In football some managers and players spring to mind when you think of one particular club.
For example, the late Graham Taylor will forever be associated with Watford for his two spells in charge of the Hornet which saw him win five promotion and players such as Bobby Moore and Sir Bobby Charlton will invariably be linked with West Ham United and Manchester United respectively.
Terry Skiverton and Yeovil Town are no exception to this rule.
Over 19 years, from 1999 to 2018, 'Skivo' served the Glovers as a player, coach and manager(twice) after arriving at Huish Park from Welling United.
After being part of the Glovers' side that narrowly missed out on promotion to the Football League in the 2000-01 season to Rushden & Diamonds, in the days when it was still one-up and one-down between the Conference and the Third Division. He then remained with Yeovil and went onto become a key figure in their subsequent successes following the appointment of Gary Johnson in the summer of 2002.
In the next four seasons, 'Skivo' lifted the FA Trophy in 2002, the Conference title in 2003 and the newly rebranded League Two title in 2005, as the Glovers made up for their 108-wait for League football by reaching the third tier of the English game at the earliest opportunity.
Although many of the side who helped Yeovil reach their new found status departed for pastures new, Lee Johnson joined Bristol City - along with the likes of Chris Weale, Liam Fontaine and Phil Jevons - where his father Gary was now manager, Darren Way headed across the Bristol Channel to sign for Swansea City (but would later return) and Gavin Williams moved to Ipswich Town, 'Skivo' remained a Glover.
And it was under one of Gary Johnson's predecessors, Russell Slade, that he would prove to be an influential figure again, as the Glovers reached the League One play-off final in the 2006-07 season, following a dramatic, if not unlikely, victory over red hot favourites Nottingham Forest in the semi-finals. Yeovil won 5-2 at the City Ground after losing the first leg 2-0 at Huish Park.
However, the Glovers were beaten 2-0 in the final by Blackpool - thus denying them a chance to reach the Championship six years before they eventually would do. Nevertheless 'Skivo' could at least console himself with the personal honour of being named in the PFA League One team of the season.
Towards the end of the 2008-09 season his role with the Glovers would change again as, at the age of 33, he was appointed as player-manager after the dismissal of Slade. Despite being thrust into the role earlier than he probably he still managed to galvanise the side he inherited to avoid relegation to League Two.
Budget constraints meant that he was often forced to dip into the loan market - which he often did with great success. At different times he was able to bring in Jon Obika, Andros Townsend, Steven Caulker and Ryan Mason on loan from Tottenham Hotspur. The latter three all went onto win international recognition, as he did goalkeeper Alex McCarthy loaned from Reading - but now of Southampton, who recently won his first cap for England in Wayne Rooney's Three Lions farewell against the USA.
In addition to his loan signings, several of his permanent signings also served the club well such as Dean Bowditch, Paul Huntingdon, Luke Ayling and Ed Upson.
With 15th and 14th place league finishes in the 2009-10 and 2010-11 seasons, relegation was successfully avoided both times - particularly in the former when demotion back to League Two was never a serious proposition, not a bad return from somebody who had learned his trade 'on the job.'
During the 2011-12 season, he then found himself in yet another new role as Gary Johnson returned for a second spell at Huish Park, and 'Skivo' continued to serve the Glovers - this time as Johnson's second in command off the pitch.
Johnson's return breathed new life into the Glovers, as he created the magic of his first spell in charge which saw Yeovil reach the Championship for the first time as they beat Brentford 2-1 in the 2013 League One play-off final.
Unfortunately, as a small fish in a much bigger pond, the Glovers' stay in the second tier only lasted for one season. On their return to League One, they once again found themselves struggling which led to the dismissal of Johnson.
'Skivo' was once handed the managerial reins again, as he looked to stop the rot, but he was unable to and Paul Sturrock was brought in to work above and he reverted to being assistant to the former Dundee United and Plymouth Argyle boss.
A second successive relegation followed in the 2014-15 season and a third, which would also see a return to non-league football, appeared to be on the cards in the 2015-16 campaign as Sturrock was dismissed. However, instead of being handed a third spell in charge at Huish Park, 'Skivo' continued to serve as an assistant - this time to his former team-mate Darren Way, as the Glovers avoided relegation to the newly renamed National League in the 2015-16 seasons and retained their League Two status again in the 2016-17 and 2017-18 campaigns.
Whatever patch he takes in the future - whether it be as a manager in non-league football in his own right, where he can built a reputation for himself away from Huish Park, or possibly as a Under-23 coach, after gaining a good record of helping to give a number of development players their first taste of first team football, he will surely always will be remembered for his lengthy service to Yeovil Town, and rightfully as a club legend.
Sunday, 16 December 2018
Thursday, 13 December 2018
ONE IN, ONE OUT AT PLAINMOOR AS AARON DOWNES JOINS GULLS' BACKROOM TEAM
With Christmas just around the corner, Torquay United received an early Xmas present as the Gulls former Aussie defender Aaron Downes returned to Plainmoor to join Gary Johnson's backroom staff as assistant manager.
Downes, 33, spent three years with United between 2012 and 2015 and made 115 appearances and scored 16 goals, and was also voted as the club's Player of the Year award in the 2012-13 season.
After leaving Plainmoor at the end of the 2014-15 campaign, he linked up with Johnson at Cheltenham Town, as he became the first signing following their relegation from the Football League.
On his arrival at Whaddon Road, he was appointed as club captain by Johnson. He then went onto become an influential figure in helping the Robins to win promotion back to the Football League at the first attempt as National League champions in 2016.
Following the Robins' return to League Two, Downes remained with the club as a player before retiring in the summer of 2018, which he combined with working in coaching roles with the club's academy and first team.
He returned to working as head of the Robins' academy after Michael Duff's appointment as Robins' manager in succession to Johnson and it is believed he was keen to return to working in a first team environment.
It is also worth mentioning that he almost signed for Johnson prior to his move to United, as he had a trial with Yeovil Town in the 2012-13 pre-season before the then Torquay manager Martin Ling offered him a contract with the carrot of regular first team player, instead of a back up squad member.
Prior to that, he also played alongside Johnson's son Lee when Johnson junior was loan at the Spireites from Bristol City in the 2011-12 season.
He becomes the second member of Johnson's backroom staff from his time as Cheltenham manager following his brother Pete, who works as the Gulls' head of recruitment, to join him at Plainmoor.
Johnson's previous assistant Shaun Taylor remains on the Gulls' coaching staff and will be also working with the club's Under-18 side.
Downes' return also coincides with the return of on loan goalkeeper Alex Bass to Portsmouth. During his time at Plainmoor, he made eight appearances and kept four clean sheets, and also saved a penalty on his debut away at Slough Town - despite suffering a medial ligament injury in the Gulls' 2-2 draw with Woking in Johnson's first home game in charge.
Downes, 33, spent three years with United between 2012 and 2015 and made 115 appearances and scored 16 goals, and was also voted as the club's Player of the Year award in the 2012-13 season.
After leaving Plainmoor at the end of the 2014-15 campaign, he linked up with Johnson at Cheltenham Town, as he became the first signing following their relegation from the Football League.
On his arrival at Whaddon Road, he was appointed as club captain by Johnson. He then went onto become an influential figure in helping the Robins to win promotion back to the Football League at the first attempt as National League champions in 2016.
Following the Robins' return to League Two, Downes remained with the club as a player before retiring in the summer of 2018, which he combined with working in coaching roles with the club's academy and first team.
He returned to working as head of the Robins' academy after Michael Duff's appointment as Robins' manager in succession to Johnson and it is believed he was keen to return to working in a first team environment.
It is also worth mentioning that he almost signed for Johnson prior to his move to United, as he had a trial with Yeovil Town in the 2012-13 pre-season before the then Torquay manager Martin Ling offered him a contract with the carrot of regular first team player, instead of a back up squad member.
Prior to that, he also played alongside Johnson's son Lee when Johnson junior was loan at the Spireites from Bristol City in the 2011-12 season.
He becomes the second member of Johnson's backroom staff from his time as Cheltenham manager following his brother Pete, who works as the Gulls' head of recruitment, to join him at Plainmoor.
Johnson's previous assistant Shaun Taylor remains on the Gulls' coaching staff and will be also working with the club's Under-18 side.
Downes' return also coincides with the return of on loan goalkeeper Alex Bass to Portsmouth. During his time at Plainmoor, he made eight appearances and kept four clean sheets, and also saved a penalty on his debut away at Slough Town - despite suffering a medial ligament injury in the Gulls' 2-2 draw with Woking in Johnson's first home game in charge.
Sunday, 9 December 2018
FIVE THINGS WE LEARNED FROM TORQUAY UNITED VERSUS WELLING UNITED
1. Not only are the Gulls top of the league, they are also top of the goal scoring charts.
Yesterday's 3-1 win over Welling United didn't just cement Torquay United's position at the top of the Vanarama National League South, it also saw them top the league's goal scoring charts as well.
The Gulls have now found the back of the net 35 times this season, a figure also matched by fellow promotion challengers Woking and Billericay. When you consider that the Gulls had only found the back of the net five times prior to Gary Johnson's arrival as manager it is a feat that is truly remarkable.
2. A fifth straight win.
United's victory over Welling was their fifth straight league win, following on from their 4-1 wins over St Albans City and Concord Rangers and their 2-0 wins at Dulwich Hamlet and Dartford.
Only during their six-match winning streak in September 2014 in the National League under Chris Hargreaves have United enjoyed a better run of form since they were relegated from League Two at the end of the 2013-14 season. They are also three matches away from equalling the club record set by Kevin Hodges' side in the 1997-98 season of eight successive wins between January and March 1998.
3. Kyle Cameron was a rock in defence.
With 15 goals conceded, the Gulls also possess the best defensive record in the National League South and have kept ten clean sheets in the league, as well as a further two in the FA Cup.
Two figures who have been instrumental in maintaining this record for United's centre back pairing of Jean Yves Koue Niate and skipper Kyle Cameron, and Cameron was once again in imperious form against Welling. The former Newcastle trainee and one-time Scotland Under-21 international produced another commanding display in the centre of the Gulls' defence, which ensured that the Wings forward line was well and truly clipped. He will surely go down as Gary Owers' best signings and greatest parting gift to Gary Johnson.
4. The luxury of having two goalkeepers to choose from.
Just as Leroy Rosenior had the luxury of being able to call upon Kevin Dearden and Arjan Van Heusden during the 2003-04 promotion season, Gary Johnson is lucky enough to have Alex Bass and Shaun MacDonald to choose from in the 2018-19 campaign. Bass, currently on loan from Portsmouth, made his return in the Gulls' midweek win over Dartford, but Gary Johnson opted to recall MacDonald against Welling - partly so he can ease Bass into action, following a lengthy absence with medial collateral ligament damage, ahead of what looks set to be a busy festive period.
5. The crowds are flocking back to Plainmoor.
A season high attendance of 2,467, which included 52 fans from Welling, was only bettered in the National League by the crowds at Chesterfield versus Salford City (5,055) and Wrexham versus Eastleigh (4,105). It was also a bigger crowd than two League Two fixtures: Crawley Town versus Northampton Town (2,369) and Morecambe versus Port Vale (1,769).
As United fortunes improve under Johnson, the crowds are only likely to grow.
Yesterday's 3-1 win over Welling United didn't just cement Torquay United's position at the top of the Vanarama National League South, it also saw them top the league's goal scoring charts as well.
The Gulls have now found the back of the net 35 times this season, a figure also matched by fellow promotion challengers Woking and Billericay. When you consider that the Gulls had only found the back of the net five times prior to Gary Johnson's arrival as manager it is a feat that is truly remarkable.
2. A fifth straight win.
United's victory over Welling was their fifth straight league win, following on from their 4-1 wins over St Albans City and Concord Rangers and their 2-0 wins at Dulwich Hamlet and Dartford.
Only during their six-match winning streak in September 2014 in the National League under Chris Hargreaves have United enjoyed a better run of form since they were relegated from League Two at the end of the 2013-14 season. They are also three matches away from equalling the club record set by Kevin Hodges' side in the 1997-98 season of eight successive wins between January and March 1998.
3. Kyle Cameron was a rock in defence.
With 15 goals conceded, the Gulls also possess the best defensive record in the National League South and have kept ten clean sheets in the league, as well as a further two in the FA Cup.
Two figures who have been instrumental in maintaining this record for United's centre back pairing of Jean Yves Koue Niate and skipper Kyle Cameron, and Cameron was once again in imperious form against Welling. The former Newcastle trainee and one-time Scotland Under-21 international produced another commanding display in the centre of the Gulls' defence, which ensured that the Wings forward line was well and truly clipped. He will surely go down as Gary Owers' best signings and greatest parting gift to Gary Johnson.
4. The luxury of having two goalkeepers to choose from.
Just as Leroy Rosenior had the luxury of being able to call upon Kevin Dearden and Arjan Van Heusden during the 2003-04 promotion season, Gary Johnson is lucky enough to have Alex Bass and Shaun MacDonald to choose from in the 2018-19 campaign. Bass, currently on loan from Portsmouth, made his return in the Gulls' midweek win over Dartford, but Gary Johnson opted to recall MacDonald against Welling - partly so he can ease Bass into action, following a lengthy absence with medial collateral ligament damage, ahead of what looks set to be a busy festive period.
5. The crowds are flocking back to Plainmoor.
A season high attendance of 2,467, which included 52 fans from Welling, was only bettered in the National League by the crowds at Chesterfield versus Salford City (5,055) and Wrexham versus Eastleigh (4,105). It was also a bigger crowd than two League Two fixtures: Crawley Town versus Northampton Town (2,369) and Morecambe versus Port Vale (1,769).
As United fortunes improve under Johnson, the crowds are only likely to grow.
Wednesday, 5 December 2018
GULLS TOP NATIONAL LEAGUE SOUTH TREE WITH XMAS AROUND THE CORNER
For the first time since the start of the 2010-11 season, Torquay United now find themselves at the summit of a league after they moved to the top of Vanarama National League South with a win over Dartford.
Second half goals from Ruairi Keating and Jamie Reid proved to be enough to secure a 2-0 victory, which moves the Gulls onto 36 points - two points ahead of second placed Welling United, who travel to Plainmoor this weekend.
The last time that the Gulls were top of any division was in the early 2010-11 campaign under the managerial reign of Paul Buckle. After a run of four wins from their opening six games, United were led League Two and helped Buckle to win the manager of the month award for August 2010 in the process.
Fast forward to 2018 and current Gulls manager Gary Johnson, who scooped the National League South monthly award for October 2018, now has a different challenge ahead of him.
Now that the Gulls have reached the division's summit, the challenge now is to stay there. The hunter has now become the hunted.
Under Johnson they have gone from 14th to 1st and have also scored 42 goals since he replaced Gary Owers on September 13th. For no player is this transformation more evident than with leading scorer Jamie Reid who has found the back of the net 13 times in the league, as well as a further two in the FA Cup and another one in the FA Trophy, this season after only finding the target once under Owers.
"We're there to be shot at now - do you fight harder as the champion or the challenger?" said Johnson.
"We've got to make sure we don't let anybody knock us off our perch if we can help it.
"The boys are enjoying winning and winning does become a habit and we've got to keep it as a habit."
It's a habit that two of Johnson's previous clubs Yeovil Town and Cheltenham Town also possessed. He won the Conference and League Two title with the Glovers in the 2002-03 and 2004-05 seasons respectively and later lifted the National League title in the 2015-16 campaign with the Robins. In addition to this, he also led Bristol City and Yeovil to promotion from League One.
After facing Welling on Saturday, the Gulls then face Boreham Wood in the FA Trophy before travelling to Hampton and Richmond ahead of an Christmas that includes playing Truro City home and away, as part of their groundshare arrangement, and hosting Gloucester City - now managed by former Torquay defender Chris Todd.
Second half goals from Ruairi Keating and Jamie Reid proved to be enough to secure a 2-0 victory, which moves the Gulls onto 36 points - two points ahead of second placed Welling United, who travel to Plainmoor this weekend.
The last time that the Gulls were top of any division was in the early 2010-11 campaign under the managerial reign of Paul Buckle. After a run of four wins from their opening six games, United were led League Two and helped Buckle to win the manager of the month award for August 2010 in the process.
Fast forward to 2018 and current Gulls manager Gary Johnson, who scooped the National League South monthly award for October 2018, now has a different challenge ahead of him.
Now that the Gulls have reached the division's summit, the challenge now is to stay there. The hunter has now become the hunted.
Under Johnson they have gone from 14th to 1st and have also scored 42 goals since he replaced Gary Owers on September 13th. For no player is this transformation more evident than with leading scorer Jamie Reid who has found the back of the net 13 times in the league, as well as a further two in the FA Cup and another one in the FA Trophy, this season after only finding the target once under Owers.
"We're there to be shot at now - do you fight harder as the champion or the challenger?" said Johnson.
"We've got to make sure we don't let anybody knock us off our perch if we can help it.
"The boys are enjoying winning and winning does become a habit and we've got to keep it as a habit."
It's a habit that two of Johnson's previous clubs Yeovil Town and Cheltenham Town also possessed. He won the Conference and League Two title with the Glovers in the 2002-03 and 2004-05 seasons respectively and later lifted the National League title in the 2015-16 campaign with the Robins. In addition to this, he also led Bristol City and Yeovil to promotion from League One.
After facing Welling on Saturday, the Gulls then face Boreham Wood in the FA Trophy before travelling to Hampton and Richmond ahead of an Christmas that includes playing Truro City home and away, as part of their groundshare arrangement, and hosting Gloucester City - now managed by former Torquay defender Chris Todd.
Thursday, 29 November 2018
THE ROAD TO WEMBLEY 2018-19 #3
Once again the FA Cup provides Plymouth Argyle and their manager Derek Adams with a welcome distraction from their league campaign as they host fellow League outfit Oxford United in the second round of the competition.
The Pilgrims are now the South West's sole representatives left in the cup after Exeter City, Yeovil Town, Torquay United and Weston Super Mare bowed out in the previous round.
Argyle have a proud history in the competition - they famously reached the semi-finals in 1984 and made the quarter finals in 2007, losing 1-0 to Watford on both occasions - and have earned £36,000 in prize money so far this season following their first round win over Stevenage.
A further £54,000 is up for grabs if they can overcome the U's - to be followed by a potentially lucrative third round tie - not too dissimilar to their round three tie with Premier League giants Liverpool in the 2016-17 season - also awaits them.
At the time of writing, the Pilgrims are 22nd in League One and the U's are three places above them in 19th place with five more points - so a win could provide Argyle with a big psychological lift in their bid to beat the drop.
Their recent league form has been inconsistent, with the Pilgrims' last three league fixtures reads: a 5-1 defeat away to Luton Town, a 2-1 home win over Fleetwood Town which was followed by a 2-0 midweek away loss to Shrewsbury Town.
However, their next fixture when they return to league action is a home game with bottom side Bradford City. If Argyle were able to go into that game on a high after securing a place in the third round of the FA Cup - it would give the players a major boost ahead of what looks set to an important 'six-pointer.'
The tie will also see the return to two former Pilgrims in the form of central defender Curtis Nelson and striker Jamie Mackie.
The Pilgrims are now the South West's sole representatives left in the cup after Exeter City, Yeovil Town, Torquay United and Weston Super Mare bowed out in the previous round.
Argyle have a proud history in the competition - they famously reached the semi-finals in 1984 and made the quarter finals in 2007, losing 1-0 to Watford on both occasions - and have earned £36,000 in prize money so far this season following their first round win over Stevenage.
A further £54,000 is up for grabs if they can overcome the U's - to be followed by a potentially lucrative third round tie - not too dissimilar to their round three tie with Premier League giants Liverpool in the 2016-17 season - also awaits them.
At the time of writing, the Pilgrims are 22nd in League One and the U's are three places above them in 19th place with five more points - so a win could provide Argyle with a big psychological lift in their bid to beat the drop.
Their recent league form has been inconsistent, with the Pilgrims' last three league fixtures reads: a 5-1 defeat away to Luton Town, a 2-1 home win over Fleetwood Town which was followed by a 2-0 midweek away loss to Shrewsbury Town.
However, their next fixture when they return to league action is a home game with bottom side Bradford City. If Argyle were able to go into that game on a high after securing a place in the third round of the FA Cup - it would give the players a major boost ahead of what looks set to an important 'six-pointer.'
The tie will also see the return to two former Pilgrims in the form of central defender Curtis Nelson and striker Jamie Mackie.
Wednesday, 28 November 2018
JOHNSON'S JUNIORS AIMING FOR GLORY
The history of professional football is littered with examples teams
consisting of young players whose achievements have belied their tender
years.
Famous examples have included Manchester United's Busby Babes who - under the guidance of Sir Matt Busby - defeated all and sundry domestically and look set to do the same on the European stage until the tragedy that was the Munich Air Crash occurred in 1958. Another is Fergie's Fledglings, also known as the Class of 92 (and current owners of Salford City, who Torquay United could still meet in the FA Trophy this season) who were central to the Red Devils' domination of the English game under Sir Alex Ferguson.
Now the Gulls with a youthful side under Gary Johnson, which could well be described as 'Johnson's Juniors', are aiming to achieve promotion from Vanarama National League South.
United's starting line-up in their previous three fixtures - 4-1 victories over St Albans City and Concord Rangers and an FA Trophy third qualifying round win over Basingstoke Town on penalties - has featured Shaun MacDonald (22); Ben Wynter (20), Jean-Yves Koue Niate (25), Kyle Cameron (21) Liam Davis (31); Ruairi Keating (23), Jake Andrews (21), Connor Lemonheigh-Evans (21), Kalvin Lumbombo-Kalala (20); Jamie Reid (24), Saikou Janneh (18).
That team possesses an average age of 22, even with the inclusion of the side's elder statesman Liam Davis at 31.
Johnson is also no stranger to achieving success with young players, as his Yeovil Town side who won promotion to the Football League in the 2002-03 season included his son Lee, now manager of Bristol City - who was 21 at the time and current Yeovil manager Darren Way who was slightly older at 23.
There is a link between that Glovers' side and Johnson senior's current charges in the form of the loan agreements that exist between Bristol City and the Gulls over the loans of Jake Andrews, Opi Edwards, Connor Lemonheigh-Evans and Saikou Janneh.
However, before we start trotting out the infamous line uttered by Alan Hansen following Manchester United's 3-1 defeat on the opening day of the 1995-96 season 'you don't win anything with kids' - it is worth remembering that the younger versions of David Beckham, Ryan Giggs, Gary Neville, Phil Neville, Paul Scholes and Nicky Butt also had a number of senior pros to help guide them on their journey. These included figures such as Peter Schmeichel, Steve Bruce, Gary Pallister, Denis Irwin, Roy Keane as well as Eric Cantona, following his return from his eight-month ban for assaulting a Crystal Palace fan.
Which is why we shouldn't underestimate the importance of the impending return from injury of the Gulls' senior midfield figures of Asa Hall and Ryan Dickson.
The two men have plenty in common which each other. They were both signed by Johnson's predecessor Gary Owers; they are both 31 years of age; they have both played under Johnson before in the careers (Hall at Cheltenham and Dickson at Yeovil) and they both captained the sides they played for last season (Hall at Barrow and Dickson at Yeovil).
In addition to this, they both have promotion achieved at their previous clubs on their CV's - Hall with Cheltenham under Johnson in the 2015-16 season and Dickson from League Two with Brentford in 2008-09 and from League One with Southampton in 2010-11.
Their experience of those campaigns could yet play a big part in United's current promotion prospects between now and the end of the current season.
Famous examples have included Manchester United's Busby Babes who - under the guidance of Sir Matt Busby - defeated all and sundry domestically and look set to do the same on the European stage until the tragedy that was the Munich Air Crash occurred in 1958. Another is Fergie's Fledglings, also known as the Class of 92 (and current owners of Salford City, who Torquay United could still meet in the FA Trophy this season) who were central to the Red Devils' domination of the English game under Sir Alex Ferguson.
Now the Gulls with a youthful side under Gary Johnson, which could well be described as 'Johnson's Juniors', are aiming to achieve promotion from Vanarama National League South.
United's starting line-up in their previous three fixtures - 4-1 victories over St Albans City and Concord Rangers and an FA Trophy third qualifying round win over Basingstoke Town on penalties - has featured Shaun MacDonald (22); Ben Wynter (20), Jean-Yves Koue Niate (25), Kyle Cameron (21) Liam Davis (31); Ruairi Keating (23), Jake Andrews (21), Connor Lemonheigh-Evans (21), Kalvin Lumbombo-Kalala (20); Jamie Reid (24), Saikou Janneh (18).
That team possesses an average age of 22, even with the inclusion of the side's elder statesman Liam Davis at 31.
Johnson is also no stranger to achieving success with young players, as his Yeovil Town side who won promotion to the Football League in the 2002-03 season included his son Lee, now manager of Bristol City - who was 21 at the time and current Yeovil manager Darren Way who was slightly older at 23.
There is a link between that Glovers' side and Johnson senior's current charges in the form of the loan agreements that exist between Bristol City and the Gulls over the loans of Jake Andrews, Opi Edwards, Connor Lemonheigh-Evans and Saikou Janneh.
However, before we start trotting out the infamous line uttered by Alan Hansen following Manchester United's 3-1 defeat on the opening day of the 1995-96 season 'you don't win anything with kids' - it is worth remembering that the younger versions of David Beckham, Ryan Giggs, Gary Neville, Phil Neville, Paul Scholes and Nicky Butt also had a number of senior pros to help guide them on their journey. These included figures such as Peter Schmeichel, Steve Bruce, Gary Pallister, Denis Irwin, Roy Keane as well as Eric Cantona, following his return from his eight-month ban for assaulting a Crystal Palace fan.
Which is why we shouldn't underestimate the importance of the impending return from injury of the Gulls' senior midfield figures of Asa Hall and Ryan Dickson.
The two men have plenty in common which each other. They were both signed by Johnson's predecessor Gary Owers; they are both 31 years of age; they have both played under Johnson before in the careers (Hall at Cheltenham and Dickson at Yeovil) and they both captained the sides they played for last season (Hall at Barrow and Dickson at Yeovil).
In addition to this, they both have promotion achieved at their previous clubs on their CV's - Hall with Cheltenham under Johnson in the 2015-16 season and Dickson from League Two with Brentford in 2008-09 and from League One with Southampton in 2010-11.
Their experience of those campaigns could yet play a big part in United's current promotion prospects between now and the end of the current season.
Monday, 26 November 2018
BOREHAM WOOD TIE OFFERS A YARDSTICK FOR GULLS' PROGRESS UNDER JOHNSON
Torquay United's reward for dispatching Basingstoke Town on penalties in the third qualifying round of the FA Trophy is a first round tie away to last season's beaten National League play-off finalists Boreham Wood.
It is a meeting that manager Gary Johnson believes gives him an opportunity to measure the progress that the Gulls have made since he took charge, and to assess the standards they will need to reach in the future.
Since winning promotion from National League South in 2015, the Wood have made steady progress under the guidance of their highly promising young manager Luke Garrard and were beaten 2-1 by Tranmere Rovers at Wembley May in the National League play-off final in May 2018.
This season the Wood are currently eight points off the play-off zone in 10th place and they are one of the strongest sides that United could have been paired with in the regionalised first round draw of the Trophy.
"As I have said previously, it will be nice to see where we are against a decent Conference side," said Johnson. "I’ve had a couple of battles with them over the years and they’ve got a good manager and a good team. It will definitely test us, but they are the tests we want for future reference.”
Johnson, who led Yeovil Town to FA Trophy glory in 2002 when the Glovers defeated Stevenage 2-0 at Villa Park, has faced the Wood and Garrard twice during his reign as Cheltenham Town - both of which came in the 2015-16 season.
After drawing 0-0 at Wood's Meadow Park home, the Robins triumphed 4-1 at Whaddon Road with Dan Holman and Danny Wright each bagging a brace.
However, the Gulls' record against the Wood in recent years has not been as successful. Garrard's men have won five from a possible six league meetings between 2015 and 2018 - most notably their 4-2 win at Plainmoor last season, which proved to be Kevin Nicholson's final match as Gulls manager before his dismissal.
United's solitary victory over the Wood came in February 2016 when they came away from Meadow Park with a 1-0 win, courtesy of a Nathan Blissett effort, which proved to be the catalyst for their 'Great Escape' of the 2015-16 season under Nicholson.
If the Gulls do come away from Meadow Park with a positive result, it will certainly send a message out that they are a club on the up under Johnson.
It is a meeting that manager Gary Johnson believes gives him an opportunity to measure the progress that the Gulls have made since he took charge, and to assess the standards they will need to reach in the future.
Since winning promotion from National League South in 2015, the Wood have made steady progress under the guidance of their highly promising young manager Luke Garrard and were beaten 2-1 by Tranmere Rovers at Wembley May in the National League play-off final in May 2018.
This season the Wood are currently eight points off the play-off zone in 10th place and they are one of the strongest sides that United could have been paired with in the regionalised first round draw of the Trophy.
"As I have said previously, it will be nice to see where we are against a decent Conference side," said Johnson. "I’ve had a couple of battles with them over the years and they’ve got a good manager and a good team. It will definitely test us, but they are the tests we want for future reference.”
Johnson, who led Yeovil Town to FA Trophy glory in 2002 when the Glovers defeated Stevenage 2-0 at Villa Park, has faced the Wood and Garrard twice during his reign as Cheltenham Town - both of which came in the 2015-16 season.
After drawing 0-0 at Wood's Meadow Park home, the Robins triumphed 4-1 at Whaddon Road with Dan Holman and Danny Wright each bagging a brace.
However, the Gulls' record against the Wood in recent years has not been as successful. Garrard's men have won five from a possible six league meetings between 2015 and 2018 - most notably their 4-2 win at Plainmoor last season, which proved to be Kevin Nicholson's final match as Gulls manager before his dismissal.
United's solitary victory over the Wood came in February 2016 when they came away from Meadow Park with a 1-0 win, courtesy of a Nathan Blissett effort, which proved to be the catalyst for their 'Great Escape' of the 2015-16 season under Nicholson.
If the Gulls do come away from Meadow Park with a positive result, it will certainly send a message out that they are a club on the up under Johnson.
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