United make the trip to Essex tomorrow, as they face Chelmsford City in the last league encounter before Christmas.
Gary Johnson’s side will be looking to extend their recent run to six wins on the bounce tomorrow, however they will face a tough test in the form of Chelmsford City, who themselves will be looking to close the gap on the Play-Off places.
Who’s the boss?
Robbie Simpson has been at the helm of Chelmsford since January 2020, originally on a interim basis before being given the job permanently in March 2020. Simpson was a forward who came through the youth ranks at Norwich City, but it was at Cambridge City that he first got his career started, making over 100 appearances and scoring over 30 goals in a four year period. A spell at city rivals Cambridge United followed where he had an average of a goal every other game in his one year spell at the Abbey Stadium.
Two years at Coventry City followed, before a move to then League One Huddersfield Town came, though his first season with the Terriers was injury hit, leading to loan moves to Brentford & Oldham Athletic, with the Oldham loan spell leading to a permanent move to the Latics. Leyton Orient, a return to Cambridge United, Exeter City and MK Dons all came before Simpson signed for Chelmsford City in 2019.
Player to watch
Freddie Hockey is a young striker that came through the youth ranks at Colchester United before his arrival at the Clarets in the summer of 2021. He signed for Chelmsford following a pandemic-disrupted spell at the U’s, where from the games that did go ahead, he left top goal scorer in his age group. So far this season Hockey has played 13 games for the Essex club and has scored four goals, including a brace in the 3-2 win away at Bath City at the start of December.
How have they been doing?
Following their 2-1 defeat here at Plainmoor back in September, Chelmsford lost only one of their next eight league games, though five of those games were draws, with impressive wins at both Dartford and Aveley also included. Two home defeats against Maidstone (0-1) and then Truro City (1-2) followed before another good win on the road, this time at Bath City (3-2), saw the Clarets keep in touch with the leading pack. Last time out though saw St Albans City complete a league double over Chelmsford as they secured a 2-1 win at home, leaving the Essex club with a record of eight wins, eight draws and six defeats from their 22 games played so far and they have 32 points coming into this game.
Played for both
Jazzi Barnum-Bobb came through the youth ranks at Watford before signing at Cardiff City in 2014, though he was unable to break into the Bluebirds first team, but a loan spell at Newport saw the move made permanent upon his release in 2016. Two seasons at the Exiles included a loan spell here at United in 2017, where the defender made seven appearances for the Gulls, before his release from Newport saw him have his first spell at Chelmsford. Spells at Wrexham, Dartford and Dulwich Hamlet all followed before his return to the Clarets in the summer of 2022.
Previous Encounter
Chelmsford City 0-0 Torquay United | National League South | Saturday 4th August 2018
United’s first ever game at National League South level came with an opening day visit to Chelmsford City where on a blistering hot day both sides battled to a 0-0 draw and a point apiece, the first of the Gulls 88 points that would eventually see them crowned as Champions at the end of the season.
Full live commentary will be available via TUFC Radio HERE.