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1Port Vale16+833
2Walsall15+1330
3Doncaster17+429

4Notts County17+828
5Crewe15+628
6MK Dons16+827
7Chesterfield17+1025

8Grimsby17-725
9AFC Wimbledon15+923
10Bradford16+423
11Gillingham16+323
12Barrow17+122
13Fleetwood Town14+521
14Cheltenham17-321
15Salford16-321
16Newport County17-721
17Harrogate Town17-721
18Accrington Stanley16-418
19Colchester16-317
20Tranmere15-817
21Bromley15-216
22Swindon17-813

23Morecambe17-1213
24Carlisle17-1513

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Akpro: Returns
Akpro: Returns

Torquay v Grimsby Preview

By: Alex Green
Date: 18/09/2009

TOWN fans of questionable sanity prepare themselves for the longest journey of the season in the hope that Town can secure their first back to back win of the 2008-09 campaign. Well you never know.

Home > 2009-2010 Season > Previews > Torquay (a)


Two coastal towns separated by over 320 miles of tarmac and historical England. One the epitome of English middle class suburbia sugar coated in blue rinse and shuffle boards, the other clinging to the North Sea coast where the stagnant air of doughnut batter hangs gloomily with the fog supported by the soundtrack of My Darling Clementine for the millionth time that day. It's all very well and good this poor homage to Priestleyesque candour but who can slog a ball better for 90 minutes? Oh so many many other teams I hear you retort, but it’s the gladiatorial battle between these two footballing giants, which fixates us for the weekend ahead.

Torquay have returned from the no longer football baron land of the Blue Square League, Is Blue Square a fruity alcoholic drink aimed at 12 years olds or a betting company? I have no idea would be nice to know if we ever have to tread the groundwork down their. Anyway Torquay are back be supporting a less attractive Helen Chamberlain and their delightful yellow shirts.

Overview

Their History

Torquay United came about when 3 teams in the area came together firstly Ellacombe and then in 1921 Babbacombe and Torquay Town who at the time shared Plainmoor together during their brief rivalry. In 1925 Torquay made the FA Cup first round proper where they were eventually defeated by Reading in the second round replay 2-0. Two years later Torquay made the very sensible decision in playing in black and white stripes and it naturally brought around success as they were elected to Division Three for the very first time.

"80 years of almost getting relegated to the conference ended in getting relegated to the conference. Two years of building later and we are currently just above the relegation zone (I am not this pessimistic, and don't believe we will end near the bottom)"

Last Season Was

Nothing but a success Torquay finished 4th just 5 points behind champions Burton who they beat 2-1 in the final game of the season. The Gulls went on to narrowly defeat Leeds giant killers Histon in the playoff semi finals before overcoming Cambridge under the Wembley arch by two goals to nothing.

"A rollercoaster of emotions and we finally won at Wembley in 90 minutes"
"Excellent, far better to win through the play offs than automatically. "

This Season Is

Survival is naturally the key with hope of building on it, local rivals Exeter have certainly set out a blue print on what Torquay should be aiming to achieve in seasons to come maybe not quite as quickly as Exeter have managed their great achievement.

"Hard work so far, the squad in general is strong enough when everyone's fit, if the manager makes the brave calls he needs to we will be fine."
"Going to be a struggle with fans bitter that we can't emulate Exeter's first time promotion."

Their Biggest Hero. Rodney Jack

The forward was signed in 1995 and instantly became a terrace favourite the Caribbean appeared 110 times for the club and managed to put 30 in the onion bag. His skill and eye for goal noticeably caught the eyes of those in the echelons above, Keegan tried to sign him for Newcastle in 1996 only for his work permit to fall through but it was the keen eyes of Dario Gradi who got the man some 2 years later becoming their record signing for £650,000. He improved on his impressive record at Torquay with 188 appearances and 42 goals for the Railwaymen. Jack currently plays at Nantwich Town and managed 13 goals for his country. If that wasn't enough he even managed to be noticed by the elite fanzine journalism over at Codalmighty, you know you've made it in football when that happens.

Their Ground Is

Perched a few miles from the cliffs of Babbacombe Plainmoor is small and neat with terracing for us visiting yobs, a small capacity does not detract from a good atmosphere and plans are under way for a larger and of course brand spanking new Main Stand.

"The right size for us, just wish the grand stand would get tidied up, but in reality it’s probably not a priority."

Thoughts On Town

"When I was a kid they were always higher up the league pyramid than us, so I suppose I always thought of them as a bigger club, but in recent years I'd probably say they are may be near to where we were a few years back, before the club had its soul ripped out, that is."

Or to put it in a quicker News Of The World way...

"Fish or small town near Hull"

Famous Players

Lee Sharpe, Chris Waddle and Neville Southall have all donned the yellow and blue, that’s one hell of a Fifa 95 team well a spine of one anyway.

Key Player

A little argument like ourselves about who Torquay’s key game breaker may well be some say Tim Sill’s and another Kieran Charnock. Maybe it’s too early to tell.

Recent Form

TownTorquay
WHereford(h)1-0
LPort Vale(a)0-4
LAldershot(h)1-2
WBury(a)1-0
LRotherham(h)1-2
Currently 21st in League Two.
LRochdale(a)1-2
LBournemouth(h)1-2
LCheltenham (JPT)(a)1-3
LBradford(a)0-2
LBarnet(h)0-1
Currently 18th in League Two.

Top Scorers

TownTorquay
Conlon3
Benyon3

Team News

TownTorquay

  • Jean-Louis Akpa Akpro (thigh), Peter Bore (hamstring) and Nick Hegarty (ankle) are all fit again and should feature.

  • Danny Boshell returns from suspension but is now injured (hamstring).

  • Matt Heywood (knee) is an injury doubt.

  • Nick Colgan (groin) and Nathan Jarman (foot) are again missing for Town

  • Adam Proudlock and Barry Conlon are suspended.
  • Torquay have signed Peterborough striker Danny Mills on loan and he should start.

  • Centre-backs Kieran Charnock and Lee Hodges (knee) are both doubts, but Lee Mansell (groin) could return.
  • Squads

    TownTorquay
    1GKNick Colgan
    2DFRobbie Stockdale
    3DFJoe Widdowson
    4DFRyan Bennett (captain)
    5DFMatthew Heywood
    6MFPeter Sweeney
    7MFAdrian Forbes
    8FWNathan Jarman
    9FWAdam Proudlock
    10FWBarry Conlon
    11MFDanny Boshell
    12DFJamie Clarke
    13MFNick Hegarty
    14MFPeter Bore
    15DFMatthew Bird
    16DFPaul Linwood
    17MFGrant Normington
    18FWChris Jones
    19MFMichael Leary
    25DFRobert Atkinson
    26FWJean-Louis Akpa Akpro
    27FWDanny North
    35GKLeigh Overton
    TBAGKJosh Lillis (on loan from Scunthorpe)
    1 GK Scott Bevan
    2 MF Michael Brough
    3 DF Kevin Nicholson
    5 DF Chris Robertson
    6 DF Chris Todd
    7 MF Lee Mansell
    8 FW Tim Sills
    9 FW Elliot Benyon
    10 FW Scott Rendell (on loan from Peterborough United)
    11 MF Nicky Wroe
    12 MF Tyrone Thompson
    14 MF Chris Hargreaves (captain)
    15 MF Wayne Carlisle
    16 MF Lee Hodges
    18 MF Mustapha Carayol
    19 MF Danny Stevens
    20 FW Ben Joyce
    22 FW Ashley Yeoman
    23 DF Kieran Charnock
    30 GK Michael Poke (on loan from Southampton)
    32 MF Marvin Williams

    Head to Head

    Grimsby have won every other game stretching back to the 70's. Since the last match was a defeat it's our turn to win again.

    P 20 W 9 D 5 L6 F33 A26

    Head-to-Head (16th on The Opposition Ladder)

    Last Meeting

    Torquay 4 Grimsby 1 (Sat 26th Jan 2007)

    This really was some sort of nadir being the seventh defeat on the trot at the league's bottom club. A last minute consolation finally broke Town's drawing duck and we won the next game 6-0 at Boston, the other side who were eventually relegated.

    Report

    Prediction

    The Fishy Prediction

    Hopefully last weeks result gave a much needed boost of confidence to the squad well I say squad I mean those still able to walk and those actually who are allowed on the pitch. A draw is preferable for myself a dull 0-0 won't be fun for those of you who make the terrible journey but a point sounds great to me. Torquay 0-0 Grimsby

    Torquay 0-0 Grimsby

    Reader's POMs

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