Yeovil

Next game:
• Huish Park
• Friday 21st July 2006. 7.45pm

The opponents

Yeovil Town or “the Glovers” have come a long way since moving from the old Huish Park with its famous sloping pitch.

In the 20th Century Yeovil found fame in the FA Cup as the greatest of the non-league giant killers, with over 20 league clubs falling to the Glovers. Despite this famous cup history, the first major award the club won was the FA Trophy in 2002.

But in the 21st Century Yeovil have become a fully paid up member of club, winning promotion to the football league in 2003. They challenged for promotion in their first two seasons, coming close on both occasions and in 2005 they won League Two and gained promotion to League One. Their first season in League One proved a tougher challenge with Yeovil flirting with adventure at both ends of the table over an eventful season which resulted in ‘safe’ looking 15th place.

One to watch

Daniel Webb – A young striker who is looking to secure a first team place in the forth coming season. He recently bagged a brace of goals against the plastic scummers of Eastleigh so he must be worth a round of applause.

Previous History

The last time Pompey met the “glovers” was in a pre-season friendly on 16th July 2005 when Pompey beat the Glovers 4-2 with goals from Mornar, O’Neil, Lua Lua and Toddy.

Pompey have never played Yeovil in a competitive match, though they did knock our near neighbours Waterlooville out of the FA Cup in 1987.

Club links and similarities

Both teams won major promotions in the 2002/03

Torquay United

Next game:
• Plainmoor
• Wednesday 19th July 2006. 7.45pm

The opponents

Torquay Utd or “the Gulls” are a team that have never graced the higher echelons of English football since they joined the league in 1927, the closest they ever came to reaching the second tier of League was in 1957 when they missed promotion by a single point on the last day of the season.

In 1955 Torquay had their greatest ever FA Cup moment, beating the mighty Leeds Utd 4-0 in a 3rd Round replay after holding the whites to a 2-2 draw at Eland Road.

In 1989 Torquay were the first Devon club to make a Wembley appearance, with an appearance in the Sherpa Van Trophy, losing 4-1 to Bolton. A second Wembley appearance in 1991 playoff final was a happier moment for Gulls fans when they beat Blackpool on penalties to secure promotion to Division 3.

In recent years they have yo-yoed between League One and League Two. The Gulls were very unlucky to be relegated from League One on the last day of the 2004/05 and this season was one to forget with the Gulls flirting with relegation all season but in the end pulling off a “great escape” worthy of comparison with Pompey’s.

One to watch

Jamie Ward – Torquay have beaten off stiff competition to sign ex Aston Villa Midfielder Jamie Ward.

Previous History

The last time Pompey met the “Gulls” was during Redknapp's last Pompey pre-season tour on 24th July 2004 when Pompey beat the Gull’s 4-1 with Matty Taylor scoring twice, and De Zeeuw and the Yak grabbing one each.

The last ‘competitive’ meeting was in the 1999/2000 League cup with Pompey winning 3-0 on Aggregate.

Club links and similarities

• Both teams have rivals who play in red stripes
• Both teams have had ‘colourful’ chairmen. Torquay’s, Mike Bateson even appears in television adverts for his double glazing firm.
• Although both clubs have a long history of being tough relegation battlers, both are optimistic about the coming season.