COVID LATEST: NATIONAL LEAGUE SET TO SUSPEND ACTIVITY

While many National League clubs played on in spite of the Premier League, the Football League and the Women's Super League suspending playing activities, Torquay United's fixture away to Boreham Wood was postponed.

The decision was made in light of the news that Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta was diagnosed with COVID-19 and due to the Wood's strong links with the Gunners - Arsenal's Under-23 and women's teams both use the Wood's Meadow Park -  the decision was made to postpone the Gulls' trip to Hertfordshire.

Although Arteta hadn't visited Meadow Park for some time, several of his backroom staff who have come into contact with Arteta had been present at Meadow Park recently to attend Gunners' development and youth team games, so the decision was made to postpone United's visit along with the Arsenal Under-23's PL2 meeting with their Tottenham Hotspur counterparts and Arsenal women's WSL encounter with Spurs' Ladies.

United boss Gary Johnson described the decision as 'absolutely the right decision in the circumstances' before adding: "The only thing I can't understand is how come we are the only league that needs to be playing."

Out of the six games which did go ahead in the National League the pick of them was arguably in-form Notts County's 4-0 win over Eastleigh, but Spitfires manager Ben Strevens was very critical of the decision to play the fixture.

"The reason it went ahead is because whoever sits on the board of the National League just cared about the money," said Strevens. "There is no way whatsoever that the games should have been played. By Monday all of the games will be stopped, 100% they will."

The National League Board due to meet again on Monday afternoon to discuss whether to follow the precedent already set by the Premier League, the Football League and the Women's Super League - who have suspended all fixtures until April 3rd.

It is also widely expected that Prime Minister Boris Johnson will reverse the decision to ban public gatherings which attract crowds of 500 or more, which itself would force the National League, along with National League's North and South into hibernation.

SOUTH WEST CLUBS AWAIT CLARITY OVER CORONAVIRUS

Torquay United manager Gary Johnson has become the latest figure to voice his concerns about the effect that the coronavirus could have on lower league football in England.

Johnson, 64, who the most experienced manager in English football with over 30 years in management and coaching and with six promotions to his name, admits that he has never seen anything like it.

“I have had games where quite a few of the lads have caught the flu or a cold and I have been left thinking about how I am going to put a team together – but nothing like this," said Johnson.

"This is a bit more serious. It’s world-wide and it does sort of put football into perspective. I am listening to everything that goes on and we have made a lot of provisions here at the training ground and at the club to make sure that we are as vigilant as we can be in trying to stop the spread, like everyone else. We just have to wait and see how it develops. Everybody’s hoping that we are going to wake up and say ‘it’s all gone’ – but it looks like there’s a plan and all of us are going to be part of that plan - and it’s definitely going to affect our hobbies and businesses, and football comes into that category."

Traditional pre-match handshakes between teams has already been halted in a bid to stop the spread of infection, which is already having a wider reaching impact on the game.

Earlier this week Manchester City's Premier League encounter with Arsenal was postponed due to the virus; a number of Arsenal's players and club staff were in close proximity to Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis, who is also owner of Greek club Olympiakos - the Gunners' recent Europa League opponents, who has been diagnosed with the Covid-19 virus.

The possibility of playing all games in English football behind closed doors has been discussed, as has the financial implication of such a decision. Tranmere Rovers chairman Mark Palios has already indicated this decision could cost clubs in the region of £400,000 to £500,000 in lost revenue.

This has particular relevance to Plymouth Argyle and Exeter City, who are both challenging for promotion from League Two and are due to meet a week next Monday (23rd March) live on Sky Sports. There is a possibility that that encounter could yet take place behind closed doors.

Pilgrims' boss Ryan Lowe admitted that he would be 'very, very disappointed' if Argyle had to play games behind closed doors at Home Park for the remainder of the campaign.

UEFA will be meeting with the heads of all of 55 football federations next Tuesday; in the meantime the League has announced that it will continue to liaise with the Government regarding any further developments and work with clubs to ensure players, staff and supporters are updated and appraised accordingly.

DEVELOPING AN UNDERSTANDING

While at the top end of professional football playing with a lone striker up front has been in vogue in recent times, but in the Vanarama National League strike partnerships are very much in fashion.

Looking at the forward lines of many of the leading sides in the National League such as leaders Barrow for whom Scott Quigley and Dior Angus have helped the Bluebirds fly to the top of the table.

The same can also be said for a number of other clubs near the top of the division including Boreham Wood, who are currently mounting a serious play-off challenge with Kabby Tshimanga and former Gull Tyrone Marsh both finding the back of the net on a regular basis. Another former United striker Rhys Murphy has also formed an extremely effective partnership with Courtney Duffus at Yeovil Town.

While Torquay United have once again enjoyed the goal scoring exploits of Jamie Reid, but whereas in National League South he developed a strong partnership with Bristol City loanee Saikou Janneh, as the pair scored 50 goals between them, he hadn't replicated that same understanding with anyone following United's promotion back to the National League; that is until the arrival of Ade Azeez on loan from Newport County.

So far the Reid-Azeez partnership has yielded a goal-a-game, Azeez marked his second debut for the Gulls - he originally joined United on loan from Charlton Athletic as a teenager in the 2013-14 season - with the decisive goal of the game against FC Halifax Town. This was then followed up by a 2-0 win over Chorley, in which Reid scored United's second goal of the game, which was also his 21st of the campaign, when he turned home Ben Whitfield's cross in the 80th minute.

After the Gulls' victory over Chorley, the Gulls are now eight points clear of relegation and six off the play-offs, so a late charge for the top seven is not beyond the realms of possibility. If United are to make a late dash for the play-offs, then the goals of Reid and Azeez are highly likely to play a big part in achieving that feat.

FIVE THINGS WE LEARNED FROM TORQUAY UNITED VERSUS CHORLEY

1. Back to back wins for the first time since last November.

By following up last week's win over FC Halifax Town with another victory over Chorley, Torquay United secured back-to-back wins for the first time since early November 2019. Ironically that sequence included a win over FC Halifax - and that point the Gulls were fifth in the table, and firmly in play-off contention. If they can keep their current winning going then United could be able to mount a late charge for the top seven.

2. Robbie Cundy's first goal for the club.

United centre back Robbie Cundy was in the right place at the right time as he connected with Joe Lewis' free-kick to head the Gulls in front on the stroke of half-time. As well as being Cundy's maiden effort for the club, it was also the seventh United goal scored by a defender: Kyle Cameron 2, Liam Davis 2, Ben Wynter 1, Jean Yves Koue Niate 1.

3. Joe Lewis' assist and all-round display.

Throughout his loan spell with United from Swansea City, Wales Under-21 international Joe Lewis has played in the variety of different positions - at both right and left back as well central midfield. However, on Saturday, he excelled in his preferred position of centre back, alongside Robbie Cundy and Kyle Cameron against Chorley and he also provided the assist for Cundy's opener from a free-kick just inside the Chorley half.

4. The Azeez-Reid partnership is working - it just needs a few more finishing touches.

The burgeoning partnership between leading scorer Jamie Reid and Ade Azeez is working for United so far. Against Chorley, the duo showed on more than one occasion that they were on the same wavelength as each other and linked up well, but they contrived to miss three golden opportunities early in the second half after picking each other out - Azeez on 49 minutes and Reid in the 50th and 55th minutes respectively. In their defence, the wet surface and the windy conditions probably didn't help and Reid did eventually find the target for his 21st of the campaign when he tapped home Ben Whitfield's cross on 80 minutes. This now means the duo have averaged one goal a game since they started playing together.

5. Four clean sheets in six.

If scoring goals was United's forte in the first half of the campaign, keeping clean sheets is starting to become their speciality in the second half of the 2019-20 season. As well as being their second clean sheet in a row, the Gulls' shutdown against Chorley was also their fourth clean sheet in their last six matches. Also during this run, United gave only conceded four goals - two against AFC Fylde, where they won 3-2, and two against Barrow, when they went down 2-1.

FIVE THINGS WE LEARNED FROM TORQUAY UNITED VERSUS FC HALIFAX TOWN

1. The second coming of Ade Azeez.

By finding the back of the net with what turned out to be the crucial goal for the Gulls against FC Halifax Town, Ade Azeez made it a second debut to remember for Torquay United. In doing so, Azeez earned the distinction of having scored on his debuts in two seperate spells with United - he was also on target in his first debut for the Gulls against his current parent club Newport County in the 2013-14 season.

2. Little setback.

Losing midfield talisman Armani Little to a hamstring injury after 20 minutes was undoubtably a blow for Gulls manager Gary Johnson. However, with the Gulls' previously lengthy injury list now easing, Johnson had the luxury of being able to send on Jake Andrews as his replacement. And Andrews ended up playing a key role in United's winning goal, as it was free-kick that picked out skipper Asa Hall, whose header was parried by Halifax keeper Sam Johnson into the path of Azeez who headed home the winner in the 68th minute.

3. Defensively resolute.

United's clean sheet against the Shaymen was the third that they have managed to keep in the current calendar year and it was achieved after starting the game with a back three consisting of Joe Lewis (20), Robbie Cundy (22) and Kyle Cameron (23). The loan signing of the experienced Gary Warren from Exeter City had brought more stability to the Gulls' backline, but Lewis, Cundy and Cameron all produced assured displays which will bode well for United's future as well as their own individual futures.

4. Longridge shows why Johnson was keen to keep him.

After the week that saw him agree a loan deal to remain with the Gulls for the remainder of the 2019-20 season from parent club Bradford City, Jackson Longridge showed just why Gary Johnson was so keen to keep him at the club for the rest of the campaign. After starting the game as a left wing-back, but switched left-back following the introduction of Jake Andrews in place of Armani Little, but he maintained the same high standard of performance throughout the course of the match.


5. A second double for United.

In defeating FC Halifax, United completed their second double of the season - and also ended the Shaymen's seven-match unbeaten run in the Vanarama National League in the process. The result was also a small measure for the Gulls' exit from the FA Trophy at the hands of the Shaymen in January. AFC Fylde are the other side that United have defeated home and away.

DAVID GRAHAM AND MARTIN GRITTON - TORQUAY UNITED'S SCOTCH DOUBLE

The recent documentary Everton: Howard's Way tells the story of Everton's last great heyday in the mid-1980's which saw the Toffees lift four trophies between 1984 and 1987 under the late Howard Kendall.

Central to Everton's success during this period was their Scottish strike duo of Graeme Sharp and Andy Gray, who played a key part in helping to get the ball rolling for the Toffees as they both found the back of the net in their 2-0 win over Watford in the 1984 FA Cup final. This was soon swiftly followed by two league titles in 1985 and 1987 as well as the European Cup Winners' Cup in 1985.

For many decades Scottish football has had a big influence on the game in England and in 2002 another forward partnership featuring two players who both hailed from north of the border were performing a key role in helping to transform Torquay United from relegation strugglers into promotion contenders under the managerial reign of Leroy Rosenior.

Those two strikers in question were David Graham and Martin Gritton and although they were both compatriots – their respective journeys to Plainmoor were markedly different.

Edinburgh-born Graham had progressed through the youth ranks of Scottish giants Rangers and made a handful of appearances for the Gers – which included a UEFA Cup tie with Irish side Shelbourne and a substitute appearance in an Old Firm game against Celtic – and was capped eight times by Scotland at Under-21 level. After failing to break into the Rangers’ first team under Dick Advocaat, Graham joined Dunfermline Athletic – but several managerial changes saw him fall out of favour with the Pars and when Colin Lee signed him for United on non-contract terms in March 2001 his career was at a crossroads. Two goals in five games played a key part in helping the Gulls beat relegation – including United’s third in their infamous 3-2 final day decider against Barnet.

If Graham took the high road to South Devon then it could be argued that Gritton took the low road. His route to Plainmoor was not the one that would be considered to be orthodox for most professional footballers. A life-long Celtic fan, Gritton’s family moved from Glasgow to Cornwall when he was five years old and his footballing education came through playing for Porthleven in the Jewson South Western League. He combined this with University football – he graduated with a degree in Sports Science from the University of Portsmouth in 1999 – before joining Plymouth Argyle. Initially at Home Park he struck up a promising partnership with Ian Stonebridge, but found himself down the pecking order following the arrival of former Dundee United and Scotland striker Paul Sturrock as successor to Kevin Hodges. Gritton was loaned out to Yeovil Town and Shelbourne in the Republic of Ireland before becoming one of Rosenior’s first signings ahead of the 2002-03 season.
 
Owing to a suspension carried over from the previous season for Graham, which saw him miss the first three games of the season, there was a delay in the duo starting together on the opening day of the season against Bristol Rovers. Despite this it proved to be an occasion to remember for Gritton, as he headed home a cross from fellow debutant Neil Prince to score the Gulls’ equaliser on the stroke of half-time as United won 2-1 – with Alex Russell adding United’s second from the penalty spot in the second half.

The pair started together for the first time on September 7^th, 2002 in an away game against Oxford United which the Gulls drew 2-2 with Graham finding the target along with Tony Bedeau. Just under a month later, on October 5^th 2002, Graham and Gritton were on target in the same match for the first time in a 2-1 away win versus Carlisle United at Brunton Park.

Gritton’s goal against the Cumbrians was his first for United since the opening day of the campaign, and he then went on to finish the season with 16 goals in all competitions to his name whilst Graham ended the campaign with 15. Gritton’s efforts also saw him voted as runner-up in the club’s player of the year award – sandwiched between Jason Fowler in third and the overall winner Alex Russell.

If the 2002-03 season belonged to Gritton then the 2003-04 campaign was very much the property of Graham, as he found the back of the net 23 times - in all competitions, lifted the Gulls’ player of the year award and was named in the PFA Division Three team of the season for 2003-04. His impressive displays soon attracted the attention of clubs higher up the footballing food chain as Wigan Athletic paid United £215,000 for his services in the summer of 2004.

Gritton, however, would remain at Plainmoor a little longer as he left for Grimsby Town in December 2004 for a fee of £7,500, after finding the back of the net six times for the Gulls in League One. This included a brace in a 2-0 win over Stockport County that gave United their first away win in the third tier since the 1971-72 season.

The pair would return to the Gulls later in their careers on loan; Graham in the 2006-07 season and Gritton in the 2010-11 campaign. Both their respective loan spells saw them fail to find the back of the net, but the magic of their first spells will live long in the memory of those who witnessed them in action.

IS IT TIME FOR THREE UP, THREE DOWN BETWEEN LEAGUE TWO AND THE NATIONAL LEAGUE TO BE INTRODUCED?

As we enter a new decade for non-league football, one question remains whether the number of clubs promoted and relegated between League Two and the National League should be increased from two to three in the near to distant future.

Previously the popular wisdom on the idea of whether the number of teams promoted and relegated between the League Two and the National League should be increased has always been thus: if you finished second in the National League it's a good idea, and if you finished 22nd in League Two it's bad one.

Promotion and relegation between the old GM Vauxhall Conference and the 'old' Fourth Division was first introduced in the 1986-87 season - replacing the old re-election system - when Torquay United famously stayed up in no small part to Bryn the Police Dog's infamous bite on Jim McNichol, and Lincoln City instead became the first team to be relegated from the Football League.

A second promotion spot was introduced ahead of the 2002-03 campaign - 16 years after the one up- one down system replaced the old re-election system - which saw Yeovil Town finally end their 108-year wait for league football as Gary Johnson guided them to the Nationwide Conference title.

In its present form the National League could easily be described as a hybrid of a 'old' Division Four and GM Vauxhall Conference from the late 1980's-early 1990's. If you look back to the 1989-90 season, seven teams currently appearing in the National League featured in the 'old' Division Four (Aldershot, Chesterfield, Halifax, Hartlepool, Torquay and Wrexham) and five in the Conference (Barnet, Barrow, Chorley, Sutton and Yeovil). Also nearly all the teams within it are now full-time, as opposed to part-time.

Yours truly has long believed that it is easier to make a case for three teams winning promotion from the National League, as the quality of the division has improved over the years, than it is to argue for League Two to receive a third relegation slot.

In the 2013-14 season, Bristol Rovers were relegated from the Football League for the first time in their history despite only being in the League Two relegation zone for the last 56 minutes of the campaign. The subsequent 2014-15 season then saw the Pirates bounce back to the league at the first attempt after beating Grimsby Town in the final on penalties at Wembley. Had an extra automatic promotion spot from the division was available then Rovers, who finished second during the regular season, wouldn't have needed to go through the lottery of the play-offs. The Pirates then followed up this feat by winning a second consecutive promotion into League Two - making them one of eight teams to have achieved this feat.

Since then the National League have expanded their play-off system to include the teams who finish sixth and seventh, which now sees the sides who end the season between second and seventh place compete in a series of one-off matches with the final taking place at Wembley.

At the time of writing Yeovil and Notts County, both relegated from League Two in the 2018-19 season, are vying for an immediate return to the Football League. For the first time since the two up-two down system was introduced both teams relegated into the National League are now vying for an immediate return at this stage of the season. While in the current climate this might be seen as an anomaly, if it was to occur again in a few years then a re-think might be required - particularly amongst League Two clubs fearing the loss of league status.

However, in an era where many clubs in the National League are getting crowds that are equal or greater than many in League Two with playing budgets that are on par with that of league sides and nearly every club in the National League now operating on a full-time basis.

The question now is: have we now reached a stage whereby increasing the number of teams promoted and relegated between the two divisions to three is now a necessity?