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Steve Harris

@steveharris84

MATCH DETAILS

Match details: Torquay United vs Plymouth Argyle – Pre-Season Friendly

Venue: Plainmoor, Torquay

Date: Saturday 27th July 2024

Kick-off: 3pm

ARGYLE FACT FILE

Year founded: 1886

Nickname: The Pilgrims

Last season’s league finish: 21st in the Championship

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

THE MANAGER – WAYNE ROONEY

As England’s second highest appearance maker and second highest goal scorer, Wayne Rooney is a figure that needs no introduction.

After bursting on the scene with Everton in the 2002-03 season, Rooney made his debut for England in a friendly against Australia in February 2022. He then became an integral part of the Three Lions’ squad and was England’s star performer in Euro 2004, netting four times – twice against Switzerland and Croatia respectively – before succumbing to injury in their quarter final with Portugal.

His displays in the Euros for England prompted Manchester United in a deal worth £27million. Rooney would spend 13 years at Old Trafford, during which time he won five Premier League titles, one FA Cup, three League Cups, a UEFA Champions League, a Europa League and a World Club Championship title. He also overtook Sir Bobby Charlton as the Red Devils’ record goal scorer.

Rooney returned to Everton in the 2017-18 season before relocating to the USA to sign for Washington based side DC United in 2018. However, he returned to England in 2019 to become player-coach of Derby County before later becoming manager. In the 2021-22 season, he helped to keep the Rams in the Championship despite them being deducted 12 points for entering Administration, before resigning in June 2022.

Spells in charge of his former club DC United and Birmingham City followed for Rooney before he was unveiled as Pilgrims’ manager in the summer of 2024.

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.

He has since made the step up to the Championship as he scored four goals in 32 appearances in all competitions in the 2023-24 campaign.

OLD BOYS

Torquay: Finley Craske, Ollie Tomlinson, Oscar Threlkeld

Plymouth: Adam Randell, Will Jenkins-Davies

LAST MEETING – 18.07.23, TUFC 1-1 PLYMOUTH ARGYLE

In their first home pre-season friendly of the 2023-24 close season, Torquay United earned a creditable draw with Championship side Plymouth Argyle.

Argyle created their first opening, in the ninth minute and it was a former Plymouth youngster that came to the Gulls’ rescue, as Ollie Tomlinson cleared a Morgan Whittaker shot just short of the goal line, after his low diagonal strike zipped past the advancing Mark Halstead.

United went close themselves three minutes later. After a loose pass out from the back was immediately pounced upon by Jack Stobbs, his squared pass onto the edge of the box saw Brett McGavin fire towards goal. His initial effort was repelled, but only as far as Lewis Collins from a similar distance – this time the Gulls winger saw his instinctive volley flash narrowly wide of the upright.

Whittaker responded for the visitors again on 16 minutes – this time with a curling effort – but Halstead was well-placed to gather the ball comfortably.

The breakthrough eventually came on the half-hour. After Wright’s 22-yarder forced Halstead into a parry, a deep corner into a packed area was half-cleared via Aaron Jarvis’ header. Unfortunately the ball fell kindly for Whittaker on the edge of the penalty area, and this time he made no mistake, volleying past Halstead and into the net.

There were genuine penalty appeals for Torquay soon after, with Plymouth defender Julio Pleguezuelo appearing to handle the ball under pressure from the ever-willing Brad Ash, but with the officials not spotting anything untoward, the deficit remained as the match edged towards the change of ends.

There would be one more chance before the whistle, and it fell United’s way, although Asa Hall’s effort from 20 yards had too much on it, as it rose over the crossbar.

In the second half, A golden opportunity to restore came – and went – in the 74th minute, as a swift Torquay break saw Stobbs split Plymouth’s retreating backline by threading the ball into Ash’s path, yet with only the glovesman to beat, his unselfish nature worked against him, as his pass to strike partner was cut out.

United’s new striker wouldn’t have long to wait before he was celebrating though.

With Stobbs finding space wide on the right flank, his beautiful delivery beat everyone bar its intended target, with Ash adding the perfect finishing touch in the form of a delicious diving header to make it 1-1.