United are on the road again tomorrow night (Tuesday 20th February 7:45 KO), as they head to Hampshire to face Farnborough.
The Gulls will be looking to get their season back on track tomorrow, as they face Farnborough at the Saunders Transport Community Stadium.
Who’s the boss?
Spencer Day took charge at Farnborough in November 2011 and in his time at the club has led them to two promotions, that being in 2016/17 when he guided the club to the Southern League Premier Division through the Play-Offs, and then again in the 2021/22 season as the Boro gained promotion to the National League South, where they won the Southern Premier Division South Play Offs, after defeating Hayes & Yeading United 2-1 in the Final. Day guided the Hampshire side to a mid-table 12th place finish on their first season back in Tier Six.
Player to watch
Hady Ghandour was born in England, but is of Lebanese descent and a Lebanon International, having made his Senior debut in the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers. Ghandour came through the Youth system at Tooting & Mitcham, before he was snapped up by Championship Charlton Athletic in August 2020.
Loan spells with Maidstone United (twice) and Chelmsford City followed, before he made a permanent move to the Kent outfit in June 2022.The six-foot tall striker signed for Aldershot Town the following April, on a deal running until the end of the 2023/24 season. Ghandour joined Farnborough on loan in December 2023 from the Shots.
How have they been doing?
The Boro’s 3-0 defeat here at Plainmoor back at the start of September was the start of a five match winless league run for Farnborough, which was ended in mid-October by a 2-1 home win over St Albans City, a result that saw the Hampshire side win three of their next four games to end the month in good form.
However Farnborough only recorded one league win in their next eight games, that being a 4-3 win at Aveley, before the Christmas period brought two wins from three games. The turn of the year saw four straight defeats, though the Boro have won their last two, with a 2-1 win over Dartford followed by Saturday’s 3-2 win over Truro City, meaning Farnborough come into this game with a record of eleven wins, nine draws and eleven defeats from their 31 games played, and a points total of 42, three points behind United.
Played for both
Chris Regis came through the youth ranks at Arsenal, Southampton and Colchester, with the latter giving Regis his first professional contract though he never made a first team appearance for the Essex club. 2017 saw the midfielder start the season at Farnborough before he moved to then League Two Port Vale, and then Regis arrived at Plainmoor for the start of the 2018/19 National League South season, though with only eight games played for the Gulls he was let go and subsequently joined Wealdstone and then Truro City.
Coggeshall Town, Cambridge City, Barton Rovers and Chalfont St Peter, before spending the 2022/23 season at Braintree where he played 33 games. Regis is currently at National League North side Bishop’s Stortford.
Last time we met
Torquay United 3-0 Farnborough | National League South | Tuesday 5th September 2023
United turned on the style, as they sealed a comprehensive 3-0 victory over Farnborough at Plainmoor. Aaron Jarvis gave United a first-half advantage, and after his strike partner Brad Ash followed suit in the second period, Jarvis fired home a late penalty to seal all three points for Gary Johnson’s team.
Live commentary will be available via TUFC Radio HERE.