Gulls return to Plainmoor to take on The Clarets
Armed with new signing Jordan Young, Paul Wotton’s side return home tomorrow, as they look to bounce straight back from last weekend’s defeat at Hornchurch. Although that defeat on their travels was a disappointment, 6th-placed Torquay remain just three points behind current leaders Weston-super-Mare, whilst boasting a game in hand in three of the rivals above them in the early National League South table.
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.
As a player, 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 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. His temporary stint with the Latics eventually led to a permanent move to the Latics, before moves to the likes of Leyton Orient and Exeter City paved the way for his arrival at Chelmsford City in 2019.
How have they been doing?
Last season’s runners-up placing has been quite the task to replicate over the opening thirteen matches of 2024/25, however with Simpson’s side just three points off the early-season play-off spots, there’s still plenty of time for The Clarets to go one step further following their agonising semi-final heartbreak last term.
City remain a real attacking threat, with their 24 goals so far the joint-highest in the division. Last weekend’s 2-1 home victory over Salisbury will see them arrive at Plainmoor in confident mood, with impressive victories over fancied sides Eastbourne (4-2 at home) and Maidstone (5-1 away) further proof of the side’s potential.
Player to watch
Osman Foyo’s loan move to Plainmoor last season may not have quite worked out, however the Ipswich Town man as wasted little time in showing those at Chelmsford what he’s all about.
Having played in a number of positions – predominantly in midfield – at Portman Road, Osman in no beginning to find his natural position further forward. After his three-game stint at Torquay was followed up by another brief spell at Welling at the tail end of 2023/24, Foyo’s move to Essex has paid off spectacularly, with the 20 year-old notching 7 goals in his first 12 outings, including his side’s opener at home to Salisbury last Saturday.
Played for both
Kalvin Lumbombo-Kalala’s time on the English Riviera may be seen as one of those ‘what could have been’ stories, with the Frenchman exciting and frustrating the Yellow Army in almost equal measure during a memorable two-year stay in Devon.
After beginning the 2018/19 under Gary Johnson’s stewardship at Cheltenham, Johnson’s switch to Plainmoor saw Kalvin follow suit soon after. The Frenchman’s 10 goals in 33 appearances played an eye-catching part in United’s title-winning campaign, and after his continued good form in the division attracted the scouts of Fulham the following year, a promising future appeared to lay ahead for the winger.
However, after turning down a new deal at Plainmoor following the Covid-induced early curtailment of the 2019/20 campaign, a move into the higher echelons of the English game never materialised, leaving Kalala to further his career in his native France with fifth-tier outfit Entente Feignies Aulnoye.
It wouldn’t be too long before his re-emerged on UK shores though, and after productive spells with Dulwich Hamlet and Lewes, the Parisian made his move to Chelmsford in the summer.
Previous Encounter
Torquay United 3-1 Chelmsford City | National League South | Tuesday 2nd April 2019
With United’s promotion charge gaining more and more momentum, this late-season clash paved the way for The Gulls to secure the NLS title with three games to spare.
After Connor Lemonheigh-Evans put United ahead, City’s Jamar Reynolds silenced Plainmoor by levelling the scores before the break. A fine showing from United following the restart sealed the deal in the end though, as goals from Jamie Reid and Jake Andrews sealed a fifth-successive win for United.
All the information ahead of tomorw’s fixture is available HERE.