GARY KNOWS THE FORMULA FOR SUCCESS
With Torquay United in a fantastic position to return to the Football League, I often think back to my time at Plainmoor, and the last time the club enjoyed success in the National League. Promotion, cup finals, and gallant FA Cup runs, I do smile at the experiences we had, the friendships and camaraderie, the togetherness, and the sheer desire that it ‘had to’ be our time. It’s a mindset that any manager wants to instil into their team.
Those characteristics are the filling. The topping, the thing that makes the cake look nice after all that hard work, that’s the belief, the sheer belief that it will happen. The last ingredient that is needed. Gary Johnson has put that into teams and groups before and it looks like he has that again at Torquay this season. When our boss Paul Buckle took over at the Gulls they were mid-table fodder for the bookies. But with some decent signings and a tail wind we got to the fourth or fifth round of the FA Cup, the FA Trophy final at Wembley and we made the play-offs having narrowly missed out on automatic promotion. Unfortunately, we fell just short in the play-offs in that first season – a bitter pill to swallow being that it had been against our rivals Exeter City. We compounded that by losing in the FA Trophy final at Wembley, probably a hangover from throwing that Exeter game away. But, still, we won a heck of a lot of games of football that season and we bought into an identity and an end goal.
The following season we got ourselves together, dusted ourselves down and went for it again, no real eye on any cup runs, only a focus on promotion back to the Football League.
And it proved to be a roaring success. We got over the line. In the main it was built on a trust with all of us, staff and players, owners and board, and fans.
The feeling in the hotel room before the Wembley final was mixed with tension but as an ‘older’ head all I kept saying to the boys was, ‘It is our time’.
Serial winners must have that belief all the time. The Manchester Citys and Liverpools of this world, the top players, they have that focus and mindset every day in training and in every game and every season, they have trained themselves to have that desire.
Undercurrent
It sounds simple but you need all of these basic traits on and off the field to make a club a success, in the Premier League or the National league. Look at Torquay now. Financially stable, with a good board and a good fan base. Look at the trials and tribulations that Man City had over the years before the club had money, an infrastructure and a plan.
All the teams I have played in over the years that have had success, or gone against the odds, have had that club wide togetherness. But those teams that have struggled or underachieved have usually had an undercurrent of unrest off the field which manifested itself onto the pitch.
Playing for Grimsby Town as a young lad we had a great squad. Obviously, a good manager and coaching team, but we were all either good friends, or we massively respected each other, we had each other’s backs, and we all pulled in the same direction. That’s probably why the enjoyed back-to-back promotions.
We also all lived in the area which was a critical component. You simply had to as it was so far away. It’s the same at Torquay United. Unless you have a helicopter or a boat, or both, you have to be in the area, or very close to it, and you have to fully commit to the cause. That means be able to go to the gym in the afternoon, or do an afternoon pitch session to improve your technique. It means being able to visit a local school or college, to support the local community. It all adds weight to your values as a club and to your direction.
When you look at League and Cup dominance over the decades, Liverpools, the Man Uniteds, the Arsenals, they all had that immense belief and togetherness.
Sympathy
Liverpool’s entire recruitment was built on hard working lads and hard-working characters first and foremost – a host of northern lads who had a unyielding grit and determination to succeed. The area accepted them and they accepted the area, there was none of this comclub muting business, desperate to get back home.
Back then, you had to buy into the town or city, or you were a local lad. Local lads that formed the nucleus of the Man United era for example, or players that bought into everything to do with the club.
I have seen it with so players over the years, and I know that times and society is ever changing, different pressures and responsibilities, but some lads cannot wait to jump back in their cars and get home, what for? Some that I see rushing to get out of the training ground haven’t got children so that reason isn’t there. Most haven’t had a second job so that isn’t there either. Is it motivation levels or pressure? I’m not sure. But what I do know is if I was starting out again now I would need floodlights erected at the training ground – I’d be out there morning, noon, and night!
For fear of getting myself into a heated debate. I will not go into the finer complexities of how the National Leagues will be completed this season, but when the vote is concluded across all three leagues I just hope that it can continue.
There is a clear fault line that might exist across the leagues. National League clubs are full-time and are in their own bubble, North and South clubs, in the main, have lads who have second jobs which brings with it certain complications. Feedback from a lot of clubs I have spoken to is that the first grant given was generous, for the three months or so covered. But it’s the next period that is difficult, should it be distributed as a loan or a grant. I have huge sympathy for clubs that are in desperate need of money, but if any loans that are given can be paid back over a very long period and at a very low interest rate, it maybe the only option clubs have.
For the National League, its about getting to a decision that is fair to all clubs and like any football person I want what is best to preserve the existence of all of the football clubs across all of the National League, North and South.
Am I biased in wanting the Gulls to return? Yes, maybe I am, but the team that goes up automatically will ultimately deserve it and the team who goes up via the play-offs is the one that will hold it’s nerve. Let’s hope we all get to see that happen.