FIVE THINGS WE LEARNED FROM TORQUAY UNITED VERSUS OXFORD CITY

1. The biggest win for a generation.

United's victory over Oxford City is their biggest league win since they defeated Newport County 8-3 on October 19th, 1963. Tommy Northcott scored Torquay's first on that day before Robin Stubbs found the back of the net five times and Reg Jenkins. It is not known whether United were 5-0 up at half time on that day.

2. Jake and his trusty left peg.

It is often said that a week is a long time in football and that proved to be the case for Jake Andrews. Seven days ago his penalty miss against Bath City, at a time when the Gulls led 2-1 in a game they would later lose 3-2, ultimately proved to be costly.
Whilst there were no effigies of Andrews hanging up in Union Street, or pizza adverts for him as a consolation, he did manage to put his miss behind him to score his first career hat-trick against Oxford City - with all three goals coming in the space of 24 minutes.
His first came on 34 minutes when he found the back of the net directly from a corner, his second came three minutes before the break as he cushion volleyed home a cross from Jamie Reid and for his third he backheeled the ball into the back of the net following a Connor Lemonheigh-Evans cross.
His treble now takes Andrews' tally for the season to nine goals, which puts him third in the Gulls' leading scorers list behind Saikou Janneh on 13 and Jamie Reid on 21.

3. A hat-trick of hat-tricks.

In scoring a treble, Jake Andrews joins fellow Bristol City loanee Saikou Janneh and Jamie Reid (Concord Rangers at home and Eastbourne Borough away respectively) in scoring hat-tricks for the Gulls in the same season. In recent times Nicky Wroe and Elliot Benyon both netted trebles in the 2009-10 season and in the 1990-91 campaign Tommy Tynan and Dean Edwards both scored hat-tricks - in the Leyland Daf cup against Shrewsbury Town and against Northampton Town in the league respectively - but your correspondent cannot recall any time when three United players have scored hat-tricks in the same season. Answers on a post card please, or send me a tweet?

4. 21 up for Jamie Reid.

Jamie Reid's opening goal for United saw him become the first Torquay United player to hit 20 goals in the same season since Tim Sills managed the feat in the 2007-08 season. Reid also joins a select band who have netted 20 or times in a season for the Gulls in the last 40 years which includes Steve Cooper 21 (1982-83), Paul Dobson 25 (1987-88), David Graham 23 (2003-04), Tim Sills 21 (2007-08). What is more remarkable about Reid's achievement is that he only had one goal to his name when Gary Johnson was appointed as manager.

5. Come on Aussie, come on.

The Gulls' emphatic victory proved to be a double celebration for United's Australian assistant manager Aaron Downes as it was also Australia Day.

ROMAN CONQUEST OF GULLS THROWS NATIONAL LEAGUE SOUTH TITLE RACE WIDE OPEN

The Vanarama National League South title race is now wide open after Bath City ended Torquay United's club record unbeaten league run.

Bristol City loanee Freddie Hinds gave the Romans the lead before skipper Asa Hall equalised for the Gulls when he headed home a Jake Andrews corner - to score his sixth goal of the campaign - shortly before half-time.

In the 65th minute, leading scorer Jamie Reid gave the Gulls the lead with his 19th goal of the season when he turned a corner from former Bath loanee Connor Lemonheigh-Evans over the line.

A 17th unbeaten game - as well as an 11th successive win - appeared to be on the marks for United on 72 minutes when Andrews was felled by Romans' debutant Leon Davies. However, Andrews failed to find the target as he blasted his spot-kick over the bar.

Ten minutes later, Andrews and the Gulls were left to rue their miss as Bath were awarded a penalty of their own when Hall was adjudged to have fouled Romans' substitute Ryan Brunt. Bath skipper Anthony Straker stepped up to take the spot-kick and sent Torquay keeper Shaun MacDonald the wrong way to level matters.

With four minutes to go, Straker turned provider as picked out Brunt with a left wing cross and Brunt then turned the ball home past MacDonald to give the hosts the lead.

Still the Gulls nearly snatched a late equaliser as MacDonald went up for a late corner and produced a cross which found Saikou Janneh, but the Bristol City loanee blasted over from close range as Bath clinched a memorable win.

However, despite the result, the Gulls remain top of the league as second placed Woking only managed to draw with St Albans City. Bath's win over United leaves them four points behind them  in third place.

It could be argued that the National League South title race is now a three-horse race, with the Romans now very much in contention. Woking still have to travel to Twerton Park on 30th March and a week later the Cards host the Gulls at the Kingsfield Stadium - and there's even the possibility that two of the three sides could meet again in the end of season play-offs, for a one-off game that could decide promotion.

FIVE THINGS WE LEARNED FROM TORQUAY UNITED VERSUS SLOUGH TOWN

1. Club unbeaten record beaten.

In beating Slough Town, Torquay United set a club record for 16 consecutive unbeaten league matches - surpassing a record that was originally set in the 1990-91 season under Dave Smith. During the course of the sequence, United have won 13 times and drawn three; they have also scored 46 times and conceded 15. All of these results have come under the managerial reign of Gary Johnson. Coincidentally it was also the Gulls' tenth win in a row, and their fifth over the festive period.
Johnson said afterwards: "It's great for this group of players and when I'm old and grey we can look back on it. This group of players has done something that no other group has done at this football club, so we can only be proud of them."

2. Seeing double.

With Gary Johnson serving a two-match touchline ban for an incident at home to Billericay Town earlier in the season, he was watching the game from the director's box. This meant that his brother Pete, United's head of recruitment, and Aaron Downes, the Gulls' assistant manager, took care of things on the touchline. Before the match, Gary handed his yellow scarf to his brother Pete, so it couldn't have been too big a surprise if the match officials and the United players thought they were seeing double! Gary even quipped to BBC Radio Devon afterwards: "I wanted Pete to look like me so we kept the familiarity in the dugout, so that's another result that he's got him and he's got a 100% record!"

3. Lightning strikes twice.

Readers of this blog who saw the Gulls' pre-season friendly with Bristol City's Under-23 side will no doubt remember that Jake Andrews was on target for the young Robins with a free-kick from the edge of the penalty area. Andrews scored another free-kick yesterday when he scored the Gulls' third from a similar distance and into the same goal, but on this occasion he found the bottom corner, instead of hitting the top corner as he did for Bristol City in pre-season. It was also his sixth goal for the Gulls in all competitions - making him United's third top scorer.

4. Celebrating new contracts.

Before the match it was announced that skipper Asa Hall and Kalvin Kalala had agreed contract extension to remain at Plainmoor for next season and both players played a key role in the Gulls' victory. Kalala's cross picked out substitute Ruairi Keating for United's third on 87 minutes and Hall added United's fourth with a cool, close range finish deep in injury time. Johnson particularly expressed his delight in securing Kalala's contract, as his previous six-month deal was set to expire.

5. A fortnight's break coming up.

As they are currently out of the FA Trophy and have no outstanding league fixtures that need to be re-arranged, Torquay United will now have a fortnight break before they return to league action against Bath City on 19th January. For the players, it represents a chance to re-charge their batteries following a spell that has seen them play five games in the space of 14 days.

Footnote: After Ben Wynter opened his goal scoring account for the Gulls with United's first of the afternoon, Kyle Cameron is now the only players out of the Gulls' regular starting outfield players who is yet to score this season.

FOR THE RECORD

After beating the club record for successive wins against Truro City on New Year's Day, Torquay United now have the record for the number of unbeaten matches in the club's history.

The Gulls recorded their ninth win in succession against the White Tigers and they also extended their unbeaten run in the Vanarama National League South to 15 matches. Should they avoid defeat against Slough Town on Saturday - then they would have extended their run to a club record 16th game, beating a record which has stood since the 1990-91 season.

Certain parallels can be found with the Gulls' side that set the original record and the current side. The 1990-91 United vintage were managed by Dave Smith who, like current United manager Gary Johnson, was a serial promotion winner - having won four promotions as a manager before his arrival at Plainmoor (Johnson has won five and is seeking a sixth with the Gulls).

It was also a Gulls' side that had promotion in their sights; in 1990-91 United topped the 'old fourth Division at the end of October 1990 with a side spearheaded by a prolific strike duo of Tommy Tynan and Dean Edwards, scorers of 38 goals in all competitions over the course of that campaign, who were as every bit as important to Smith's side as Jamie Reid and Saikou Janneh, who found the back of the net 30 between them the season - are to Johnson's class of 2019.

Whilst records are all very well and good, promotion from the Vanarama National League South at the first attempt remains the ultimate prize. With fellow title chasers not in league action as they are due to face Premier League side Watford in the FA Cup third round, United know another win will help to pile the pressure on the Cards once they return to league action.

Another three points will put the Gulls five points and will leave Woking with three games in hand, as a title race that looks set to be every bit as intriguing as the Premier League battle between Liverpool and Manchester City, although many Tottenham Hotspur fans will probably tell you the North London giants could yet have a say.

FIVE THINGS WE LEARNED FROM TORQUAY UNITED VERSUS GLOUCESTER CITY

1. Club record equalled.

By recording their eighth successive league win against Gloucester City, Gary Johnson's Torquay United of 2018-19 equalled the club record for consecutive victories in the league. The record itself was set by Kevin Hodges' play-off side of 1997-98 and has stood for over 20 years.
Interestingly on both occasions, both sides won their eighth game of the sequence by a single goal;  the Gulls of 1997-98 beat Cardiff City 1-0 through a Kevin Hill effort and United's class of 2018-19 won 2-1 against Gloucester.

2. The crowds are returning to Plainmoor.

A crowd of 3,071, which included 57 Gloucester City fans, shows that the crowds will turn out in good numbers to watch a Torquay United side that is doing well - regardless of the level the club finds itself at. It also reflects the club's potential to achieve their longer term ambition of a return to the Football League.

3. A direct contrast to their last meeting.

The last meeting between Torquay United and Gloucester City was best remembered for the incident which saw the then Gulls manager Gary Owers have a cup of coffee thrown over him. In the return meeting, the feel good factor which has been around the club since Gary Johnson was appointed is perhaps best evidenced by the fact Johnson felt disappointed by only winning 2-1 .
After the game Johnson revealed: "The players are sitting in our dressing-room as if they had got beat. They are not very happy with themselves, and that's a good thing. We didn't get anywhere the levels we have been getting to recently.
"I know we had lots of chances, and maybe if one or two more had gone in, we might be feeling different, but we left it too tight at the end."
Any feelings of disappointment surrounding this game will no doubt quickly be forgotten if the Gull can complete a double over Truro City on New Year's Day. As the late Notts County manager Jimmy Sirrell once said: "the result is all that matters, the rest is just gossip."


4. A two-horse race?

With Woking winning 2-0 against Eastbourne Borough, the National League South title race is shaping up into a two horse race between the Gulls and the Cards. Two points currently separates the two sides - United have 48 points and Woking are on 46. The Gulls are also seven points clear of third placed Concord Rangers, who have played the same number of games.
However, the Cards also have two games in hand, which will become three after United play Slough Town at Plainmoor on January 5th and Woking play Watford in the third round of the FA Cup over the same weekend.

5. Connor to return.

Wales Under-21 starlet Connor Lemonheigh-Evans was absent from the Gulls' starting line-up as his initial 93-day loan deal from Bristol City expired. Sadly for United, his creativity and energy were missed. However, the Gulls are hoping to finalise a fresh loan deal that will see Lemonheigh-Evans return to Plainmoor for their New Year's Day clash with Truro City and to help aid their promotion push.

LEROY'S FINEST HOUR

Although he is better remembered for his infamous 'ten minute spell' as Torquay United manager, Leroy Rosenior also led the Gulls to their first automatic promotion in 38 years in the 2003-04 season.

We will now take a closer look at that achievement, which was completed with a 2-1 win on the final day of the campaign against Southend United as they pipped Huddersfield Town to Division Three's third and final automatic promotion slot.

Going into the game, the Gulls’ brief was simple; they knew that a win at Roots Hall would be enough to wrap up their first automatic promotion since Frank O’Farrell’s team had done so in 1966 – providing the Terriers failed to beat Cheltenham Town at Whaddon Road.

United went into the game on 78 points, whereas Huddersfield were on 80 points. However, the Gulls had a superior goal difference - so if the two sides were to both finish on 81 points United would claim third place and the Terriers would be condemned to the Play-offs.

Manager Leroy Rosenior named an unchanged starting line-up as he kept faith with the side that drew 1-1 with Kidderminster Harriers, as Reuben Hazell retained his place at right-back at the expense of the fit again Lee Canoville.

More than 2,500 Gulls’ fans made the journey to Essex and they saw the Gulls get off to a flying start, as they took the lead on three minutes when Steve Woods volleyed home an Alex Russell corner to ease any nerves that they may have had.

Eight minutes later, United doubled their advantage when David Graham connected with a cross from Jo Kuffour to nod home into an empty net to score his 23^rd goal of the campaign.

Whilst United were basking in the glory of a two-goal cushion, the news coming through from Whaddon Road wasn’t good as Huddersfield had taken the lead against the Robins through Andy Booth.
In the 17^th minute, Gulls’ keeper Arjan Van Heusden was forced into his first save of the afternoon when he blocked an effort from Tes Bramble, but the rebound fell into the path of his strike partner Lawrie Dudfield, who slotted home to pull a goal back for the Shrimpers.

A minute later, Van Heusden made another stop to deny Bramble and, moments later, United survived a penalty appeal as Hazell appeared to have felled Bramble in the area – but referee Tony Leake waved play on.

On 26 minutes, Kuffour volleyed over for the Gulls and shortly afterwards Matt Hockley and Liam Rosenior both missed the target.

Despite having nothing to play for, Southend continued to make a game of it as top scorer Leon Constantine – who would later join United – asked a lot of questions of the Torquay backline.

Early in the second half, the Shrimpers continued to apply pressure on the Gulls as Constantine and midfielder Nicky Nicolau both tested Van Heusden.

In the 64^th minute, Kuffour went close for United when he headed a cross from Russell wide.
Moments later, Van Heusden spilled a shot from Jimmy Corbett which landed in the path of Lawrie Dudfield who turned home the rebound, only to see his effort ruled out for offside.

On 70 minutes, Dudfield went close again when he blasted over with a free-kick from the edge of the penalty area.

With 15 minutes to go, news came through from Cheltenham that the Robins had equalised against Huddersfield through Shane Duff. The Robins had also been reduced to ten men following the dismissal of Damien Spencer.

The players could sense a change of fortune at Whaddon Road judging by the fans’ reactions, as Graham shot wide from the edge of the area in the 77^th minute after being set up by Russell.

Martin Gritton entered the fray in place of a tiring Kuffour on 84 minutes, in a bid to help the Gulls hold on to their lead.

Then in the final minute of normal time United survived a penalty shout for a challenge by Reuben Hazell on Drewe Broughton. Instead referee Leake waved ‘play on’, as three minutes of stoppage time were added on.

During those three minutes, the result of Cheltenham’s 1-1 draw with Huddersfield Town had been confirmed which served to send the away end at Roots Hall into raptures once Leake blew his whistle for full time.

The Gulls had done it. Their 38-year wait for automatic promotion was over thanks to their fourth win in five matches, and they had achieved it by sticking to the footballing principles of manager Rosenior.

Unfortunately, they had no champagne to celebrate with on the coach back to South Devon and had to make do with beer and soft drinks instead.

Torquay (4-4-2): Arjan Van Heusden; Reuben Hazell, Steve Woods, Craig Taylor, Brian McGlinchey; Liam Rosenior (Tony Bedeau 90), Matt Hockley, Alex Russell, Kevin Hill; David Graham (David Woozley 90), Jo Kuffour (Martin Gritton 85)

A full account of his match can be found in Torquay United : A History in 50 Matches at https://torquayunitedahistoryin50.bigcartel.com/

 

 

 

 

 

LEROY ROSENIOR MBE

After it was announced that former Torquay United manager Leroy Rosenior has been awarded an MBE for his services to anti-racism education we will now take an in-depth look at his career in football.

Leroy Rosenior started his career in football as a player with Fulham in 1982 when he was given his debut by the then Cottagers manager Malcolm McDonald. A promising young player, Leroy received international recognition for England at Under-16 and Under-21 Level.

He left Craven Cottage to sign for Queens Park Rangers in 1985 and spent two years at Loftus Road, playing for the Hoops in the 1986 League Cup final before re-joining Fulham in 1987.

 

However, his return to Craven Cottage only lasted for one year as John Lyall signed him for West Ham United in 1988 to fill the void left by Frank McAvennie’s departure to Celtic.

It proved to be an astute move by Lyall as Leroy’s goals helped the Hammers to consolidate their top-flight status in the 1987-88 season. He scored a number of important goals, including a brace in the Hammers’ 4-1 victory over Chelsea in their penultimate game of the campaign.

He finished the 1988-89 campaign as the Hammers’ leading goal scorer, but was unable to prevent West Ham being relegated from Division One.

Leroy remained at Upton Park until 1992 when he moved to Bristol City. Whilst at Ashton Gate, he appeared alongside a number of talented players including Andy Cole, Jackie Dziekanowski and Russell Osman. His playing days ended at Ashton Gate in 1994 after he was forced to quit the game through injury.

Towards the end of his career, Leroy also made a solitary appearance for Sierra Leone.

Following his retirement from playing, Leroy embarked on his managerial career with non-league side Gloucester City. He later returned to Ashton Gate to manage Bristol City’s reserve side and later enjoyed a successful stint as Caretaker Manager of the Robins in 2000 with Dave Burnside and Tony Fawthrop. The trio helped Bristol City reach the Auto Windscreen Shield Final where they lost to Stoke City.

After a brief spell as Merthyr Tydfil manager, Leroy took charge of Torquay United in 2002. In his second season at Plainmoor, Leroy steered the Gulls to promotion to League One with a final day victory over Southend United that clinched Torquay’s first automatic promotion in 38 years. Unfortunately, he couldn’t keep them in the Division as they were relegated back to League Two on the final day of the 2004-05 campaign.

Leroy left Torquay in January 2006 and was appointed as manager of Brentford in June 2006. He left Griffin Park after five months as financial pressures forced him to sell many of his best players.

In May 2007, he returned to Torquay United and was reportedly sacked after ten minutes, as the club was sold whilst he was being unveiled as the Gulls’ new manager. This is the shortest reign of any manager in the history of English Football.

Leroy is currently working as a pundit for the BBC – mainly for the Football League Show between 2009 and 2014. He is also a prominent anti-racism campaigner in football and receives his MBE in the 2019 New Year’s honours list for his services to anti-racism education. His son Liam Rosenior has played in the Premier League for Fulham, Reading, Hull City and Brighton and Hove Albion.

An abridged version of this article appeared in the Scunthorpe United vs Bristol City on February 12^th, 2008.