TT PREVIEW

Steve Harris – @steveharris84

MATCH DETAILS

Match details: Hampton & Richmond Borough vs Torquay United – National League South

Venue: The Beveree

Date: Saturday 5th October 2024

Kick-off: 3pm

HEAD TO HEAD

Torquay: 3

Draws: 1

H&R: 2

RECENT FORM (LAST 6)

Torquay – W2 – D2 – L2

W 3-2 Chesham United A

D 1-1 Aveley H

W 3-0 Chippenham Town H

L 0-2 Welling United A

L 0-3 Bishop’s Cleeve (FA Cup)

D 1-1 St Albans City H

H&R – W2 – D2 – L2

L 2-3 Worthing H

W 1-0 Weymouth A

D 1-1 Boreham Wood H

L 1-2 Maidstone United (FA Cup) A

D 2-2 Tonbridge Angels A

W 4-0 Enfield Town H

TOP SCORERS

Torquay: Cody Cooke/Brad Ash/Ed Palmer/Matt Carson/Lirak Hasani/Dan Hayfield (2)

H&R: James Roberts (5)

HAMPTON FACT FILE

Year founded: 1887

Nickname: The Beavers

Last season’s league finish: 9th in National League South

Notable Honours:

Isthmian League:
Winners: 2006-07, 2015-16

THE MANAGER – ALAN JULIAN

Former Northern Ireland Under-21 international goalkeeper Alan Julian was appointed as manager of the Beavers in the summer following the departure of Mel Gwinnett. Julian started his playing career with Brentford before making his name with Stevenage and Gillingham before taking in spells with Dartford, Bromley, Sutton United and Billericay Town before finishing his career at the Beveree.

PLAYER TO WATCH – JAKE GRAY

After starting his career with Crystal Palace, Jake Gray went on to make over 100 appearances in the EFL with Yeovil Town and Luton Town. Whilst with the Glovers, he featured against Manchester United in the fourth round of the FA Cup in the 2017-18 season. Gray then joined Woking in 2019 before joining the Beavers a year later. An ever present for Hampton and Richmond in the shortened 2020-21 season – he has remained an important figure for the Beavers, winning the club’s player of the year award in 2023. He finished the 2023-24 campaign with five goals in 42 league appearances.

GRAY STATS – Position: Midfield – Date of Birth: 25/12/95 – Height: 1.80m – Previous Clubs: Wycombe, Crystal Palace, Cheltenham, Hartlepool, Luton, Yeovil, Woking – 24/25 NLS Stats: Appearances 10, Goals 2, Yellow/Red Cards 1/0

OLD BOYS

Torquay: Sam Dreyer, Ben Seymour

H&R: None

POSSIBLE LINE-UPS

Torquay United (3-5-2): James Hamon; Finley Craske, Sam Dreyer, Jay Foulston; Finn Tonks, Dan Hayfield, Oscar Threlkeld, Lirak Hasani, Matt Carson; Ben Seymour, Cody Cooke

Hampton and Richmond (4-4-2): Ted Curd; Billy French, Jack Taylor, Dominic Revan, Alfie Williams; Mike Atkinson, Josh Keeya, Jake Gray, Mauro Vilhete; Bumni Babajide, James Roberts

LAST TIME

Saturday 23rd March 2024, Torquay United 1 Hampton & Richmond 0

With fans of Plymouth Argyle and Exeter City in attendance as part of Devon Day and former manager Neil Warnock also present, Torquay United gave their fans a boost with a timely win over Hampton & Richmond Borough.

United threatened early on as a cross from Brad Ash eluded the onrushing Tom Lapslie on four minutes.

The Beavers went close on 11 minutes as Sam Deadfield found Alex Gibson-Hammond, whose header hit the side netting. United were awarded a spot-kick in the 27th minute after Ash was upended and skipper Asa Hall stepped up to convert.

Four minutes before the break, Ross Marshall teed up Jack Stobbs for a long range effort which sailed narrowly over the bar.

In the second half, Ash looked well placed to double the Gulls’ lead in the 55th minute, following good work from Kevin Dawson, but he curled his shot on the turn over.

Ruaridh Donaldson then had an angled shot cleared off the line by Dean Moxey before former Gulls loanee Tope Fadahunsi went close.