TUST AGM 2021
The AGM will be held at Torquay Athletic Rugby Football Club on Thursday 25th November at 6.30pm. Free parking available and complementary refreshments. Come along to meet the TUST board and have your say.
For those members unable to attend in person we will be hosting the meeting on Zoom. Join here from 6.20pm:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85743866866?p ... xmYmd0UT09
Meeting ID: 857 4386 6866
Passcode: 097816
We look forward to seeing as many of you as possible at the meeting.
Thursday 25th November 2021 at 6.30pm.
Venue: Torquay Athletic Rugby Football Club or via Zoom (details to follow nearer the date)
We need you at the AGM to show your support for TUST and have your say on our direction. If you are unable to attend you may appoint a proxy to vote on your behalf using the attached form which is also available to downlaod on the TUST website at www.tust.co.uk .
AGENDA
1. Chairman’s welcome and apologies for absence
2. Minutes of Annual General Meeting held on 25th November 2020
3. Receipt of the accounts and balance sheet for the year ending 30th June 2021
including report of the Independent Examiner.
4. Proposal to disapply the requirement for a full audit for 2021/22 accounts and
the appointment of Independent Examiner for 2021/22.
5. Election of Board members
6. Report of the Board
7. Q&A session
8. Chairman’s closing remarks.
All papers including 2020 minutes, 2020/21 accounts and proxy form available to download at:
www.tust.co.uk/agm-2021-documents
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TUST Updates
-
TUST_Official
- First Regular
- Posts: 330
- Joined: 30 Apr 2018, 14:19
- Contact:
Official Account of Torquay United Supporters Trust
-
TUST_Official
- First Regular
- Posts: 330
- Joined: 30 Apr 2018, 14:19
- Contact:
27th November 2021
FANS' ZONE
TUST board member and Supporter Liaison Officer Nick Brodrick's column in this week's Herald Express - updated for the latest news.
ON - FIELD FORM HAS FANS ASKING ‘ WHAT ARE CLARKE OSBORNE’S OBJECTIVE FOR THIS SEASON ?'
We’ve all come to accept, maybe reluctantly for some, that we live in different times, whether that be due to Covid related circumstances, ‘wokeism’, inappropriate comments from times gone by or something else. These are baffling times too if you follow Torquay United.
Last season it seemed like no expense was spared in the quest for the promised land - the Football League - but this season there is a different feel. The manager’s playing recruitment looks as if he has had one hand tied behind his back through lack of funds. So what are Clarke Osborne’s objectives for this season? Reaching the play-off zone by Christmas looks a forlorn aspiration and surely flirting with relegation cannot be contemplated either. So what is the plan?
In the past week or so there’s been a commendable move towards greater community involvement - notably promoting the NSPCC, the NHS and care homes and Torbay Children’s Services - which TUST applauds - but TUST hasn’t been asked to contribute. Fan entertainment such as the popular fan zones would be an added attraction especially for the younger fans on match days.
Yet, in the past few weeks these columns have been pushing the club to take on creating partnerships with #HerGameToo, backed by many including Helen Chamberlain, and Andy’s Man Club, which Torquay United have now done; looks as if someone from the expanded media team has taken note.
From the outside it’s appearing that funding is being allocated to off the field projects - giving away free tickets, whilst making good headlines, cannot be sustainable over a long period and mask what real attendances are likely to be whilst team performances ‘huff and puff’.
In his post match press call last Thursday Gary Johnson explained the club’s rationale about away travel - under four hours travel on the day, as happened on Saturday resulting in the team turning up at Barnet only forty-five minutes before kick-off, and over four hours having an overnight stay.
When in National South did the team travel on the day to matches no further than the London area? Didn’t they stay in a hotel? Has the travel budget been cut?
Where does the much heralded five year plan that we were told about when Osborne took over fit in? And there has been no talk about a new stadium for some time. And what about a fans’ forum so there can be dialogue between those running the club and supporters?
The fan-led review may well have a significant bearing on how, in the future, clubs have to operate alongside their supporters. The introduction of an independent regulator sounds like football could move in a different direction but ‘independent’ of whom? Cricket has its problems too and it’s being threatened with an independent regulator unless it cleans up its act.
****************
United’s form so far has been pretty much hit and miss especially away from home. Counting league and FA Cup the stats make uncomfortable reading: Played 10, Won 1, Drawn 3, Lost 6, with a goal difference of minus eight.
Saturday’s loss at Barnet could easily have been worse as the Bees swarmed around MacDonald’s goal too often with Tuesday’s defeat at fellow strugglers Aldershot a big disappointment to the amazing travelling Yellow Army.
***************
Which player can hold his head up and say he’s doing his best? Step forward Armani Little whose 15 appearances have seen him as top scorer with eight plus six assists. Gary Johnson hints at transfer activity in the New Year - let’s hope that doesn’t mean clubs looking for a goalscoring midfielder. But why wait until then for recruitment when there’s no transfer window restrictions in the National League?
****************
In the past week Wrexham AFC have announced that further banning orders have been issued to those involved in the coin / bottle throwing incident. The club have also made changes to their seating policy so that season ticket holders in the upper tier of the stand, accommodating away fans in the lower tier, have been moved. The new arrangements mean a reduction in the Racecourse Ground’s capacity.
****************
Praise for Robbie Savage’s ‘Making Macclesfield FC’ currently on BBC iPlayer chronicling how the once EFL club has been resurrected after being wound up in 2020 with half a million pounds of debts.
With a local car dealer buying the ground, Savage as director of football, the newly formed club has begun life in step five of the non-league pyramid, in the ninth tier of English football, currently top of the North West Counties League Premier Division, pulling in over 2,000 a home game.
****************
The Premier League is funding £5 million to the National League over the next four years and the NL board has decided to allocate £1 million to Step 1 and divide another £1 million between Nationals North and South now; one can only hope this is done in a fairer way than on a previous occasion last season ending in a furious row.
National League Crowd Watch: A dismal 595 went to watch Dover lose again and second placed Boreham Wood could only play in front of 601 while in National North seven home clubs drew in more, both Hereford United and York City had over 2,000 and in National South out of ten fixtures nine had higher attendances than at Dover and Boreham Wood while Worthing from the Isthmian League had a crowd of 1,218.
After their FA Cup exit Torquay United Women ran riot on Sunday with a 12-0 home league win over Bideford Women with seven different scorers.
*****************
Where rugby leads will football follow? A trial has begun in the Premiership Rugby Cup in which supporters can hear, via the ground’s PA system, the referee’s thoughts and explanations during reviewed incidents involving the TV match official. Referees use a mic to relay these to the crowd.
If introduced to football it could take the sting out of managers raging at what they perceive as questionable decisions and lead to better fan engagement.
**************
TUST held its AGM on Thursday evening and more details of this to follow over the next few days.
Next up at Plainmoor is the visit of high-flying FC Halifax and the return of Billy Waters. What the
Gulls could do with is some Formula 1 pace to rev up and spark a turnaround as one United fan in Qatar on Sunday showed.
What’s your One Magic Moment of following the Gulls? Eunan O’Kane’s strike versus Plymouth Argyle? Derek Dawkins’ goal against Spurs in the League Cup? Armani Little’s winning volley against Dover? Just some of the suggestions. What’s yours? Send to: [email protected] or to Twitter: @FanszoneT.
Welcome #HerGameToo and Andy’s Mans Club to Plainmoor on Saturday.
COYY
SUPPORT TUST - SUPPORT YOUR COMMUNITY
FANS' ZONE
TUST board member and Supporter Liaison Officer Nick Brodrick's column in this week's Herald Express - updated for the latest news.
ON - FIELD FORM HAS FANS ASKING ‘ WHAT ARE CLARKE OSBORNE’S OBJECTIVE FOR THIS SEASON ?'
We’ve all come to accept, maybe reluctantly for some, that we live in different times, whether that be due to Covid related circumstances, ‘wokeism’, inappropriate comments from times gone by or something else. These are baffling times too if you follow Torquay United.
Last season it seemed like no expense was spared in the quest for the promised land - the Football League - but this season there is a different feel. The manager’s playing recruitment looks as if he has had one hand tied behind his back through lack of funds. So what are Clarke Osborne’s objectives for this season? Reaching the play-off zone by Christmas looks a forlorn aspiration and surely flirting with relegation cannot be contemplated either. So what is the plan?
In the past week or so there’s been a commendable move towards greater community involvement - notably promoting the NSPCC, the NHS and care homes and Torbay Children’s Services - which TUST applauds - but TUST hasn’t been asked to contribute. Fan entertainment such as the popular fan zones would be an added attraction especially for the younger fans on match days.
Yet, in the past few weeks these columns have been pushing the club to take on creating partnerships with #HerGameToo, backed by many including Helen Chamberlain, and Andy’s Man Club, which Torquay United have now done; looks as if someone from the expanded media team has taken note.
From the outside it’s appearing that funding is being allocated to off the field projects - giving away free tickets, whilst making good headlines, cannot be sustainable over a long period and mask what real attendances are likely to be whilst team performances ‘huff and puff’.
In his post match press call last Thursday Gary Johnson explained the club’s rationale about away travel - under four hours travel on the day, as happened on Saturday resulting in the team turning up at Barnet only forty-five minutes before kick-off, and over four hours having an overnight stay.
When in National South did the team travel on the day to matches no further than the London area? Didn’t they stay in a hotel? Has the travel budget been cut?
Where does the much heralded five year plan that we were told about when Osborne took over fit in? And there has been no talk about a new stadium for some time. And what about a fans’ forum so there can be dialogue between those running the club and supporters?
The fan-led review may well have a significant bearing on how, in the future, clubs have to operate alongside their supporters. The introduction of an independent regulator sounds like football could move in a different direction but ‘independent’ of whom? Cricket has its problems too and it’s being threatened with an independent regulator unless it cleans up its act.
****************
United’s form so far has been pretty much hit and miss especially away from home. Counting league and FA Cup the stats make uncomfortable reading: Played 10, Won 1, Drawn 3, Lost 6, with a goal difference of minus eight.
Saturday’s loss at Barnet could easily have been worse as the Bees swarmed around MacDonald’s goal too often with Tuesday’s defeat at fellow strugglers Aldershot a big disappointment to the amazing travelling Yellow Army.
***************
Which player can hold his head up and say he’s doing his best? Step forward Armani Little whose 15 appearances have seen him as top scorer with eight plus six assists. Gary Johnson hints at transfer activity in the New Year - let’s hope that doesn’t mean clubs looking for a goalscoring midfielder. But why wait until then for recruitment when there’s no transfer window restrictions in the National League?
****************
In the past week Wrexham AFC have announced that further banning orders have been issued to those involved in the coin / bottle throwing incident. The club have also made changes to their seating policy so that season ticket holders in the upper tier of the stand, accommodating away fans in the lower tier, have been moved. The new arrangements mean a reduction in the Racecourse Ground’s capacity.
****************
Praise for Robbie Savage’s ‘Making Macclesfield FC’ currently on BBC iPlayer chronicling how the once EFL club has been resurrected after being wound up in 2020 with half a million pounds of debts.
With a local car dealer buying the ground, Savage as director of football, the newly formed club has begun life in step five of the non-league pyramid, in the ninth tier of English football, currently top of the North West Counties League Premier Division, pulling in over 2,000 a home game.
****************
The Premier League is funding £5 million to the National League over the next four years and the NL board has decided to allocate £1 million to Step 1 and divide another £1 million between Nationals North and South now; one can only hope this is done in a fairer way than on a previous occasion last season ending in a furious row.
National League Crowd Watch: A dismal 595 went to watch Dover lose again and second placed Boreham Wood could only play in front of 601 while in National North seven home clubs drew in more, both Hereford United and York City had over 2,000 and in National South out of ten fixtures nine had higher attendances than at Dover and Boreham Wood while Worthing from the Isthmian League had a crowd of 1,218.
After their FA Cup exit Torquay United Women ran riot on Sunday with a 12-0 home league win over Bideford Women with seven different scorers.
*****************
Where rugby leads will football follow? A trial has begun in the Premiership Rugby Cup in which supporters can hear, via the ground’s PA system, the referee’s thoughts and explanations during reviewed incidents involving the TV match official. Referees use a mic to relay these to the crowd.
If introduced to football it could take the sting out of managers raging at what they perceive as questionable decisions and lead to better fan engagement.
**************
TUST held its AGM on Thursday evening and more details of this to follow over the next few days.
Next up at Plainmoor is the visit of high-flying FC Halifax and the return of Billy Waters. What the
Gulls could do with is some Formula 1 pace to rev up and spark a turnaround as one United fan in Qatar on Sunday showed.
What’s your One Magic Moment of following the Gulls? Eunan O’Kane’s strike versus Plymouth Argyle? Derek Dawkins’ goal against Spurs in the League Cup? Armani Little’s winning volley against Dover? Just some of the suggestions. What’s yours? Send to: [email protected] or to Twitter: @FanszoneT.
Welcome #HerGameToo and Andy’s Mans Club to Plainmoor on Saturday.
COYY
SUPPORT TUST - SUPPORT YOUR COMMUNITY
Official Account of Torquay United Supporters Trust
-
TUST_Official
- First Regular
- Posts: 330
- Joined: 30 Apr 2018, 14:19
- Contact:
28th November 2021
AGM REPORT
IT’S BEEN A BUSY YEAR FOR TORQUAY UNITED’S SUPPORTERS’ TRUST
TUST held its successful AGM on Thursday evening where members heard of its busy year fulfilling its objectives, representing supporters’ views whilst promoting the club’s name in the community.
TUST chairman Michel Thomas thanked his fellow board members for their willingness “ to give their time and money voluntarily to support our club and its community”. He reminded members that TUST is the main constitutionally organised group supporting Torquay United.
Those at the AGM, held at Torquay Athletic Rugby Club, with others following on Zoom, heard that the past year has been an exceptionally busy one despite Covid regulations and protocols.
TUST contributed to the Fan-Led Review, held meetings and correspondence with our local MPs, Torbay Council and the Safety Advisory Group as well as developing the South West Supporters’ Trust group, comprising representatives from Exeter City, Plymouth Argyle, Bristol City, Hereford United and Yeovil Town.
Thomas informed the meeting that the trust’s relationship with the club’s directors was at an all-time low with meetings on hold until the New Year at the earliest.
TUST treasurer Ali Bryant said there were currently 375 members, an increase from the previous year and that the trust held £55,000, the majority of which forms an emergency fund.
Secretary Rick Williams explained that this reserve was held in case there is ever a need for TUST to respond to unexpected changes of circumstance and step in to try and ‘save’ the club and ensure its survival in one form or another.
The meeting also supported the continuing policy of committing up to 50% of its net surplus to community initiatives. This means almost £4K is available in the coming year to support things such as Torquay United Community Sports Trust, the Women’s Team and schemes that benefit the wider, local community.
Two new members, Bob Cole and Sam Druiff, were elected to join the board.
TUST was instrumental in supporting members of the Yellow Army in the coin/bottle throwing incidents at Wrexham, represented fans’ views on the club’s original ticketing arrangements for this season and noticing a softening of these and pushing the club to engage with #HerGameToo and Andy’s Mans Club.
TUST’s supporter liaison officer, Nick Brodrick, gave a snapshot of the supporters’ trust’s achievements over the past year but posed a number of questions: What are owner Clarke Osborne’s plans for the club? At what stage is the Five Year Plan? What news is there about a new stadium? Is the club still actively seeking a return to the Football League?
TUST fully supported and endorsed the club’s recent Community Day initiatives with its free tickets for NHS and care home workers to thank them for their hard work during the worst of the pandemic and for another batch of free tickets for ‘Women’s Day’ but regretted not being able to be involved with such things as a fan zone entertainment area.
The AGM heard that at the forefront of TUST’s activities is its mission statement: promoting good governance, seeking to ensure the long-term sustainability of Torquay United for the benefit of current and future supporters and the wider community.
Among the topics discussed was the just released report of Tracey Crouch’s Fan-Led Review, particularly noting the proposed rules for new stadium builds, the revised owners’ and directors’ tests, the introduction of a Shadow Board, a Golden Share and the idea of being able to drink alcohol ‘in sight of the match’ which received a cautious welcome.
The meeting was told that TUST was writing letters to all three local MPs to urge them to see that the required legislation to implement the review is passed in Parliament.
Suggestions from the floor included TUST producing a template letter (see below) for supporters to send to their MP urging support for the Crouch recommendations and a membership drive.
TEMPLATE LETTER TO MP
YOU CAN GOOGLE THE NAME OF YOUR MP AND FIND THEIR E-MAIL OR POSTAL ADDRESS
YOU CAN ONLY CONTACT THAT MP AS LONG AS YOU HAVE AN ADDRESS IN THE CONSTITUENCY
Dear………
FAN-LED REVIEW RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FOOTBALL
As a long standing football supporter of Torquay United I am writing to you to ask for you to support the recently published Fan-Led Review recommendations as set out by Tracey Crouch MP and her team for the long-term sustainability of football in this country.
The report recognises there is a wide consensus on the need for change, from football fans in general and other stakeholders but it will need cross-party political support from MPs, like yourself, to ensure legislation is put into place.
I, therefore, respectfully urge you to put your full support behind this report to see that the necessary legislation is passed as quickly as possible.
Yours sincerely,
AGM REPORT
IT’S BEEN A BUSY YEAR FOR TORQUAY UNITED’S SUPPORTERS’ TRUST
TUST held its successful AGM on Thursday evening where members heard of its busy year fulfilling its objectives, representing supporters’ views whilst promoting the club’s name in the community.
TUST chairman Michel Thomas thanked his fellow board members for their willingness “ to give their time and money voluntarily to support our club and its community”. He reminded members that TUST is the main constitutionally organised group supporting Torquay United.
Those at the AGM, held at Torquay Athletic Rugby Club, with others following on Zoom, heard that the past year has been an exceptionally busy one despite Covid regulations and protocols.
TUST contributed to the Fan-Led Review, held meetings and correspondence with our local MPs, Torbay Council and the Safety Advisory Group as well as developing the South West Supporters’ Trust group, comprising representatives from Exeter City, Plymouth Argyle, Bristol City, Hereford United and Yeovil Town.
Thomas informed the meeting that the trust’s relationship with the club’s directors was at an all-time low with meetings on hold until the New Year at the earliest.
TUST treasurer Ali Bryant said there were currently 375 members, an increase from the previous year and that the trust held £55,000, the majority of which forms an emergency fund.
Secretary Rick Williams explained that this reserve was held in case there is ever a need for TUST to respond to unexpected changes of circumstance and step in to try and ‘save’ the club and ensure its survival in one form or another.
The meeting also supported the continuing policy of committing up to 50% of its net surplus to community initiatives. This means almost £4K is available in the coming year to support things such as Torquay United Community Sports Trust, the Women’s Team and schemes that benefit the wider, local community.
Two new members, Bob Cole and Sam Druiff, were elected to join the board.
TUST was instrumental in supporting members of the Yellow Army in the coin/bottle throwing incidents at Wrexham, represented fans’ views on the club’s original ticketing arrangements for this season and noticing a softening of these and pushing the club to engage with #HerGameToo and Andy’s Mans Club.
TUST’s supporter liaison officer, Nick Brodrick, gave a snapshot of the supporters’ trust’s achievements over the past year but posed a number of questions: What are owner Clarke Osborne’s plans for the club? At what stage is the Five Year Plan? What news is there about a new stadium? Is the club still actively seeking a return to the Football League?
TUST fully supported and endorsed the club’s recent Community Day initiatives with its free tickets for NHS and care home workers to thank them for their hard work during the worst of the pandemic and for another batch of free tickets for ‘Women’s Day’ but regretted not being able to be involved with such things as a fan zone entertainment area.
The AGM heard that at the forefront of TUST’s activities is its mission statement: promoting good governance, seeking to ensure the long-term sustainability of Torquay United for the benefit of current and future supporters and the wider community.
Among the topics discussed was the just released report of Tracey Crouch’s Fan-Led Review, particularly noting the proposed rules for new stadium builds, the revised owners’ and directors’ tests, the introduction of a Shadow Board, a Golden Share and the idea of being able to drink alcohol ‘in sight of the match’ which received a cautious welcome.
The meeting was told that TUST was writing letters to all three local MPs to urge them to see that the required legislation to implement the review is passed in Parliament.
Suggestions from the floor included TUST producing a template letter (see below) for supporters to send to their MP urging support for the Crouch recommendations and a membership drive.
TEMPLATE LETTER TO MP
YOU CAN GOOGLE THE NAME OF YOUR MP AND FIND THEIR E-MAIL OR POSTAL ADDRESS
YOU CAN ONLY CONTACT THAT MP AS LONG AS YOU HAVE AN ADDRESS IN THE CONSTITUENCY
Dear………
FAN-LED REVIEW RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FOOTBALL
As a long standing football supporter of Torquay United I am writing to you to ask for you to support the recently published Fan-Led Review recommendations as set out by Tracey Crouch MP and her team for the long-term sustainability of football in this country.
The report recognises there is a wide consensus on the need for change, from football fans in general and other stakeholders but it will need cross-party political support from MPs, like yourself, to ensure legislation is put into place.
I, therefore, respectfully urge you to put your full support behind this report to see that the necessary legislation is passed as quickly as possible.
Yours sincerely,
Official Account of Torquay United Supporters Trust
-
TUST_Official
- First Regular
- Posts: 330
- Joined: 30 Apr 2018, 14:19
- Contact:
3rd December 2021
FANS' ZONE
TUST board member and Supporter Liaison Officer Nick Brodrick's column in this week's Herald Express - updated for the latest news.
FAN-LED REVIEW - A HUGE STEP FORWARD?
“THAT’S ANOTHER FINE MESS YOU’VE GOTTEN US INTO GARY”
The much awaited and anticipated Fan-Led Review report was published last week a full 162 pages with 47 recommendations. Tracey Crouch MP’s review of football governance is based on evidence from hundreds of supporters’ groups, including submissions from TUST.
It is a thorough, comprehensive report outlining the vital changes that football has been crying out for, for the benefit and sustainability of football. Football Supporters’ Association Chief Executive Kevin Miles called it a “potentially huge step forward.”
TUST endorses the recommendation for every club to have a licence with the creation of an independent regulator (IREF) to oversee compliance. Part of the licence would see the introduction of a Shadow Board and a Golden Share.
The Shadow Board would, through the club licence, have to be consulted on all ‘non football, off pitch’ business while the Golden Share holder - a supporter - would have a say in any proposed sale of the club stadium, club badge, first team home colours and club playing name.
This should not be seen as a supporters’ trust trying to take over the running of their club, quite the opposite for as the review says, “Fans and clubs are not enemies, a genuine two way consultation between fans and clubs can be mutually beneficial.”
A lack of supporter engagement is an enormous missed opportunity by clubs and we at TUST know we have so much good will and voluntary assistance to offer.
We also support the report’s recommendations for tightening up the owners’ and directors’ tests, particularly the need to submit a business plan for all to read.
This season, as we have seen, a number of clubs in the National League have ‘splashed the cash’ to try to buy their way back into the EFL; the report has noted this and sees this as destabilising the long-term sustainability of the wider league; a salary cap is coming.
There is a recommendation of a small scale, limited pilot for the sale of alcohol ‘in sight of the pitch’ but TUST members gave this a cautious welcome.
Former Manchester United captain Gary Neville backs Crouch’s review saying, “The job in the next 12 months is to make sure this is seen through.”
None of these recommendations will be enacted until the necessary legislation goes through Parliament and to this end TUST encourages members to write to their MP, using a template letter available at tust.co.uk.
The Government has already promised to work ‘at pace’ to implement key recommendations, including the national game’s first independent regulator. Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries warned English football’s governing bodies that they were at “a turning point” and that radical change was coming.
Owners, managers, players come and go but supporters are there for a lifetime - fans and football first is what all supporters should be saying.
TUST held a successful AGM last week and news of this in next week’s column.
*************
Storm Arwen might have kept away from Plainmoor on Saturday and whilst it didn’t rain there was plenty of Water about - Billy Waters, whose strike to make it 3-0 seemingly settled the match in a mad five minutes straight after half -time and only an equally mad five minutes at the end put some respectability on the scoreline.
But let’s not deceive ourselves as visitors Halifax banked three points with a display of fast attacking football the likes of which we were treated to last season but now can only dream about.
To paraphrase Laurel & Hardy, “That’s another fine mess you’ve gotten us into Gary” as the manager admits he’s made mistakes and that the team is in need of a fix which only he can do.
It was Prussian statesman Otto von Bismarck who coined the phrase, “papering over the cracks” in 1865 and it’s still apt today; we need the manager to speed up the repair job before it’s too late.
It certainly makes Saturday’s trip to fellow strugglers Weymouth a dreaded ‘six- pointer’ with both sides having lost their last three games.
***************
It was good to see the club take ownership of #HerGameToo on Saturday opening up the away end but not with maybe as many takers of free tickets as expected. Nevertheless to be the first club to do this is a credit to the directors. Would more have come had the team been nearer the top of the table?
***************
National League Crowd Watch: Another impressive 8,156 at Wrexham to see them edge out promotion rivals Bromley 2-0, this attendance was better than every League 2 fixture except at Swindon who had 8,199. Notts County had 4,889 for their televised game while Torquay’s match was watched by Plainmoor’s lowest crowd of the season, 2,269.
***************
United’s opponents in the Third Round of the FA Trophy will be National South Tonbridge Angels who won 1-0 at Canvey Island in Round 2. Tonbridge have only won three league games this season and sit in 18th place but do have in forward Ricky Modeste someone who knows non-league football having played for Dover, Billericay and Dartford before joining Tonbridge; he’s also a Grenada international.
****************
After drawing attention to the missing features in the 1899 matchday magazine, last Saturday’s edition restored articles on the Community Sports Trust and the Women’s team, complete with a match report. All we need now is to see a section for the Travel Club, after all Gary Johnson regularly praises, and apologises to, the Yellow Army travelling support. Shame that Byron Moore made the cover but not the matchday squad.
Torquay United’s Women were back to league action on Sunday with a 1-1 home draw to Bishop’s Lydeard.
There’s still time to send in your One Magic Moment, your best memory of a Gulls’ match/goal to: [email protected] or to Twitter: @FanszoneT.
For those travelling to Weymouth safe journey.
COYY
SUPPORT TUST - SUPPORT YOUR COMMUNITY
FANS' ZONE
TUST board member and Supporter Liaison Officer Nick Brodrick's column in this week's Herald Express - updated for the latest news.
FAN-LED REVIEW - A HUGE STEP FORWARD?
“THAT’S ANOTHER FINE MESS YOU’VE GOTTEN US INTO GARY”
The much awaited and anticipated Fan-Led Review report was published last week a full 162 pages with 47 recommendations. Tracey Crouch MP’s review of football governance is based on evidence from hundreds of supporters’ groups, including submissions from TUST.
It is a thorough, comprehensive report outlining the vital changes that football has been crying out for, for the benefit and sustainability of football. Football Supporters’ Association Chief Executive Kevin Miles called it a “potentially huge step forward.”
TUST endorses the recommendation for every club to have a licence with the creation of an independent regulator (IREF) to oversee compliance. Part of the licence would see the introduction of a Shadow Board and a Golden Share.
The Shadow Board would, through the club licence, have to be consulted on all ‘non football, off pitch’ business while the Golden Share holder - a supporter - would have a say in any proposed sale of the club stadium, club badge, first team home colours and club playing name.
This should not be seen as a supporters’ trust trying to take over the running of their club, quite the opposite for as the review says, “Fans and clubs are not enemies, a genuine two way consultation between fans and clubs can be mutually beneficial.”
A lack of supporter engagement is an enormous missed opportunity by clubs and we at TUST know we have so much good will and voluntary assistance to offer.
We also support the report’s recommendations for tightening up the owners’ and directors’ tests, particularly the need to submit a business plan for all to read.
This season, as we have seen, a number of clubs in the National League have ‘splashed the cash’ to try to buy their way back into the EFL; the report has noted this and sees this as destabilising the long-term sustainability of the wider league; a salary cap is coming.
There is a recommendation of a small scale, limited pilot for the sale of alcohol ‘in sight of the pitch’ but TUST members gave this a cautious welcome.
Former Manchester United captain Gary Neville backs Crouch’s review saying, “The job in the next 12 months is to make sure this is seen through.”
None of these recommendations will be enacted until the necessary legislation goes through Parliament and to this end TUST encourages members to write to their MP, using a template letter available at tust.co.uk.
The Government has already promised to work ‘at pace’ to implement key recommendations, including the national game’s first independent regulator. Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries warned English football’s governing bodies that they were at “a turning point” and that radical change was coming.
Owners, managers, players come and go but supporters are there for a lifetime - fans and football first is what all supporters should be saying.
TUST held a successful AGM last week and news of this in next week’s column.
*************
Storm Arwen might have kept away from Plainmoor on Saturday and whilst it didn’t rain there was plenty of Water about - Billy Waters, whose strike to make it 3-0 seemingly settled the match in a mad five minutes straight after half -time and only an equally mad five minutes at the end put some respectability on the scoreline.
But let’s not deceive ourselves as visitors Halifax banked three points with a display of fast attacking football the likes of which we were treated to last season but now can only dream about.
To paraphrase Laurel & Hardy, “That’s another fine mess you’ve gotten us into Gary” as the manager admits he’s made mistakes and that the team is in need of a fix which only he can do.
It was Prussian statesman Otto von Bismarck who coined the phrase, “papering over the cracks” in 1865 and it’s still apt today; we need the manager to speed up the repair job before it’s too late.
It certainly makes Saturday’s trip to fellow strugglers Weymouth a dreaded ‘six- pointer’ with both sides having lost their last three games.
***************
It was good to see the club take ownership of #HerGameToo on Saturday opening up the away end but not with maybe as many takers of free tickets as expected. Nevertheless to be the first club to do this is a credit to the directors. Would more have come had the team been nearer the top of the table?
***************
National League Crowd Watch: Another impressive 8,156 at Wrexham to see them edge out promotion rivals Bromley 2-0, this attendance was better than every League 2 fixture except at Swindon who had 8,199. Notts County had 4,889 for their televised game while Torquay’s match was watched by Plainmoor’s lowest crowd of the season, 2,269.
***************
United’s opponents in the Third Round of the FA Trophy will be National South Tonbridge Angels who won 1-0 at Canvey Island in Round 2. Tonbridge have only won three league games this season and sit in 18th place but do have in forward Ricky Modeste someone who knows non-league football having played for Dover, Billericay and Dartford before joining Tonbridge; he’s also a Grenada international.
****************
After drawing attention to the missing features in the 1899 matchday magazine, last Saturday’s edition restored articles on the Community Sports Trust and the Women’s team, complete with a match report. All we need now is to see a section for the Travel Club, after all Gary Johnson regularly praises, and apologises to, the Yellow Army travelling support. Shame that Byron Moore made the cover but not the matchday squad.
Torquay United’s Women were back to league action on Sunday with a 1-1 home draw to Bishop’s Lydeard.
There’s still time to send in your One Magic Moment, your best memory of a Gulls’ match/goal to: [email protected] or to Twitter: @FanszoneT.
For those travelling to Weymouth safe journey.
COYY
SUPPORT TUST - SUPPORT YOUR COMMUNITY
Official Account of Torquay United Supporters Trust
-
TUST_Official
- First Regular
- Posts: 330
- Joined: 30 Apr 2018, 14:19
- Contact:
10th December 2021
FANS' ZONE
TUST board member and Supporter Liaison Officer Nick Brodrick's column in this week's Herald Express - updated for the latest news.
PREMIER LEAGUE LOOKING TO REJECT FAN-LED REVIEW
FLURRY OF COMINGS AND GOINGS AT PLAINMOOR
The almost inevitable backlash against the Fan-Led Review, from many who should know better, didn’t take long to surface kicked off by Aston Villa CEO Christian Purslow when he stated, “Everything good in English football sits in the Premier League.” And proclaiming it is the ‘golden goose’. In last week’s Non-League Paper column I wrote that the review’s recommendations received a big thumbs-up from supporters’ groups throughout the country but not from club CEOs.
Premier League clubs met last Friday to plan to reject the introduction of an independent regulator and a proposed 10% levy on transfer deals. This is against a background of MP Tracey Crouch’s report also wanting a greater distribution of Premier League broadcast money down through the pyramid as far as grass-roots football. Don’t forget they have just signed a new US TV deal worth £2billion.
As a reminder, the Fan-Led Review has to go through Parliament and the earliest this can be debated is Spring 2022, Crouch, as part of this process was due to give evidence on Tuesday to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport select committee but the signs are that her recommendations will receive cross-party support.
Whilst the Premier League is arguably the best league in the world let’s not forget that it wouldn’t be that but for grass-roots and non-league football.
Can football supporters influence the report? Yes, by writing to your MP, using a template letter available at tust.co.uk, to urge them to support the recommendations when they come before Parliament.
*************
All credit to the estimated 600 Yellow Army, travelling into Dorset, whose non-stop singing from start to finish was rewarded with a 2-1 win which but for the woodwork might well have been greater.
The win was also a great relief to manager Gary Johnson who pre-match had described it as a six-pointer; hopefully the performance as well as the result put a smile not only on his face but also on all Gulls’ fans too.
Johnson might well be a long standing manager who has already got the t-shirt but there have been times when he needs someone to boost his confidence - Mrs Johnson, of course - but more importantly the club’s owner and directors who remain fully behind him. Manager of the Week was his reward.
Well done, again, to Armani Little for making the Non-League Paper’s Team of the Day with Joe Lewis in the Vanarama Team of the Week.
**************
National League Crowd Watch: In National South Dulwich Hamlet were watched by 3,334 and Dartford had 1,156 while in National North Chester pulled in 1,389.
Only 838 watched bottom club Dover in the National League, still without a win all season, and almost 200 of those were from visitors Wrexham.
*************
In the last few weeks Gary Johnson has said he’s looking to strengthen the squad in January yet there’s no transfer window between the EFL and National League, as has been demonstrated over the past week with Notts County loaning a winger from Wycombe Wanderers, Weymouth signing a defender from Cambridge United, Woking taking ex-United loanee Louis Britton from Bristol City and Southend United about to sell defender Charlie Sayers to Spurs.
In the last 24 hours Johnson has decided to act; out go Jake Andrews (to Havant & Waterlooville) and Gabby Rodgers to Truro City, both loans.
Incoming: Jack Sparkes from Exeter City and Joe Felix from Billericay Town.
Wonder how United’s third keeper Marcin Brzozowski, signed in the summer from QPR, is feeling? He seems to be the forgotten player in the squad and must be wondering when he’s ever going to play a competitive game again. Surely he needs to be loaned out.
**************
Torquay United Women grabbed a hard fought 2-2 draw on Sunday at AFC St. Austell while the Development team remain unbeaten following a 1-0 home win over Teignmouth.
***************
It’s been another busy year for TUST as members found out at its recent AGM. Chairman Michel Thomas explained that despite Covid protocols the trust had held meetings and correspondence with the area’s three local MPs, Torbay Council and the Safety Advisor Group. Unfortunately, the trust’s relationship with the club is currently, at best, strained.
There are 375 members, up from last year, with two, Bob Cole and Sam Druiff, being elected to the board. The meeting praised the club for its Community Day initiatives but was disappointed that TUST had not been asked to be involved. Members heard that the trust holds £55,000, the majority of which forms an emergency fund if ever there’s a need to respond to any change in circumstances.
***************
Ex-United favourite Lee Mansell took over as manager at National North Gloucester City in October and following back-to-back wins with a 2-0 victory on Saturday his side, which included former United player Daniel Leadbitter and Max Sheaf, a loanee last season at Plainmoor from Hull City, moved out of the relegation zone.
The club made a good start last home game embracing #HerGameToo, a campaign started this year by two Bristol Rovers fans Lucy Ford and Caz May to combat sexism and foster an inclusive environment in football. We now need to see this progress to ensure all supporters enjoy their Plainmoor experience.
****************
One Magic Moment has brought in some gems! How about these? Police dog Bryn’s intervention in United’s 2-2 draw with Crewe in 1987 or Kevin Nicholson’s 94th minute winner over Barnet in 2011, 10 years ago on Thursday, which put the Gulls just outside the League 2 play-off places, a table which had Southend top and Plymouth Argyle bottom.
Another suggestion was Rene Howe’s 89th minute winner in a 4-3 win over Aldershot, after being 3-0 down at half-time in 2012, but best of all is reader Andrew Melnyk recalling Gareth Howells’ penalty in the shoot-out win over Blackpool in the Division 4 play-off at Wembley in 1991.
Do you have a Christmas wish for Gary Johnson’s side? Send yours to: [email protected] or to Twitter:@FanszoneT.
Stockport are Saturday’s visitors and this promises to be a real test so let’s make some noise and get Plainmoor rocking plus a chance to see the new signings and a return for Danny Wright.
COYY
SUPPORT TUST - SUPPORT YOUR COMMUNITY
FANS' ZONE
TUST board member and Supporter Liaison Officer Nick Brodrick's column in this week's Herald Express - updated for the latest news.
PREMIER LEAGUE LOOKING TO REJECT FAN-LED REVIEW
FLURRY OF COMINGS AND GOINGS AT PLAINMOOR
The almost inevitable backlash against the Fan-Led Review, from many who should know better, didn’t take long to surface kicked off by Aston Villa CEO Christian Purslow when he stated, “Everything good in English football sits in the Premier League.” And proclaiming it is the ‘golden goose’. In last week’s Non-League Paper column I wrote that the review’s recommendations received a big thumbs-up from supporters’ groups throughout the country but not from club CEOs.
Premier League clubs met last Friday to plan to reject the introduction of an independent regulator and a proposed 10% levy on transfer deals. This is against a background of MP Tracey Crouch’s report also wanting a greater distribution of Premier League broadcast money down through the pyramid as far as grass-roots football. Don’t forget they have just signed a new US TV deal worth £2billion.
As a reminder, the Fan-Led Review has to go through Parliament and the earliest this can be debated is Spring 2022, Crouch, as part of this process was due to give evidence on Tuesday to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport select committee but the signs are that her recommendations will receive cross-party support.
Whilst the Premier League is arguably the best league in the world let’s not forget that it wouldn’t be that but for grass-roots and non-league football.
Can football supporters influence the report? Yes, by writing to your MP, using a template letter available at tust.co.uk, to urge them to support the recommendations when they come before Parliament.
*************
All credit to the estimated 600 Yellow Army, travelling into Dorset, whose non-stop singing from start to finish was rewarded with a 2-1 win which but for the woodwork might well have been greater.
The win was also a great relief to manager Gary Johnson who pre-match had described it as a six-pointer; hopefully the performance as well as the result put a smile not only on his face but also on all Gulls’ fans too.
Johnson might well be a long standing manager who has already got the t-shirt but there have been times when he needs someone to boost his confidence - Mrs Johnson, of course - but more importantly the club’s owner and directors who remain fully behind him. Manager of the Week was his reward.
Well done, again, to Armani Little for making the Non-League Paper’s Team of the Day with Joe Lewis in the Vanarama Team of the Week.
**************
National League Crowd Watch: In National South Dulwich Hamlet were watched by 3,334 and Dartford had 1,156 while in National North Chester pulled in 1,389.
Only 838 watched bottom club Dover in the National League, still without a win all season, and almost 200 of those were from visitors Wrexham.
*************
In the last few weeks Gary Johnson has said he’s looking to strengthen the squad in January yet there’s no transfer window between the EFL and National League, as has been demonstrated over the past week with Notts County loaning a winger from Wycombe Wanderers, Weymouth signing a defender from Cambridge United, Woking taking ex-United loanee Louis Britton from Bristol City and Southend United about to sell defender Charlie Sayers to Spurs.
In the last 24 hours Johnson has decided to act; out go Jake Andrews (to Havant & Waterlooville) and Gabby Rodgers to Truro City, both loans.
Incoming: Jack Sparkes from Exeter City and Joe Felix from Billericay Town.
Wonder how United’s third keeper Marcin Brzozowski, signed in the summer from QPR, is feeling? He seems to be the forgotten player in the squad and must be wondering when he’s ever going to play a competitive game again. Surely he needs to be loaned out.
**************
Torquay United Women grabbed a hard fought 2-2 draw on Sunday at AFC St. Austell while the Development team remain unbeaten following a 1-0 home win over Teignmouth.
***************
It’s been another busy year for TUST as members found out at its recent AGM. Chairman Michel Thomas explained that despite Covid protocols the trust had held meetings and correspondence with the area’s three local MPs, Torbay Council and the Safety Advisor Group. Unfortunately, the trust’s relationship with the club is currently, at best, strained.
There are 375 members, up from last year, with two, Bob Cole and Sam Druiff, being elected to the board. The meeting praised the club for its Community Day initiatives but was disappointed that TUST had not been asked to be involved. Members heard that the trust holds £55,000, the majority of which forms an emergency fund if ever there’s a need to respond to any change in circumstances.
***************
Ex-United favourite Lee Mansell took over as manager at National North Gloucester City in October and following back-to-back wins with a 2-0 victory on Saturday his side, which included former United player Daniel Leadbitter and Max Sheaf, a loanee last season at Plainmoor from Hull City, moved out of the relegation zone.
The club made a good start last home game embracing #HerGameToo, a campaign started this year by two Bristol Rovers fans Lucy Ford and Caz May to combat sexism and foster an inclusive environment in football. We now need to see this progress to ensure all supporters enjoy their Plainmoor experience.
****************
One Magic Moment has brought in some gems! How about these? Police dog Bryn’s intervention in United’s 2-2 draw with Crewe in 1987 or Kevin Nicholson’s 94th minute winner over Barnet in 2011, 10 years ago on Thursday, which put the Gulls just outside the League 2 play-off places, a table which had Southend top and Plymouth Argyle bottom.
Another suggestion was Rene Howe’s 89th minute winner in a 4-3 win over Aldershot, after being 3-0 down at half-time in 2012, but best of all is reader Andrew Melnyk recalling Gareth Howells’ penalty in the shoot-out win over Blackpool in the Division 4 play-off at Wembley in 1991.
Do you have a Christmas wish for Gary Johnson’s side? Send yours to: [email protected] or to Twitter:@FanszoneT.
Stockport are Saturday’s visitors and this promises to be a real test so let’s make some noise and get Plainmoor rocking plus a chance to see the new signings and a return for Danny Wright.
COYY
SUPPORT TUST - SUPPORT YOUR COMMUNITY
Official Account of Torquay United Supporters Trust
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TUST_Official
- First Regular
- Posts: 330
- Joined: 30 Apr 2018, 14:19
- Contact:
14th December 2021
BOXING DAY TICKET ARRANGEMENTS
TUST CALLS FOR A RE-THINK
The club have announced that all tickets for the game against Yeovil Town on Boxing Day have to be purchased in advance and will be sent via e-mail to be printed or downloaded to a phone.
Whilst it is disappointing that tickets cannot be bought on the day for what is a fixture that traditionally attracts a lot of casual supporters, of even more concern is the fact that tickets won't be available for those who are not IT savvy and specifically 'there will be no option to collect tickets from the stadium on the matchday.' This policy may discriminate against those fans, many of which are among the club's longest standing and most loyal followers.
TUST has today written to the Club as follows:
On behalf of the many loyal Torquay United supporters who will be unable to print or receive their tickets digitally, TUST asks the club to reconsider its new ticketing policy for the Boxing Day fixture with Yeovil Town as a matter of urgency. No ticket sales on the day is one thing but no actual tickets other than via digital technology is unacceptable and discriminates against many who may wish to attend but will now decide not to do so. Can the Club really afford to turn such customers away?'
We will, of course, advise you of any response we receive.
SUPPORT TUST - SUPPORT YOUR COMMUNITY
BOXING DAY TICKET ARRANGEMENTS
TUST CALLS FOR A RE-THINK
The club have announced that all tickets for the game against Yeovil Town on Boxing Day have to be purchased in advance and will be sent via e-mail to be printed or downloaded to a phone.
Whilst it is disappointing that tickets cannot be bought on the day for what is a fixture that traditionally attracts a lot of casual supporters, of even more concern is the fact that tickets won't be available for those who are not IT savvy and specifically 'there will be no option to collect tickets from the stadium on the matchday.' This policy may discriminate against those fans, many of which are among the club's longest standing and most loyal followers.
TUST has today written to the Club as follows:
On behalf of the many loyal Torquay United supporters who will be unable to print or receive their tickets digitally, TUST asks the club to reconsider its new ticketing policy for the Boxing Day fixture with Yeovil Town as a matter of urgency. No ticket sales on the day is one thing but no actual tickets other than via digital technology is unacceptable and discriminates against many who may wish to attend but will now decide not to do so. Can the Club really afford to turn such customers away?'
We will, of course, advise you of any response we receive.
SUPPORT TUST - SUPPORT YOUR COMMUNITY
Official Account of Torquay United Supporters Trust
-
TUST_Official
- First Regular
- Posts: 330
- Joined: 30 Apr 2018, 14:19
- Contact:
23rd December 2021
FANS' ZONE
TUST board member and Supporter Liaison Officer Nick Brodrick's column in this week's Herald Express - updated for the latest news.
NO CHRISTMAS CHEER IN TONBRIDGE AND WHICH SIDE COULD GET A BOXING DAY STUFFING?
Hark! the Tonbridge angels sing, as their fans celebrated a well deserved win into Round 4 of the FA Trophy as Torquay United suffered another cup calamity crashing out again to lower league opposition.
Following Gary Johnson’s tongue-in-cheek quip about where the opposition play, the Angels’ manager Steve McKimm took ‘umbridge in Tonbridge’ but had the last laugh as United returned home feeling like mud to be lonely this Christmas. At least a late winner settled the tie rather than go through the agony of a penalty shoot-out.
It was a disappointing afternoon for United’s two reserve keepers called into action as third choice Marcin Brzozowski played in Gloucester City’s 5-0 Trophy defeat at Wrexham but can take some cheer as City supporters sang out ‘Poland’s Number One’ as he made a string of great saves. Last Christmas, wham United hit Yeovil for six to avenge the previous year’s Boxing Day disaster as the Yellow Army, on the away terrace, saw a deluge of Yeovil goals - another six. So, what’s in store this Boxing Day? Which side will be walking in the air?
The Gulls will be wearing their black and white away kit in support of Shelter’s #NoHomeKit along with many other non-league and EFL teams to raise awareness of the growing number of rough sleepers.
Now that the cup games are gone, Torquay can concentrate on the league with the big question, can they gatecrash the play-offs?
************
The National League has followed the EFL lead about the latest Covid protocols: ‘Clubs will be expected to play where it has 14 players, including a goalkeeper, available from the club’s registered squad list.’
Notts County have re-opened the live streaming debate as, through inPlayer, they offered this service on Saturday for their evening Trophy match which they won 2-1 against Altrincham. We know how popular these were for the Yellow Army unable to get to Plainmoor, so how about some creative thinking to re-instate this facility, especially with Covid cases increasing? Maybe somebody in the expanded media team could look into this.
*************
Interesting news coming from AFC Wimbledon and The Dons Trust who last week appointed a new Supporter Liaison Officer (SLO) team of three based on advice from SD Europe, following similar SLO initiatives at Lincoln City and Doncaster Rovers.
The role of the SLO team, all unpaid volunteers, includes: SLOs are a bridge between the fans and the club, helping to improve the dialogue between the two; the SLO informs fans about relevant decisions made by the club management and, in the other direction, communicates the points of view of fans to the club; the SLO builds relationships with various fan groups, the police and security officers.
Wimbledon have a Matchday Pod at the entrance to the ground with a type of MatchDay Ambassador answering queries and helping with the distribution of tickets.
***************
All credit to Exeter City who are donating the profits from their FA Cup replayed replay with Bradford City to the Bradford and Exeter food banks - £7,393 each.
Ex-Gull Watch: Popular striker Rene Howe notched his 18th goal of the season for Bedford Town in a 8-1 demolition of Wantage Town to go top of Southern League Division One Central.
*************
Torquay United Christmas Quiz Part Two - July to December. A £15 club shop gift voucher for one lucky winner.
11. In July fans voted Lucas Covolan’s play-off header as Goal of the Season. But who came second?
12. Who scored United’s first goal of pre-season at Poole Town?
13. Former player John Turner became Gulls’ Nest bar manager. What position did he play?
14. Who scored for Tiverton in United’s 3-1 pre-season victory?
15. Which player made a surprise return to Plainmoor in September?
16. What did Gary Johnson gift to some of the Yellow Army after the 4-3 win at Maidenhead?
17. Sinclair Armstrong joined the squad from which Championship club?
18. Frank O’Farrell celebrated his birthday in October. Was he 93, 94 or 95?
19. United’s Under-18s lost their 1st Round FA Youth Cup 4-3 to which side?
20. Who joined United in December from Billericay Town?
Christmas Quiz Part One - January to June Questions 1-10 was in last week’s column, a £10 club shop gift voucher for one lucky winner. You can enter Part One for the £10 voucher or Parts One & Two for £15 voucher or Part Two only for a chance of a £15 voucher. All questions come from the club’s official website.
Closing date for entries: 12 noon Wednesday December 29 2021. Question writer’s decision is final. Good luck!
Send your answers, with your name and contact details, to: [email protected] or Twitter: @FanszoneT
So, United go again on Sunday with the Boxing Day clash against Yeovil Town followed by a trip on Tuesday to Eastleigh.
To those who wish it were Christmas every day have a wizzard time, stay safe - and get that booster jab.
A very Happy Christmas to all.
COYY
SUPPORT TUST - SUPPORT YOUR COMMUNITY
FANS' ZONE
TUST board member and Supporter Liaison Officer Nick Brodrick's column in this week's Herald Express - updated for the latest news.
NO CHRISTMAS CHEER IN TONBRIDGE AND WHICH SIDE COULD GET A BOXING DAY STUFFING?
Hark! the Tonbridge angels sing, as their fans celebrated a well deserved win into Round 4 of the FA Trophy as Torquay United suffered another cup calamity crashing out again to lower league opposition.
Following Gary Johnson’s tongue-in-cheek quip about where the opposition play, the Angels’ manager Steve McKimm took ‘umbridge in Tonbridge’ but had the last laugh as United returned home feeling like mud to be lonely this Christmas. At least a late winner settled the tie rather than go through the agony of a penalty shoot-out.
It was a disappointing afternoon for United’s two reserve keepers called into action as third choice Marcin Brzozowski played in Gloucester City’s 5-0 Trophy defeat at Wrexham but can take some cheer as City supporters sang out ‘Poland’s Number One’ as he made a string of great saves. Last Christmas, wham United hit Yeovil for six to avenge the previous year’s Boxing Day disaster as the Yellow Army, on the away terrace, saw a deluge of Yeovil goals - another six. So, what’s in store this Boxing Day? Which side will be walking in the air?
The Gulls will be wearing their black and white away kit in support of Shelter’s #NoHomeKit along with many other non-league and EFL teams to raise awareness of the growing number of rough sleepers.
Now that the cup games are gone, Torquay can concentrate on the league with the big question, can they gatecrash the play-offs?
************
The National League has followed the EFL lead about the latest Covid protocols: ‘Clubs will be expected to play where it has 14 players, including a goalkeeper, available from the club’s registered squad list.’
Notts County have re-opened the live streaming debate as, through inPlayer, they offered this service on Saturday for their evening Trophy match which they won 2-1 against Altrincham. We know how popular these were for the Yellow Army unable to get to Plainmoor, so how about some creative thinking to re-instate this facility, especially with Covid cases increasing? Maybe somebody in the expanded media team could look into this.
*************
Interesting news coming from AFC Wimbledon and The Dons Trust who last week appointed a new Supporter Liaison Officer (SLO) team of three based on advice from SD Europe, following similar SLO initiatives at Lincoln City and Doncaster Rovers.
The role of the SLO team, all unpaid volunteers, includes: SLOs are a bridge between the fans and the club, helping to improve the dialogue between the two; the SLO informs fans about relevant decisions made by the club management and, in the other direction, communicates the points of view of fans to the club; the SLO builds relationships with various fan groups, the police and security officers.
Wimbledon have a Matchday Pod at the entrance to the ground with a type of MatchDay Ambassador answering queries and helping with the distribution of tickets.
***************
All credit to Exeter City who are donating the profits from their FA Cup replayed replay with Bradford City to the Bradford and Exeter food banks - £7,393 each.
Ex-Gull Watch: Popular striker Rene Howe notched his 18th goal of the season for Bedford Town in a 8-1 demolition of Wantage Town to go top of Southern League Division One Central.
*************
Torquay United Christmas Quiz Part Two - July to December. A £15 club shop gift voucher for one lucky winner.
11. In July fans voted Lucas Covolan’s play-off header as Goal of the Season. But who came second?
12. Who scored United’s first goal of pre-season at Poole Town?
13. Former player John Turner became Gulls’ Nest bar manager. What position did he play?
14. Who scored for Tiverton in United’s 3-1 pre-season victory?
15. Which player made a surprise return to Plainmoor in September?
16. What did Gary Johnson gift to some of the Yellow Army after the 4-3 win at Maidenhead?
17. Sinclair Armstrong joined the squad from which Championship club?
18. Frank O’Farrell celebrated his birthday in October. Was he 93, 94 or 95?
19. United’s Under-18s lost their 1st Round FA Youth Cup 4-3 to which side?
20. Who joined United in December from Billericay Town?
Christmas Quiz Part One - January to June Questions 1-10 was in last week’s column, a £10 club shop gift voucher for one lucky winner. You can enter Part One for the £10 voucher or Parts One & Two for £15 voucher or Part Two only for a chance of a £15 voucher. All questions come from the club’s official website.
Closing date for entries: 12 noon Wednesday December 29 2021. Question writer’s decision is final. Good luck!
Send your answers, with your name and contact details, to: [email protected] or Twitter: @FanszoneT
So, United go again on Sunday with the Boxing Day clash against Yeovil Town followed by a trip on Tuesday to Eastleigh.
To those who wish it were Christmas every day have a wizzard time, stay safe - and get that booster jab.
A very Happy Christmas to all.
COYY
SUPPORT TUST - SUPPORT YOUR COMMUNITY
Official Account of Torquay United Supporters Trust
-
TUST_Official
- First Regular
- Posts: 330
- Joined: 30 Apr 2018, 14:19
- Contact:
29th December 2021
UNACCEPTABLE BEHAVIOUR v YEOVIL TOWN
TUST STATEMENT
Along with Torquay United Football Club, TUST has been made aware of the totally unacceptable, moronic chanting by a minority of individuals on the Popside at Boxing Day's match about the tragic death of former Yeovil Town skipper Lee Collins.
Any supporters who witnessed this unpleasant, disgusting, disrespectful incident, or may have phone footage, are asked to report them to the club via [email protected] so as to assist the club in their investigations.
TUST is disappointed that a minority have tarnished the good name of Gulls' loyal supporters.
SUPPORT TUST - SUPPORT YOUR COMMUNITY
UNACCEPTABLE BEHAVIOUR v YEOVIL TOWN
TUST STATEMENT
Along with Torquay United Football Club, TUST has been made aware of the totally unacceptable, moronic chanting by a minority of individuals on the Popside at Boxing Day's match about the tragic death of former Yeovil Town skipper Lee Collins.
Any supporters who witnessed this unpleasant, disgusting, disrespectful incident, or may have phone footage, are asked to report them to the club via [email protected] so as to assist the club in their investigations.
TUST is disappointed that a minority have tarnished the good name of Gulls' loyal supporters.
SUPPORT TUST - SUPPORT YOUR COMMUNITY
Official Account of Torquay United Supporters Trust
-
TUST_Official
- First Regular
- Posts: 330
- Joined: 30 Apr 2018, 14:19
- Contact:
30th December 2021
FANS' ZONE
TUST board member and Supporter Liaison Officer Nick Brodrick's column in this week's Herald Express - updated for the latest news.
YEOVIL OUT FOR THE COUNT AS UNITED PULL NO PUNCHES IN ENTERTAINING BOXING DAY FEAST
It seemed it was a West Country Boxing (Day) contest between two heavyweights if the first twenty minutes of sparring were anything to judge by as United had to match their physical opponents, tackle by tackle, with the afternoon’s ref, Scott Jackson, choosing to keep hands from his pockets although it turned out he played his cards right, saving his red for two incidents late on, plus four yellows, all to the visitors.
Soon after they had their first red Ben Wynter put United in front, then four minutes later it was 2-0 as Sparkes’ vicious volley took a deflection only for keeper Smith to palm it into his own net and Yeovil were on the ropes. Could the Gulls deliver the knock-out blow? The ten men rallied, hit the cross-bar and MacDonald made a strong save after his only mistake of the afternoon.
United’s third, thanks to Joe Lewis, who put in another impressive performance, with a free header four minutes from time, had Yeovil out for the count. By the final whistle the Glovers were off but to a re-match next Sunday.
Then as the season’s highest attendance of 3,830 were filtering out of Plainmoor there was still time for Yeovil keeper Grant Smith to get a straight red.
As United boss Gary Johnson said after the game, ”We can’t go over the top because we play them again in a week’s time.” On Sunday in fact, with Yeovil looking not only to be without three of their starting eleven but also with their eyes on the visit of AFC Bournemouth on the Saturday for their FA Cup Third Round tie.
United look to be without Armani Little who picked up his fifth booking after scoring his 10th goal of the season on Tuesday at Eastleigh.
Disappointingly it has subsequently been reported that there were distasteful moronic chants directed at Yeovil supporters over the tragic death of their captain Lee Collins by a minority of individuals on the Popside; the club is carrying out investigations and asks any supporters with information and/or phone footage to contact [email protected].
************
Since Boxing Day 2015 at Plainmoor United have now won five in a row: Forest Green 4-1, Forest Green 4-3, Truro City 4-2, Yeovil Town 6-1 and Yeovil Town 3-0.
National League Boxing Day Crowd Watch: Stockport had a fantastic 8,896 for their 5-1 win, United were next with 3,830 followed by 3,759 at Bromley and 3,699 at Aldershot. Bottom club Dover, yet to record a win, only had 697 watching a 2-0 defeat.
**************
End-Of-Year Report:
Mathematics: C- Still trying to find some consistency, adding and subtracting points beginning to improve but too many negatives. Goal difference remains negative.
History: C+ Doing well earlier in the year but fell down at the final (play-off) fence. Been inconsistent since the Summer break.
Geography: C- Plenty of travel stories but field trips have resulted in poor away form.
PE: C- Flattered to deceive on occasions; could do better but can be entertaining.
PSHE: A* First class knowledge of Covid protocols; keen to keep everyone safe.
Art: E Poor with even drawing cups and decided not to try a bowl.
Music: D Too reliant on ‘Sweet Caroline’. Needs to try a new tune.
Drama: E Failed to spot the winner at Ashton Gate although ‘Gary Time’ is exciting.
Textiles: B+ New kit designs look good even in black & white.
Owner’s Report: B Manager needs squad refreshment to gatecrash the play-offs in 2022 but in Gary we trust.
**************
Three TUST officials met with Torbay MP Kevin Foster before Christmas to discuss the recent report on the future of football produced by former Sports Minister Tracey Crouch MP. Foster said,”It was good to have a detailed discussion about some of the items put forward in the Fan-Led Review, not least how governance structures could be reformed to ensure fans have a greater voice.”
And don’t forget, as the Football Supporters Association reminds us, to make sure football is run sustainably in the future, contact your local MP to support the Fan-Led Review.
**************
There’s beginning to be disquiet amongst many managers over Covid cancellations, some at very short notice, in particular Hull called off their Championship match against Blackburn two hours before kick-off, making a total of 33 fixtures postponed across the Premier League, EFL and National League on Boxing Day.
Not that far back matches used to be played on Christmas Day with the return, against the same team, 24 hours later.
AFC Wimbledon have told the EFL they want clubs who postpone games for coronavirus outbreaks ‘ to be held to account’. They have published a strongly worded letter to the EFL, “We want the EFL to undertake its due processes and implement the strongest possible measures to ensure that - where a club was unable to fulfil a fixture, they must be held to account for all decisions which led to that position.”
Covid rules in the National League say teams have to have 14 players, including a goalkeeper, named as their first team squad, to play.
**************
There’s still time to enter the Christmas Quiz Parts One & Two with the deadline extended to Friday December 31, there are £10 & £15 club shop gift vouchers up for grabs. All the answers can be found on the club’s official website but they’ll be listed here next week.
*************
On Boxing Day United supported Shelter’s #NoHomeKit wearing their black & white, could that change their away fortunes around at Eastleigh on Tuesday? The answer was no with yet another loss on the road.
With the Yeovil return coming up on Sunday Gary Johnson and his squad must be looking to get 2022 off to a positive start.
************
From all at TUST we wish owner Clarke Osborne, directors George Edwards and Mel Hayman, Gary Johnson, Aaron Downes, the players and management teams all a very happy and successful New Year.
And best wishes to the Yellow Army especially those who travel hundreds of miles on a regular basis.
Stay safe in 2022.
COYY.
SUPPORT TUST - SUPPORT YOUR COMMUNITY
FANS' ZONE
TUST board member and Supporter Liaison Officer Nick Brodrick's column in this week's Herald Express - updated for the latest news.
YEOVIL OUT FOR THE COUNT AS UNITED PULL NO PUNCHES IN ENTERTAINING BOXING DAY FEAST
It seemed it was a West Country Boxing (Day) contest between two heavyweights if the first twenty minutes of sparring were anything to judge by as United had to match their physical opponents, tackle by tackle, with the afternoon’s ref, Scott Jackson, choosing to keep hands from his pockets although it turned out he played his cards right, saving his red for two incidents late on, plus four yellows, all to the visitors.
Soon after they had their first red Ben Wynter put United in front, then four minutes later it was 2-0 as Sparkes’ vicious volley took a deflection only for keeper Smith to palm it into his own net and Yeovil were on the ropes. Could the Gulls deliver the knock-out blow? The ten men rallied, hit the cross-bar and MacDonald made a strong save after his only mistake of the afternoon.
United’s third, thanks to Joe Lewis, who put in another impressive performance, with a free header four minutes from time, had Yeovil out for the count. By the final whistle the Glovers were off but to a re-match next Sunday.
Then as the season’s highest attendance of 3,830 were filtering out of Plainmoor there was still time for Yeovil keeper Grant Smith to get a straight red.
As United boss Gary Johnson said after the game, ”We can’t go over the top because we play them again in a week’s time.” On Sunday in fact, with Yeovil looking not only to be without three of their starting eleven but also with their eyes on the visit of AFC Bournemouth on the Saturday for their FA Cup Third Round tie.
United look to be without Armani Little who picked up his fifth booking after scoring his 10th goal of the season on Tuesday at Eastleigh.
Disappointingly it has subsequently been reported that there were distasteful moronic chants directed at Yeovil supporters over the tragic death of their captain Lee Collins by a minority of individuals on the Popside; the club is carrying out investigations and asks any supporters with information and/or phone footage to contact [email protected].
************
Since Boxing Day 2015 at Plainmoor United have now won five in a row: Forest Green 4-1, Forest Green 4-3, Truro City 4-2, Yeovil Town 6-1 and Yeovil Town 3-0.
National League Boxing Day Crowd Watch: Stockport had a fantastic 8,896 for their 5-1 win, United were next with 3,830 followed by 3,759 at Bromley and 3,699 at Aldershot. Bottom club Dover, yet to record a win, only had 697 watching a 2-0 defeat.
**************
End-Of-Year Report:
Mathematics: C- Still trying to find some consistency, adding and subtracting points beginning to improve but too many negatives. Goal difference remains negative.
History: C+ Doing well earlier in the year but fell down at the final (play-off) fence. Been inconsistent since the Summer break.
Geography: C- Plenty of travel stories but field trips have resulted in poor away form.
PE: C- Flattered to deceive on occasions; could do better but can be entertaining.
PSHE: A* First class knowledge of Covid protocols; keen to keep everyone safe.
Art: E Poor with even drawing cups and decided not to try a bowl.
Music: D Too reliant on ‘Sweet Caroline’. Needs to try a new tune.
Drama: E Failed to spot the winner at Ashton Gate although ‘Gary Time’ is exciting.
Textiles: B+ New kit designs look good even in black & white.
Owner’s Report: B Manager needs squad refreshment to gatecrash the play-offs in 2022 but in Gary we trust.
**************
Three TUST officials met with Torbay MP Kevin Foster before Christmas to discuss the recent report on the future of football produced by former Sports Minister Tracey Crouch MP. Foster said,”It was good to have a detailed discussion about some of the items put forward in the Fan-Led Review, not least how governance structures could be reformed to ensure fans have a greater voice.”
And don’t forget, as the Football Supporters Association reminds us, to make sure football is run sustainably in the future, contact your local MP to support the Fan-Led Review.
**************
There’s beginning to be disquiet amongst many managers over Covid cancellations, some at very short notice, in particular Hull called off their Championship match against Blackburn two hours before kick-off, making a total of 33 fixtures postponed across the Premier League, EFL and National League on Boxing Day.
Not that far back matches used to be played on Christmas Day with the return, against the same team, 24 hours later.
AFC Wimbledon have told the EFL they want clubs who postpone games for coronavirus outbreaks ‘ to be held to account’. They have published a strongly worded letter to the EFL, “We want the EFL to undertake its due processes and implement the strongest possible measures to ensure that - where a club was unable to fulfil a fixture, they must be held to account for all decisions which led to that position.”
Covid rules in the National League say teams have to have 14 players, including a goalkeeper, named as their first team squad, to play.
**************
There’s still time to enter the Christmas Quiz Parts One & Two with the deadline extended to Friday December 31, there are £10 & £15 club shop gift vouchers up for grabs. All the answers can be found on the club’s official website but they’ll be listed here next week.
*************
On Boxing Day United supported Shelter’s #NoHomeKit wearing their black & white, could that change their away fortunes around at Eastleigh on Tuesday? The answer was no with yet another loss on the road.
With the Yeovil return coming up on Sunday Gary Johnson and his squad must be looking to get 2022 off to a positive start.
************
From all at TUST we wish owner Clarke Osborne, directors George Edwards and Mel Hayman, Gary Johnson, Aaron Downes, the players and management teams all a very happy and successful New Year.
And best wishes to the Yellow Army especially those who travel hundreds of miles on a regular basis.
Stay safe in 2022.
COYY.
SUPPORT TUST - SUPPORT YOUR COMMUNITY
Official Account of Torquay United Supporters Trust
-
TUST_Official
- First Regular
- Posts: 330
- Joined: 30 Apr 2018, 14:19
- Contact:
7th January 2022
FANS' ZONE
TUST board member and Supporter Liaison Officer Nick Brodrick's column in this week's Herald Express - updated for the latest news.
THE TREMENDOUS THOUSAND WITNESS A YEOVIL DOUBLE TO REMEMBER
Double tops! That’s the way to start a New Year - a win at West Country rivals Yeovil plus sweet home and away victories. Dan Holman - the Goalman - much derided on social media for his lack of goals, may just have kick-started United’s chances of gatecrashing the play-off party as the Gulls have reached the half-way point of their season.
Connor Lemonheigh-Evans, affectionately known as The Lemon, squeezed out two outstanding pieces of skill in the last 15 minutes of Sunday’s game, first with a wicked goal direct from his corner kick and then an audacious chip to Holman who netted in Gary Time. It was worth the amazing 1,034 Yellow Army getting another wet afternoon. What fantastic support.
***********
National League Crowd Watch: More than 30,000 attended Northern Premier League games last Bank Holiday Tuesday, including 2,279 at FC United, 2,155 at Matlock Town and 1,679 at Clitheroe. In National South Dorking Wanderers’ record crowd of 2,048 witnessed the home side thrashing Havant & Waterlooville 8-0. Chesterfield’s top-of-the-table clash with FC Halifax attracted 8,106 while Altrincham’s gate was increased by over 1,000 Wrexham fans.
Last Sunday Yeovil’s gate included 1,034 Yellow Army, Notts County v Wrexham was watched by 8,890, Woking’s match with local rivals Aldershot, a 3-2 win for the visitors, had 5,171 while in National South the Hertfordshire derby between St. Albans and Hemel Hempstead drew 2,759.
On Bank Holiday Monday this week Taunton Town had 1,473 for a 3-1 win over rivals Tiverton Town.
***********
So, what are Torquay’s chances of grabbing a play-off slot? They have 30 points from 22 games, with another 22 fixtures left. They currently sit eight points from seventh, the last play-off position.
Last season, when 42 games was the maximum compared with 44 this time round, Bromley secured the final place with 69 points. Bromley only lost eleven games and United have already lost ten, so there’s little room for error.
Much may depend on what happens, or doesn’t happen, in January’s transfer window. Will Joe Lewis, Armani Little, Connor Lemonheigh-Evans still be squad members come the end of the month? Who will come in? Well, welcome to Stephen Wearne, an attacking mid-fielder on loan from Sunderland.
************
Time then for a look into the crystal ball for some 2022 Predictions: United sneak into the play-offs with a thrilling victory at Southend on the final day of the season; Sinclair Armstrong returns to QPR but Gary Johnson dips into the transfer market as Clarke Osborne backs a late run for another try at a Football League return; ‘Sweet Caroline’ continues as part of the goal celebrations; Tracey Crouch’s slightly watered down Fan-Led Review passes through Parliament and the future and sustainability of football are assured; United’s owner Clarke Osborne continues his search for a site for a new stadium with help from SportTorbay.
And how are the pundits’ 2021 predictions getting on?
Steve Harris: Chesterfield, Wrexham, Stockport.
Adam Virgo: Chesterfield, Stockport, Dagenham & Redbridge
Fans’ Zone: Stockport, Chesterfield, Wrexham
Current positions: Chesterfield, FC Halifax, Wrexham, Boreham Wood, Dagenham & Redbridge.
***********
There’s growing concern amongst many managers on two issues. Firstly, on the urgent need for clarity about match cancellations. At the moment games are called off not just for Covid reasons but for injuries too. There are calls for injuries to no longer influence Covid-19 postponements as fears grow for the integrity of the competitions.
Some Premier League sides have squads of nearly fifty and although the rules state matches must go ahead if there are 14 players available and are only called off in “exceptional circumstances”, this has clearly not been the case. What is required is transparency for each postponement in future.
The National League allowed two matches on Sunday and one on Monday to be called off for Covid reasons. Last week the EFL moved to limit some of the uncertainty by agreeing that players would not be tested on a matchday unless they had Covid-19 symptoms.
Allied to all these concerns is the second issue about how many substitutes can be used. Leicester’s Brendan Rodgers is the latest Premier manager to call for the return of five subs on the grounds of player welfare.
In total contrast China’s football authorities have banned their footballers from getting tattoos, instructing national players to remove existing body art to set a “ good example to society”.
**************
Christmas Quiz Answers: Part One January to June:
Joe Lewis joined from Swansea City, Max Sheaf joins on loan from Hull City, United beat Southport in the FA Trophy, Fraser Kerr left to join Chesterfield, Robin Stubbs celebrated his 80th birthday, United’s only goal win at Wrexham was scored by Sam Sherring, Yellow Army were allowed back into Plainmoor to watch Barnet, United’s U-16s became JPL champions after beating Kidderminster Harriers, the Play-Off final crowd was 6.606, Adam Randell was voted Young Player of the Season.
There were no winners.
Answers Part Two July to December:
Adam Randell was second in the Goal of the Season, Olaf Koszela scored United’s first pre-season goal, John Turner was United’s keeper, Gabby Rogers scored for Tiverton, Shaun MacDonald made a surprise return, Gary Johnson handed out boxes of pizza, Sinclair Armstrong joined from QPR, Frank O’Farrell celebrated his 93rd birthday, United’s U-18 lost their FA Cup tie to Newport County, Joe Felix joined from Billericay Town.
There were no winners.
What are your 2022 predictions? Send yours to: [email protected] or Twitter: @FanszoneT
A club shop gift voucher for the best.
Dagenham & Redbridge are Saturday’s visitors to Plainmoor; let’s get behind the team for the second half of the season.
A Happy New Year to all readers.
COYY
SUPPORT TUST - SUPPORT YOUR COMMUNITY
FANS' ZONE
TUST board member and Supporter Liaison Officer Nick Brodrick's column in this week's Herald Express - updated for the latest news.
THE TREMENDOUS THOUSAND WITNESS A YEOVIL DOUBLE TO REMEMBER
Double tops! That’s the way to start a New Year - a win at West Country rivals Yeovil plus sweet home and away victories. Dan Holman - the Goalman - much derided on social media for his lack of goals, may just have kick-started United’s chances of gatecrashing the play-off party as the Gulls have reached the half-way point of their season.
Connor Lemonheigh-Evans, affectionately known as The Lemon, squeezed out two outstanding pieces of skill in the last 15 minutes of Sunday’s game, first with a wicked goal direct from his corner kick and then an audacious chip to Holman who netted in Gary Time. It was worth the amazing 1,034 Yellow Army getting another wet afternoon. What fantastic support.
***********
National League Crowd Watch: More than 30,000 attended Northern Premier League games last Bank Holiday Tuesday, including 2,279 at FC United, 2,155 at Matlock Town and 1,679 at Clitheroe. In National South Dorking Wanderers’ record crowd of 2,048 witnessed the home side thrashing Havant & Waterlooville 8-0. Chesterfield’s top-of-the-table clash with FC Halifax attracted 8,106 while Altrincham’s gate was increased by over 1,000 Wrexham fans.
Last Sunday Yeovil’s gate included 1,034 Yellow Army, Notts County v Wrexham was watched by 8,890, Woking’s match with local rivals Aldershot, a 3-2 win for the visitors, had 5,171 while in National South the Hertfordshire derby between St. Albans and Hemel Hempstead drew 2,759.
On Bank Holiday Monday this week Taunton Town had 1,473 for a 3-1 win over rivals Tiverton Town.
***********
So, what are Torquay’s chances of grabbing a play-off slot? They have 30 points from 22 games, with another 22 fixtures left. They currently sit eight points from seventh, the last play-off position.
Last season, when 42 games was the maximum compared with 44 this time round, Bromley secured the final place with 69 points. Bromley only lost eleven games and United have already lost ten, so there’s little room for error.
Much may depend on what happens, or doesn’t happen, in January’s transfer window. Will Joe Lewis, Armani Little, Connor Lemonheigh-Evans still be squad members come the end of the month? Who will come in? Well, welcome to Stephen Wearne, an attacking mid-fielder on loan from Sunderland.
************
Time then for a look into the crystal ball for some 2022 Predictions: United sneak into the play-offs with a thrilling victory at Southend on the final day of the season; Sinclair Armstrong returns to QPR but Gary Johnson dips into the transfer market as Clarke Osborne backs a late run for another try at a Football League return; ‘Sweet Caroline’ continues as part of the goal celebrations; Tracey Crouch’s slightly watered down Fan-Led Review passes through Parliament and the future and sustainability of football are assured; United’s owner Clarke Osborne continues his search for a site for a new stadium with help from SportTorbay.
And how are the pundits’ 2021 predictions getting on?
Steve Harris: Chesterfield, Wrexham, Stockport.
Adam Virgo: Chesterfield, Stockport, Dagenham & Redbridge
Fans’ Zone: Stockport, Chesterfield, Wrexham
Current positions: Chesterfield, FC Halifax, Wrexham, Boreham Wood, Dagenham & Redbridge.
***********
There’s growing concern amongst many managers on two issues. Firstly, on the urgent need for clarity about match cancellations. At the moment games are called off not just for Covid reasons but for injuries too. There are calls for injuries to no longer influence Covid-19 postponements as fears grow for the integrity of the competitions.
Some Premier League sides have squads of nearly fifty and although the rules state matches must go ahead if there are 14 players available and are only called off in “exceptional circumstances”, this has clearly not been the case. What is required is transparency for each postponement in future.
The National League allowed two matches on Sunday and one on Monday to be called off for Covid reasons. Last week the EFL moved to limit some of the uncertainty by agreeing that players would not be tested on a matchday unless they had Covid-19 symptoms.
Allied to all these concerns is the second issue about how many substitutes can be used. Leicester’s Brendan Rodgers is the latest Premier manager to call for the return of five subs on the grounds of player welfare.
In total contrast China’s football authorities have banned their footballers from getting tattoos, instructing national players to remove existing body art to set a “ good example to society”.
**************
Christmas Quiz Answers: Part One January to June:
Joe Lewis joined from Swansea City, Max Sheaf joins on loan from Hull City, United beat Southport in the FA Trophy, Fraser Kerr left to join Chesterfield, Robin Stubbs celebrated his 80th birthday, United’s only goal win at Wrexham was scored by Sam Sherring, Yellow Army were allowed back into Plainmoor to watch Barnet, United’s U-16s became JPL champions after beating Kidderminster Harriers, the Play-Off final crowd was 6.606, Adam Randell was voted Young Player of the Season.
There were no winners.
Answers Part Two July to December:
Adam Randell was second in the Goal of the Season, Olaf Koszela scored United’s first pre-season goal, John Turner was United’s keeper, Gabby Rogers scored for Tiverton, Shaun MacDonald made a surprise return, Gary Johnson handed out boxes of pizza, Sinclair Armstrong joined from QPR, Frank O’Farrell celebrated his 93rd birthday, United’s U-18 lost their FA Cup tie to Newport County, Joe Felix joined from Billericay Town.
There were no winners.
What are your 2022 predictions? Send yours to: [email protected] or Twitter: @FanszoneT
A club shop gift voucher for the best.
Dagenham & Redbridge are Saturday’s visitors to Plainmoor; let’s get behind the team for the second half of the season.
A Happy New Year to all readers.
COYY
SUPPORT TUST - SUPPORT YOUR COMMUNITY
Official Account of Torquay United Supporters Trust
-
TUST_Official
- First Regular
- Posts: 330
- Joined: 30 Apr 2018, 14:19
- Contact:
14th January 2022
FANS' ZONE
TUST board member and Supporter Liaison Officer Nick Brodrick's column in this week's Herald Express - updated for the latest news.
UNITED’S RACE INTO 2-0 LEAD COMES UNSTUCK IN A GLUEPOT BUT MATCH IS AN ENTERTAINING HIT
The build up to this National League duel centred on current form, visitors Dagenham & Redbridge were the Fab Four with twelve points from the last twelve while Torquay were, to re-write a Meat Loaf hit, ‘Four out of Five Ain’t Bad’, had twelve points from their last fifteen.
On a glue pot of a pitch it turned out honours even although to be fair after the first twenty minutes when the Gulls raced into a 2-0 lead and it could or should have been more, the next hour belonged to the best side seen at Plainmoor this season, who after Danny Wright’s goal, in a brief team gathering seemed to say ’We Can Work It Out’. Once Balanta, surely destined for a big money move, had equalised, it looked as if there would be only one winner but with dogged determination United held on.
Congratulations to Dan Martin for making the Non-League Paper Team of the Day but for many the Man of the Match award should have gone to Shaun MacDonald for a string of fine saves which helped Torquay cling on to a point. Not for the first time this season Joe Lewis was in the Vanarama Team of the Week.
The entertaining contest certainly was a case of Daggers drawn as the visitors, who moved up to fourth, went to catch their ‘Ticket To Ride’ train home.
And a word here to the club’s ownership for the work carried out last Summer on the pitch for, with the amount of rain that fell in the days before the match, in previous years this game would certainly have been called off.
A draw then was a point gained and was the first home one this season against a side Torquay had taken seven matches to actually score against, the previous six meetings amazingly without a goal from United; thank you Asa Hall after 25 seconds!
A word, too, about Stephen Wearne, the newest loan signing, who had a decent debut receiving a deserved round of applause as he made his way around the Popside and Family Stand back to the dugout when substituted.
**************
National League Crowd Watch: Without the ‘bigger’ clubs playing Torquay’s 2,339 was the largest of the day followed by Halifax 1,822, Aldershot 1,714, Bromley 1,411 and Weymouth 1,335.
In the North Lee Mansell’s Gloucester City were watched by 1,103 and in the South 1,345 saw a 1-1 draw between Dartford and Dulwich Hamlet.
Big congratulations to Boreham Wood, 2-0 winners over AFC Wimbledon with 3,501 in attendance and to Kidderminster Harriers winning 2-1 over Reading in front of 5,178 for keeping the non-league flag flying in the FA Cup while Yeovil had 7,818 in their 3-1 defeat to AFC Bournemouth.
This seems like a boom time for non-league football for attendances with record crowds for many sides over Christmas and New Year, these are just a few examples: Macclesfield v Winsford 4,353, Bognor Regis v Worthing 2,239, Hastings United v Lancing 2,017, Bromsgrove Sporting v Stourbridge 1,658 and Falmouth Town v Penryn Athletic 1,171.
**************
Some interesting food for thought stats about current goings on in football. Take for instance, the ref’s assistants, formerly known as linesmen, why do they raise their flags for offside so late? On Saturday play had carried on for some time as United attacked only for the flag to up. Mind you in the case of Dan Holman’s winner at Yeovil, when the flag should have gone up, it didn’t thankfully.
Have you also noticed how little time the ball’s in play? Gary Johnson often complains about time wasting but the latest stats suggest there’s more to this than gamesmanship. Armani Little received his crucial fifth yellow at Eastleigh for his goal celebration enabling the game to be held up - incidentally his absence on Saturday was not because Wearne’s arrival was a prelude to Little’s departure as was the speculation, but due to a dead leg in training - but so do ordinary goal celebrations typically taking up to over a minute. So much so, that Premier League stats make for sobering reading.
The average ‘ball in play’ times for season 2019-20: 55 minutes 49 seconds; 2020-21: 56 minutes 22 seconds and so far for 2021-22: 54 minutes 35 seconds. With no ball boys/girls in these Covid times to retrieve a ball, spectators are being short changed their entrance fees. Seems as if the fourth officials’ added times should, at the very least, be doubled. What do you think?
**************
More National League managers are calling for a promotion shake-up. Chesterfield’s boss James Rowe says, “I don’t really call it non-league anymore,” adding, “It’s a really good league with really healthy attendances and I think that needs to be rewarded with more spots going into the EFL.”
Bolton manager, Ian Evatt, formerly at Barrow said, “It’s crazy the clubs in that division - the National League - there’s only one automatic promotion place.”
Grimsby’s Paul Hurst adds, “I think there should be three promotion spots and three relegation.”
Three going down might be difficult as those teams that drop out - four usually - split two into the North and two into the South.
**************
Torquay United Women: What a start for Esme Kilburn-Thompson following her transfer last week from rivals Exeter City. City’s Young Female Player of the Year last season marked her Torquay debut with a stunning hat-trick in her new team’s 10-3 victory over Middlezoy. With Danni Wyatt (2) and Alex Sheppard (2) amongst the scorers United moved up to third.
**************
If you haven’t written to your MP yet about the Fan-Led Review, there’s still time. We want as many Members of Parliament as possible to support this important piece of legislation to pass through when Tracey Crouch MP’s review is debated later in the year. See the template letter below which can be copied and pasted in to a personalised e-mail or letter.
*************
Predictions for 2022? Some of yours so far: a near miss for the play-offs; Joe Lewis for a EFL move; United go on an unbeaten run. One more week to add yours, send to: [email protected] or to Twitter: @FanszoneT.
No game this weekend as it’s an FA Trophy one so looking forward to Altrincham away on January 22.
COYY
TEMPLATE LETTER TO MP
YOU CAN GOOGLE THE NAME OF YOUR MP AND FIND THEIR E-MAIL OR POSTAL ADDRESS
YOU CAN ONLY CONTACT THAT MP AS LONG AS YOU HAVE AN ADDRESS IN THE CONSTITUENCY
Dear………
FAN-LED REVIEW RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FOOTBALL
As a long standing football supporter of Torquay United I am writing to you to ask for you to support the recently published Fan-Led Review recommendations as set out by Tracey Crouch MP and her team for the long-term sustainability of football in this country.
The report recognises there is a wide consensus on the need for change, from football fans in general and other stakeholders but it will need cross-party political support from MPs, like yourself, to ensure legislation is put into place.
I, therefore, respectfully urge you to put your full support behind this report to see that the necessary legislation is passed as quickly as possible.
Yours sincerely,
SUPPORT TUST - SUPPORT YOUR COMMUNITY
FANS' ZONE
TUST board member and Supporter Liaison Officer Nick Brodrick's column in this week's Herald Express - updated for the latest news.
UNITED’S RACE INTO 2-0 LEAD COMES UNSTUCK IN A GLUEPOT BUT MATCH IS AN ENTERTAINING HIT
The build up to this National League duel centred on current form, visitors Dagenham & Redbridge were the Fab Four with twelve points from the last twelve while Torquay were, to re-write a Meat Loaf hit, ‘Four out of Five Ain’t Bad’, had twelve points from their last fifteen.
On a glue pot of a pitch it turned out honours even although to be fair after the first twenty minutes when the Gulls raced into a 2-0 lead and it could or should have been more, the next hour belonged to the best side seen at Plainmoor this season, who after Danny Wright’s goal, in a brief team gathering seemed to say ’We Can Work It Out’. Once Balanta, surely destined for a big money move, had equalised, it looked as if there would be only one winner but with dogged determination United held on.
Congratulations to Dan Martin for making the Non-League Paper Team of the Day but for many the Man of the Match award should have gone to Shaun MacDonald for a string of fine saves which helped Torquay cling on to a point. Not for the first time this season Joe Lewis was in the Vanarama Team of the Week.
The entertaining contest certainly was a case of Daggers drawn as the visitors, who moved up to fourth, went to catch their ‘Ticket To Ride’ train home.
And a word here to the club’s ownership for the work carried out last Summer on the pitch for, with the amount of rain that fell in the days before the match, in previous years this game would certainly have been called off.
A draw then was a point gained and was the first home one this season against a side Torquay had taken seven matches to actually score against, the previous six meetings amazingly without a goal from United; thank you Asa Hall after 25 seconds!
A word, too, about Stephen Wearne, the newest loan signing, who had a decent debut receiving a deserved round of applause as he made his way around the Popside and Family Stand back to the dugout when substituted.
**************
National League Crowd Watch: Without the ‘bigger’ clubs playing Torquay’s 2,339 was the largest of the day followed by Halifax 1,822, Aldershot 1,714, Bromley 1,411 and Weymouth 1,335.
In the North Lee Mansell’s Gloucester City were watched by 1,103 and in the South 1,345 saw a 1-1 draw between Dartford and Dulwich Hamlet.
Big congratulations to Boreham Wood, 2-0 winners over AFC Wimbledon with 3,501 in attendance and to Kidderminster Harriers winning 2-1 over Reading in front of 5,178 for keeping the non-league flag flying in the FA Cup while Yeovil had 7,818 in their 3-1 defeat to AFC Bournemouth.
This seems like a boom time for non-league football for attendances with record crowds for many sides over Christmas and New Year, these are just a few examples: Macclesfield v Winsford 4,353, Bognor Regis v Worthing 2,239, Hastings United v Lancing 2,017, Bromsgrove Sporting v Stourbridge 1,658 and Falmouth Town v Penryn Athletic 1,171.
**************
Some interesting food for thought stats about current goings on in football. Take for instance, the ref’s assistants, formerly known as linesmen, why do they raise their flags for offside so late? On Saturday play had carried on for some time as United attacked only for the flag to up. Mind you in the case of Dan Holman’s winner at Yeovil, when the flag should have gone up, it didn’t thankfully.
Have you also noticed how little time the ball’s in play? Gary Johnson often complains about time wasting but the latest stats suggest there’s more to this than gamesmanship. Armani Little received his crucial fifth yellow at Eastleigh for his goal celebration enabling the game to be held up - incidentally his absence on Saturday was not because Wearne’s arrival was a prelude to Little’s departure as was the speculation, but due to a dead leg in training - but so do ordinary goal celebrations typically taking up to over a minute. So much so, that Premier League stats make for sobering reading.
The average ‘ball in play’ times for season 2019-20: 55 minutes 49 seconds; 2020-21: 56 minutes 22 seconds and so far for 2021-22: 54 minutes 35 seconds. With no ball boys/girls in these Covid times to retrieve a ball, spectators are being short changed their entrance fees. Seems as if the fourth officials’ added times should, at the very least, be doubled. What do you think?
**************
More National League managers are calling for a promotion shake-up. Chesterfield’s boss James Rowe says, “I don’t really call it non-league anymore,” adding, “It’s a really good league with really healthy attendances and I think that needs to be rewarded with more spots going into the EFL.”
Bolton manager, Ian Evatt, formerly at Barrow said, “It’s crazy the clubs in that division - the National League - there’s only one automatic promotion place.”
Grimsby’s Paul Hurst adds, “I think there should be three promotion spots and three relegation.”
Three going down might be difficult as those teams that drop out - four usually - split two into the North and two into the South.
**************
Torquay United Women: What a start for Esme Kilburn-Thompson following her transfer last week from rivals Exeter City. City’s Young Female Player of the Year last season marked her Torquay debut with a stunning hat-trick in her new team’s 10-3 victory over Middlezoy. With Danni Wyatt (2) and Alex Sheppard (2) amongst the scorers United moved up to third.
**************
If you haven’t written to your MP yet about the Fan-Led Review, there’s still time. We want as many Members of Parliament as possible to support this important piece of legislation to pass through when Tracey Crouch MP’s review is debated later in the year. See the template letter below which can be copied and pasted in to a personalised e-mail or letter.
*************
Predictions for 2022? Some of yours so far: a near miss for the play-offs; Joe Lewis for a EFL move; United go on an unbeaten run. One more week to add yours, send to: [email protected] or to Twitter: @FanszoneT.
No game this weekend as it’s an FA Trophy one so looking forward to Altrincham away on January 22.
COYY
TEMPLATE LETTER TO MP
YOU CAN GOOGLE THE NAME OF YOUR MP AND FIND THEIR E-MAIL OR POSTAL ADDRESS
YOU CAN ONLY CONTACT THAT MP AS LONG AS YOU HAVE AN ADDRESS IN THE CONSTITUENCY
Dear………
FAN-LED REVIEW RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FOOTBALL
As a long standing football supporter of Torquay United I am writing to you to ask for you to support the recently published Fan-Led Review recommendations as set out by Tracey Crouch MP and her team for the long-term sustainability of football in this country.
The report recognises there is a wide consensus on the need for change, from football fans in general and other stakeholders but it will need cross-party political support from MPs, like yourself, to ensure legislation is put into place.
I, therefore, respectfully urge you to put your full support behind this report to see that the necessary legislation is passed as quickly as possible.
Yours sincerely,
SUPPORT TUST - SUPPORT YOUR COMMUNITY
Official Account of Torquay United Supporters Trust
-
TUST_Official
- First Regular
- Posts: 330
- Joined: 30 Apr 2018, 14:19
- Contact:
22nd January 2022
FANS' ZONE
TUST board member and Supporter Liaison Officer Nick Brodrick's column in this week's Herald Express - updated for the latest news.
YOUNG GULLS GO FOR IT IN LEAGUE AND CUP WHILE THE WOMEN’S TEAM NET SIXTEEN IN TWO GAMES
Whilst Gary Johnson’s Torquay United had a blank Saturday as it was mainly an FA Trophy weekend, it was the turn of Chris Todd’s Under-18 side to step up into the limelight with two impressive victories. First was a 3-1 league cup win at Wimborne Town setting up a semi-final against Yeovil Town. This was followed by a terrific 2-0 success at South West Counties league leaders Bridgwater moving second placed Gulls only three points adrift with a game in hand. Let’s hope that owner Clarke Osborne’s support of an academy will bear fruit and some of these starlets eventually progress to first team football.
***************
With these hopefuls looking forward for a successful professional career, a number of ex-players had a mixed weekend: Bedford Town’s Renee Howe notched his 22nd goal of the season, with yet another penalty; Jamie Reid scored twice for Stevenage in a 3-3 draw with Sutton United while Lucas Covolan received his marching orders - again - playing for Port Vale.
Well done to manager Tim Sills’ Hamworthy United (The Hammers of Poole) for their 3-2 win on Saturday taking them into the FA Vase Fifth Round for the first time in their history, coming back from 0-2 down to visitors Glebe at half-time, joining Buckland Athletic in the last sixteen.
***************
Anyone looking for a prolific goalscoring striker? Look no further than Southern Combination League Premier leaders Littlehampton Town’s Joe Benn whose seven goals in a recent league game took his tally for the season to 55! The transfer window closes on January 31 at 11pm.
Could Sinclair Armstrong be on the move? There are strong rumours that Manchester City are favourites to sign him from QPR. If true we saw him here first.
***************
Non-League Crowd Watch: South Shields continue to have great home support with 1,934 at Saturday’s game to see a 2-0 win keeping them third in the Northern Premier; National North Hereford pulled in 1,484, Worthing, leaders of the Isthmian Premier had 1,295 and Bromsgrove Sporting of the Southern League Central were watched by 1,011.
**************
Spare a thought for Chester FC - are they English or Welsh? Their Deva Stadium is in the bizarre situation that whilst the entrance to the stadium is in England the pitch is in Wales. Under current Welsh Coronavirus Regulations - due to be lifted on Friday - attendances are limited to just 50 spectators and the club has been warned that they have already broken these rules having had crowds of over 2,000 at matches in December and early January.
Chester, a supporter owned, community football club, felt they had no alternative but to call off last Saturday’s home National North fixture with Brackley Town. But Chester FC are an English club playing under the jurisdiction of the English FA.
**************
Now a success story. A week ago Swindon Town had a dream FA Cup Third Round home tie with the Premier League’s top side Manchester City, going down 4-1. But go back to the Summer of 2021 and it was looking as if the club could go out of business. Swindon, recently relegated into League 2, were in turmoil, ousted owner Lee Power had left the club with no manager and only six players on the books with those staff still there not being paid. Step forward Australian plumbing entrepreneur Clem Morfumi who bought the club, appointing Ben Garner as manager; Garner, previously a youth team coach at Crystal Place and briefly manager at Bristol Rovers, had two weeks to assemble a squad - sound familiar? - for an important EFL season. So far he’s done pretty well with Swindon sitting in fourth, one point from the automatic promotion group.
**************
No news from TQ1 about possible banning orders following the distasteful chanting at the Boxing Day clash with Yeovil Town about their captain Lee Collins taking his own life last March. His widow, Rachel Gibbon, mother of his three daughters, is leading a campaign to promote Mind, Body and Sole, a non-profit organisation, which raises mental health awareness. Gibbon wants to see more welfare officers at clubs funded by the Professional Footballers’ Association to help struggling players to see life beyond the end of their careers.
**************
Torquay United Women: having demolished Middlezoy last week 10-3, the return fixture on Sunday saw United’s women’s team do the double with a 6-1 success. Esme Kilburn-Thompson with two took her tally to five in two games since her transfer from Exeter City; Ellie Bishop (2), Roisin Payne and Beth Everson were the other scorers. The win takes the women’s team to within three points of leaders Sherborne Town.
***************
Next up for United is a trip to Altrincham. Last season both sides played out a meaningless 0-0 draw but now there’s much more at stake. United, as Gary Johnson has said, are looking to ‘come out of the pack’ to gatecrash the play-offs while Altrincham are hoping to halt a disastrous run which, in December, saw them draw at the beginning of the month and then went on to lose the next five including an FA Trophy defeat to lower league Runcorn. January hasn’t started any better with one draw and two defeats with the form table showing one point from the last 18 with goals for 3 and against 15.
*************
Predictions for 2022? ‘Keep on supporting the Gulls’, ‘Yellow Army for ever’, ‘Looking for a top seven finish’ are just a few more hopes for the remainder of the season. This week it’s back to Three Word Fun. Why you support the Gulls in three words - send yours to: [email protected] or to Twitter: @fanszonet.
To the Yellow Army going to Altrincham, a whole coach load with the Away Travel Club, or by other transport, have a safe journey.
COYY
SUPPORT TUST - SUPPORT YOUR COMMUNITY
FANS' ZONE
TUST board member and Supporter Liaison Officer Nick Brodrick's column in this week's Herald Express - updated for the latest news.
YOUNG GULLS GO FOR IT IN LEAGUE AND CUP WHILE THE WOMEN’S TEAM NET SIXTEEN IN TWO GAMES
Whilst Gary Johnson’s Torquay United had a blank Saturday as it was mainly an FA Trophy weekend, it was the turn of Chris Todd’s Under-18 side to step up into the limelight with two impressive victories. First was a 3-1 league cup win at Wimborne Town setting up a semi-final against Yeovil Town. This was followed by a terrific 2-0 success at South West Counties league leaders Bridgwater moving second placed Gulls only three points adrift with a game in hand. Let’s hope that owner Clarke Osborne’s support of an academy will bear fruit and some of these starlets eventually progress to first team football.
***************
With these hopefuls looking forward for a successful professional career, a number of ex-players had a mixed weekend: Bedford Town’s Renee Howe notched his 22nd goal of the season, with yet another penalty; Jamie Reid scored twice for Stevenage in a 3-3 draw with Sutton United while Lucas Covolan received his marching orders - again - playing for Port Vale.
Well done to manager Tim Sills’ Hamworthy United (The Hammers of Poole) for their 3-2 win on Saturday taking them into the FA Vase Fifth Round for the first time in their history, coming back from 0-2 down to visitors Glebe at half-time, joining Buckland Athletic in the last sixteen.
***************
Anyone looking for a prolific goalscoring striker? Look no further than Southern Combination League Premier leaders Littlehampton Town’s Joe Benn whose seven goals in a recent league game took his tally for the season to 55! The transfer window closes on January 31 at 11pm.
Could Sinclair Armstrong be on the move? There are strong rumours that Manchester City are favourites to sign him from QPR. If true we saw him here first.
***************
Non-League Crowd Watch: South Shields continue to have great home support with 1,934 at Saturday’s game to see a 2-0 win keeping them third in the Northern Premier; National North Hereford pulled in 1,484, Worthing, leaders of the Isthmian Premier had 1,295 and Bromsgrove Sporting of the Southern League Central were watched by 1,011.
**************
Spare a thought for Chester FC - are they English or Welsh? Their Deva Stadium is in the bizarre situation that whilst the entrance to the stadium is in England the pitch is in Wales. Under current Welsh Coronavirus Regulations - due to be lifted on Friday - attendances are limited to just 50 spectators and the club has been warned that they have already broken these rules having had crowds of over 2,000 at matches in December and early January.
Chester, a supporter owned, community football club, felt they had no alternative but to call off last Saturday’s home National North fixture with Brackley Town. But Chester FC are an English club playing under the jurisdiction of the English FA.
**************
Now a success story. A week ago Swindon Town had a dream FA Cup Third Round home tie with the Premier League’s top side Manchester City, going down 4-1. But go back to the Summer of 2021 and it was looking as if the club could go out of business. Swindon, recently relegated into League 2, were in turmoil, ousted owner Lee Power had left the club with no manager and only six players on the books with those staff still there not being paid. Step forward Australian plumbing entrepreneur Clem Morfumi who bought the club, appointing Ben Garner as manager; Garner, previously a youth team coach at Crystal Place and briefly manager at Bristol Rovers, had two weeks to assemble a squad - sound familiar? - for an important EFL season. So far he’s done pretty well with Swindon sitting in fourth, one point from the automatic promotion group.
**************
No news from TQ1 about possible banning orders following the distasteful chanting at the Boxing Day clash with Yeovil Town about their captain Lee Collins taking his own life last March. His widow, Rachel Gibbon, mother of his three daughters, is leading a campaign to promote Mind, Body and Sole, a non-profit organisation, which raises mental health awareness. Gibbon wants to see more welfare officers at clubs funded by the Professional Footballers’ Association to help struggling players to see life beyond the end of their careers.
**************
Torquay United Women: having demolished Middlezoy last week 10-3, the return fixture on Sunday saw United’s women’s team do the double with a 6-1 success. Esme Kilburn-Thompson with two took her tally to five in two games since her transfer from Exeter City; Ellie Bishop (2), Roisin Payne and Beth Everson were the other scorers. The win takes the women’s team to within three points of leaders Sherborne Town.
***************
Next up for United is a trip to Altrincham. Last season both sides played out a meaningless 0-0 draw but now there’s much more at stake. United, as Gary Johnson has said, are looking to ‘come out of the pack’ to gatecrash the play-offs while Altrincham are hoping to halt a disastrous run which, in December, saw them draw at the beginning of the month and then went on to lose the next five including an FA Trophy defeat to lower league Runcorn. January hasn’t started any better with one draw and two defeats with the form table showing one point from the last 18 with goals for 3 and against 15.
*************
Predictions for 2022? ‘Keep on supporting the Gulls’, ‘Yellow Army for ever’, ‘Looking for a top seven finish’ are just a few more hopes for the remainder of the season. This week it’s back to Three Word Fun. Why you support the Gulls in three words - send yours to: [email protected] or to Twitter: @fanszonet.
To the Yellow Army going to Altrincham, a whole coach load with the Away Travel Club, or by other transport, have a safe journey.
COYY
SUPPORT TUST - SUPPORT YOUR COMMUNITY
Official Account of Torquay United Supporters Trust
-
TUST_Official
- First Regular
- Posts: 330
- Joined: 30 Apr 2018, 14:19
- Contact:
24th January 2022
JANUARY NEWSLETTER
Chairman's introduction
Dear members and supporters,
Firstly, hoping everyone has a less challenging, healthy and joyful New Year.
Wishing the same for all at our football club, TUFC, including the management, staff and players.
The summary of our recent meeting, as follows, updates you on all the different actions and initiatives that TUST have been implementing and planning in the last month or so. It is very encouraging that so many different board members are, voluntarily, taking on many different tasks in supporting our football club and its wider community on your behalf.
Recently we have been taking stock of the numerous TUST achievements over the last two or three years, often despite covid restrictions and other travails. We will be reminding our club community of these accomplishments in the coming months. A huge thank you goes to all of those members whose continuing subscriptions have enabled us to fulfil these.
We have also reflected that, when many supporters pull together, good deeds can be done to support our club, its fan base and the community it serves. All this for just a basic TUST subscription fee of only 50p a week..... Please consider joining us, if you are not already a member!
Again, we wish success, memorable moments, togetherness and a healthy future
for all things TUFC.
COYY!
Michel Thomas
on behalf of TUST
SUMMARY OF BOARD MEETING
Relations with TUFC
We are sad to report that our request for a meeting of TUST board members with the Club’s Media & Supporter Liaison Co-ordinator (Dom Mee) has been declined ‘for the foreseeable future’. We have asked what it is that TUST has to do for meetings to resume and are awaiting a response.
The board expressed its continuing concern at the failure of the Club to engage with its main democratic, independent supporters’ group.
Local councillors
A group of TUST board members met with Councillors Steve Darling (Leader) and Darren Cowell (Deputy Leader) on 8th January to update them on the Fan-Led Review and TUST’s achievements.
The councillors had been very supportive of the FLR proposals and TUST’s activities. They were disappointed to learn of the Club’s refusal to engage meaningfully with TUST and to involve it in its own community focused events. Steve Darling would raise this with the Club’s directors and seek to arrange a joint meeting with TUFC, TUST, Torquay United Community Sports Trust and council representatives in due course.
In the meantime, TUST Chair, Michel Thomas, will attend the next Sport Torbay meeting on 26th January.
Fan-Led Review
We are delighted to advise our members that Kevin Foster MP has arranged for a delegation from TUST to join him in a meeting with Tracey Crouch MP at the Houses of Parliament in March to discuss the implications of her FLR for non-league clubs and TUFC in particular.
Community Sports Trust (TUCST)
We are pleased to continue our close relationship with TUCST and to provide financial support for its excellent work in the community.
TUST’s latest contribution has been the purchase of goals for the Minis Under-7 group.
We are now in discussion about a proposal to allocate TUST funding to establish a Junior Inspirations league for young disabled players and how we can help with a return of the pre-match Fan Zones in the Spring.
Women’s Team
TUST has provided sponsorship for new tracksuits for the womens’ squad and it’s great to see the team doing so well on the pitch!
Membership campaign
The board have been hugely impressed that membership has held up and actually increased slightly during the past couple of difficult years.
However, there is strength in numbers and following discussions at previous meetings, a plan for a recruitment drive has been agreed. There will be many elements to this but it will include a poster explaining the role of TUST, digital, radio and press advertising, emphasis on TUST’s community contributions, a banner for display at games, an interview for a Talking Torquay podcast and updating the TUST website.
The campaign will highlight that membership costs less than 50p per week.
Current members can play their part by encouraging friends and family to join!
JOIN HERE - www.tust.co.uk
SUPPORT TUST - SUPPORT YOUR COMMUNITY
JANUARY NEWSLETTER
Chairman's introduction
Dear members and supporters,
Firstly, hoping everyone has a less challenging, healthy and joyful New Year.
Wishing the same for all at our football club, TUFC, including the management, staff and players.
The summary of our recent meeting, as follows, updates you on all the different actions and initiatives that TUST have been implementing and planning in the last month or so. It is very encouraging that so many different board members are, voluntarily, taking on many different tasks in supporting our football club and its wider community on your behalf.
Recently we have been taking stock of the numerous TUST achievements over the last two or three years, often despite covid restrictions and other travails. We will be reminding our club community of these accomplishments in the coming months. A huge thank you goes to all of those members whose continuing subscriptions have enabled us to fulfil these.
We have also reflected that, when many supporters pull together, good deeds can be done to support our club, its fan base and the community it serves. All this for just a basic TUST subscription fee of only 50p a week..... Please consider joining us, if you are not already a member!
Again, we wish success, memorable moments, togetherness and a healthy future
for all things TUFC.
COYY!
Michel Thomas
on behalf of TUST
SUMMARY OF BOARD MEETING
Relations with TUFC
We are sad to report that our request for a meeting of TUST board members with the Club’s Media & Supporter Liaison Co-ordinator (Dom Mee) has been declined ‘for the foreseeable future’. We have asked what it is that TUST has to do for meetings to resume and are awaiting a response.
The board expressed its continuing concern at the failure of the Club to engage with its main democratic, independent supporters’ group.
Local councillors
A group of TUST board members met with Councillors Steve Darling (Leader) and Darren Cowell (Deputy Leader) on 8th January to update them on the Fan-Led Review and TUST’s achievements.
The councillors had been very supportive of the FLR proposals and TUST’s activities. They were disappointed to learn of the Club’s refusal to engage meaningfully with TUST and to involve it in its own community focused events. Steve Darling would raise this with the Club’s directors and seek to arrange a joint meeting with TUFC, TUST, Torquay United Community Sports Trust and council representatives in due course.
In the meantime, TUST Chair, Michel Thomas, will attend the next Sport Torbay meeting on 26th January.
Fan-Led Review
We are delighted to advise our members that Kevin Foster MP has arranged for a delegation from TUST to join him in a meeting with Tracey Crouch MP at the Houses of Parliament in March to discuss the implications of her FLR for non-league clubs and TUFC in particular.
Community Sports Trust (TUCST)
We are pleased to continue our close relationship with TUCST and to provide financial support for its excellent work in the community.
TUST’s latest contribution has been the purchase of goals for the Minis Under-7 group.
We are now in discussion about a proposal to allocate TUST funding to establish a Junior Inspirations league for young disabled players and how we can help with a return of the pre-match Fan Zones in the Spring.
Women’s Team
TUST has provided sponsorship for new tracksuits for the womens’ squad and it’s great to see the team doing so well on the pitch!
Membership campaign
The board have been hugely impressed that membership has held up and actually increased slightly during the past couple of difficult years.
However, there is strength in numbers and following discussions at previous meetings, a plan for a recruitment drive has been agreed. There will be many elements to this but it will include a poster explaining the role of TUST, digital, radio and press advertising, emphasis on TUST’s community contributions, a banner for display at games, an interview for a Talking Torquay podcast and updating the TUST website.
The campaign will highlight that membership costs less than 50p per week.
Current members can play their part by encouraging friends and family to join!
JOIN HERE - www.tust.co.uk
SUPPORT TUST - SUPPORT YOUR COMMUNITY
Official Account of Torquay United Supporters Trust
-
TUST_Official
- First Regular
- Posts: 330
- Joined: 30 Apr 2018, 14:19
- Contact:
28th January 2022
FANS' ZONE
TUST board member and Supporter Liaison Officer Nick Brodrick's column in this week's Herald Express - updated for the latest news.
NATIONAL LEAGUE’S MARK IVES SPILLS THE BEANS ABOUT TALKS WITH EFL WHILE ARE THERE PLANS BEHIND THE SCENES FOR A STADIUM SITE?
Gary Johnson rightly assesses that for Torquay United to have a chance of gatecrashing the play-offs his team needs to average two points a game until the end of the season.
Well, after Saturday’s hard fought win at Altrincham they were on track as the latest form table confirmed: third in the National League with thirteen points from the last six games.
Connor Lemonheigh-Evans, in the Non-League Paper’s Team of the Day and the Vanarama Team of the Week, gave the Gulls an early lead with Sunderland loanee, Stephen Wearne, securing the win with a smart finish at the start of the second half. With three late team changes - Lewis, Moxey and Lapslie pulling out at short notice - it was a pretty good performance even if the home side were on a losing streak.
Latest loan signing Stephen Duke-McKenna had an impressive debut and the Plainmoor faithful saw him in action on Tuesday night in what turned out to be a tight game resolved in the closing minutes as visitors Solihull Moors took home the points.
To get to seventh place United are eight points away but have played a few more games than some but points already won are often better than games in hand. With 19 games to go that’s 57 points to play for. As Johnson says his side can afford to lose one in three but that presumes the other two are wins.
There are, though, suggestions that he’s been given the green light to bring in some new signings - maybe in time for the Wrexham match on Saturday week.
Tuesday’s fixture against Solihull Moors was likely to be a tough ask with visiting striker, Andy Dallas in a sudden vein of form, worthy of a TV programme, with a gush of goals - now nine in his last three matches after going 19 without scoring.
Stockport are the league’s form team, winning their last five, losing once to …Torquay United.
Wrexham splashed the cash on Monday paying AFC Wimbledon £300,000 for striker Ollie Palmer.
**********
National League Crowd Watch: Chesterfield held to a surprise 0-0 at home to Aldershot 6,422, Southend won with a late penalty in front of their highest crowd of the season 6,122, Grimsby disappointed their supporters losing at home with 5,854 watching.
Elsewhere Dulwich Hamlet had 3,344, Kidderminster 2,444, Dorking Wanderers 2,142 and Hastings Utd 1,502.
**********
National League General Manager Mark Ives gave an interview to the Magpie podcast last week giving some insight into the current thinking about important pending matters. Ives said that the League had a good relationship with the EFL and there are conversations about a third promotion place. Ives said, “It’s important for the credibility of the competition that there is another promotion spot - it’s a top priority…it’s something we want to get to.”
Ives added, “ The {promotion} system needs to be equal across the EFL and National League.”
This will be good news for Gary Johnson who’s been advocating this for a long time.
He added that the board are also investigating, with the league’s clubs and sponsors, the issue of live streaming. That’s something this column has been pushing for for some months.
Much of the podcast was spent on the introduction of a salary cap for the National League with Ives divulging there was to be an EGM this week with this topic on the agenda. What is a salary cap has to be agreed - a fixed one, a softer one or none.
On the question of number of substitutes, in the EFL there are seven, but the National League has two less, personally Ives said, he’d have the higher number but clubs’ chairmen/CEOs voted for the lower one.
With the National League containing clubs with gates far superior to most in League 2 (and a few in League 1) and with spending money on players in excess of many in the EFL it is time, as the Fan-Led Review report concludes, for the National League to follow EFL rules.
***********
Could 2022 be the year Torquay United owner Clarke Osborne earmarks a site for a new stadium and training base? At the last Sport Torbay meeting the topic of a suitable site was discussed with further talks planned - there was a meeting on Thursday.
Last week Deputy Torbay Council leader Darren Cowell was quoted saying, “ We are working with the club to identify new facilities to meet their ambitions because Torquay United are important to Torbay.”
Rather than travel to Newton Abbot it is understood the club is looking for a new training base too but where will depend on where a new stadium can be built.
***********
If it’s goals you want to see then following Fulham is the answer. Their last four games has seen them win all four with these scores: Reading 7-0, Bristol City 6-2, Birmingham 6-2 and Stoke 3-2 taking their goals scored total to 73 from 27 matches. Fulham are the first second tier side for 68 years to score six or more in three consecutive games.
************
A current topic in football is match programme or matchday magazine or online version. Those of us of a certain age will fondly recall buying a match programme on entering the ground of our favourite team but in those days that could be hit and miss as the quality varied.
Some were properly printed, others done on a manual typewriter complete with numerous crossings out, using xxxxx, typos and spelling errors. Team line-ups were shown across the centre pages in numbers 1-11 or on a loose piece of paper plus match officials.
A typical programme cost 3d (0.01 in today’s money) increasing later to 6d. There were lots of adverts for local businesses and shops. Programme collectors abounded. Fast forward to today, programmes are now magazines, with out-of-date information as they are printed in advance. Many clubs have ditched both for an online version to download.
For more on this topic and about being a football supporter you can read about ‘The Life of a Fan’ in the February/March edition of the Late Tackle magazine.
**********
Torquay United Women are through to the Devon County Cup final in April when they’ll face neighbours Exeter City. United defeated Liverton 4-0 thanks to Ellie Bishop (2), Danni Wyatt and Beth Everson. City won their semi-final 11-0.
***********
What’s your view about programmes? Not worth buying? Keep the programme? Prefer the magazine? Or download the online version? Send your view to: [email protected] or to Twitter: @FanszoneT.
No match on Saturday so another blank weekend.
COYY
SUPPORT TUST - SUPPORT YOUR COMMUNITY
FANS' ZONE
TUST board member and Supporter Liaison Officer Nick Brodrick's column in this week's Herald Express - updated for the latest news.
NATIONAL LEAGUE’S MARK IVES SPILLS THE BEANS ABOUT TALKS WITH EFL WHILE ARE THERE PLANS BEHIND THE SCENES FOR A STADIUM SITE?
Gary Johnson rightly assesses that for Torquay United to have a chance of gatecrashing the play-offs his team needs to average two points a game until the end of the season.
Well, after Saturday’s hard fought win at Altrincham they were on track as the latest form table confirmed: third in the National League with thirteen points from the last six games.
Connor Lemonheigh-Evans, in the Non-League Paper’s Team of the Day and the Vanarama Team of the Week, gave the Gulls an early lead with Sunderland loanee, Stephen Wearne, securing the win with a smart finish at the start of the second half. With three late team changes - Lewis, Moxey and Lapslie pulling out at short notice - it was a pretty good performance even if the home side were on a losing streak.
Latest loan signing Stephen Duke-McKenna had an impressive debut and the Plainmoor faithful saw him in action on Tuesday night in what turned out to be a tight game resolved in the closing minutes as visitors Solihull Moors took home the points.
To get to seventh place United are eight points away but have played a few more games than some but points already won are often better than games in hand. With 19 games to go that’s 57 points to play for. As Johnson says his side can afford to lose one in three but that presumes the other two are wins.
There are, though, suggestions that he’s been given the green light to bring in some new signings - maybe in time for the Wrexham match on Saturday week.
Tuesday’s fixture against Solihull Moors was likely to be a tough ask with visiting striker, Andy Dallas in a sudden vein of form, worthy of a TV programme, with a gush of goals - now nine in his last three matches after going 19 without scoring.
Stockport are the league’s form team, winning their last five, losing once to …Torquay United.
Wrexham splashed the cash on Monday paying AFC Wimbledon £300,000 for striker Ollie Palmer.
**********
National League Crowd Watch: Chesterfield held to a surprise 0-0 at home to Aldershot 6,422, Southend won with a late penalty in front of their highest crowd of the season 6,122, Grimsby disappointed their supporters losing at home with 5,854 watching.
Elsewhere Dulwich Hamlet had 3,344, Kidderminster 2,444, Dorking Wanderers 2,142 and Hastings Utd 1,502.
**********
National League General Manager Mark Ives gave an interview to the Magpie podcast last week giving some insight into the current thinking about important pending matters. Ives said that the League had a good relationship with the EFL and there are conversations about a third promotion place. Ives said, “It’s important for the credibility of the competition that there is another promotion spot - it’s a top priority…it’s something we want to get to.”
Ives added, “ The {promotion} system needs to be equal across the EFL and National League.”
This will be good news for Gary Johnson who’s been advocating this for a long time.
He added that the board are also investigating, with the league’s clubs and sponsors, the issue of live streaming. That’s something this column has been pushing for for some months.
Much of the podcast was spent on the introduction of a salary cap for the National League with Ives divulging there was to be an EGM this week with this topic on the agenda. What is a salary cap has to be agreed - a fixed one, a softer one or none.
On the question of number of substitutes, in the EFL there are seven, but the National League has two less, personally Ives said, he’d have the higher number but clubs’ chairmen/CEOs voted for the lower one.
With the National League containing clubs with gates far superior to most in League 2 (and a few in League 1) and with spending money on players in excess of many in the EFL it is time, as the Fan-Led Review report concludes, for the National League to follow EFL rules.
***********
Could 2022 be the year Torquay United owner Clarke Osborne earmarks a site for a new stadium and training base? At the last Sport Torbay meeting the topic of a suitable site was discussed with further talks planned - there was a meeting on Thursday.
Last week Deputy Torbay Council leader Darren Cowell was quoted saying, “ We are working with the club to identify new facilities to meet their ambitions because Torquay United are important to Torbay.”
Rather than travel to Newton Abbot it is understood the club is looking for a new training base too but where will depend on where a new stadium can be built.
***********
If it’s goals you want to see then following Fulham is the answer. Their last four games has seen them win all four with these scores: Reading 7-0, Bristol City 6-2, Birmingham 6-2 and Stoke 3-2 taking their goals scored total to 73 from 27 matches. Fulham are the first second tier side for 68 years to score six or more in three consecutive games.
************
A current topic in football is match programme or matchday magazine or online version. Those of us of a certain age will fondly recall buying a match programme on entering the ground of our favourite team but in those days that could be hit and miss as the quality varied.
Some were properly printed, others done on a manual typewriter complete with numerous crossings out, using xxxxx, typos and spelling errors. Team line-ups were shown across the centre pages in numbers 1-11 or on a loose piece of paper plus match officials.
A typical programme cost 3d (0.01 in today’s money) increasing later to 6d. There were lots of adverts for local businesses and shops. Programme collectors abounded. Fast forward to today, programmes are now magazines, with out-of-date information as they are printed in advance. Many clubs have ditched both for an online version to download.
For more on this topic and about being a football supporter you can read about ‘The Life of a Fan’ in the February/March edition of the Late Tackle magazine.
**********
Torquay United Women are through to the Devon County Cup final in April when they’ll face neighbours Exeter City. United defeated Liverton 4-0 thanks to Ellie Bishop (2), Danni Wyatt and Beth Everson. City won their semi-final 11-0.
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What’s your view about programmes? Not worth buying? Keep the programme? Prefer the magazine? Or download the online version? Send your view to: [email protected] or to Twitter: @FanszoneT.
No match on Saturday so another blank weekend.
COYY
SUPPORT TUST - SUPPORT YOUR COMMUNITY
Official Account of Torquay United Supporters Trust
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5th February 2022
FAN ZONE
TUST board member and Supporter Liaison Officer Nick Brodrick's column in this week's Herald Express - updated for the latest news.
TUST MEMBERS OFF TO HOUSE OF COMMONS FOR FAN-LED REVIEW DISCUSSIONS
Following a meeting of three TUST board members with Torbay MP Kevin Foster before Christmas to discuss the implications of the Fan-Led Review report compiled by Tracey Crouch MP, a former Sports Minister, the Torquay United Supporters Trust have been invited to the House of Commons next month.
This is a great opportunity to meet with Ms Crouch in person as she is keen to understand how important her report is to a typical supporters’ trust and to learn first hand how vital it is for the sustainability and integrity of football for fans to be involved in the running of a community club.
TUST chairman Michel Thomas said, “We are delighted to have been asked to represent the hundreds of trusts who contributed to the report, to personally give our feedback.” A group of five TUST board members will be joined by Kevin Foster in March.
************
There was a great surprise for the Torquay United Community Sports Trusts’ youngsters when the 3-5 year olds arrived at The Hub, Paignton Academy for their Mini Gulls session where Thomas and board member Bob Cole of TUST, were on hand to present them with a pair of new mini- goals. See the picture below.
Matt Anthony, TUCST manager was delighted, “We are very grateful to TUST for buying these portable mini-goals which will be a great addition to our fun training sessions.”
************
This was a big weekend for two local women’s teams in the FA Cup, Exeter City’s women took the West Bromwich Albion women to penalties after finishing the match and extra time goal-less going down 4-2.
Bridgwater United, formerly Yeovil Town women, were watched by an amazing 2,500 as visitors Manchester United took the tie 2-0.
After last week’s Devon County semi-final win it was back to league action for Torquay United women coming from behind to grab a hard fought 2-1 win over Marine Academy Plymouth thanks to a Tracey Cross penalty with the winner coming from Esme Kilburn-Thompson.
*************
It was a case of a Harvey Field day as the Torquay United youngster hit a second half hat-trick in the Under-18s emphatic 10-0 demolition of second placed Swindon Supermarine with six others on the score sheet.
As Head of Youth Chris Todd said, “They’re a talented bunch of lads and it’s all down to them and their hard work on a daily basis.”
*************
It’s been a busy last few days of the January transfer window as far as a number of National League clubs are concerned although there is no transfer window below the EFL. Wrexham, in particular, have ‘splashed the American cash’ bringing in Crewe Alexander’s defender Callum McFadzean, AFC Wimbledon striker Ollie Palmer for £300,000 but topping that with an unconfirmed £500,000 for Tom O’Connor, a midfielder from Burton Albion following a 1-1 home draw with star striker Paul Mullin sent off for the second time against Maidenhead this season.
This is turning into the tightest of promotion races as there are only nine points between top and ninth.
Mullin’s red card means he’ll miss his team’s match with United on Saturday as he did in the earlier fixture for the same reason.
There were big money transfers moving up into the EFL with Woking’s leading scorer Tahvon Campbell making a move to Rochdale along with Solihull’s James Ball while Stockport’s John Rooney returned to Barrow for an undisclosed fee.
On the manager front Eastleigh’s Ben Stevens parted company with the club as has Chesterfield’s James Rowe while Bromley’s Andy Woodman turned down an offer to manage Gillingham. In League 1 Gary Johnson’s son, Lee, departed Sunderland following a 6-0 defeat at Bolton.
*************
Non-League Crowd Watch: With no Premier League matches a number of clubs had bumper attendances: Wrexham had 8,759 but full credit to Southend fans - all 1,935 who travelled to watch a 1-0 win at bottom club Dover outnumbering the home support.
Record numbers of 1,254 watched Bedford Town win 2-0 including yet another Renee Howe penalty.
Other noteworthy crowds: 8 clubs in National North had crowds of over 1,000 the best being at York City 3,578, Kidderminster Harriers 2,334. In other leagues: Macclesfield 4,347, Ilkeston Town 2,428, FC Isle of Man 1,505, Ramsgate 1,625, AFC Bury 1,343 and Ashford Utd 1,134.
**************
This season has seen a rise in football related arrests for crowd trouble which the police are part relating to drug misuse. The problem appears to have escalated since the incidents at Wembley for the Euro 2020 final when the stadium was taken over by ticketless fans.
Across the Premier League, EFL and the National League there have been over 1,400 incidents of disorder reported including use of pyrotechnics, alcohol, pitch encroachment and hate crimes.
Sadly, there have been incidents involving Gulls’ fans, firstly at Wrexham earlier in the season and more recently the Boxing Day match against Yeovil Town.
Disorder in League 2 is up by 33% and in the National League by 56 per cent. So far this season there have been 802 football related arrests across all the divisions, that’s a 47% increase since pre-lockdown in 2019-20 season. 210 reported incidents of disorder involved supporters under the age of 25.
*************
Programmes or magazines or online programmes? You were asked your opinions, many older readers, if they bought a programme preferred the ‘old fashioned’ type - one that is up-to-date and including, amongst other things the match officials. The ‘new’ magazine seems to have to go to print much earlier for it to be ‘glossy’ and therefore is out of date.
Reader Tony Benet raised a number of interesting points, as an exile he listens to radio commentary so an online version would be welcomed - maybe paid for. But for those who still collect programmes nothing beats a hard copy.
What’s your view. Do you still collect programmes or are they outdated? Send me your opinion to: [email protected] or to Twitter: @FanszoneT
Big spending Wrexham are next up having sold out their seating allocation - a big crowd is in prospect so Yellow Army get that drum out and make some noise.
COYY
JOIN HERE - www.tust.co.uk
SUPPORT TUST - SUPPORT YOUR COMMUNITY
FAN ZONE
TUST board member and Supporter Liaison Officer Nick Brodrick's column in this week's Herald Express - updated for the latest news.
TUST MEMBERS OFF TO HOUSE OF COMMONS FOR FAN-LED REVIEW DISCUSSIONS
Following a meeting of three TUST board members with Torbay MP Kevin Foster before Christmas to discuss the implications of the Fan-Led Review report compiled by Tracey Crouch MP, a former Sports Minister, the Torquay United Supporters Trust have been invited to the House of Commons next month.
This is a great opportunity to meet with Ms Crouch in person as she is keen to understand how important her report is to a typical supporters’ trust and to learn first hand how vital it is for the sustainability and integrity of football for fans to be involved in the running of a community club.
TUST chairman Michel Thomas said, “We are delighted to have been asked to represent the hundreds of trusts who contributed to the report, to personally give our feedback.” A group of five TUST board members will be joined by Kevin Foster in March.
************
There was a great surprise for the Torquay United Community Sports Trusts’ youngsters when the 3-5 year olds arrived at The Hub, Paignton Academy for their Mini Gulls session where Thomas and board member Bob Cole of TUST, were on hand to present them with a pair of new mini- goals. See the picture below.
Matt Anthony, TUCST manager was delighted, “We are very grateful to TUST for buying these portable mini-goals which will be a great addition to our fun training sessions.”
************
This was a big weekend for two local women’s teams in the FA Cup, Exeter City’s women took the West Bromwich Albion women to penalties after finishing the match and extra time goal-less going down 4-2.
Bridgwater United, formerly Yeovil Town women, were watched by an amazing 2,500 as visitors Manchester United took the tie 2-0.
After last week’s Devon County semi-final win it was back to league action for Torquay United women coming from behind to grab a hard fought 2-1 win over Marine Academy Plymouth thanks to a Tracey Cross penalty with the winner coming from Esme Kilburn-Thompson.
*************
It was a case of a Harvey Field day as the Torquay United youngster hit a second half hat-trick in the Under-18s emphatic 10-0 demolition of second placed Swindon Supermarine with six others on the score sheet.
As Head of Youth Chris Todd said, “They’re a talented bunch of lads and it’s all down to them and their hard work on a daily basis.”
*************
It’s been a busy last few days of the January transfer window as far as a number of National League clubs are concerned although there is no transfer window below the EFL. Wrexham, in particular, have ‘splashed the American cash’ bringing in Crewe Alexander’s defender Callum McFadzean, AFC Wimbledon striker Ollie Palmer for £300,000 but topping that with an unconfirmed £500,000 for Tom O’Connor, a midfielder from Burton Albion following a 1-1 home draw with star striker Paul Mullin sent off for the second time against Maidenhead this season.
This is turning into the tightest of promotion races as there are only nine points between top and ninth.
Mullin’s red card means he’ll miss his team’s match with United on Saturday as he did in the earlier fixture for the same reason.
There were big money transfers moving up into the EFL with Woking’s leading scorer Tahvon Campbell making a move to Rochdale along with Solihull’s James Ball while Stockport’s John Rooney returned to Barrow for an undisclosed fee.
On the manager front Eastleigh’s Ben Stevens parted company with the club as has Chesterfield’s James Rowe while Bromley’s Andy Woodman turned down an offer to manage Gillingham. In League 1 Gary Johnson’s son, Lee, departed Sunderland following a 6-0 defeat at Bolton.
*************
Non-League Crowd Watch: With no Premier League matches a number of clubs had bumper attendances: Wrexham had 8,759 but full credit to Southend fans - all 1,935 who travelled to watch a 1-0 win at bottom club Dover outnumbering the home support.
Record numbers of 1,254 watched Bedford Town win 2-0 including yet another Renee Howe penalty.
Other noteworthy crowds: 8 clubs in National North had crowds of over 1,000 the best being at York City 3,578, Kidderminster Harriers 2,334. In other leagues: Macclesfield 4,347, Ilkeston Town 2,428, FC Isle of Man 1,505, Ramsgate 1,625, AFC Bury 1,343 and Ashford Utd 1,134.
**************
This season has seen a rise in football related arrests for crowd trouble which the police are part relating to drug misuse. The problem appears to have escalated since the incidents at Wembley for the Euro 2020 final when the stadium was taken over by ticketless fans.
Across the Premier League, EFL and the National League there have been over 1,400 incidents of disorder reported including use of pyrotechnics, alcohol, pitch encroachment and hate crimes.
Sadly, there have been incidents involving Gulls’ fans, firstly at Wrexham earlier in the season and more recently the Boxing Day match against Yeovil Town.
Disorder in League 2 is up by 33% and in the National League by 56 per cent. So far this season there have been 802 football related arrests across all the divisions, that’s a 47% increase since pre-lockdown in 2019-20 season. 210 reported incidents of disorder involved supporters under the age of 25.
*************
Programmes or magazines or online programmes? You were asked your opinions, many older readers, if they bought a programme preferred the ‘old fashioned’ type - one that is up-to-date and including, amongst other things the match officials. The ‘new’ magazine seems to have to go to print much earlier for it to be ‘glossy’ and therefore is out of date.
Reader Tony Benet raised a number of interesting points, as an exile he listens to radio commentary so an online version would be welcomed - maybe paid for. But for those who still collect programmes nothing beats a hard copy.
What’s your view. Do you still collect programmes or are they outdated? Send me your opinion to: [email protected] or to Twitter: @FanszoneT
Big spending Wrexham are next up having sold out their seating allocation - a big crowd is in prospect so Yellow Army get that drum out and make some noise.
COYY
JOIN HERE - www.tust.co.uk
SUPPORT TUST - SUPPORT YOUR COMMUNITY
Official Account of Torquay United Supporters Trust
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