TT MATCH PREVIEW – WREXHAM (H) BY STEVE HARRIS

TT PREVIEW

Steve Harris – @steveharris84

Match details: Torquay United versus Wrexham

Venue: Plainmoor, Torquay

Date: Saturday 5th February 2022

Kick-off: 3pm

Current Form (last six):

Torquay: W, L, W, D, W, L

Wrexham: W, L, W, W, W, D

Top scorer:

Torquay: Armani Little (10)

Wrexham: Paul Mullin (11)

Head-to-Head:

Wrexham: 20

Draw: 13

Torquay: 18

Wrexham fact file:

Year founded: 1864

Nickname: The Red Dragons

Last season’s league finish: 8^th in the National League

Notable honours:

Division Three/Division Two/League One:

Winners: 1977-78

Football League Trophy:

Winners: 2004-05

FA Trophy:

Winners: 2012-13

Welsh Cup:

Winners 23 times

Manager: Phil Parkinson

Phil Parkinson was chosen to succeed Dean Keates as Wrexham manager by owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney in the summer of 2021. After spending the majority of his playing career with Bury and Reading, Parkinson took charge of Colchester United in 2003; he later led the U’s to an unlikely promotion to the Championship in the 2005-06 season.

Spells with Hull City and Charlton Athletic followed before he took charge of Bradford City in August 2011. He made history during his stint in charge of the Bantams – as he guided them to the EFL Cup final in the 2012-13 campaign after beating Arsenal and Aston Villa enroute before losing to Swansea City. Parkinson also led Bradford to promotion from League Two via the Play-offs later that season following a late run of form. The Bantams followed up their run to Wembley by beating Chelsea 3-2 in the FA Cup In the 2013-14 season.

After leaving Valley Parade in the summer of 2016 to take charge of Bolton Wanderers Parkinson led the Trotters to promotion from League One as runners-up in the 2016-17 season. Despite keeping Bolton in the Championship in the 2017-18 season they were relegated in the following campaign in the wake of financial struggles. These issues came to head in August 2019 when he resigned from his post, by which time the club were in Administration.

A spell in charge of Sunderland followed before he left the Stadium of Light in November 2020 and was replaced by Lee Johnson – Gary Johnson’s son – prior to his appointment as Red Dragons boss.

Player to watch: Luke Young

A player who needs no introduction to Torquay United fans, Luke Young joined the Gulls in 2014 after making over 100 appearances for his home-town club Plymouth Argyle after progressing through the Pilgrims’ youth set-up.

He soon became an instant hit with Plainmoor faithful as he helped to spearhead a run of six straight wins between August and September 2014, which made an immediate return to the Football League for the recently relegated Gulls seem like a reality. Young then followed this up with what was arguably his finest moment for United when he scored a stunning 40-yard volley against Wrexham on October 4^th, 2014; he then went on to win the first of his three player of the year awards at the end of the 2014-15 season.

Injury then meant that Young missed most of the 2015-16 season, but he still managed to return to play a part in helping the Gulls to secure their first ‘great escape’ under Kevin Nicholson.

After returning to full fitness in the 2016-17 campaign, he once again played an influential role in helping United avoid relegation a second time under Nicholson. Over the course of the season, he scored six goals and played a key part in both goals in the Gulls’ 2-0 win over North Ferriby United on the final day of the season. He also lifted his second player of the year prize.

However, despite completing a hat-trick of player of the year awards in the 2017-18 season, Young was unable to prevent the Gulls being relegated to National League South and he joined Wrexham in the summer of 2018.

He has since assumed the captain’s armband for the Red Dragons and finished the 2020-21 season as the club’s top scorer with 12 goals in all competitions.

YOUNG STATS:

Position: Centre-Midfield

Date of Birth: 22nd February 1993 – 28 Years Old

Birthplace: Plymouth

Former Clubs: Plymouth, Torquay

National League Stats 21-22: Played 22, 0 Goals, Yellow/Red Cards 1,0

Old boys:

Torquay: Danny Wright

Wrexham: Luke Young

Last meeting: Wrexham 1-1 Torquay United, Saturday 30^th October 2021

Wrexham co-owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney were denied victory in their first home game as Torquay United came from behind to claim a point.

The actors saw Harry Lennon score from Ben Tozer’s long throw after just four minutes at a packed Racecourse Stadium.

But there was to be no Hollywood ending as Connor Lemonheigh-Evans levelled late on for Torquay.

GOALS:

WFC: Lennon (4′)

TUFC: Lemonheigh-Evans (84′)

TEAMS:

Wrexham (3-5-2): Lainton; Lennon, Hayden, French; Hosannah (Jarvis 81), Tozer, Davies, Jones (Young 87), Reckord; Ponticelli (Angus 75), McAlinden;

Torquay United (3-4-3): MacDonald; Perritt (Lapslie 58), Lewis, Moxey; Wynter, Little, Johnson, Lemonheigh-Evans; Lolos (Moore 62), Armstrong, Holman (Addai 74)