JOHNNO COUNTS ON OLD PALS ACT
GARY JOHNSON joked his Torquay and Woking play each other so often it feels like they’re becoming like bitter rivals – but despite wanting to end their FA Trophy dream on Saturday, the Gulls boss will always have a soft spot for the Cards.
Johnson’s dad Ron used to be physio at the club and ran his own clinic in the Surrey to own.
The two Clubs' recent history has been intertwined when they both won promotion out of the National League South in 2018-19.
A gripping title race saw a 3-3 thriller played out in front of 4,500 during the second run-in with the point paying the way for Johnson’s men to go on and lift the title. Woking followed them up through the play-offs just a few weeks later.
Last weekend’s National League clash at King-field was postponed due to bad weather but National League leaders Torquay will make the trip on Saturday with a place in the semis on the line.
“We seem to be playing Woking in every competition – although we’re a million miles away from each other somehow we seem to be like ‘bitter rivals’,” Johnson told The NLP.
“And, yet, I’ve always had quite a close affinity with the club because my dad used to work there. He was a physio there for years, had a clinic in Woking and our family have always been friends with the club, if you like.
“I’m sure that’s still the case – this is like a professional rivalry. I think it stemmed from the goal we scored before we got our promotion. They went up as well, so all’s well that ends well.”
Distraction
Johnson won the FA Trophy in his first season at Yeovil Town back in 2002 and later took the Glovers into the Football League and, eventually, as high as the Championship.
The 65-year-old is now attempting to win his third promotion into the EFL – his Cheltenham won the league in 2017 – with Torquay. Top of the league, the Trophy could be seen as a distraction and Johnson has expressed concerns generally over the amount of games in a short space of time players are being asked to play.
But he’s proud of how his players are performing in this most unlast-minute usual of seasons. “I’m very, very proud of the players,” he said. “A lot of our squad are younger. We’ve got a little bit of experience – a few are injured at the moment – but the players in the mid20s, early-20s are seeing us through at the minute which is great.
“In the meantime, they are gaining that experience of regular games as well. To be consistent in these circumstances over a period of time when it is stopstart is really good.”