PREVIEW
Steve Harris
@steveharris84
MATCH DETAILS
Match details: Torquay United vs Plymouth Argyle
Venue: Plainmoor
Date: Tuesday 18th July 2022
Kick-off: 7.30pm
PLYMOUTH ARGYLE FACTFILE
Year founded: 1886
Nickname: The Pilgrims
Last season’s league finish: 1st in League One
Notable honours:
Division Three/Division Two/League One:
Champions: 2003-04, 2022-23
Division Three South:
Champions: 1929-30, 1951-52 & 1958-59
Division Four/Division Three/League Two
Champions: 2001-02
EFL Trophy:
Runners-up: 2022-23
MANAGER – STEVEN SCHUMACHER
Steven Schumacher led Plymouth Argyle to the League One title with 101 points in his first full season in charge of the Pilgrims after replacing the Preston North End bound Ryan Lowe in December 2021.
A graduate of the Everton youth academy, where he was coached by current Pilgrims’ Director of Football Neil Dewsnip, Schumacher didn’t quite make the final step required to break into the Toffees’ first team. However, he did manage to carve out a successful career in the lower leagues with the likes of Bradford City, Crewe Alexandra, Bury and Fleetwood Town amongst others.
It was with Everton’s academy that he started his coaching career and he has also had a spell as interim manager with Southport in National League North before he first linked up with Lowe at Bury in 2018 and later followed him to Home Park in 2019.
PLAYER TO WATCH – ADAM RANDELL
A familiar face to Gulls’ fans from his season-long loan at Plainmoor in the 2020-21 season, which saw him voted as United’s young player of the year, Adam Randell has firmly established himself as a fixture in the Pilgrims’ starting XI.
On his return to Home Park, Randell made his full debut for Argyle against Ipswich Town during the 2021-22 campaign and was a key player for the Pilgrims in the 2022-23 season, which saw them reach the final of the EFL Trophy and win the League One title.
RANDELL STATS
Position: Midfielder
Date of Birth: 1st October 2000 (22)
Birthplace: Plymouth
Height: 1.75m
League Stats 22-23: Appearances 33, Goals 3, Yellow/Red Cards 3/0
TUFC SUMMER TRANSFER BUSINESS
In: Kevin Dawson (Gloucester City), Jack Stobbs (Oldham Athletic), Bradley Ash (Weymouth), Lewis Collins (Newport County)
Out: Frank Nouble (Yeovil Town), Ali Omar (Larne), Olaf Koszela and Alex Moyse (Dorchester Town), Jack Winsor (Bideford), Lewis Brooks, Ben Wyatt, Jacob Mensah
LAST MEETING
19th July 2022: Torquay United 0 Plymouth Argyle 5 – PSF
Plymouth Argyle turned on the attacking style as they defeated Torquay United 5-0 in the pre-season game at Plainmoor.
Danny Mayor netted twice for Argyle, while Finn Azaz, Adam Randell and first-year scholar Jack Endacott were also on target.
Torquay had some opportunities too in what was a very open game but Argyle goalkeeper Mike Cooper produced a couple of outstanding saves.
Azaz put Argyle ahead as early as the seventh minute and Mayor made it 2-0 shortly before the midway point of the first period before Randell further extended their lead just before the break.
Endacott scored from close range in the 55th minute to give the Pilgrims a 4-0 advantage, before Mayor struck for the second time a couple of minutes later.
COYY – STEVE
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