The final home game of the season sees United host Chesterfield in front of the BT Sport Cameras at Plainmoor tomorrow afternoon.
Although United’s hopes of a top-seven finish was ended by the point at Dagenham & Redbridge on Monday, Gary Johnson’s men will be looking to finish their home campaign on a high, with two away games to follow before the season is brought to a close.
Who’s the Boss?
Paul Cook returned to the Technique Stadium in February, seven years after he departed his first managerial spell.
In his first spell with Chesterfield – which lasted three years – Cook guided the side to the League Two title in 2014, as well as runners-up in the EFL Trophy the same year, with his Spireites side made the League One play-offs semi-final the following season.
Cook has continued to enjoy success thereafter, namely by winning League Two with Portsmouth, as well as the League One title with Wigan.
Following on from his successful periods at Portsmouth and Wigan, Cook also enjoyed time at the helm at Ipswich Town, before returning to the Technique Stadium earlier this year.
A central midfielder in his playing days, Cook played for Coventry City in the Premier League, and boasted a wealth of Football League experience after playing for the likes of Wigan, Norwich, Wolves, Tranmere, Stockport County, and Burnley.
How have they been doing?
The Spireites began the season in fine style, and aided by the goals of Kabongo Tshimanga, led the way at the top of the National League at the turn of the year, however in the absence of their leading scoring, the side have been struggling to match that form and have suffered a mixed bag of results recently, and currently occupy the final play-off position with 73 points from 42 games.
Player to Watch
26 year-old Kellermann arrived at Chesterfield last summer, following a brief spell at National League North side Kidderminster Harriers.
Having risen through the ranks at Wolverhampton Wanderers, a brief trial at Plainmoor failed to materialise into a move to United, however James would go on to gate his first taste on senior action at Aldershot Town in 2016, where he amassed 68 appearances and 8 goals over the course of the next two seasons.
His impressive form for the National League side soon attracted the attentions of Scottish Premiership side St Mirren, however after finding action had to come by north of the border, a return to non-League’s top tier with AFC Fylde saw him rediscover his sharpness, with the current campaign seeing James play a key role in The Spireites push for the Play-Offs
Played for Both
Current Spireites central midfielder Jak McCourt previously enjoyed a short loan spell on the English Riviera during the 2013/14 season. He made 12 appearances whilst on loan from Leicester City, with the spell seeing him make his Football League debut.
McCourt, graduated from the Leicester City Academy, signing his first professional contract in 2013, the midfielder became a key component in the Club’s U12 Development Squad, which he often captained.
Following a loan stint at Port Vale, McCourt departed Leicester City on a permanent move to Barnsley, but in 2016 moved to Northampton Town where he scored his first senior goal months later.
The 26-year-old then arrived at Chesterfield for his first stint where he made 34 appearances, and scored 5 goals. McCourt went on to play for the likes of Swindon Town and Macclesfield Town, before returning to the Technique Stadium in 2020.
Previous Encounter
Torquay United 2 – 1 Chesterfield, 13th October 2020, National League
There was ‘Gary Time’ action the last time the two side’s met at Plainmoor, with Ben Wynter’s 94th minute winner securing the three points for Gary Johnson’s men.
It was Bristol City loanee Louis Britton who gave United the lead in the 9th minute, before Tom Denton levelled before the break. Just when things looked to be heading for a stalemate, Wynter sealed United’s third stoppage time steal in four matches to send Torquay’s stream-watching Yellow Army into raptures, in a pattern that was to be repeated many more times before the season was out.