It’s our first away trip of the season but in some ways the longest – we will not travel south again or further west after we travel to Plymouth Parkway!
Based in the Manadon area of Plymouth, Parkway were only formed in 1988 as Ex Air-Flyers FC due to a sponsorship deal with Exeter airport but gain their current name from their time at their previous Parkway sports ground. That ground was in turn named after the dual carriageway that bisects the city and is prominent on their club logo. Therefore forms of transport are intrinsically linked with this club…
Despite humble beginnings, Parkway almost ran before they could walk and took off to soar up the footballing pyramid, cycling through various promotions as their ambitions ballooned before running out of steam to remain at this current level. This is now their fourth consecutive season in the Southern league Premier but they cannot be considered to have ‘parked the bus’ or dived down as they have always managed to sail clear of relegation and averaged 13th place over that time.
The Terras have only played Parkway once before now when coach Jason Matthews drove his charges to a 3-2 friendly win in Plymouth in 2014. On that day Jordon Copp, Shane Krac & Conor Jevon scored rockets for Weymouth, Levi Landricombe & Danny Lewis feeling like their team had gone off track despite their consolation efforts, subs not helping them find their way.
A tandem of Weymouth scorers that day in Copp & Krac have also spent time at Parkway but others have ordered taxis to and from both clubs. Most famously for Terras fans is Plymouthian Stewart Yetton but others include Mark Gammon, Ben Joyce, Steven Colwell & Frankie Monk.
This season Warren Feeney and his men will be looking to steer the ship through the waters of the Southern league. But can the Terras get off their campaign on the road off to a flyer? As far as the gaffer is concerned he is “Looking for a reaction, looking for a positive performance and result as it’s a chance to put things right after Saturday”.
But can the Terras surf the “Ocean City” waves to secure their first away win in the league since November?…
Match preview by
Duncan Gardner
