of Johnson's former clubs) and Nathan Jones who is in charge of Luton Town).
Thursday, 13 September 2018
GULLS GO FOR JOHNSON
Following the departure from Plainmoor of Gary Owers, Torquay United reacted swiftly to appoint Gary Johnson as his replacement.
Johnson, 62, arrives at the Gulls after being dismissed as manager of Cheltenham Town after the opening four games of the 2018-19 campaign - which brought the curtain down on three-year spell in charge at Whaddon Road.
During the course of those three years, Johnson guided the Robins back into the Football League by winning the National League title at the first attempt in the 2016-17 campaign. They became the first team to win promotion back into the Football League at the first attempt as champions since Darlington in the 1990-91 season.
However, Johnson's achievements as a manager don't end there. His managerial career started with non-league Newmarket Town in the mid-1980's before he was persuaded to enter the professional game as reserve team manager with Cambridge United by the then U's manager John Beck in 1988.
He was part of the U's coaching staff during Cambridge's rise from the 'old' Fourth Division to the brink of the top-flight in the late 1980's and early 1990's and he had a spell in charge at the Abbey Stadium between 1993 and 1995.
A spell in charge of Kettering Town and Watford's youth academy followed before he was appointed as manager of Latvia in 1999. Johnson remained in charge of the Baltic state for two years and he recommended Marian Pahars and Igor Stepanovs to Southampton and Arsenal respectively; he also came into contact with Andrejs Stolcers, who would later play under him at Yeovil Town.
On his return to England, Johnson took charge at Huish Park in 2001 - following the departure of Colin Addison - and in his first season at the helm he led the Glovers to FA Trophy glory with a 2-0 win over Stevenage at Villa Park.
The following season, he ended Yeovil's 108-year stay in non-league football as the Glovers won the Nationwide Conference title - with a record winning margin of 17 points - to secure a long-awaited promotion to the Football League.
Once back in the Football League, the Glovers proved they weren't just there to make up the numbers as they finished 8th in the debut campaign in Division Three, as they missed out on the play-offs on goal difference with 74 points.
In the 2004-05 season, Yeovil built on their promising first season by winning the title of the newly rebranded League Two with a final day win over Lincoln City, and scored 90 goals in the process.
In September 2005, Johnson was on the move again as he left Huish Park to manage Bristol City following the departure of Brian Tinnion. The Robins would finish the 2005-06 campaign in 9th place in League One, but they would finish the subsequent 2006-07 season as runners-up.
His success with Bristol City was achieved with a core of players who played under him at both Huish Park and Ashton Gate, including goalkeeper Chris Weale, central defender Liam Fontaine, midfielders Lee Johnson - his son - and Michael McIndoe and striker Phil Jevons.
Once back in the Championship, Bristol City spent the entirety of the 2007-08 season in the top six and they reached the play-offs, where they were beaten 1-0 by Hull City in the final at Wembley - courtesy of a stunning strike by Dean Windass.
Johnson remained at Ashton Gate for two more years before spells in charge of Peterborough United and Northampton Town followed prior to a return to Huish Park in the 2011-12 season, a move which saw his predecessor Terry Skiverton, who also captained the Glovers during his previous successes with the club, become his assistant.
On his return to Huish Park, Johnson led the Glovers to safety in League One and then in the 2012-13 he led them to the play-offs against the odds, as they beat Sheffield United in the semi-finals to set up a meeting in the final with Brentford. The Glovers beat the Bees 2-1 in the final - with goals from Paddy Madden and Dan Burn - to reach the second tier of the Football League for the first time ever.
Unfortunately, their stay in the Championship proved to be an extremely brief one as the Glovers were relegated after their penultimate game of the 2013-14 season against Brighton and Hove Albion.
He left Huish Park during the 2014-15 campaign and was appointed as Cheltenham Town towards the end of the season, but he was unable to save them from relegation from League Two.
Following the Robins' return to the National League after 16 years in the Football League, Johnson then guided Cheltenham to a return to League Two at the first attempt before re-establishing them as a Football League club.
He now takes over a Gulls' side looking to win promotion from National League South, and he inherits a squad three points off the play-off zone that includes several players that he has worked with before including Liam Davis, Jakub Sokolik and Ryan Dickson at Yeovil and Asa Hall and Jake Andrews at Cheltenham.
Gary Johnson honours:
Yeovil Town:
FA Trophy winners 2001-02
Conference champions 2002-03
League Two champions 2004-05
League One Play-off winners 2012-13
Bristol City:
League One runners-up 2005-07
Cheltenham Town:
National League champions 2015-16
Johnson, 62, arrives at the Gulls after being dismissed as manager of Cheltenham Town after the opening four games of the 2018-19 campaign - which brought the curtain down on three-year spell in charge at Whaddon Road.
During the course of those three years, Johnson guided the Robins back into the Football League by winning the National League title at the first attempt in the 2016-17 campaign. They became the first team to win promotion back into the Football League at the first attempt as champions since Darlington in the 1990-91 season.
However, Johnson's achievements as a manager don't end there. His managerial career started with non-league Newmarket Town in the mid-1980's before he was persuaded to enter the professional game as reserve team manager with Cambridge United by the then U's manager John Beck in 1988.
He was part of the U's coaching staff during Cambridge's rise from the 'old' Fourth Division to the brink of the top-flight in the late 1980's and early 1990's and he had a spell in charge at the Abbey Stadium between 1993 and 1995.
A spell in charge of Kettering Town and Watford's youth academy followed before he was appointed as manager of Latvia in 1999. Johnson remained in charge of the Baltic state for two years and he recommended Marian Pahars and Igor Stepanovs to Southampton and Arsenal respectively; he also came into contact with Andrejs Stolcers, who would later play under him at Yeovil Town.
On his return to England, Johnson took charge at Huish Park in 2001 - following the departure of Colin Addison - and in his first season at the helm he led the Glovers to FA Trophy glory with a 2-0 win over Stevenage at Villa Park.
The following season, he ended Yeovil's 108-year stay in non-league football as the Glovers won the Nationwide Conference title - with a record winning margin of 17 points - to secure a long-awaited promotion to the Football League.
Once back in the Football League, the Glovers proved they weren't just there to make up the numbers as they finished 8th in the debut campaign in Division Three, as they missed out on the play-offs on goal difference with 74 points.
In the 2004-05 season, Yeovil built on their promising first season by winning the title of the newly rebranded League Two with a final day win over Lincoln City, and scored 90 goals in the process.
In September 2005, Johnson was on the move again as he left Huish Park to manage Bristol City following the departure of Brian Tinnion. The Robins would finish the 2005-06 campaign in 9th place in League One, but they would finish the subsequent 2006-07 season as runners-up.
His success with Bristol City was achieved with a core of players who played under him at both Huish Park and Ashton Gate, including goalkeeper Chris Weale, central defender Liam Fontaine, midfielders Lee Johnson - his son - and Michael McIndoe and striker Phil Jevons.
Once back in the Championship, Bristol City spent the entirety of the 2007-08 season in the top six and they reached the play-offs, where they were beaten 1-0 by Hull City in the final at Wembley - courtesy of a stunning strike by Dean Windass.
Johnson remained at Ashton Gate for two more years before spells in charge of Peterborough United and Northampton Town followed prior to a return to Huish Park in the 2011-12 season, a move which saw his predecessor Terry Skiverton, who also captained the Glovers during his previous successes with the club, become his assistant.
On his return to Huish Park, Johnson led the Glovers to safety in League One and then in the 2012-13 he led them to the play-offs against the odds, as they beat Sheffield United in the semi-finals to set up a meeting in the final with Brentford. The Glovers beat the Bees 2-1 in the final - with goals from Paddy Madden and Dan Burn - to reach the second tier of the Football League for the first time ever.
Unfortunately, their stay in the Championship proved to be an extremely brief one as the Glovers were relegated after their penultimate game of the 2013-14 season against Brighton and Hove Albion.
He left Huish Park during the 2014-15 campaign and was appointed as Cheltenham Town towards the end of the season, but he was unable to save them from relegation from League Two.
Following the Robins' return to the National League after 16 years in the Football League, Johnson then guided Cheltenham to a return to League Two at the first attempt before re-establishing them as a Football League club.
He now takes over a Gulls' side looking to win promotion from National League South, and he inherits a squad three points off the play-off zone that includes several players that he has worked with before including Liam Davis, Jakub Sokolik and Ryan Dickson at Yeovil and Asa Hall and Jake Andrews at Cheltenham.
Gary Johnson honours:
Yeovil Town:
FA Trophy winners 2001-02
Conference champions 2002-03
League Two champions 2004-05
League One Play-off winners 2012-13
Bristol City:
League One runners-up 2005-07
Cheltenham Town:
National League champions 2015-16
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