2025-26 PREVIEW: PLYMOUTH ARGYLE

 The last time that Plymouth Argyle headed into a League One campaign following relegation from the Championship, they did so with a former Everton and England midfielder in charge. 

However, that looks to be where the similarities begin and end with the 2010-11 season, which saw the Pilgrims enter Administration and manager Peter Reid paid the heating bill and even auctioned off his 1986 FA Cup runners-up medal. 

Instead, current Argyle boss Tom Cleverley will be looking to build a new side who can emerge as a force in the third tier, which hopefully, in time, can return to the Championship. 

The summer has been notable for the departures of Ryan Hardie, homegrown midfielder Adam Randell and Ukrainian centre back Maksym Talerov amongst others. However, Cleverley, in tandem with head of football operations David Fox, has recruited a number of new faces who can become heroes for the Green Army. 

Amongst the new faces are Xavier Amaechi, who has played for England at a variety of youth levels - but has spent his senior career in Germany, and striker Owen Oseni from St Mirren who Cleverley will be hoping can fill the void left by Hardie. The signing of attacking midfielder Jamie Paterson will also add more experience to the squad, with club captain Joe Edwards also remaining at the club. 

Also, young starlets Caleb Roberts and Freddie Issaka will be looking to become the standard bearers for the club's academy products, following the departure of Randell.  

Cleverley is still on the lookout for a number 9, who would give his side a more complete look. Nevertheless, the loan market could provide him with an option. 

If everything can come together for the Pilgrims, a challenge for an immediate return to the Championship could be within their reach.  However, if this proves not to be the case, then they will have a strong base to build from next season. 

Over the course of the campaign, the Pilgrims will be reacquainted with a couple of old friends in the form of ex managers Ryan Lowe and Steven Schumacher, who are now in charge of Wigan Athletic and Bolton Wanderers respectively. They will also be coming up against former midfielder Conor Hourihane, who is embarking on his first managerial role with Barnsley. 

Player to Watch: Bali Mumba

In the wake of the summer departures of Hardie and Randell, Bali Mumba is now only one of a few of Argyle's key figures from their record breaking Championship campaign of 2023-24. If the Pilgrims do manage to achieve a second promotion, then Mumba, should he remain at Home Park in the meantime, would have played an important role.  

In: Jamie Paterson (Coventry City), Caleb Watts (Exeter City), Jack McKenzie (Aberdeen), Brendam Wiredu (Fleetwood Town), Xavier Amaechi (Madgeburg), Brendan Ibrahim (Hertha Berlin), Bim Pepple (Luton Town), Owen Oseni (St Mirren), Luca Ashby-Hammond (Fulham)

Out: Maksym Talerov (Stoke City), Ryan Hardie (Wrexham), Adam Randell (Bristol City), Rami Al Hajj (Michael Baidoo (Umm Salal, loan), Callum Wright (Wigan Athletic, loan), Nathanael Ogbeta (Barnsley, loan), Will Jenkins Davies (Bath City), Jordan Houghton

TALKING POINTS FROM TORQUAY UNITED VERSUS NEWPORT COUNTY

 1. Dylan Morgan is on song. 

After his return from injury, winger Dylan Morgan has almost been like a new signing for the Gulls. He made it two in two in pre-season as he followed up his brace against Buckland with United's opener against Newport. 

In the 23rd minute, Morgan cut inside onto his right and found the target with an angled effort, as United raced into a three-goal lead by half time. 

2. A first glimpse of Matt Worthington. 

The speculation was finally over when the signing of former Yeovil midfielder Matt Worthington was announced on Thursday, and the Plainmoor faithful got their first glimpse of him in action against Newport. 

Donning the captain's armband, Worthington produced an assured display in the centre of park and led by example, which bodes well for the forthcoming campaign. 

3. Jordan Dyer and Sam Dreyer seem to be carrying on where they left off. 

The centre back pairing of Jordan Dyer and Sam Dreyer emerged as two of United's stars of the 2024-25 campaign, and they have carried on where they left off in pre-season. 

Dyer was a threat at set pieces and headed home a cross from Jordan Young on 29 minutes, shortly after he headed a corner from Young against the bar. Dreyer was the only outfield player to play for the full 90 minutes and he looked solid throughout. He also took over the captain's armband after Matt Worthington was substituted at half time.  

4. Competition for places. 

Following Paul Wotton's summer recruitment, competition for places looks set to be fierce for the 2025-26 campaign. In midfield, Wotton has Matt Worthington, Monashe Sundire, Sonny-Blu Lo-Everton, Callum Dolan and Dan Hayfield to choose from. Up front, Louis Dennis will be competing with Matt Jay for the number 10 spot in a 4-2-3-1 formation, and can also play as a number 9 should last season's leading scorer Cody Cooke not be available. 

Between now and August 9, when the Gulls face Enfield Town in their opening National League South fixture, Paul Wotton will be have plenty to think about when it comes to naming his first XI.  

 

TORQUAY UNITED 3 NEWPORT COUNTY 1

 A dominant first display sealed a comfortable victory for Torquay United over their League Two opponents Newport County.

First half goals from Dylan Morgan, Jordan Dyer and Louis Dennis secured the win for the Gulls and manager Paul Wotton was pleased with his side’s showing.

“I saw some really pleasing things in the first and second half, and all in all it was a good afternoon. We were bright and we were front footed,” said Wotton.

The Gulls forced two corners inside the opening three minutes – the second of which was nodded behind by Dyer.

On 16 minutes, Newport mustered their first chance as Michael Reindorf curled a shot from 20 yards wide.

United edged ahead in the 23^rd minute when Morgan cut inside before curling home following good work from Dennis and Jay Foulston.

On 28 minutes, Dyer headed a corner from Jordan Young against the bar, but moments later he connected with a cross from Young to double United’s lead.

Young threatened with a free-kick in the 38^th minute, which County keeper Jordan Wright tipped behind for a corner.

United then forced another corner, which the Exiles’ defence failed to clear as the ball fell to Dennis who smashed home the Gulls’ third on 39 minutes.

The visitors managed to score a late consolation in second half injury time through substitute Bobby Kamwa.

 

 

GULLS ADD WORTHINGTON TO SQUAD

Torquay United manager Paul Wotton moved to further strengthen his squad with the signing of former Yeovil Town midfielder Matt Worthington from Oldham Athletic.  

The Gulls haven't disclosed whether they've paid a fee for Worthington, as he was still under contract with the Latics, but they have announced that he has signed a three-year deal with United. 

Worthington, 27, was the Glovers' skipper when they won the National League South title in the 2023-24 campaign, alongside his new Plainmoor colleagues Jordan Young, Jay Foulston and Dylan Morgan as well as Sonny Blu Lo-Everton, who also joined United in the summer. 

He joined Oldham midway through the 2024-25 season in January 2025, but found it hard to break into the Latics side as they won promotion back to the EFL. 

WOTTON DRIVEN TO SUCCEED AS GULLS BOSS

Described by a former manager as a 'small club with a big heart' - Torquay United have spent much of its 126-year history outperforming or holding their own against clubs with bigger budgets. 

In order to do this, United have often needed a highly driven character in charge as manager, who have often, metaphorically of course, breathed fire into the club. Amongst the names that would spring to mind for many supporters would be the likes of Frank O'Farrell (1965-1968, 1976-1977 & 1981-82), Cyril Knowles (1987-1989) and Paul Buckle (2007-2011). 

After a promising first season in charge, after exiting Administration, with a second place finish in National League South, Paul Wotton has certainly followed suit.  

In addition to this, it could also be argued that Gary Johnson did the same between 2018 and 2021 before that fire gradually became extinguished after that infamous day at Ashton Gate. Kevin Hodges and Leroy Rosenior were also different kind of characters, who managed the club in a slightly different way to bring success to Plainmoor. 

The former three names listed were all big personalities who extracted the maximum from the players available to them with great success. 

O'Farrell led United to promotion from the 'old' Fourth Division (now League Two) in his first season (1965-66) before leading the Gulls to their highest ever league finish of fourth in the 'old' Third Division in 1967-68. Knowles took a United side who had secured the Football League survival with a 'Bryn the Police Dog inspired' draw with Crewe Alexandra to a two-legged play-off final against Swansea City in 1987-88 and then onto their first ever Wembley appearance in 1989. Buckle of course led United to only to a return to the Football League two years into his reign in 2009, but also to a League Two Play-off final appearance two years later in 2011. 

Wotton himself had a reputation of being a strong personality from his playing career with Plymouth Argyle (twice), Southampton and Yeovil Town, which saw him captain many of the teams he played for to success on a number of occasions. 

He has taken that mindset with him into his managerial career, first with Truro City and now with the Gulls. After missing out on the league title to Truro on goal difference, United were then beaten in the play-offs by eventual winners Boreham Wood. 

In the early stages of the season, Wotton ensured his team was tough to beat with a strong back three consisting of Jordan Dyer, Sam Dreyer and Jay Foulston, but he later added more flair with the additions of Jordan Young and Matt Jay.  

With his summer recruitment, Wotton has looked to strengthen in the areas where he felt the Gulls were weak last season. Of course it's early days yet, but the Plainmoor faithful have grounds to believe that Wotton can guide them to success come the end of the 2025-26 campaign.  

 

STANSFIELD FEATURES IN ENGLAND UNDER-21S EUROS TRIUMPH

 Former Exeter City loanee Jay Stansfield helped the England Under-21 side defeat their German counterparts to retain the UEFA European Under-21 Championship title and create history by becoming the second England team to do. 

Lee Carsley's young lions successfully defended the title which they won in 2023, as they won 3-2 after extra time against Germany - emulating Dave Sexton's side of 1982 and 1984 - in the final in Bratislava. 

Goals from Liverpool's Harvey Elliott and Ipswich Town's Omari Hutchinson had given England a two-goal cushion, as they seemingly sliced open the Germans at will in the opening half hour. However, Germany pulled one back in first half injury time through Nelson Weiper. 

Stansfield, who currently plays his club football for Birmingham City, featured until the 62nd minute when he was replaced by Brooke Norton-Cuffy, shortly after Paul Nebel's shot had taken an unfortunate deflection off him for Germany's equaliser.  

Despite the Germans striking the crossbar late on, Carsley's side regained their composure in injury time as Jonathan Rowe, who plays for Olympique Marseille in Lique 1 in France, headed home a cross from Liverpool's Tyler Morton to score what proved to be the winning goal in the 92nd minute.

Aside from Stansfield, there was another link to the South West in the Under-21 side as Brighton and Hove Albion's Jack Hinshelwood is the nephew of Paul Hinshelwood who played for Torquay United in the 2007-08 season.  

 

FIVE FACTS ABOUT TOM CLEVERLEY

 In the wake of Tom Cleverley's appointment as Plymouth Argyle manager, we will now look at five facts about the former Manchester United, Everton and England midfielder. 

1. Although Cleverley grew up in Bradford and came through Bradford City's youth set-up before joining Manchester United, he was actually born in Basingstoke. 

2. He made his professional debut during a loan spell with Leicester City in the 2008-09 season in a League One fixture with Yeovil Town at Huish Park that the Foxes won 2-0. Cleverley also netted his first professional goal a few weeks later in a 4-1 victory over Walsall. In the end, he ended up making 15 appearances for Leicester, scoring twice, which earned him a League One title winner's medal at the end o the campaign. 

3.  Further loan spells followed with Watford and Wigan Athletic before he made his competitive debut for Manchester United in the 2011 Charity Shield against Manchester City, where he provided the assist for Nani's equaliser as United won 3-2. 

4.  In the 2012 Olympics in London, Cleverley was an ever present in the Team GB football team, which reached the quarter finals of the competition. 

5. Cleverley also won his first England cap in August 2012 in a friendly against Italy; he would also create a small piece of history in October 2012 against in a World Cup qualifier against San Marino, as he made 165 touches -  a record for an England player at the time - and made two assists.