It’s United’s second consecutive home league game, as Chippenham Town make their way to Plainmoor to take on Gary Johnson’s side.
It’s Chippenham Town up next in the second of our back to back home league games, as the Bluebirds look for their third consecutive win, while United will be looking to get their first three points of the season.
Who’s The Boss?
Gary Horgan initially joined The Bluebirds as a player from rivals Hungerford Town in 2016, before making the step up into the coaching ranks the following year.
With previous incumbent Mike Cook departing Hardenhuish Park during the latter stages of 2021/22, it was to Gary that the Town board turned to steady the ship, with Horgan duly responding by leading the Club to the highest finish in their 149-year history, with 7th-position sealing a place in the National League South Play-Offs. A penalty-shoot win over Dartford raised hopes of a rise to non-League’s top tier, before their participation in the post-season action ended by way of a 1-0 defeat at Ebbsfleet at the semi-final stage.
Horgan was in charge of Chippenham last season when they came to Plainmoor for the Isuzu FA Trophy game which United won 3-2 to progress in the competition.
Player to Watch
Midfielder Tyreke Johnson joined the Bluebirds in the summer following his release from Woking, where he had spent the past two seasons. Tyreke came through the ranks at Watford, Swindon Town & Southampton, where he went on to make his one and only appearance for the Saints as a late substitute in a 3-2 Premier League win against Arsenal in 2018. Loan spells followed at Woking, Hartford Athletic & Gillingham, with the latter being made a permanent move.
Upon his release from Southampton, Johnson had his second spell at Woking with it being permanent this time, though loan moves to Dagenham & Redbridge and Chelmsford Town came while he was at the Cards, before his summer move to Chippenham.
How Are They Doing?
Chippenham arrive at Plainmoor in second place following two wins from two, those being an opening day win at home against National League South new boys Aveley, which was followed up by a 4-2 win away at Havant & Waterlooville last Saturday.
Played for Both
Brad Ash started his career at Weston-Super-Mare before moving to Barnsley in 2016, and while at Oakwell had loan spells back at Weston-Super-Mare & Boreham Wood, where he joined permanently upon his release from the Tykes. After his release from the Wood the attacker joined Hereford where he spent a season before moving to Chippenham for the 2020/21 season.
After leaving the Bluebirds Ash plied his trade at Weymouth last season, where he helped the Terra’s narrowly avoid relegation including scoring in their final game of the season in a 2-0 win at Dover, before Gary Johnson brought him to Plainmoor in the summer, with him being the first of United’s new signings.
Previous Encounter
Torquay United 3-2 Chippenham Town | Isuzu FA Trophy Third Round | Tuesday 20th December 2022
United battled back from two goals down to defeat Chippenham Town, in a gripping Isuzu FA Trophy 3rd Round tie. Goals from Jordan Young and Alex Bray gave Chippenham a dream start, before Will Goodwin halved the deficit during an action-packed first half. Two goals in three minutes from Stephen Wearne turned the game on its head after the break, and secured The Gulls their place in the FA Trophy 4th Round, where they went on to face Taunton Town.
Torquay United V Chippenham Town | National League South | Tuesday 15th August 2023, 7:45pm KO | Tickets | TUFC Radio