Steve Jupp, BA11's Club Historian, looks ahead to the visit of a heavyweight in the home tie of the decade.
Badgers Hill stages its biggest FA Trophy tie for over forty years on Saturday when Torquay
United roll into town with a place in the Fourth Round up for grabs.
Few will forget the tension and the drama of that penalty shoot-out victory over Worthing
last month and, fingers crossed, there’s more to come with a similar outcome.
Having built up a magnificent home record (TEN straight wins and unbeaten in the last
SIXTEEN), The Robins should fear no-one on their own manor where, in TEN previous
encounters against National League opponents, only ONE has gone away victorious.
It’s been quite a marathon to get to this Third Round stage, a trek which began in early
September and has seen them win more games and score more goals than any other Frome
Town side in a single Trophy campaign.
First Qual Cirencester (H) Won 3-1
Second Qual Bemerton (A) Won 3-0
Third Qual Bishops Cleeve (A) Won 5-1
First Round Cribbs (H) Won 1-0
Second Round Worthing (H) Drew 2-2 (Won 4-3 on pens)
Torquay, due to their National League South status, were exempt to the Second Round
where they recorded a splendid 2-1 home victory over Yeovil.
They were elected to the Football League in 1927 (Division Three South) and retained that
status for eighty years. Indeed, they were a League One outfit as recently as 2005 but in a
turbulent time since then, have suffered five relegations (including last season) along with
two promotions and find themselves at level six for a second time.
Looking to bounce back straight away, they currently lie in fourth place after Tuesday’s 3-1
success against Weymouth at Plainmoor, their third win in the space of a week.
Averaging well over 2,000 for home games, only Yeovil pull in bigger crowds in the NLS and
hopefully, a fair chunk of that number will contribute to a bumper Badgers Hill gate and an
atmosphere to match.
In Gary Johnson, one of the most experienced managers in the business will occupy the
away dugout on Saturday. Beginning at Newmarket Town in the mid-80s, his career as
gaffer has taken in Cambridge United, Kettering, Latvia, Yeovil (twice), Bristol City,
Peterborough, Northampton and Cheltenham before occupying the Plainmoor hot seat for
the past five years.
The Gulls have already made their mark in the Trophy, going all the way to a Wembley final
in 2008 where they lost by the only goal to Ebbsfleet United and seven years later went
close again, succumbing to Wrexham at the semi-final stage.
Those craving another shoot-out from twelve yards could be disappointed as Torquay don’t
do draws. Since a 2-2 share of the spoils at Dover on the opening day, they have not drawn
a single match, winning fifteen and losing nine.
With the added incentive of a prize pot of £4,500, the stage is set for another one of those
epic encounters. Danny Greaves’ boys have absolutely nothing to lose and everything to
gain.
Don't forget to secure your tickets and programmes for the Trophy clash before 5pm on Friday!