TT PREVIEW

Steve Harris – @steveharris84

MATCH DETAILS

Match details: Torquay United vs Farnborough FC – National League South

Venue: Plainmoor

Date: Saturday 14th December 2024

Kick-off: 3pm

HEAD TO HEAD

Torquay: 1

Draw: 2

Farnborough: 2

RECENT FORM (LAST 6)

Torquay – W4 – D2 – L0

D 1-1 Maidstone H

W 1-0 Truro City (FA Trophy) H

D 0-0 Boreham Wood A

W 4-2 Weston-super-Mare H

W 4-1 Enfield A

W 2-0 Horsham (FA Trophy) H

Farnborough – W3 – D0 – L3

L 1-3 Boreham Wood A

W 1-0 Slough Town H

L 0-3 Salisbury A (FA Trophy)

L 3-4 Weston Super Mare A

W 1-0 Worthing H

W 3-1 Chippenham Town H

TOP SCORERS

Torquay: Cody Cooke (8)

Farnborough: Ricky Holmes (9)

FARNBOROUGH FACT FILE

Year founded: 1927

Nickname: Boro, The Yellows

Last season’s league finish: 12th in the National League South

Farnborough notable honours:

Isthmian League Premier Division:

Champions: 2000-01

THE MANAGER – SPENCER DAY

Formerly known as Spencer Trethewy, Spencer Day was previously a director of Aldershot and saved the Shots from going bust in 1989. After changing his name to Spencer Day in 1998, he spent four years owner/manager of Chertsey Town and has managed Farnborough since 2011.

PLAYER TO WATCH – RICKY HOLMES

Ricky Holmes is a well-known figure in the game from his spells in the Football League with Barnet, Portsmouth, Northampton Town, Charlton Athletic, Sheffield United and most recently Southend United. The experienced attacker has made around 300 appearances just outside of England’s top flight, scoring well over 100 goals during that time. During his time with Farnborough, Holmes helped the club secure promotion from The Southern League Premier South via the Play-Offs in his first season and took on a player coach role at the start of the 2022-23 campaign.

HOLMES STATS – Position: Winger – Date of Birth: 19/06/87 – Height: 1.88m – Previous Clubs: Southend, Chelmsford, Barnet, Portsmouth, Northampton, Charlton, Sheff Utd, Oxford Utd, Gillingham, Dover – 24/25 NLS Stats: Appearances 19, Goals 8, Yellow/Red Cards 2/0

OLD BOYS

Torquay: None

Farnborough: None

POSSIBLE LINE-UPS

Torquay United (4-3-3): James Hamon; Jordan Thomas, Jordan Dyer, Sam Dreyer, Jay Foulston; Dan Hayfield, Oscar Threlkeld, Will Jenkins-Davies; Jordan Young, Omar Mussa, Cody Cooke

Farnborough (3-6-1): Jack Turner; Jack Bateson, Ollie Robinson, Edon Pruti; Luciano D’Auria-Henry, Taylor Clark, Richard Chin, Reggie Young, Ricky Holmes, Joe Haigh; Millar Matthews-Lewis

LAST MEETING

Saturday 17th August 2024, Farnborough FC 1 Torquay United 0

They did everything but score in a spirited second-half fightback, but Torquay United suffered their first defeat of the season thanks to veteran striker Ricky Holmes’ 38th minute penalty against Farnborough at Cherrywood Road.

A foul by youngster Finn Tonks gave Holmes the chance to score from the spot, and despite five changes in the second half, and the big man upfront Cody Cooke being a handful, Torquay just couldn’t find a way back.