Western Morning News (Saturday)
Torquay resume quest to regain league status
Just 62 days on from play-off heartbreak, the battle for promotion begins again
NEW Torquay United striker Dan Holman says the only pressure to perform in the new National League season will come from the team itself.
Holman, 31, scored five goals in pre-season after getting back together with his former Cheltenham Town manager Gary Johnson, with whom he won promotion to the Football League in the 2015-16 season.
Teammate Danny Wright was part of that team too and together Holman and Wright scored 38 goals that season – and a return like that would be more than welcome as the Gulls push for promotion themselves.
The season starts today with the visit of Altrincham and it is likely that Johnson will opt to start with Holman and Wright, 36, up front.
Holman, who has been playing part-time in recent years, said: “The only pressure I feel is what we put on ourselves here. But when you play football your whole life you are used to it – especially as a striker.
“I think if I didn’t have expectations of myself, there wouldn’t be any point in playing anyway.
“So you put pressure on yourself but it is exciting to go and do it and that comes through every day in training; everything you do, and the way you live your life, is to try and, on a Saturday, score the goals.”
Johnson has 12 new players in his 22-man squad, and has lots of options for which formation he opts for to start the season.
Mark Halstead is likely to get the nod in goal with central defenders Joe Lewis and Ali Omar in front of him. The manager though has a couple of decisions to make at right- and left-back where established fullbacks Ben Wynter and Dean Moxey will have competition from Chiori Johnson and Dan Martin this season.
Captain Asa Hall hasn’t played in pre-season after a period of self-isolation was followed by an injury, and Connor Lemonheigh-Evans was missing from the last game of preseason against Bournemouth’s under-23s, also with a slight knock.
So, with Armani Little wearing the skipper’s armband, there should be a start for new midfielder Tom Lapslie, and a possible place for Keelan O’Connell.
Jake Andrews could make up a four in midfield, or Martin could play forward from left back, but there is notably no No 6 in the squad yet, and Johnson could surprise everyone with a loan signing or even two.
It is just 62 days since the disappointing penalty shootout loss to Hartlepool United in the play-off final but despite the swift return to action, Johnson says he has missed the fans at Plainmoor and is looking forward to putting on a show for them.
He said: “I have definitely been looking forward to the start of the season. What you would like to think is it will be a bit more normal where you have got your supporters looking forward to supporting your players and the players looking forward to seeing the supporters back in the stadium.
“It was great against Plymouth and even the smaller numbers in preseason friendlies – it created an atmosphere, and it gives us an empathy between the supporters and the players, and I think that’s really important.
“We have got a good group of lads that are worth cheering on. Once again we have got a squad that will be 10% better with a very positive and supportive crowd – and that’s what I am sure we are going to get from our Yellow Army.”