Hello friends and a warm welcome back to the conclusion of the 2010 / 11 season and can Torquay make it Wembley and a place in the Coca Cola Championship?
Excitement was spreading through the town like the flu as we faced Millwall at home in the Play Off Semi Final 1st Leg. The first 30 minutes were totally uneventful until Nicky Wroe played a teasing through ball into the box and Steve Irwin appeared from nowhere to make it 1-0. The game died again until the last 15 minutes when Millwall desperately looked for the equalizer though were unable to find it so we take a slender lead into The Lion’s Den!
Three days later we travelled to London for the second leg and as in the first leg it was very uneventful though Milwall finally got the goal they were looking for when a long goal kick was flicked on by Grabban which caught goalkeeper Scott Bevan totally out of position going over his head and trickled into the net. The second half began with Millwall looking to double their lead but they pushed too many forward and as DC Adams cleared to Wiafe Danquah we caught them on the break his run forward ended in a square ball to Guidetti who fired it home and it was 1-1. Millwall did everything they could to find another goal but they couldn’t and so we are on our way to Wembley for the Play Off Final!
The day had final arrived and we were going to walk out onto the Wembley pitch and face Colchester for the right to play in the Coca Cola Championship. “For the glory, for the prize and for The Fans” was the dressing room cry as we headed out to a raptuoues reception. The fans were soon in dreamland as Wiafe Danquah latched on to a Nicky Wroe through ball and neatly placed it in the back of the net for the lead inside 5 minutes. Our confidence sky rocketed and we were playing the ball around the park and a telling run by O’Kane down the left flank ended in a square ball to Guidetti and it was 2-0. Then we got over confident and allowed Colchester back into the game conceding a goal right on half time. The second half kicked off and and the pedulum swang the other way with Colchester in the ascendency and fully controlling proceedings and got the equalizer they were looking for 20 minutes from time. I threw caution to the wind and launched and all out attack and sure enough we got the go ahead goal 6 minutes later as skipper Nicky Wroe lobbed a ball over the Colchester defence that Wiafe Danquah pounced on and hit first time into the top corner of the net. We defended with bulldog spirit for the last 15 minutes and Wiktorski almost scored another from a corner but that was it. The whistle went and we had won promotion to The Championship!!
Board Reaction
Here the profile of our two goal hero, Frank Wiafe Danquah
Final Average Ratings
Steve Irwin was our best player of the year but Kamil Wiktorski had a fantastic season and is a huge prospect for the future. I’m glad he signed a new contract.
Finances
Our financial situation looks very good as the season closes and I hope for additional revenue when the new season begins.
So that’s it. Torquay are in The Championship where we will no doubt have a very tough time but nonetheless I will savor this moment first. It’s been one of the most exciting seasons I have ever played on any FM version and I truly appreciate all your comments and support along the way.
Thanks for reading and have a terrific weekend wherever you are in the world. I look forward to bringing you another chapter of Life on The English Riviera!
Johnny Karp
11 сентября, 2010 at 11:45
Get in! Well done Kevin, great stuff! I guess you know that the Championship means a big jump in terms of opponent strength but what you have achieved so far is just brilliant so enjoy the moment before starting to think about the challenges ahead.
Sears
11 сентября, 2010 at 12:32
Well done on winning the play off Kevin. Like Johnny said, the quality in the Championship is far stronger than the quality in League 1, so preperation will be key. Who knows, maybe come the end of next season you could be celebrating promotion to the Premier League? :-) Well done Kevin!
Kevin Mayo
11 сентября, 2010 at 12:45
Thanks Johnny,
Yes it’s going to be a whole different ball game next year but I’m looking forward to it even if it’s just about surviving.
@ Sears
Thanks for your comment and continued support.. Premier League would be dreamland for a provincial club like Torquay.
Laxeyman
11 сентября, 2010 at 13:20
Brilliant! Well done Kevin, what a great season, and a dramatic ending! I’m looking forward to seeing Torquay in the Championship, and you should be proud of your efforts to get them there.
Darren Smith
11 сентября, 2010 at 13:34
Hey Kevin, I agree with everyone else, you’ll have a lot of work to do next season. However that is next season, you just won the play-off final and promotion the the Championship!!! Theres no better feeling and you deserve it mate. Enjoy the celebrations and I cant wait to see who makes the move to Torquay. Well done Kevin, great achievment!!
Kevin Mayo
11 сентября, 2010 at 14:27
Hi Laxeyman
It was a real nail biter to be sure but I really enjoyed it.
@ Darren
Thanks very much for your kind words and yes it’s going to be very difficult next season for sure.
Lye
11 сентября, 2010 at 17:24
Hi Kevin, Sorry to miss that End of the Season post. Well done on reaching the play off finals and beat Colchester for promotion to the Championship. You have done extremely well with Torquay and i am sure you will enjoy your venture in the Championship with some quality teams side by side with your team. Meanwhile enjoy the vacation and break from football.
hils
11 сентября, 2010 at 17:40
YEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!! You did it!Fantastic play. I was dancing in my room when i read it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Good luck with the transfers.(you will get some gems on loan) Good luck.
hils
11 сентября, 2010 at 17:41
YEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!! You did it!Fantastic play. I was dancing in my room when i read it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Good luck with the transfers.(you will get some gems on loan) Good luck.
Ana Garcia
11 сентября, 2010 at 20:24
Well done Kevin!!!
Colchester seem to have been a bit unlucky creating 6 clear cut chances but who cares you won promotion!!
I see in your squad that 9 players are wanted so hopefully you can keep the better ones and sell the poorer ones to improve your squad for a tough season.
Best of luck next season and good luck in the transfer market!
Kevin Mayo
11 сентября, 2010 at 22:44
Hello Lye
no worries about missing a post and I’m glad you caught up and always appreciate your comments
@ hils
Thanks for being my biggest fan all season long. I was worried that i would let you down but thankfully we did it. Look forward to your support and continued exclamation marks next season!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
@ Ana
Its goals that count an we scored more thank goodness, but it was close as you rightly point out. Now the task is to try and keep everyone…. I want that is.