Torquay United Fans Forum

Wivelgull is right. There is only one contender - Colin Bettany. This man was made of concrete. Branston, Kitchener do not come anywhere near. Ask anyone who has supported Torquay since 1964, ask them this question, they will all say Colin Bettany despite seeing many 'hard men' since then. Absolutely no contest, the man was awesome.

No no, you have got it all wrong. By far the worst player to play for Torquay United was Dale Mooney 1984/85. Surely people can remember him. Absolutely terrible.

It's Webb and Roberts for me. Someone tell me what Webb was doing. Was he an asset stripper. With his connections he should have bought in some players who could play better than the rubbish served up. With crowds under 1000 it was a depressing place. Perhaps he turned the finances around, I can't remember now but all I know is that the club was in a right state. Roberts was a total disgrace and luckily some other board members took decisive action or else we would have been in the cart. That episode unfortunately reflects badly on Bateson who let the club go to a Walter Mitty.

Have to go with Jimmy Dunne, add Robin Stubbs, Alex Russell, Kevin Hill and the top one for me, Colin Bettany, the Beast of Plainmoor. Mark Loram would be the sub.

This is more like it and agree wholeheartedly with royalgull that this is a far more positive approach. Good on the club for this idea and rather than be sedentary they are having a go. Let's face it we are a small club and do well to maintain a league side but we should be immensely proud of what we achieve. That's why I bang on about the identity of this team, whether it is the design of the programme which everyone should recognise as Torquay Uniteds or the playing kit being the same home or away. It is all part of the corporate identity of the team and the area and initiatives such as this give an indication that the club is proud to promote itself and confident with the product that is on offer. Roll on the new season.

I know I am old school but still think away kits should only be used when the colours clash. As we are distinctive,not a ubiquitous blue or red shirt, it would not be that often. I don't know how much we make on the sale of away shirts but the shirt with our proper colours may sell more if it can represent the Torquay team thats playing in the same design in 45 games out of 46. We should be standing on the terraces at Accrington et al resplendent in our lovely blue and yellow colours, wearing our blue and yellow scarves and bobble hats the same colour of the team we are actually supporting out there on the pitch. These are our tribal colours and when we go away, we should unite as one yellow and blue army and that includes the players.

Am I the only one who thinks away kits are complete tosh. I know its the trend but is it an actual requirement from the Football League that teams have to have two kits. We play in yellow and blue and out of the remaining 23 teams in the league, on how many occasions does our kit clash with the home team, not many. It's OK for Man U etc to make more money at the expense of their prawn sandwich eating fans but can't we just play in our colours.

I'm 60 and was right back in the team that had the fabulous Bryan Helley in goal. How he never made the league I never know. Mike Griffiths, the most capped Devon player ever, in midfield, Dave Harrison, Tony (Bowyers) Pook, Pete Leins, Roland Young and many others who became very good local players. I stayed the same as I was when 14 (could tackle and kick ball a long way) and never got above Chudleigh Athletic reserves, Chudleigh Knighton etc and then started squash at 21. It was an exceptionally good year.

Paignton Secondary Modern School for Boys, my alma mater. Expectations of the kids was so low you couldn't take GCE's only CSE's. Bloody good at sport though and the school football teams were noted for their deft skills and adherence to the beautiful game.

No Austrian, that is magnificent, well done. Did you go to that great seat of learning at Tweenaway as well.

I've bought my season ticket (51st season). I'm not thick, went to Tweenaway.

What do the members of this forum think. The current programme is 64 pages and costs £3. There is some reading but also plenty of photographs that pad it out considerably. I am sure a considerable amount of work occurs for each issue. One aspect I do not like is that the cover is anonymous and has no corporate identity. In fact 'Torquay' isn't even on it except on a the photo of the players shirt which is often obscured by writing. It could be anyones. I am particularly interested in sales for one thing and weighing that against the cost of production bearing in mind that many programmes were handed out for free at the end of season as either too many were printed or rather, as I suspect, not enough were sold. I would imagine there is a percentage worked out for attendees against sales. I read an early 80'sprogramme yesterday where a supplement was issued for a game postponed two months earlier and the original programme was sold with this supplement. They commented then that to save costs the supplement was issued and that 400 sales were needed to break even on programme costs. They knew the break even point then. I think that programme sales would increase if they were less bulky, less glossy photos and half the price. I know I am in the 'old git category' but the late 50's and 60's design of a yellow border with a blue photo in the middle was immediately identifiable throughout the footballing world. The fact that it was a photo of Oddicombe Beach or Torre Abbey Gardens was immaterial, it was eye catching and emblematic. Even better, it had 'Torquay United AFC Official Programme on it together with the opponents, date and competition. So simple yet so effective. I have been told that this is the trend and this is what youngsters want but can the youngsters or parents afford the £3 and besides, surely the average age of the United supporter is hardly in the 'youngster category. It's just my personal observation but in my view save on production costs enabling the programme to be sold cheaper which in turn will increase sales and at the same time make it look like a Torquay United programme.

Being amongst it all on the Bench, I have to say that as this was a crucial game, it was a red rag to a bull having away supporters taunting the home ones and a public order situation could well have arisen. Emotions were running high. Money is not the most important factor when it comes down to a safe environment in which to watch a match. According to someone in the Popside there was plenty of seats available for the Rovers fans to go to in their allocation on the Bench. It is just not on to allow away supporters (who have bit of a reputation) in a highly emotive game, to sit among the home fans. The police can override any decision the club make about stewarding and this is what they should have done yesterday, the Rovers fans escorted to the vacant seats in their own section or behind the goal. Those in charge of the safety of the ground got away with it yesterday, by the skin of their teeth. It seems strange that a middle aged man who holds his iphone camera up while sitting on the Bench, to take a general photo of the ground will be immediately approached by two stone faced stewards telling him to desist. Yet antagonistic away fans in the home section, goading the home fans, doesn't even warrant them walking up the first step.

Dutch, Ye of little faith. Remember where you heard this first, it will be 0-0 on Saturday, another legendary prediction. OK I messed up with the Harrogate cup game but I deserve another chance. After this Morecambe display I am very confident, Yeoman in for Howe will be an improvement. Yes a 0-0 draw, sell me the winning draw ticket, the green slime to get relegated - all will make for a perfect end to the season.

A good day all round I would say. The fans were in great spirit and the Gulls deserved their win. Didn't think Morecambe posed that much of a threat even before the sending off and we won many 50/50 balls, something which had been lacking a couple of months ago. The team worked and harried, good to see a resurgence in the fighting spirit. Bodin was pretty ineffective though, what a shame. I was really annoyed at Howe getting booked so needlessly, what a complete idiot. He has let the club and supporters down and will now not be available for one of our most important games. I like Rene but recently he has had a lack lustre time anyway so perhaps this is the time for Yeoman etc to fill the void. I was impressed with Simon Baker who was there to hand out the £5 vouchers and then stand with us all cheering on the Gulls. One point needed, It is going to be a good day next Saturday I'm sure. 6 of us have booked a table for a celebration meal at the local pub at Moreleigh next Saturday in anticipation.