After an unforgettable season, it all comes down to a pivotal day in Bristol for Gary Johnson’s side, as United head for Ashton Gate looking to end the Club’s seven-year exile in non-League football.
Blocking The Gulls’ path in the Vanarama National League Promotion Final is Hartlepool United, a side who are themselves also looking to reclaim their place back in the EFL, after a campaign that saw them finish in 4th position, two places and four points below Torquay.
- In The Opposition Dugout
Dave Challinor’s arrival at Victoria Park in November 2019 sparked a resurgence for the Monkey Hangers, who had previously failed to impose themselves in the fifth tier, following their League Two relegation in 2017.
As a player, Challinor enjoyed lengthy spells at Tranmere, Stockport and Bury, before transferring that success into his managerial career, initially with Colwyn Bay, before a memorable eight-year spell at AFC Fylde, where he took The Coasters all the way from NPL Division One North obscurity to the very brink of the Football League.
His dismissal from Mill Fam came just five months after their historic FA Trophy victory at Wembley, and Hartlepool were quick to capitalise. Selecting him as the man to take the reigns following Craig Hignett’s departure, a 12th placed finish last time out laid the foundations for a sustained promotion push this term.
- Route To The Final
After just missing out on 3rd place to Stockport County, Challinor’s charges were forced to enter the National League Play-Offs at the Eliminator stage, however they looked to be making light work of the extra fixture, as they raced into a 3-0 lead at home to Bromley. Two second-half goals for the visitors weren’t enough to deny them, and set the stage for a titanic battle with Stockport, with Rhys Oates (pictured below) notching a late winner enough to seal a place in tomorrow’s showpiece final.
- The Story So Far
Sunday won’t be the first time that the BT Sport cameras have watched these two sides meet, however it was an occasion that our rivals in the North-East may want to forget.
With the two sides battling it out for supremacy at the National League summit last October, two early goals from Man of the Match Danny Wright put Johnson’s men in charge, before a third from Ben Whitfield shortly before the interval left the hosts with a proverbial mountain to climb in a bid to prevent a Halloween horror show. Things got little better following the change of ends though, with Wright completing his hat-trick, before Gary Warren’s strike just before full-time rounded off a stunning evening for Torquay.
The return visit some four months later saw the away side once again come out on top, as this time it was Hartlepool who took all three points, courtesy of Luke Molyneux’s early effort. With one win each going into tomorrow’s encounter, both sides will have reasons to be confident ahead of the winner-takes-all decider in Bristol.
- Star Performer
After initially joining Pools on a short-term deal in February 2019, Irishman Gavan Holohan made the most of his big break in the English game following stints with League of Ireland sides Drogheda, Cork, Galway and Waterford.
A regular source of assists throughout the past nine months, whilst registering eight goals in his own right, Holohan has been at the very heart of his side’s best performances this season, and his influence over Sunday’s fixture could well have a large say in which team makes the step up the footballing ladder come Sunday evening.
- The Venue
With Wembley unavailable this time around due to its Euro 2020 commitments, Bristol City’s 27,000 capacity stadium will play host to one of the most important fixtures in the English footballing calendar, and although the venue will only be allowed to accommodate around a quarter of that number of fans this weekend, it will be a familiar destination to a number of key figures in United’s camp.
Gulls boss Johnson enjoyed a hugely successful five-year spell in BS3 between 2005-2010, as he followed up promotion from League One in his first full season in charge by going close to leading the side all the way to the Premier League, with only the heartbreaking defeat by Hull City at Wembley denying them.
Connor Lemonheigh-Evans and Jake Andrews, who have played starring roles in Torquay’s successes this season, are two others who are used to calling the stadium home, having both learned their trades at City, prior to arriving at Plainmoor.
- The Trophy
Although all attention will be focused on the prize of promotion, the accompanying Bob Lord Trophy – which marks the appropriate team’s success – is a worthy addition to any trophy cabinet.
Initially presented to the winner of the Conference’s League Cup competition, Sunday’s silverware is named in honour of the legendary former Burnley chairman, who also served as the first President of the Alliance Premier League (now National League) in 1979.
Those under the Wembley arch twelve years ago witnessed Paul Buckle’s side lift the trophy after defeating Cambridge to gain promotion, and the Yellow Army will be dearly be hoping to witness similar scenes in Bristol on Sunday.
United’s day with destiny has nearly arrived…
Come On You Yellows!
In association with LV BET
Sunday’s match from Ashton Gate will be screened live on BT Sport, whilst Torquay United will also be providing coverage via TUFC Radio here
Supporters who have purchased tickets for the final are asked to familiarise themselves with Ashton Gate’s Covid Policy prior to travelling, which is available here.