Now, with eight games in 25 days in February – starting with Saturday’s visit of St Albans City – the time to stand up
Gary Johnson, Manager of Torquay United, during the National League South match between Torquay United and Dover Athletic at Plainmoor, Torquay on Saturday 20th January 2024 – PHOTO: Frankie OKeeffe/PPAUK
Gary Johnson, Manager of Torquay United, during the National League South match between Torquay United and Dover Athletic at Plainmoor, Torquay on Saturday 20th January 2024 – PHOTO: Frankie OKeeffe/PPAUK
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Torquay United are facing a make-or-break February after failing to stamp their authority on the National League South this season. Many fans are calling for change at the club after manager Gary Johnson said promotion back to the National League is the aim but so far, they have fallen short in the mainly part-time division.
But form has been patchy and while Yeovil Town, who came down with the Gulls last year, have pulled away at the top, Torquay have not been able to rise xto the challenge as supporters had expected them to. On Saturday they took a three-game undefeated run to Worthing and scored first through Tom Lapslie – but by half-time they were 3-1 behind and lost 4-2 in the end after a better second half.
Now, with eight games in 25 days in February – starting with Saturday’s visit of St Albans City – the time to stand up and be counted has come. Johnson, who has been the manager for more than five years now, which makes him the third longest-serving Gulls boss, knows the team has to be better – but was warning fans not to expect eight wins in eight games in February after the final whistle at Worthing.
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“You are not going to beat every team, however good you are, there are always going to be results and sometimes the opposition have a few decisions to go for them and the players step up to the plate,” he said. “And if you don’t, everybody can beat everybody else, as you can see in the league today.
“A lot of teams were lower than the team they beat today. Or there were a couple of draws. So I think we just managed to, by our fingernails, stay in seventh spot at the minute – with this home game coming. St Albans are right behind us, just under us, so we need to keep the home form going. For parts our away form was not too bad, but for parts we let them show their ability.”
February’s schedule is indeed daunting. After St Albans at home on Saturday, they are at FA Cup giantkillers Maidstone United on Tuesday 6. After that it is Slough Town at home on Saturday 10, Taunton Town away on Tuesday 13, Braintree Town away on Saturday, 17, Farnborough away on Tuesday 20, Aveley at home on Saturday 24 – and finally, Truro City away on Tuesday, 27. After that intense run of games, Torquay will have just 10 left until the end of the season.
Torquay’s players shake hands with the match officials before the National League South Match between Worthing and Torquay United at Sussex Transport Community Stadium, Worthing on 27 January 2024 (Photo: Jeff Mood/PPAUK)
Catching Yeovil is unlikely and they will now probably claim the only automatic promotion place – so Torquay will want to finish second to claim home advantage in a play-off semi-final and miss out on a first round game. Finish below third and Torquay will have to play three play-off games. Finishing below seventh and not taking part in the play-offs is unthinkable.
