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11th 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.

TORQUAY TOM OUTSHINES THE WREXHAM MILLIONS AS JOHNSON’S MASTER PLAN PAYS OFF

There have been matches when managers have got their tactics completely wrong and suffered inglorious defeats but on Saturday when high spending Wrexham came into Torbay, Gary Johnson got his spot on.

Playing skipper Asa Hall much deeper was a master stroke but wouldn’t have worked had the rest as a whole ‘run their socks off’ because this was an heroic performance for 97 minutes.

It was fitting that Hall should not only be the match winner but also Man of the Match although many of us in the Family Stand would have given it to the ever calm and assured under pressure, Dean Moxey.

A word too about the referee, Aji Ajibola, who for the most part had a good game, not something that could be said about many match officials this season.

On that showing who would you have in your mid-field, Tom Lapslie, a free signing from Colchester United, or Tom O’Connor, £500,000 from Burton Albion? Congratulations to Torquay Tom for being included in the Non-League Paper’s Team of the Day, he’s the epitome of a professional footballer from a bygone era: a ‘proper’ haircut, shirt always tucked in, socks pulled up with black boots - and never gives up. Shaun MacDonald was in the Vanarma Team of the Week.

And never giving up is what the manager is instilling into his players as the dream of making the play offs continues. This week sees the Gulls making the long trip to luckless Dover currently on minus 40 goal difference with only one win all season but as Johnson is always keen to point out, beware the wounded animal.

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National League Crowd Watch: Notts County v Grimsby pulled in 9,305 helped by an amazing 2,454 away fans, Stockport had an impressive 7,269, manager-less Chesterfield 6,063 and Torquay United 3,181 not, as might have been expected, their highest gate of the season.

In National South second placed Maidstone Utd had 2,450 while Dulwich Hamlet had another full house with their regular 3,334 and in the North Hereford were watched by 2,019.

National North Kidderminster Harriers were minutes away from an FA Cup shock from knocking out Premier West Ham United but it wasn’t to be, however step forward the last non-league team Boreham Wood, with three ex-Gulls, winning 1-0 at Championship AFC Bournemouth to give them a 5th Round tie at Everton; what a performance! That’s now five cup games without conceding a goal. Let’s hope their eye is on the prize when they come to Plainmoor later this month.

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Last week’s story about increasing fan mis-behaviour took another turn with alleged racial abuse of the match referee from the Wrexham fans at Plainmoor. The match was also halted following a coin thrown onto the pitch. Trouble also on Saturday in a League 1 fixture when leaders Rotherham, winning 1-0 at the time, gave away a penalty to visitors Accrington Stanley in the 88th minute. As the kick was about to be taken a home fan rushed onto the pitch to kick the ball off the spot, he was duly chased and apprehended. Once the game re-commenced, the penalty was missed with the result ending 1-0.

And on Sunday a Leicester fan ran on the pitch to confront the Nottingham Forest players celebrating a goal.

Clearly the FA and the police are going to have to start taking stronger measures.

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The history of football broadcasting is about to enter a new chapter, For some time this column has been reporting that BT was about to sell off its sports section. Early favourite was the Discovery channel but more recently streaming company Dazn took over but now the word is BT is going into a partnership with Discovery.

The story of football on TV is an interesting one: initially Sky Sports had the monopoly until 2007 when the European Commission ruled that the Premier League had to sell off some of its packages.

First up to take advantage was Setanta who took on 42 Premier matches per season plus Conference (now National League) matches. But their involvement only lasted three years after running out of money. ESPN then stepped into the void before BT took over in 2013.

Discovery purchased Eurosport in 2012 covering the Tokyo Olympics and currently running a streaming service, with Dazn, in Germany.

One concern is that these streaming services have a record of increasing subscriptions. So, if this merger between BT Sport and Discovery is set to take place, let’s hope the National League, as General Manager Mark Ives told us last week, are re-negotiating their contract - and this time to include live streaming for member clubs.

All this comes at a time when watching live sport on BBC is becoming a thing of the past. Those who are reluctant to pay for their live games are, unfortunately, the losers.

Back in 1992 the BBC had the rights to 17 of the 22 elite sports and sharing three more but now they have the rights to none and only a share in eight - and it’s all down to money, or rather the lack of it.

Most of the major events still shown by the BBC are those preserved by law for free-to-air coverage.

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Esme Kilburn-Thompson kept her record of scoring in every game since her transfer netting the only goal in Torquay United Women’s 1-0 victory over visitors Forest Green Rovers Women, all this on a Sunday when leaders Sherborne Town lost; it’s tight at the top of the table.

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Last week’s column about match programmes has confirmed that printed ones are not only alive and well but also still avidly collected. Some even have ingenious names: Farnham ‘The Talk of the Town’, Truro City ‘The Roar’, Fawley ‘The Oilers’, Morpeth Town ‘The Highwaymen’ and Bridgnorth ‘The Meadowmen’.

So, are United likely to reach the play-offs, yes or no? Send your prediction to: [email protected] or to Twitter: @FanszoneT.

To the Yellow Army travelling, safe journey to Dover.

COYY

JOIN HERE - www.tust.co.uk

SUPPORT TUST - SUPPORT YOUR COMMUNITY

18th 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.

CAN UNITED’S CURRENT FORM TAKE THEM INTO THE PLAY-OFFS? AND TIME FOR FAN COACHING?

Last week readers were asked about Torquay United’s chances of making the play-offs with seventeen games left. It’s fair to say that a month ago there were more who said a resounding ‘no’ but a look at United’s recent form has seen a turnaround in opinion.

Although it would have been a massive shock and disappointment had the Gulls lost at relegation bound Dover on Saturday, they came away from Kent with a comfortable 3-1 victory which, by all accounts, should have been more comprehensive.

So, here are the facts. United are six points off the last play-off place and given their wretched start that in itself is no mean feat. They are fourth in the current form table, having only lost once in the last six notching thirteen points from a possible eighteen.

Three out of the next four fixtures are at home, including FA Cup giants Boreham Wood. On the negative side a number of teams around and above United have games in hand, Boreham Wood for example have as many as five but points already accumulated can be of greater value in the long term than matches still to play.

Gary Johnson has said there’s always a team that “comes out of the pack” to surprise everyone so in that category don’t discount Southend whose start was even worse than Torquay’s and Southend, under new management, after a late 3-2 win at Woking on Saturday night, are unbeaten in their last nine.

With only six points between top and fifth, and nine points between top and seventh it promises to be the closest most exciting end to a season. Down to thirteenth there are ten former Football League clubs battling it out with ‘never been in the EFL’ Bromley and Boreham Wood in with a great chance to follow Sutton United who themselves are in the frame for promotion out of League 2.

With all these former League clubs, many of whom are pulling in regular gates higher than those in League 2, and many in League 1, the case for an extra promotion place gains momentum by the week.

On Saturday Asa Hall led by example once again with a quick-fire goal; his experience and leadership are a cornerstone of the club. Congratulations to Connor Lemonheigh-Evans for making the Non-League Paper’s ‘Team of the Day’ and the Vanarama ‘Team of the Week’.

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Non-League Crowd Watch: Tuesday night’s top of the table National League clash between Stockport County and Chesterfield, finishing 2-2, was watched by 10,236 ( 1,581 away) and Southend defeated Bromley 2-0 in front of 8,070.

In the Northern Premier Scarborough had 1,615. On Saturday ex-EFL Macclesfield, on their journey back up the leagues, currently in the North West Counties Premier, had 3,745 to see them win 4-0.

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Following a number of disgraceful scenes at various grounds up and down the country the Premier League and EFL wrote to all their member clubs telling them they were carrying out a mid-season review of crowd behaviour, “to determine whether there were any common patterns or issues across football clubs and, in turn, how best to address any identified issues.”

There is a growing concern in football circles of a return to the terrible times of the 1970s and 80s. Even at Plainmoor this season there have been some unsavoury incidents which have been the subject of investigations but, as yet, with no outcomes. Surely, to deter others, we need to know if those responsible have been apprehended and suitably punished, for example, with banning orders.

Then there was disgraceful vandalism at Barnet on Saturday following the visit of local rivals Wealdstone.

But in the longer term are banning orders sufficient deterrents? Should there be stronger sanctions? Points deducted? A Fan Behaviour Charter?

In Belgium they have a ‘fan coaching’ programme, teaching children from a young age not just how to play the game but, crucially, how to watch it, how to respect the opposition and the referee.

Now there’s a challenge for clubs and schools to set up.

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What’s happened to United’s third choice keeper, Marcin Brzozowski, a summer signing from QPR? He went on loan as an emergency loan to Lee Mansell’s Gloucester City in their FA Trophy 5-0 defeat to Wrexham in December but since has neither played a game nor been on their subs’ bench.

So, where is he?

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Torquay United’s Women went top of the table following their 5-0 win over the women from Royal Wootton Bassett with inevitably Esme Kilburn-Thompson once again amongst the scorers aided by Ellie Bishop (2), Beth Everson and Katie Bariball also on the score sheet.

Meanwhile United’s Under-18s are homing in on a title challenge in the South-West Counties Youth League after an 11-0 demolition of Wimborne Town with Brandon Quinn grabbing a hat-trick.

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Commiserations to the ‘other’ Yellows as Buckland Athletic were moments away from a famous FA Vase win going out on penalties. But good news for Tim Sills’ Hamworthy United going through to face Southall in the Vase Quarter-Finals.

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So, 65% of replies feel that a play-off place is a possibility and with 51 points still available United’s current form suggests they can give it a good go.

Next up are Barnet who are on a wretched run losing five of their last six followed by the meanest defence in the league, Boreham Wood next Tuesday.

Who’s your standout player so far? Asa Hall, Joe Lewis, Armani Little, Shaun MacDonald? Send your choice to: [email protected] or to Twitter: @FanszoneT.

COYY

JOIN HERE - www.tust.co.uk

SUPPORT TUST - SUPPORT YOUR COMMUNITY

25th 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.

BARNET PARTY POOPERS AT IT AGAIN BUT UNITED TAKE A DESERVED POINT AGAINST FA CUP GIANT KILLERS

Why do football fans keep following their team week in week out even when results aren’t what’s expected? Because following your team is a way of life, it’s part of your DNA.

Take Saturday’s match against Barnet. The visitors on a wretched run of five defeats from the last six while Torquay United were riding on the crest of a wave with only one defeat from the last six, then along comes Storm Eunice to upset the apple cart.

Fortunately the pitch was fine and no structural damage unlike our friends up the road! But those irritating Bees from London came to spoil United’s surge towards the play-offs as they did last season when the Gulls were trying to catch Sutton United at the top.

In fact the last time United beat Barnet at Plainmoor was a 3-2 League 2 fixture in 2013.

On Saturday United, thanks to Connor Lemonheigh-Evans in the Non-League Paper’s Team of the Day for the second consecutive week, raced into a 2-0 lead but a goal by the visitors in strange circumstances, against the run of play, gave them the impetus to press on and in the end either side could have claimed all three points.

Torquay were grateful to keeper Shaun MacDonald for a great save right at the death when Louis Walsh was denied in a one-on-one - it was a no from him. While most people’s Man of the Match, the Duke, blazed over the bar when he could have made a name for himself, well even more than his impressive one!

In the end Torquay had too many key players below standard so needed to up their game on Tuesday night against promotion chasing Boreham Wood who went down 2-0 in front of the BT Sport cameras at Maidenhead last Saturday.

They do, though, still have one of the meanest defences conceding only seventeen goals from their 26 games. Could the Yellow Army hope that Tuesday’s visitors had Everton on their minds next week? Though promotion is surely their priority? So, a 0-0 scoreless draw was probably not a surprise.

Like most United fans feel surely now is the time to bring a striker on loan while there is still a possibility of making the top seven.

Meanwhile there is a train of thought that if Torquay can finish the season in the top ten then that would suggest a real promotion push for next season.

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Non-League Crowd Watch: In mid-week the local derby between Kidderminster and Hereford, won by the home side 3-0, was watched by 3,912. On Saturday 7,391 saw Chesterfield lose 3-2 to Solihull Moors, 6,820 helped leaders Stockport County to a 1-0 win and in National South Dulwich Hamlet pulled in 2,843.

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The time is coming for the Government to back Tracey Crouch’s Fan-Led Review. Apart from those in the Premier League who are opposed to an independent regulator, there are more, especially supporters’ trusts, who are in favour of the review’s recommendations.

Crouch’s suggestion is for a new body that would recruit up to 50 staff, with initial investment of £5million from the Treasury, repayable by clubs. The regulator would oversee the governance and financial arrangements of clubs. To get around any objections and potential hold-ups, the regulator could come under the remit of the FA.

If all goes according to plan the Fan-Led Review could be in operation for the start of the 2023-2024 season. An FA spokesman said, “We welcome the findings of the Fan-Led Review and are evaluating possible solutions to the issues identified in the report.”

It was 20 years ago, in 2002, when Wimbledon fans, the Dons’ Trust, decided to set up AFC Wimbledon after their club was moved to Milton Keynes.

Other fans’ trusts, out of necessity over the years, have taken over their clubs, in the EFL Exeter City and Newport County while in non-league we have examples at Bury, Halifax and Macclesfield. Out of adversity these trusts have provided expertise as fans often have greater leadership and knowledge than the clubs’ directors. The Fan-Led Review wants to give supporters a greater say in the running of their clubs.

As the Daily Telegraph’s football correspondent Jim White writes, “If club owners had any sense, instead of viewing their customers as mere pockets from which to extract cash, they really ought to tap into their expertise.”

He goes on, “Liaise with them rather than patronise them.” Football League clubs have admitted representatives into their boardrooms including Luton, Portsmouth and Wycombe.

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For some time grass-roots referees have been calling for the introduction of body cameras to act as a deterrent against aggression and the occasional violence but to do so requires a change to the laws of the game.

But maybe some help is at hand as the FA has made the proposal to the International Football Association Board (IFAB). At the moment the IAFB only allows refs to wear communication head-sets and fitness monitoring equipment but the proposal is on the agenda for March. The hope is there will be permission given to trial the body cameras - and not before time many would say.

With Covid restrictions now eased TUST asks, on behalf of the club’s supporters, that entry into the ground is reviewed; why can’t card readers be available on the turnstiles and end all these deadlines for buying a ticket which can still be done online. The club might find attendances increase as a result.

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No Torquay United Women’s result to report as Sunday’s match was postponed due to the weather as the team looked to consolidate their top spot. Next week they travel to Royal Wootton Bassett.

In the last two games at Plainmoor players have suffered head injuries yet after receiving treatment have been allowed to continue. With continuing concerns about footballers suffering dementia from heading how long will it take for the FA to introduce HIA (Head Injury Assessment) as seen in rugby?

90% of replies have so far voted Joe Lewis the standout player of the season so far but there’s still time for your vote at: [email protected] or Twitter: @FanszoneT.

Sadly, no spectators at Wealdstone tomorrow but at least there’s free live streaming to watch the 5.15pm kick-off.

COYY

JOIN HERE - www.tust.co.uk

SUPPORT TUST - SUPPORT YOUR COMMUNITY

3rd March 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.

UNITED’S PLAY-OFF PUSH IS FLAGGING AS LINESMAN RULES OUT THE WINNER = BUT OH FOR A STRIKER

As a former, popular game show host asked, ‘What do points mean? Prizes’. Torquay United’s quest for a play-off place took another knock with a third consecutive draw inside a week.

Following a frustrating 2-2 draw at home to Barnet, United followed this Plainmoor disappointment with a 0-0 with FA Cup giant killers Boreham Wood and good luck to them at Everton tonight.

Then, watched by an impressive 2,700 on the free YouTube channel on Saturday evening Gary Johnson’s side contrived to drop another two points at Wealdstone. Despite bossing the first half the Gulls went down a goal and ended up chasing the game although were denied a late 87th minute ‘Gary Time’ winner in controversial circumstances. Keeper Shaun MacDonald made the Vanarama Team of the Week.

What these three games have underlined, should any confirmation be needed, is the side’s woeful lack of a striker as Johnson has alluded to on more than one occasion recently. Danny Wright is clearly not the player he once was while Klaidi Lolos is sadly out of his depth.

Against Barnet and Wealdstone Torquay dominated both first halves but came out after half-time on the back foot, rarely getting out of their own half. Whilst against Boreham Wood, the side with the meanest defence, once the line-up had Asa Hall in the back four, his presence there showed it was a ‘backs to the wall’ approach sacrificing any real attacking intent - no wonder it ended goalless.

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So, is it the end of gate crashing a top seven place? The manager keeps talking about some new blood but games - and points - are running out.

However, if you look at the table for games played in 2022, there is still hope and would be enhanced were a striker to be signed.

2022 table (before Tuesday night’s fixtures):

1. Stockport P10 W9 D1 L0 Pts 28

2. Southend P10 W7 D3 L0 Pts 24

3. Boreham Wood P9 W5 D3 L1 Pts 18

4. Chesterfield P11 W5 D3 L3 Pts 18

5. Notts County P9 W5 D2 L2 Pts 17

6. Grimsby P10 W5 D2 L3 Pts 17

7. Solihull Moors P8 W5 D2 L1 Pts 17

8. Torquay United P9 W4 D4 L1 Pts 16

9. Wrexham P8 W5 D1 L2 Pts 16

10. Maidenhead P9 W4 D4 L1 Pts 16

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It came as a bolt out of the blue especially to the Yellow Army who had already purchased train tickets, match tickets and in some cases hotel stays when, on Thursday, it was announced that Saturday’s match at Wealdstone, due to safety concerns, would be played behind closed doors.

TUST held a phone conversation on Friday with Mark Ives, the National League General Manager who gave credit to the two clubs, the match officials and BT for arranging for the game to be live streamed.

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National League Crowd Watch: Title hopefuls had home wins with large attendances - Wrexham 8,745, Stockport 7,418, Chesterfield 5,371. Don’t discount Southend bursting into the play-off group after a home draw with Solihull in front of 6,607.

Elsewhere, York City had 3,621, 3,141 at Woking who sacked manager Alan Dowson on Monday, Dorking Wanderers 2,898 and 2,395 at the Isle of Man.

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Torbay Council leader Steve Darling and his deputy Darren Cowell have been sharing their vision for their ongoing regeneration programme for The Bay.

Work is being prepared for along The Strand, restoration works for the Pavilion as well as using the Future High Street Fund, the Government’s £830m contribution to regenerate High Streets in the UK.

The two council leaders are supporting the Building a Greater Torbay Campaign, “So that we can work with the entirety of the Bay - residents, businesses and statutory agencies - to ensure that collectively we build a greater Torbay.”

So, United fans will be asking does this include a new stadium - and if so, where?

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A couple of weeks ago this column suggested a ‘fan coaching’ programme as used in Belgium, after further incidents of fan misbehaviour. Following the alleged racial abuse of the referee at the recent Wrexham game at Plainmoor, TUST asks the club to become involved with the ‘Kick It Out’ campaign as it has done with ‘HerGameToo’ and AndysManClub. A promotion of this at a forthcoming home fixture, with some perimeter advertising boards, would help drive home the message.

Wigan are advertising for a ‘supporter engagement officer’ whose job, amongst many, would include ‘deliver fun and promotional activities, plan and manage a Junior Supporter Engagement event per season, support the club’s Equality and Diversity Action Plan and recruit a team of volunteer Supporter Liaison Officers, who would act as first point of contact for first time visitors to the ground’.

Kick It Out aims to tackle all forms of discrimination and unfair practices and conduct at all levels of football.

There is an urgent review going on between the Premier League and the English Football League into how football can combat the growing number of anti-social behaviours at matches at all levels, so wouldn’t it be timely for community based Torquay United to take on board the Kick It Out campaign?

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United’s Women’s team stay top of the table following Sunday’s 3-1 victory at Royal Wootton Bassett thanks to goals from Ellie Bishop her 17th of the season, recently signed Tracey Cross from Plymouth Argyle and Beth Everson. This Sunday sees them travel to title rivals Sherborne.

TUST sends best wishes to everyone at Bury AFC, the Fans’ group Est.1885, who have purchased their stadium Gigg Lane and the trading name Bury FC.

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Joe Lewis remains the most popular stand out player from your votes. This week is it chase the play-offs or prepare for next season now? Send your opinion to: [email protected] or Twitter: @FanszoneT

Next up at Plainmoor are Bromley who have lost two and drawn one of their last three.

And how about Torquay flying the Ukrainian flag, blue and yellow, on the corner posts?

COYY

JOIN HERE - www.tust.co.uk

SUPPORT TUST - SUPPORT YOUR COMMUNITY

11th March 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.

FAREWELL FRANK O’FARRELL A TRUE TORQUAY LEGEND ON A WEEKEND WHEN FOOTBALL STANDS TOGETHER

One of the joys of sitting in the Family Stand right in front of the Directors’ Box is chatting to those behind us and in recent years it has been a privilege to chat to a real Torquay legend in Frank O’Farrell who sadly passed away at the age of 94 on Sunday.

Even in his later years he still had pertinent comments about what he’d been watching and in his Irish brogue he was full of banter and happy chat; he very kindly signed his book, ‘All Change At Old Trafford, The Frank O’Farrell story’ to me. The book tells the story of Frank, an Irish choirboy from Cork who began his working life as a railway engine cleaner and went on to find fame and fortune as the manager of Manchester United.

Fittingly, ‘his’ seat in the Directors’ Box is now sat in by Robin Stubbs.

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It was a day of reflection at Plainmoor on Saturday as the 2,350 (including 141 from Bromley) stood as one to show solidarity for Ukraine with a minute’s applause. Fittingly Torquay United in their yellow and blue kit held the Ukrainian flag as they entered the pitch - a flag which was adopted in 1848 with its two horizontal bands representing the landscape and good harvests, sunflowers and wheat.

The giant scoreboard at the Babbacombe end carried the blue and yellow colours with the banner ‘Football Stands Together’. Could this be a moment to not only reflect on the shocking war images on our TV screens every day but also on the current distasteful fan misbehaviour? It would be good to think so.

And well done to Kevin Hill’s Exmouth Town who have announced they will play in their away kit, yellow and blue, for all their remaining fixtures this season.

With all this in mind it was as if the football was secondary and for the second home game in a row it ended goalless. The two managers after the match conceded their sides lacked quality in the final third as both teams had no cutting edge up front although Shaun MacDonald, surely Man of the Match, had plenty to do, was named in the Non-League Paper’s Team of the Day and for the second week running in the Vanarama Team of the Week.

With the Ukrainian flag now a symbol of defiance, of pride and relentless determination, this attitude could sum up Torquay’s performance following Joe Lewis’ rightful red card sending off leaving the Gulls having to play with a man short for over half the match; only a one game ban.

They might even have won the game if they had a clinical striker on the pitch. Week after week this missing link becomes more and more obvious as the games slip away as does the hope of breaking into a play-off place. Oh for a Tim Sills, Jamie Reid or even Rene Howe, who notched his 25th goal of the season, another penalty, in Bedford Town’s 4-0 home win keeping them top of the Southern League Division 1 Central.

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No rightful thinking supporter can, on reflection, blame their team’s woeful performances on the match officials but Torquay’s last four games seem to have seen the worst in debatable decision making.

The worst criticism are the inconsistencies with decision making and bookings, so much so that we are told that National League managers across the division are as one condemning the poor standard.

Take Saturday’s man in the middle, Mr Marsden, who has sent off five players in his last eight games, who missed so much through poor positioning, often having his back to the play.

What is disappointing is that officials are unaccountable after a game for their decision making no matter how much managers try as Gary Johnson well knows - he’s still waiting for a response from the play-off final! And even if there was VAR in the National League - could the ‘winning’ goal at Wealdstone last Saturday have been given? - Everton’s ‘penalty’ against Manchester City was missed denying them a point which might be the difference between staying up or relegation. To be told afterwards it was a mistake and should have been awarded is little consolation.

As Johnson says, with the National League no different from the EFL, why can’t league referees be used in the National League rather than those at this level waiting to be promoted?

The general consensus of opinion in the Family Stand is that spectators use their hard earned money to pay to watch a football match not the referee taking centre stage.

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Non-League Crowd Watch: Crowd of the day was at Macclesfield with 4,002 watching a 3-1 home win, if they won last night’s match they could be one win away from promotion from the North West Counties Premier on their journey back to the promised land. Another team on the brink of promotion, Worthing, in the Isthmian Premier, drew a crowd of 2,347 at Lewes, their highest for 70 years.

In the National League big crowds again at Notts County 6,943, Chesterfield 6,625, Grimsby 5,423 and in National South second placed Maidstone won 3-2 in front of 2,222.

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With games running out at the business end of the season who could be joining the Gulls next season? Several teams have flirted with relegation over the course of this campaign, amongst them Colchester, Carlisle and even Bristol Rovers but currently it’s looking like Scunthorpe are heading for the drop propping up the table with a miserly twenty four points. Above them are Oldham but it could be a contest between them Barrow, Stevenage, Leyton Orient and Colchester all four of whom have tasted non-league football in their recent histories.

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Meanwhile, United’s women’s team is supplying the Devon FA Women’s Under-18 squad to play Cornwall with Ellie Bishop, Alice Gue, Emma Hunt, Scarlett McMahon and Esme Kilburn-Thompson.

In an important top-of-the-table clash on Sunday United Women went down 1-0 at challengers Sherborne Ladies dropping to second behind Ilminster Ladies who have three games in hand.

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55% of supporters feel Torquay should be looking ahead to a promotion push for next season but the others are clinging on to a play-off hope. So, this Saturday’s trip to King’s Lynn is crucial where only three points will be good enough.

How should the club remember and celebrate Frank O’Farrell? Naming a stand in his name? Send your view to: [email protected] or Twitter: @FanszoneT

COYY

JOIN HERE - www.tust.co.uk

SUPPORT TUST - SUPPORT YOUR COMMUNITY

16th March 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 REPRESENTS SOUTH WEST SUPPORTERS’ TRUSTS ON HISTORIC DAY AT WESTMINSTER

There’s no hiding from the fact that football cannot pretend the war in Ukraine is nothing to do with us especially now that Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich has been made to sell the club, bringing the atrocities closer to home. This comes at a time when Tracey Crouch’s Fan-Led Review, a key part is beefing up the owners’ and directors’ test, is seeking to receive legislation through Parliament later this year as TUST found out on Tuesday when five board members travelled to Westminster on the historic day when the House of Commons was packed to hear the Ukrainian President address MPs.

The delegation, led by chairman Michel Thomas, met former Minister for Sport Tracey Crouch author of the review into football governance, thanks to arrangements made by Torbay MP Kevin Foster, who also attended.

Crouch revealed the Government is working hard to put together legislation in time for the Queen’s Speech in May and is expected to issue a response to the report within the next few weeks.

The TUST members, wearing their United scarves, attracted much attention in the capital as the yellow and blue matched with the Ukrainian colours. We were there representing hundreds of other supporters’ trusts especially the South West group - Exeter City, Plymouth Argyle, Bristol City, Hereford FC, Yeovil Town - of which TUST are co-founders.

The crucial part of the review recommendations, the glue which will keep it on track, is the creation of an independent regulator. Crouch said it would be made up of people not from football adding,”I believe one should be established to address issues that are most relevant to the risks to the game.”

She also spoke about the importance of a shadow board, made up of a mix of fans, but would not be able to be involved in football matters. This would help those trusts experiencing dysfunctional relationships with their clubs. Crouch mentioned the Golden Share Content which will allow fans a say in a club’s colours, name change or stadium relocation, and its membership would contain trust members, season ticket holders and any fan who’s been to a game in the past year.

We were encouraged by the MPs positivity in the hour long session but urge as many as possible to download (www.tust.co.uk) our template letter to send to your MP.

Nick's article about the delegation from last Sunday's Non-League Paper is reproduced below and a full report on the meeting with Tracey Crouch MP will be sent at the weekend.

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There was 100% response and agreement that the club should honour the life of Frank O’Farrell with the majority opting for a stand to be named in his honour. It would be fitting if the club announced their decision in time for the visit of Weymouth from where O’Farrell joined the Gulls.

In his biography O’Farrell told how he was preparing for another season at Weymouth when he had a call from then chairman Tony Boyce to meet him and his wife in an Exeter hotel for a meal. “Mr Boyce offered me an attractive package and he seemed like a decent bloke.”

It was during O’Farrell’s tenure that Saturday evening football was introduced, Boyce’s idea, but although the matches were well supported they did have an effect on the football pools.

During his four seasons at Plainmoor, 1965-1968, he brought in so many quality players namely John Bond, Ken Brown, Bill Kitchener, Tony Scott, John Smith, Doug Clarke, John Benson, Ronnie Barnes, Jim Fryatt, Jimmy Dunne- what a list! No wonder United were promoted to Division Three in 1965-66.

Of Robin Stubbs he had this to say, ”He was strong, quick and good in the air and I think he still could have been playing at a higher level. He was a single lad, something of a personality in the town, and very popular with the ladies!” And that sums up O’Farrell mischievous impish Irish personality.

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Three much needed points at King’s Lynn on Saturday, no Gary Johnson with Aaron Downes in charge, eight points adrift of the play-offs and with twelve matches left. It’s going to take no more losses, more wins plus others slipping up to gatecrash a place.

A Danny Wright brace, seeing him named in the Non-League Paper’s Team of the Day and the Vanarama Team of the Week plus one from the ever improving and popular, The Duke, helped United over a battling home side not pleased with the referee’s performance - not another one!

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For those wondering where he is - and hankering for his return - Sinclair Armstrong played 90 minutes for QPR ‘B’ in a behind-closed-doors friendly at Aldershot on Saturday. The Shots won 4-0.

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Non-League Crowd Watch: Pride of place goes to Macclesfield whose 4-0 win over Ashton Athletic clinched the North West Counties Premier title in front of 4,604 as they maKe their way back up the pyramid.

In midweek the clash between Southend and Grimsby was watched by 7,205 but 8,705 saw Wrexham win 4-2 over visitors Boreham Wood.

In the FA Vase Littlehampton progressed into the semi-finals in front of 2,245 joining Tim Sills’ Hamworthy United who won 7-6 on penalties.

Talking of spot kicks a new record was set last week in a match between Washington FC and Bedlington Terriers in Sunderland after the teams finished 3-3. Washington ended up winning 25-24 taking 45 minutes - the 54 penalties outnumbering the attendance of 40.

And spare a thought for Dover’s fans - only 15 made it to Halifax to watch another defeat.

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It was a weekend double for United’s Under-18s and thanks to goals from Lewis Brooks, Callum Thomas and Theo Cadby the team are just one point away from claiming the South West Counties Youth title with two games remaining after a 3-2 win over challengers Bridgwater Town.

As manager Chris Todd said, ”We’re in a very strong position, it’s pleasing that the boys are progressing.

Then on Sunday a 7-1 victory over Plymouth Parkway, helped by a Jayden Gilbert treble, took Todd’s side into the Devon FA Youth Cup Final next month.

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For next season what playing position is your priority signing? Send your choice to: [email protected] or Twitter: @FanszoneT

Another away trip to Halifax coming up- safe travel to the Yellow Army.

COYY

Here is the full version of Nick Brodrick's article in last Sunday's Non-League Paper

Despite the ongoing priority of the war in Ukraine the Government is working hard to put together legislation for the recommendations in the Fan-Led Review in time for the Queen’s Speech to Parliament in May according to Tracey Crouch MP.

Crouch, a former Minister for Sport, told five board members from the Torquay United Supporters’ Trust (TUST) in a meeting at the House of Commons on Tuesday, “The Government accepts all the ideas in my report.”

She is also expecting the Government to issue a response to the report within the next few weeks along with important news from the Football Supporters’ Association (FSA).

TUST board members, invited to meet Tracey Crouch through Torbay MP Kevin Foster, travelled to London from Devon wearing their Torquay scarves, yellow and blue, on a day when the Ukrainian President addressed a packed Parliament straight after our Fan-Led Review meeting.

Our scarves attracted much attention as they are, of course, identical to the Ukrainian flag.

Crouch was interested to learn about how her review would impact on TUST and Torquay United; the group explained that whilst this was the main remit for meeting her, TUST was there representing hundreds of other supporters’ trusts, and to this end the hour long session covered the main points, eight in total, in her recommendations.

Crouch was impressed that TUST were one of the co-founders of the South West Supporters’ Trust, consisting of trusts from Exeter City, Plymouth Argyle, Bristol City, Yeovil Town and Hereford FC, the only such group in the UK. And TUST with Exeter are the co-sponsors of next month’s Devon FA Women’s Cup Final between the two sides.

TUST fully supports the introduction of an independent regulator and the creation of a Shadow Board, as Governance of football in the future is the key element of the review as Crouch acknowledges, “An independent regulator, made up of people not from the football world, is vital. I believe one should be established to address issues that are most relevant to the risks to the game.”

She revealed that the Premier League, thought to be against the idea, actually acknowledges its role but housed within the FA which may be contentious.

TUST member Bob Cole suggested an addition to recommendation 26 regarding the make-up of a Shadow Board that it, along with supporter trusts, should be registered and regulated in order to avoid club boards from hand-picking the members of a shadow board.

Crouch agreed and hoped TUST would contact the FSA, for them to look at this.

She felt a shadow board would be a better vehicle for fan engagement rather than a ‘fan director’ system which currently exists at certain clubs and would help those trusts which are experiencing dysfunctional relationships with their club owner and directors.

It would be made up of a mix of fans, like the German supervisory board, but would not be involved in football matters such as the hiring and firing of managers as in the German model. It would, though, as Crouch explained,”Need to be diverse consisting of male, female, LGBT etc.”

She was not impressed with German 50+1 idea of ownership.

She did spell out who the participants in the Golden Share Consent would be, that is fans having a say in clubs’ colours, name, stadium relocation for example, namely members of supporters’ trusts, season ticket holders and any fan who’s been to a game in the last year.

Once the review receives legislation its recommendations can be put into effect and such beneficiaries will be better corporate diversity and a fairer distribution of wealth from the Premier League downwards.


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26th March 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.

FRANK’S SAFARI TRIPS NORTH REMEMBERED AS UNITED’S HALIFAX JOURNEY ENDS AN UNBEATEN RUN

It was great that the club decided to use Tuesday night’s match against Aldershot to celebrate the life of Frank O’Farrell with his family specially invited, although it might have been more appropriate had it waited for Saturday’s visit of Weymouth, O’Farrell’s first team in his management career.

Never-the-less, there’s no doubting his importance in the history of The Gulls. He had a good sense of humour and would have had some choice views on Chelsea complaining about the Government’s sanctions limiting them to £20,000 to travel north to play Middlesborough in their FA Cup match on Saturday, sanctions which were subsequently lifted. £20,000?

In his biography he recounts a trip to Hartlepool,“Back then there were no motorways like there are today, we used to leave on a Friday morning and travel north, meandering along the old A5 and A6 roads. On our return after the match we would sometimes stop over in Leeds on the Saturday night and resume our journey after breakfast on a Sunday morning, arriving back in Torquay around tea time on Sunday evening - talk about a safari.” Many National League sides have to make these kinds of trips in a day!

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On Saturday United made the long journey to FC Halifax, travelling on the Friday for an overnight stay, and outplayed their hosts for the first half but eventually going down 2-0. Halifax manager Pete Wild had this to say, “It was a game of two halves, I thought they got their plan excellently well against us first half. I thought they frustrated us, they forced us one way. We were very fortunate to be 0-0 at half time.”

Despite the surprise signing of Opi Edwards, for his third loan at Plainmoor, Torquay could not conjure a goal. Wonder if Sinclair Armstrong would like another go too?

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Non-League Crowd Watch: In the Southern League Premier Central there was an intriguing basement battle between home side Bromsgrove Sporting, third from bottom, and bottom club Biggleswade Town, who won 1-0, in front of an amazing 1,537, that’s 300 more than Solihull Moors attracted.

Congratulations to Bracknell Town on becoming the first side in Steps 1-4 on becoming champions of Isthmian South Central with next season seeing them in the Isthmian Premier, the highest position in their club history.

Manager Bobby Wilkinson was formerly in charge at Hungerford Town before moving on to Wealdstone in National South taking them to the play-off semi-final before losing to Woking. A manager to watch.

In midweek, Stockport stayed top-of-the-table thanks to a 3-0 win over Notts County in front of 7,951 and Dagenham & Redbridge defeated Southend by the same score with 7,542 in attendance. On the same night only Swindon, with 8,243, had better gates in League 2.

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Talking of Swindon, the sale of their County Ground, in a deal worth £2.3m, was approved by Swindon Council last week.

This big step will see the transfer of the stadium from the Borough Council to a joint venture comprised of Swindon Town FC and the Swindon Town Supporters’ Trust. Both parties will own 50% of the site.

The Trusts’ half of the deal has been funded by the late Nigel Eady, a lifelong Swindon Town supporter.

A Swindon Town spokesman said, “This is another huge step towards owning our own home with our fans.” The new owners have plans to develop the ground over the coming years, upgrading stands while adding a conference centre and hotel.

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Five men have been banned from football matches for a total of 23 years for their involvement in match-day disorder during the Wrexham/Torquay fixture last October following an appearance at Wrexham Magistrates Court.

All were found guilty of throwing missiles at Gulls’ fans. The five are now banned from attending any football matches in the UK for the duration of the orders. Wonder when anything will become of the incidents on Boxing Day?

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This Saturday is Non-League Day, supporting prostate cancer uk, with the visit of Weymouth. But what is Non-League Day? It was set up in 2010 as a social media experiment by James Doe since when it has become an annual part of the football calendar, scheduled when there’s an international break, so not surprisingly it’s backed by the Premier League as well as the EFL.

So, this is your chance to visit Plainmoor, maybe for the first time, to support your local non-league team especially in the warm Torbay sunshine. And with Plymouth playing at Ipswich why not a trip up the A38 instead for the Green Army?

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Torquay United Women could only draw 1-1 at home to AFC St Austell Ladies keeping them second in the table three points adrift of Ilminster Women but having played three games more and with Sherborne Ladies breathing down their necks in third.

But good news for United’s Under-18s as after a 3-0 win over Yeovil Town they’re into their second Cup Final, this time the Gary Else Memorial thanks to goals from Lewis Brooks (2) and Ben Aldous.

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The overwhelming response to last week’s question is that United need to sign a striker for next season. And maybe, should it work out, Opi Edwards is being lined up to join on a permanent basis.

Forest Green manager Rob Edwards had this to say about Edwards’ loan, “He’s only played four games for us, so he needs to get game time for himself. He’s had a few injuries so it’s been a stop/start season for him. After four weeks, if he’s done well he’ll come back in. He deserves to go out and get some games.”

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Well done to the Yellow Army and Halifax fans for their 40th minute applause on Saturday in memory of Andrew Holland aka Westyorkshiregull.

Good on the club for sending out to season ticket holders a monthly newsletter, should be of interest to those who don’t keep up to date on events at TQ1.

Where do you see the Gulls finishing this season? Send your view to: [email protected] or Twitter: @FanszoneT

Don’t forget Non-League Day on Saturday with Weymouth.

COYY

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2nd April 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.

STUCK IN ELEVENTH TWO WINS IN A WEEK EDGE UNITED CLOSER TO THE PLAY-OFFS WITH THE TWO STEPHENS DRIVING THE TEAM ON

Two home wins inside five days, seven goals scored with none against and six valuable points as Gary Johnson’s squad chase down that elusive play-off place. It seems like the Gulls have been stuck in eleventh place for weeks but the crunch is coming with nine games left, twenty seven points at stake and there’s a key fixture looming - a home tie against sixth placed Notts County on April 9. And surely this is destined to be United’s biggest gate of the season.

No more incoming players, though, as the National League transfer window closed last Thursday.

Last Tuesday Torquay dealt comfortably with a poor, out of its depth, Aldershot and in truth the result could have been higher than 4-0. On Saturday the 3-0 victory over Weymouth looks to have been similar but the visitors can count themselves unlucky not to have scored a few themselves, in fact the stats show they had more goal attempts than United’s - double!

Weymouth boss David Oldfield had this to say, “We’re not doing that well enough. We’ve conceded too many simple goals so any good play - we did create chances and have shots - is really once the horse has bolted.”

And to be fair, credit to the away fans at the far end of Bristow’s for noisily supporting their team from start to finish.

On a sunny Torbay Tuesday evening only 1,800 attended but on Non-League Day against Weymouth an extra 700 turned up.

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Tuesday’s match was a special occasion with the game being played in memory of Frank O’Farrell with many of his family sitting in the Directors’ Box as guests and they participated in the wonderfully respectful minute’s applause. O’Farrell’s daughter revealed they had been at the previous weekend’s West Ham versus Spurs fixture. That leaves visits to Weymouth, Leicester City and Manchester United.

Sitting with them was another Torquay footballing legend, Bruce Rioch who, as well as kindly autographing matchday programmes, regaled us with his memories of life at Plainmoor and signing Dennis Bergkamp for Arsenal.

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Talking of signings, what an influential duo are Sunderland loanee Stephen Wearne, two goals in two games, much to the pleasure of his father who travels from the north to watch all his games, and Stephen Duke-McKenna ‘The Duke’ on loan from QPR who’s looking more and more like a real prospect - in fact he’s so good they should make a film about him! And he’s in the Vanarama Team of the Week.

Wearne, not only Man of the Match, was named in the Non-League Paper’s Team of the Day.

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Former United skipper Angus MacDonald, now at promotion chasing Rotherham United, has two England ‘C’ caps to his credit but not when at Plainmoor, at the time of his call-up he was at Salisbury City.

MacDonald had this to say, “England ‘C’ gives you a confidence boost and a platform” so no doubt Armani Little and Ben Wynter will both have enjoyed that honour when they stepped out on Wednesday for their international debuts against Wales but not the result.

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Non-League Crowd Watch: 8,578 watched a thriller at The Racecourse when on 63 minutes the score was an improbable Wrexham 2 and already relegated Dover 5 but after 90+8 minutes it was Wrexham 6 Dover 5.

But there was an amazing 10,334 - including 2,719 away fans - for the 1-1 draw between Notts County and Chesterfield.

National North York City had 3,317; top of the table in National South Maidstone snatched a 96th minute winner in front of 2,518. At the top of the Northern Premier South Shields, under Kevin Phillips, won 2-0 with 2,676 watching.

Well done to Bury AFC Champions of the North West Counties First Division North on their journey back up the pyramid with 1,885 cheering them on.

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Congratulation too to the Torquay United Under-18s on claiming the South West Counties Youth title following an emphatic 8-0 win over New College Swindon with four goals from Theo Cadby leading the rout. For those at Plainmoor on Saturday the Under-18 squad and management received a great half-time applause.

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This season has so far been one for refereeing standards to be heavily criticised and not just in the National League. Why is this? The Premier League introduced VAR essentially to support referees but even this has come under attack.

At Torquay there have been a number of controversial decisions but is this because referees are at fault or that the ‘average’ fan doesn’t understand the laws of the game and how they are enacted?

So, what does it take to become a referee?

The minimum age for a refereeing course is 14 with specially designed courses’ aims being to provide an introduction to the laws of the game as well as developing the practical skills required.

There are five modules to cover including: laws of the game, role of the referee, positioning and movement at set pieces/open play, managing game situations and a written element.

Then there’s the actual game situation where a trainee has six games in which to show what they’ve learnt. After that they reflect on their experiences in a three hour workshop; all candidates are re-examined within a month. Finally, there’s an annual refresher training programme.

So, after all that we would like to think competent officials will emerge, although that isn’t the case and the biggest changes to English refereeing are being drawn up by the Premier League with the introduction of the Elite Referee Development Programme to fast track the best young referees.

Currently referees trying to work their way to the top have to prove themselves in Step 2 (Nationals North & South) then Step 1, the National League, before being promoted into the national list which covers Leagues 1&2 but once in League 1 they only earn £400 a match. Whilst for those at the grass-roots refereeing is a hobby but for those who see it as a job the remuneration needs re-assessing.

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Where do you think United will finish the season was last week’s question. The optimists feel in the play-offs but others think anywhere from eighth to tenth.

This week would you become a referee yes or no? Send your view to: [email protected] or Twitter: @FanszoneT

COYY

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8th April 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.

ARE YOU ON YOUR WAY TO PLAINMOOR FOR UNITED’S BIG GAME? LAST THROW OF THE DICE FOR A PLAY-OFF PLACE?

Take your mind back….June 12 2021 in front of a restricted but noisy crowd of 1,709 in the mid-day Plainmoor sunshine with visitors Notts County in the semi-final of the National League Play-Off and of course, Torquay United’s 4-2 victory, after extra time, to go through to that Final at Ashton Gate.

Well, United have a similar task this Saturday with Notts County, minus the injured Kyle Cameron, to catch them in another play-off position and surely this time in front of Plainmoor’s highest attendance of the season - over 4,000?

With Grimsby hitting fellow title challengers Chesterfield 4-1 the gap between Gary Johnson’s side and that crucial seventh place has once again been stretched to nine points - still mathematically possible but a win on Saturday is vital - so come along and support your local team.

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Interesting how new managers can affect a team either positively or negatively. Take Darren Sarll having swapped Yeovil Town for Woking who, in his first game, went and won at Boreham Wood, their first home defeat of the season while Chesterfield’s new boss, the experienced ex-EFL manager Paul Cook, has seen his side slip from second when he took over from James Rowe, to fifth. And in that time the Spireites have only picked up twelve points from a possible thirty.

With most teams now down to single figure matches left to play, the top sides are looking at the title and play-off places.

Stockport’s title is theirs to lose so the next six have their eyes on being in the play-off mix. Those finishing second and third go straight into the semi-finals whilst fourth plays seventh on Thursday May 26 and on Wednesday May 25 fifth plays sixth in the Elimination Round. The semi-finals are on Saturday May 28 and Sunday May 29 with the Wembley Final on either Saturday June 4 or Sunday June 5.

There are big matches between now and the end of the season with top sides playing each other.

Did you see this great Tweet from Torquay United AFC Brasil? Ainda ha esperancasde conseguirmos uma vaga nos play-offs! O soho segue vivo! Vamos, reposes! Vamos, Torquay! All of which translates as : There is still hope of getting a spot in the play-offs! The dream is still alive! Let’s go guys! Come on, Torquay!

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The amount of money National League clubs spent on agents’ fees between February 2021 and January 2022 was laid out last week. United paid out £10,330 but compare this with leaders Stockport County- £131,692 - and Wrexham’s £80,284. Notable others are Notts County £53,061 and Chesterfield £45,686.

In the same period the Premier League clubs paid out £272.6m, sufficient to pay for all the wages at all twenty-four League 2 clubs’ every player, manager, coaches and all non-playing staff. No wonder part of the Fan-Led Review - there’s still time to write to your MP to support the Bill - is to ensure Premier League money is distributed fairly down the football pyramid.

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What a weekend for Non-League Crowd Watch: Little old Littlehampton Town won 4-0, to take them to Wembley for the FA Vase Final, in front of 3,200 to meet Newport Pagnell who knocked out Tim Sills’ Hamworthy Town.

Meanwhile, in the Isthmian South East Division leaders Hastings United had a remarkable 3,082 watching a 0-0 at home to Haywards Heath but 4,720 were there to see Macclesfield awarded their Championship Trophy after a 4-2 win over AFC Liverpool.

National South Maidstone stayed top after a comfortable 4-0 home win with 2,730 in attendance.

In the National League big crowds at Chesterfield 7,819, Southend 6,338 and in the FA Trophy semi-finals 8,703 at Wrexham (2-0 winners over Stockport) and Bromley 4,423 with visitors York City taking 1,011 - Bromley winning 3-1.

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What’s happened to Lucas Covolan at Port Vale? After receiving a four game ban following his sending off on January 13 against promotion rivals Swindon Town, Covolan hasn’t played since.

At the time manager Darrell Clarke said, “He has got to learn from that otherwise he won’t be staying at the club for very long.” So has he left? If so could he be a summer transfer target? He’d be a very popular returning figure.

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Gary Time? Now it’s Toddy Time! United’s Under-18s left it late, late to salvage a home draw when Jayden Gilbert’s 93rd minute goal gave the Champions a shared point with Yeovil Town. They now have two cup finals coming up to see if they can achieve a unique treble.

Talking of cup finals, United’s Women take on Exeter City’s women’s team in the Devon FA final on April 22 at Coach Road, Newton Abbot 7pm in a match jointly sponsored by TUST and the Exeter City Supporters’ Trust.

The final is hopefully going to be well supported although possibly not to the extent of last week’s record breaking attendance of 91,553 at the Nou Camp to witness Barcelona’s 5-2 victory over rivals Real Madrid to go through to the finals of the Women’s Champions League. Well maybe Coach Road doesn’t hold as many as that!

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Iran, USA and one other out of Scotland, Wales or Ukraine must give England a World Cup draw of dreams and a really strong chance to get out of the group stage in November. What could go wrong?

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Would you become a referee was last week’s question. Not many takers saying yes I’m afraid but hats off to those who do and often put themselves in line for unwarranted abuse; having refereed at school level, parents on the touchline are one of the worst.

With the Premier League going to five substitutes from next season should the National League do the same? Send your view to: [email protected] or Twitter: @FanszoneT

This Saturday is a big game so make sure you get your ticket in time and get behind the team.

COYY

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14th April 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.

THREE AND EASY FOR CONNOR THANKS TO A LITTLE HELP FROM HIS FRIENDS IN THE PLAINMOOR SUNSHINE

Wish you’d been there? If ever a match at Plainmoor deserved a bigger crowd Saturday was it. 3,130 including 577 away fans witnessed six spectacular goals in the Torbay sunshine. Although the goal highlights are there to be seen it’s not quite the same as being able to say ‘I was there’.

Only another fifty watched the Wrexham match on February 6 when Torquay United’s 1-0 win took them to eleventh place where they were to stay for two months before moving to tenth after Saturday but still below the highest of the season so far - the Boxing Day clash with Yeovil where 3,830 attended.

Whilst United edge closer to the play-offs surely Gary Johnson’s team deserve bigger numbers through the gates - what could be better than an afternoon outdoors in the Spring sunshine? And on Easter Monday you have a chance to come out in numbers to join those local clubs and teams who can take advantage of free tickets on the club’s newest Community Day. For further details contact [email protected]. or phone 01803 328666.

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Back to the visit of Notts County who, after a 3-0 victory at Southend last time out must have thought their journey to Devon was going to be a formality and as manager Ian Burchnall said after the game, “It feels like we came here thinking we’re comfortable in the play-offs and then we got a shock.”

The shock was high voltage with man of the match performances from skipper Armani Little (until he handed over the armband when Asa Hall came on) and hat-trick hero Connor Lemonheigh-Evans - both of whom were not surprisingly named in the Non-League Paper’s Team of the Day with Gary Johnson the Top Boss - and in the Vanarama Team of the Week.

Connor’s trio of goals were the first since October 2020 when Danny Wright hit three at Hartlepool. Next target has to be four and the last time a United player achieved this feat was March 1987 when Paul Dobson netted four against Halifax. Connor’s three took his Torquay career total to 30.

The afternoon began with a quality 12th goal of the season from Armani Little setting the standard for the rest to follow and boy they didn’t disappoint - Little’s second and the Gulls’ fifth was an audacious dink over the approaching keeper - what a cheeky finish!

In-between were three superb strikes for the Lemon who rightly took home the match ball.

If you want more of the same make your way to Plainmoor on Easter Monday.

That United won at a canter on Grand National Day was a happy co-incidence but no thanks to a bizarre refereeing display from James Durkin who found it necessary to book a total of seven players, five of whom were Torquay’s, no wonder the standard of the officials in the National League was a topic in this column two weeks ago.

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So, what chance do the Gulls have of reaching seventh place? Well, it still remains in their own hands and Johnson was clearly upset by some fans when he wrote in his programme notes: “I’m sorry to hear that people feel that my comments on staying positive for the play-offs are only to keep the fans coming in. Obviously, one or two people don’t believe - which is ok - but the majority that have supported us, and have supported their club, through thick and thin, I’m hoping have enjoyed our recent form and will be there when we need them.”

The only real disappointment of the afternoon was the puerile chanting from a section of the Popside with derogatory comments about Kyle Cameron who, but for bizarre refereeing, would have been a two goal hero steering the Gulls into the EFL.

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What does the run in look like for some of the top sides in the National League? Current leaders Stockport County have six of their remaining eight games against teams currently in the top eight;

Wrexham’s 3-2 win over Eastleigh was the second of four consecutive home games - they demolished Barnet 6-0 in mid-week - and still have a home game against Stockport; Solihull’s win at Dagenham & Redbridge was the first of four away games in succession, the next three being FC Halifax, Wrexham and Stockport.

Chesterfield’s final six, three are away one of which is at Plainmoor on BT Sport. And Saturday’s visitors Notts County have six of their last seven against teams in the lower half of the table including Dover - twice.

Seventh placed Grimsby have four home games left out of seven still to play one of which is the visit of Torquay United but they still have Stockport and Boreham Wood on their fixture list.

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National League Crowd Watch: 9,163 at Wrexham with 7,738 watching Stockport County and 3,334 at National South Dulwich Hamlet.

Bedford Town’s Rene Howe kept his side top of Southern League Division 1 Central with his 30th goal of the season.

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Which sides are vying to join the National League next season? From League 2 it’s likely to be Scunthorpe plus one from Barrow, Oldham or Stevenage. From National North the Championship race is currently between Brackley Town, Gateshead, AFC Fylde and from the South, Maidstone United, Dorking Wanderers or Dartford.

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Despite leading 2-1 at half-time, Torquay United Women slipped to a 3-2 defeat at leaders Ilminster Ladies finishing fourth, with St Austell Ladies and Sherborne Ladies battling it out for the runner-up spot, in their final match of the season. Unfortunately goals from Sasha Mole (penalty) and Beth Everson were not enough.

With a depleted side this was, though, a great effort giving Interim Manager Steve Elswood food for thought for his squad choice to face Exeter City Women in the Devon FA Cup Final on April 22 7.15pm kick off at Coach Road.

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There are certainly a good number of National League managers who would vote for five substitutes for next season, readers don’t seem too bothered.

Saturday’s gate was lower than the match deserved so if you live locally what stops you from attending? Send me your view to: [email protected] or Twitter: @FanszoneT

United are at old ‘foes’ Woking on Good Friday where the Yellow Army is always there in large numbers so safe journey. Then it’s back to Plainmoor on Easter Monday.

COYY

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20th April 2022

CLICK HUB WOMEN'S PREMIER CUP FINAL

TORQUAY UNITED V EXETER CITY

TUST and Exeter City Supporters Trust are jointly sponsoring the final this Friday at Coach Road, Newton Abbot. KO 7.15pm

Come along and give The Yellows a cheer! The TUST board will be attending so take the opportunity to say 'hello' and have a chat.

[img src="https://mcusercontent.com/9b41d9876a62f ... f0e81d.jpg" alt=" "]

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22nd April 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.

WOMEN’S MANAGER ‘EXCLUSIVE’ BEFORE TONIGHT’S TUST CO-SPONSORED DEVON FA CUP FINAL

Torquay United’s ‘Big Easter Weekend’ got off to a great start with Armani Little’s solo goal at Woking on Good Friday but came to a shuddering halt on Monday as visitors Eastleigh, aided and abetted by referee Tom Bishop, who in booking six, booked his 83rd player in sixteen games, stole a point in a disappointing goal-less draw. Although the out of sorts Gulls moved up to ninth, they remain adrift of that elusive final play-off place. A win at Grimsby on Saturday is a must.

It’s been a busy Easter weekend with two matches in four days for the players but great for attendance figures in non-league football, here’s the best in the round-up: on Good Friday 1,455 Stockport fans travelled to see their team beaten at Grimsby in a crowd of 7,818 but the biggest number were at the Racecourse 9,949 to watch Wrexham held by Solihull.

756 Halifax fans followed their side to Altrincham while 646 made the journey to Woking to see the Gulls win four on the spin.

York City closed in on a play-off place in National North in front of 3,797 and elsewhere Isthmian South East Champions Hastings United had 2,084 but 3,230 watched FC Isle of Man.

Then on Easter Monday a whopping 10,022 saw Wrexham cruise to a 4-0 win while 9, 211 watched Stockport stay top with a 1-0 victory.

***********

After a record 1,603 matches as a manager across sixteen clubs Neil Warnock announced his retirement this year, one of those clubs was Torquay United.

In a recent interview Warnock, who seemed to specialise in rescuing doomed teams, explained his philosophy in taking the pressure off players.

“At Torquay I told my players to report outside a nightclub and said nobody could leave before midnight. Had we been on the training ground for five hours it would have killed them but that night helped them gel. Without that bond you will never keep a team up.”

It obviously worked in 1993 as Warnock’s Torquay thanks to a 1-0 win at Carlisle saved the Gulls from dropping into the Football Conference.

************

In a surprise move Torquay United’s Women’s manager Grant Fisher left ‘by mutual consent’ earlier this month to be replaced by Development manager Steve Elswood on an interim basis and he takes over a squad, which narrowly missed out on top spot in the South West Premier League, for the Devon FA Women’s Cup Final, co-sponsored by TUST, this Friday evening.

In an exclusive interview Elswood spoke with Fans’ Zone about his talented team, “It’s the second time in our history that we have reached the final and the ladies are focused on ensuring we give our best out there on the pitch and leave nothing behind.”

The team go into the final against local rivals Exeter City in buoyant mood as Elswood explained,

“We have had a great campaign securing a top four finish. Following on from our curtain coming down on the league season with a narrow defeat at table toppers Ilminster Town our thoughts turn to the final.”

Exeter City’s women’s side plays in the National League tier a league above United but as Elswood says, “We might be underdogs but we are comfortable to be in that position as that label is always dangerous in a cup final. We have some exceptionally gifted players at this club and we know our strengths.”

It promises to be a great game and it’s at Coach Road, Newton Abbot this Friday, kick-off 7.15pm and as Elswood urges, “We are hoping that many of the Yellow Army turn up on the night to support the ladies.” TUST will be there in numbers so come on you yellows.

***********

April 2019 was United’s Championship season in National South and in the final two home games in the sunshine the Yellow Army came out in numbers: 4.539 to witness the team winning the title with victory over Eastbourne Borough and then the week after 5,351 crammed into Plainmoor to celebrate the champions.

Since then, of course, there’s been empty stadiums across the country as Covid struck but there was a 4,000 plus crowd on New Year’s Day in 2020 for the visit of Yeovil Town and that was the last time the attendance reached this size. So, what is the reason for supporters staying away? Or are they? Memories of the past can be deceiving as in our youth we imagine Plainmoor was always packed.

For those of a certain age we recall that 20,000+ crowd for the Spurs FA Cup match and picture large numbers for league games in the 1960s. Picking at random matches from the past let’s look at the facts.

Attendance figures are the highest for that particular season and positions are where the club finished:

Season 1956 Division 3 South, finished second v. Southampton Won 2-0 14,223.

Season 1965 Division 4, third promoted v. Notts County Won 2-0 8,928

Season 1975 Division 4, ninth v. Lincoln City Drawn 2-2 4,364

Season 1985 Division 4, bottom v. Exeter City Lost 1-2 2,558 (This particular season saw seven home matches below 1,000 the lowest being 850 v. Crewe)

Season 1995 Division 3, bottom v. Plymouth Argyle Lost 0-2 4,269

Season 2005 FA Cup Round 3 v. Birmingham City Drawn 0-0 5,974

Season 2010 League 2 1st Leg Play-off Semi-Final v. Shrewsbury Town Won 2-0 4,130

So why are fans staying away from Plainmoor? Is it for Covid reasons or perhaps the rising cost of living? From this week’s responses for some it’s the club’s ticketing policy. As one supporter puts it, ‘The fact I cannot pay at the turnstiles is keeping me away.’ While another echoes the same thought, ‘Since the club introduced a quite bizarre policy not to permit entry on the day at the turnstile.’

On Easter Monday, despite United’s amazing form plus 1,000 free tickets for Community Day only 3,646 turned up.

***********

With the League season fixtures running out, it’s that time when supporters start to think about the club’s retained list. Which players are going to be released but more importantly which key players are going to be retained and offered new contracts?

The club keeps these kinds of information close to its chest but hopefully matters are in hand with negotiations opened with players such as Shaun MacDonald, Dean Moxey, Joe Lewis, Armani Little, Connor Lemonheigh-Evans, Asa Hall and Danny Wright all of whom are thought to be out of contract. Surely Boss Gary Johnson won’t countenance sideways moves as happened last close season.

Who would be your key player to be here next season? Send your answer to: [email protected] or Twitter: @FanszoneT.

Safe journey to those travelling to Grimsby.

COYY

JOIN HERE - www.tust.co.uk

SUPPORT TUST - SUPPORT YOUR COMMUNITY

29th April 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.

PLAY-OFFS MAYBE IN DOUBT BUT CUP SUCCESS FOR TORQUAY UNITED WOMEN AND UNDER-18s, PLUS LATEST FAN-LED REVIEW NEWS

Whilst there’s fifteen points to play for, but ten points adrift of that final play-off place, it’s still mathematically possible for Torquay United to gatecrash the party although even the most optimistic Yellow Army fan must acknowledge that it’s unlikely to happen.

With only three defeats this calendar year Gary Johnson and his squad have given the challenge a really good go especially after that disastrous start to the season. Saturday’s loss at Grimsby to a 90+1 minute penalty only confirmed the worst as even a point wouldn’t have been enough with Johnson admitting before the game that it was a six pointer.

But United’s results since the turn of the year has been top seven form: Played 18, Won 9, Drawn 6, Lost 3, For 29, Against 17 but even seeing these, they hide the fact that in two home matches, against Dagenham & Redbridge and Barnet, 2-0 advantages were squandered. Add in the numerous games, Saturday’s was another example, where United ran the first half of a match but failed to take their chances only to run out of steam after the break.

Johnson alluded to the problem in his post match interview when he talked about squad size, lack of player rotation and inability to rest players returning from injury. Grimsby, for example, he reminded us could put out two teams of equal ability which, as he rightly accepts, is down to what each club can afford financially. He does say to fans, “We’ll give it a right go next year.”

Although Johnson hasn’t given up - and you can be sure he won’t let his squad - now that the loans of players like Alex Moyse, Louie Slough and Olaf Koszela are over at Bideford and Dorchester why not give them some experience of being in a matchday situation? It would give him and them the opportunity to show if they have what it takes?

***********

Now let’s celebrate. First Torquay United Women who were very much the underdogs to higher league opponents Exeter City in Friday night’s TUST co-sponsored, with Exeter City Supporters’ Trust, Devon FA Women’s Cup Final.

A night of drama as 572 at Coach Road were treated to a game played at a frantic pace by both sides and as United’s Women’s boss Steve Elswood told Fans’ Zone, “It was definitely the most incredible night in the history of the football club. We set up with a very clear plan of what we wanted to achieve and as the game grew so did those achievements.”

It has to be said that the Gulls rode their luck with Exeter, who as Elswood said score freely and very rarely concede, hitting the bar and the upright with keeper Sasha Mole beaten both times.

Then, with time ebbing away, Connie Pengeley fired Exeter into an 85th minute lead but with six minutes of added time running out United were awarded a penalty for a trip. Up stepped Leah Brookes to blast home the equaliser.

Although Elswood’s side were tiring he said, “We don’t know when we’re beaten and we were always going to get a chance.” So, penalty shoot-out it was to decide the winners. Elswood divulged afterwards that the squad had practised penalties and shoot-out scenarios in training for the past three weeks but nothing can prepare you for the tension on the night. But step forward stand-in keeper Sasha Mole, normally an outfield player, who not only took and scored United’s first but saved Exeter’s first and last, to give the Torquay women a priceless cup win. In fact United’s penalty takers had nerves of steel with five blasted home.

As Elswood rightly explained, “It just made the perfect ending for an amazing group of ladies who gave everything, wanted it more and thoroughly deserved it.”

Elswood took time out to thank TUST for their sponsorship and he had this to say to the fans,

“We would like to thank the amazing support from the Yellow Army who cheered us on and to TUCST for providing our incredible mascots in their yellow and blue kit.”

The team will be bringing the cup home to Plainmoor on Saturday with the squad looking forward to thanking the fans for their support in their historic cup victory.

************

The second cup winners of the weekend were Chris Todd’s Under-18s who completed a league and cup double with their 2-1 win over Bridgwater Town thanks to goals from Theo Cadby and the winner from Ben Aldous; they too will show off their trophy at the Maidenhead match.

What next for the Women? A permanent home - Plainmoor? - and a permanent manager would be a start. And for the Under-18s? They have the Devon Youth Cup Final to play and maybe some of the players are hoping for a professional contract.

***********

As regular readers of this column know TUST has been heavily involved in the Fans-Led Review with terrific support from Torbay MP Kevin Foster. Well this week the Government announced its intention to introduce a White Paper in the summer to introduce an independent football regulator.

Their support for former Sports Minister Tracey Crouch’s review does not stop there as Crouch explains, ”I am exceptionally pleased the Government has accepted or supported all the strategic recommendations of the review, including committing to legislation for a statutory independent regulator which will regulate financial resilience as well as ownership of clubs.”

The White Paper will, the Government explains, ‘set out plans for a greater role for fans in the day-to-day running of clubs and a bigger say on changes to their club.’

Crouch sums up the decision by saying, “This is an enormous step forward in providing much needed reform for football.” Now we await a time scale.

************

In the National League average attendances for the season Torquay sit in eighth place with 2,573 well behind Wrexham who top this list with 8,534 whose figures would, if compared with League 2 clubs, place them third.

The full top ten League 2/National League are: Bradford City 15,443, Swindon Town 9,182, Wrexham, Bristol Rovers 7,378, Notts County 6,866, Stockport County 6,614, Tranmere Rovers 6,525, Chesterfield 6,177, Port Vale 6,088 and Southend 5,834.

*************

Congratulations to Taunton Town who clinched promotion to National South with a 2-1 home win over close challengers Farnborough in front of a best of the season 2,303.

Next year the National League will be joined by Oldham Athletic, the first ex-Premier League team to go into non-league and Scunthorpe United.

Your number one player to re-sign? Shaun MacDonald, followed by Armani Little and Joe Lewis. Keep your votes coming in to: [email protected] or Twitter:@FanszoneT

Maidenhead next up at Plainmoor but come and thank the Women’s side and Under-18s.

COYY

JOIN HERE - www.tust.co.uk

SUPPORT TUST - SUPPORT YOUR COMMUNITY

6th May 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.

UNITED’S DAGENHAM JINX CONTINUES AND WHICH PLAYERS WILL PLAINMOOR SEE FOR THE LAST TIME ON SATURDAY?

Bank Holiday’s 0-0 draw at Dagenham & Redbridge did neither team any favours as the home side dropped two points in their quest to join the play-off group especially as the side they’re chasing, Chesterfield, lost at home to title favourites Stockport County while Torquay’s hopes of gatecrashing the party effectively ended a week ago at Grimsby. And certainly not helped with a draw on Saturday against lowly Maidenhead.

This game, rather like the events in London on Monday, came to life in the final five minutes when a header from Joe Lewis, his sixth goal of the season, from virtually on the goal-line heralded a United bombardment on the visitors’ defence with late chances for Lolos and Wright.

This was the ninth National League match against Dagenham since both clubs fell out of the EFL and was the third goalless draw between the two sides, in fact there have been few goals, January’s 2-2 at Plainmoor only being ‘bettered’ by Dagenham’s 3-0 victory back in February 2018.

Unfortunately, Dagenham have won four of these nine games against United’s single victory.

***********

As this column mentioned recently, it’s this time of the year that fans begin speculating on the club’s retained list, which players will the manager move on and which players will be offered new contracts. Of course it’s not easy to judge as players’ contracts are kept firmly behind closed doors.

However, manager Gary Johnson did give some clues after Saturday’s match when he said, “We’ll lose a few….somebody else has decided to nick’em off us again.” Who could he mean?

Will the visit of Chesterfield, whose fall from the top has been spectacular, along with the BT Sport cameras, on Saturday see the Yellow Army say farewell to the likes of Armani Little, Connor Lemonheigh-Evans, Joe Lewis and Shaun MacDonald?

If it’s inevitable that some of the better players are tempted away, as happened last year, to sideways moves, Johnson tells us he has this covered: “Stick with us, we’ve got some marquee players coming in.”

**********

In Saturday’s matchday magazine there’s a feature on Joe Lewis when he says, “It’s great as a player to look forward to playing at home as much as I do. To be greeted by Plainmoor’s atmosphere as we walk out of the tunnel at the start of games is a huge reason why I love the game so much.”

Lewis also has this to say about the Yellow Army, “For a club that has to travel such long distances to most of our away games, the following that we take away and the noise that they make is inspiring.”

Lewis was not only Man of the Match on Saturday, he made the Non-League Paper’s Team of the Day and was named by Nigel Tabb, on BBC Radio Devon, Man of the Match at Dagenham.

Interesting that he, Little, Lemonheigh-Evans, MacDonald are all in contention for Player of the Season, along with Dean Moxey and Ben Wynter. It could be a close run contest. Results are to be announced after the Chesterfield match.

**********

National League/ Non-League Crowd Watch: On Saturday 9,200 turned up to watch Wrexham win 1-0 and move closer to leaders Stockport County who surprisingly lost at home to Boreham Wood in front of 8,778.

On Bank Holiday Monday over 2,500 Stockport fans travelled to Chesterfield to see County win 1-0 with 9,198 present while Notts County won in front of 6,523.

**********

Triple scoop for Chris Todd’s Under-18s as they emphatically won the Devon FA Under-18 Youth Cup on Sunday with a 6-0 victory over Tavistock at Coach Road. These lads added the trophy to the league and cup double already achieved.

Todd, echoing Gary Johnson’s mantra for his side to entertain, had this to say to his players, “I want you to go out there and perform like you have all season and impress people because that’s what they do, they entertain people.”

Are we hopefully about to produce some players worthy of professional contracts and on a pathway to first team football? If so, all credit to Clarke Osborne’s support of a football academy developing home grown talent. Think of players like Matt Jay and Ollie Watkins who slipped through the net.

*************

A recent Fans’ Zone question concerned reasons for staying away from Plainmoor - only 2,148 to watch at the weekend - and a familiar answer was no sale of tickets at the turnstiles. Bearing in mind Torbay’s ageing population a survey by the Royal Society of Arts found four million people who are over 65 are reliant on cash. Caroline Abrahams of Age UK said, “Not all older people are online or have a smartphone and others have health conditions or disabilities that make cash easier to use.”

Although many venues during the height of the pandemic introduced cashless facilities, there is no evidence to suggest cash poses a more significant covid safety issue than digital currency.

“Cashless polices are detrimental to the elderly.”

***********

Bumped into Kevin Hill at Plainmoor on Saturday as he was still celebrating his Exmouth Town side’s promotion from the Western League, as runners-up, to the Southern League and congratulations too to Plymouth Parkway whose second successive promotion following their 3-0 victory over Cinderford Town in front of a record 1,362 saw them win the Southern League Division 1 title moving up into Step 3.

***********

Joining the National League next season from National North will be Gateshead managed by ex-Gull Mike Williamson while another ex-Gull Hakan Hayrettin’s Maidstone United will be joining from National South after a huge 3,774 saw them clinch the title.

***********

Should you be making a trip to London during the close season you should make your way to the Design Museum, London W8 where you can view George Best’s boots from 1958, the first referee’s whistle from 1884 plus all kinds of football memorabilia through the ages. The exhibition is open until August 29th.

***********

Readers’ responses show fans would want to see Little, MacDonald, Lewis, Wynter, Moxey and Lemonheigh-Evans in a United shirt again next season. Time will tell if any or all will be at Plainmoor again.

Who did you vote your Player/Young Player of the season? Send your names to: [email protected] or Twitter: @FanszoneT

Don’t forget, Saturday’s last home match v Chesterfield kicks-off at 12.30pm.

COYY

PLAY-OFFS MAYBE IN DOUBT BUT CUP SUCCESS FOR TORQUAY UNITED WOMEN AND UNDER-18s, PLUS LATEST FAN-LED REVIEW NEWS

Whilst there’s fifteen points to play for, but ten points adrift of that final play-off place, it’s still mathematically possible for Torquay United to gatecrash the party although even the most optimistic Yellow Army fan must acknowledge that it’s unlikely to happen.

With only three defeats this calendar year Gary Johnson and his squad have given the challenge a really good go especially after that disastrous start to the season. Saturday’s loss at Grimsby to a 90+1 minute penalty only confirmed the worst as even a point wouldn’t have been enough with Johnson admitting before the game that it was a six pointer.

But United’s results since the turn of the year has been top seven form: Played 18, Won 9, Drawn 6, Lost 3, For 29, Against 17 but even seeing these, they hide the fact that in two home matches, against Dagenham & Redbridge and Barnet, 2-0 advantages were squandered. Add in the numerous games, Saturday’s was another example, where United ran the first half of a match but failed to take their chances only to run out of steam after the break.

Johnson alluded to the problem in his post match interview when he talked about squad size, lack of player rotation and inability to rest players returning from injury. Grimsby, for example, he reminded us could put out two teams of equal ability which, as he rightly accepts, is down to what each club can afford financially. He does say to fans, “We’ll give it a right go next year.”

Although Johnson hasn’t given up - and you can be sure he won’t let his squad - now that the loans of players like Alex Moyse, Louie Slough and Olaf Koszela are over at Bideford and Dorchester why not give them some experience of being in a matchday situation? It would give him and them the opportunity to show if they have what it takes?

***********

Now let’s celebrate. First Torquay United Women who were very much the underdogs to higher league opponents Exeter City in Friday night’s TUST co-sponsored, with Exeter City Supporters’ Trust, Devon FA Women’s Cup Final.

A night of drama as 572 at Coach Road were treated to a game played at a frantic pace by both sides and as United’s Women’s boss Steve Elswood told Fans’ Zone, “It was definitely the most incredible night in the history of the football club. We set up with a very clear plan of what we wanted to achieve and as the game grew so did those achievements.”

It has to be said that the Gulls rode their luck with Exeter, who as Elswood said score freely and very rarely concede, hitting the bar and the upright with keeper Sasha Mole beaten both times.

Then, with time ebbing away, Connie Pengeley fired Exeter into an 85th minute lead but with six minutes of added time running out United were awarded a penalty for a trip. Up stepped Leah Brookes to blast home the equaliser.

Although Elswood’s side were tiring he said, “We don’t know when we’re beaten and we were always going to get a chance.” So, penalty shoot-out it was to decide the winners. Elswood divulged afterwards that the squad had practised penalties and shoot-out scenarios in training for the past three weeks but nothing can prepare you for the tension on the night. But step forward stand-in keeper Sasha Mole, normally an outfield player, who not only took and scored United’s first but saved Exeter’s first and last, to give the Torquay women a priceless cup win. In fact United’s penalty takers had nerves of steel with five blasted home.

As Elswood rightly explained, “It just made the perfect ending for an amazing group of ladies who gave everything, wanted it more and thoroughly deserved it.”

Elswood took time out to thank TUST for their sponsorship and he had this to say to the fans,

“We would like to thank the amazing support from the Yellow Army who cheered us on and to TUCST for providing our incredible mascots in their yellow and blue kit.”

The team will be bringing the cup home to Plainmoor on Saturday with the squad looking forward to thanking the fans for their support in their historic cup victory.

************

The second cup winners of the weekend were Chris Todd’s Under-18s who completed a league and cup double with their 2-1 win over Bridgwater Town thanks to goals from Theo Cadby and the winner from Ben Aldous; they too will show off their trophy at the Maidenhead match.

What next for the Women? A permanent home - Plainmoor? - and a permanent manager would be a start. And for the Under-18s? They have the Devon Youth Cup Final to play and maybe some of the players are hoping for a professional contract.

***********

As regular readers of this column know TUST has been heavily involved in the Fans-Led Review with terrific support from Torbay MP Kevin Foster. Well this week the Government announced its intention to introduce a White Paper in the summer to introduce an independent football regulator.

Their support for former Sports Minister Tracey Crouch’s review does not stop there as Crouch explains, ”I am exceptionally pleased the Government has accepted or supported all the strategic recommendations of the review, including committing to legislation for a statutory independent regulator which will regulate financial resilience as well as ownership of clubs.”

The White Paper will, the Government explains, ‘set out plans for a greater role for fans in the day-to-day running of clubs and a bigger say on changes to their club.’

Crouch sums up the decision by saying, “This is an enormous step forward in providing much needed reform for football.” Now we await a time scale.

************

In the National League average attendances for the season Torquay sit in eighth place with 2,573 well behind Wrexham who top this list with 8,534 whose figures would, if compared with League 2 clubs, place them third.

The full top ten League 2/National League are: Bradford City 15,443, Swindon Town 9,182, Wrexham, Bristol Rovers 7,378, Notts County 6,866, Stockport County 6,614, Tranmere Rovers 6,525, Chesterfield 6,177, Port Vale 6,088 and Southend 5,834.

*************

Congratulations to Taunton Town who clinched promotion to National South with a 2-1 home win over close challengers Farnborough in front of a best of the season 2,303.

Next year the National League will be joined by Oldham Athletic, the first ex-Premier League team to go into non-league and Scunthorpe United.

Your number one player to re-sign? Shaun MacDonald, followed by Armani Little and Joe Lewis. Keep your votes coming in to: [email protected] or Twitter:@FanszoneT

Maidenhead next up at Plainmoor but come and thank the Women’s side and Under-18s.

COYY

UNITED’S DAGENHAM JINX CONTINUES AND WHICH PLAYERS WILL PLAINMOOR SEE FOR THE LAST TIME ON SATURDAY

Bank Holiday’s 0-0 draw at Dagenham & Redbridge did neither team any favours as the home side dropped two points in their quest to join the play-off group especially as the side they’re chasing, Chesterfield, lost at home to title favourites Stockport County while Torquay’s hopes of gatecrashing the party effectively ended a week ago at Grimsby. And certainly not helped with a draw on Saturday against lowly Maidenhead.

This game, rather like the events in London on Monday, came to life in the final five minutes when a header from Joe Lewis, his sixth goal of the season, from virtually on the goal-line heralded a United bombardment on the visitors’ defence with late chances for Lolos and Wright.

This was the ninth National League match against Dagenham since both clubs fell out of the EFL and was the third goalless draw between the two sides, in fact there have been few goals,

January’s 2-2 at Plainmoor only being ‘bettered’ by Dagenham’s 3-0 victory back in February 2018.

Unfortunately, Dagenham have won four of these nine games against United’s single victory.

***********

As this column mentioned recently, it’s this time of the year that fans begin speculating on the club’s retained list, which players will the manager move on and which players will be offered new contracts. Of course it’s not easy to judge as players’ contracts are kept firmly behind closed doors.

However, manager Gary Johnson did give some clues after Saturday’s match when he said, “We’ll lose a few….somebody else has decided to nick’em off us again.” Who could he mean?

Will the visit of Chesterfield, whose fall from the top has been spectacular, along with the BT Sport cameras, on Saturday see the Yellow Army say farewell to the likes of Armani Little, Connor Lemonheigh-Evans, Joe Lewis and Shaun MacDonald?

If it’s inevitable that some of the better players are tempted away, as happened last year, to sideways moves, Johnson tells us he has this covered: “Stick with us, we’ve got some marquee players coming in.”

**********
In Saturday’s matchday magazine there’s a feature on Joe Lewis when he says, “It’s great as a player to look forward to playing at home as much as I do. To be greeted by Plainmoor’s atmosphere as we walk out of the tunnel at the start of games is a huge reason why I love the game so much.”

Lewis also has this to say about the Yellow Army, “For a club that has to travel such long distances to most of our away games, the following that we take away and the noise that they make is inspiring.”

Lewis was not only Man of the Match on Saturday, he made the Non-League Paper’s Team of the Day and was named by Nigel Tabb, on BBC Radio Devon, Man of the Match at Dagenham.

Interesting that he, Little, Lemonheigh-Evans, MacDonald are all in contention for Player of the Season, along with Dean Moxey and Ben Wynter. It could be a close run contest. Results are to be announced after the Chesterfield match.

**********

National League/ Non-League Crowd Watch: On Saturday 9,200 turned up to watch Wrexham win 1-0 and move closer to leaders Stockport County who surprisingly lost at home to Boreham Wood in front of 8,778.

On Bank Holiday Monday over 2,500 Stockport fans travelled to Chesterfield to see County win 1-0 with 9,198 present while Notts County won in front of 6,523.

**********

Triple scoop for Chris Todd’s Under-18s as they emphatically won the Devon FA Under-18 Youth Cup on Sunday with a 6-0 victory over Tavistock at Coach Road. These lads added the trophy to the league and cup double already achieved.

Todd, echoing Gary Johnson’s mantra for his side to entertain, had this to say to his players, “I want you to go out there and perform like you have all season and impress people because that’s what they do, they entertain people.”

Are we hopefully about to produce some players worthy of professional contracts and on a pathway to first team football? If so, all credit to Clarke Osborne’s support of a football academy developing home grown talent. Think of players like Matt Jay and Ollie Watkins who slipped through the net.

*************

A recent Fans’ Zone question concerned reasons for staying away from Plainmoor - only 2,148 to watch at the weekend - and a familiar answer was no sale of tickets at the turnstiles. Bearing in mind Torbay’s ageing population a survey by the Royal Society of Arts found four million people who are over 65 are reliant on cash. Caroline Abrahams of Age UK said, “Not all older people are online or have a smartphone and others have health conditions or disabilities that make cash easier to use.”

Although many venues during the height of the pandemic introduced cashless facilities, there is no evidence to suggest cash poses a more significant covid safety issue than digital currency.

“Cashless polices are detrimental to the elderly.”

***********

Bumped into Kevin Hill at Plainmoor on Saturday as he was still celebrating his Exmouth Town side’s promotion from the Western League, as runners-up, to the Southern League and congratulations too to Plymouth Parkway whose second successive promotion following their 3-0 victory over Cinderford Town in front of a record 1,362 saw them win the Southern League Division 1 title moving up into Step 3.

***********

Joining the National League next season from National North will be Gateshead managed by ex-Gull Mike Williamson while another ex-Gull Hakan Hayrettin’s Maidstone United will be joining from National South after a huge 3,774 saw them clinch the title.

***********

Should you be making a trip to London during the close season you should make your way to the Design Museum, London W8 where you can view George Best’s boots from 1958, the first referee’s whistle from 1884 plus all kinds of football memorabilia through the ages. The exhibition is open until August 29th.

***********

Readers’ responses show fans would want to see Little, MacDonald, Lewis, Wynter, Moxey and Lemonheigh-Evans in a United shirt again next season. Time will tell if any or all will be at Plainmoor again.

Who did you vote your Player/Young Player of the season? Send your names to: [email protected] or Twitter: @FanszoneT

Don’t forget, Saturday’s last home match v Chesterfield kicks-off at 12.30pm.

COYY

JOIN HERE - www.tust.co.uk

SUPPORT TUST - SUPPORT YOUR COMMUNITY

12th May 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.

UNITED’S IF ONLY SEASON DRAWS TO A CLOSE BUT SINCLAIR COOKS UP A GREAT IMPRESSION AS WEMBLEY HEROES MEET AGAIN

The race for the National League title couldn’t be closer after Wrexham’s Sunday lunchtime 3-0 emphatic victory in front of a whopping 10,118 (including 1,200 away fans) over a wobbling Stockport County, making it four defeats in the last six for the visitors who then faced a Torquay United side on Wednesday, the Gulls playing not only for pride but also for some, contracts.

With a slightly patched up side, well certainly in mid-field, the Gulls held out for an hour before the home side’s pressure from 9,407 paid off as £300,000 striker Paddy Madden scored the decisive goal to put Stockport in touching distance of a long awaited return to the EFL.

The destination of the title will be decided on Sunday and which of the two sides will the Yellow Army be pleased to see the end of for next season? The answer may well be, of course, both!

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United’s comprehensive 2-0 win over fast falling seventh placed Chesterfield only underlined what might have been in front of the BT Sport cameras. If only Gary Johnson’s side had ‘clicked’ well before the December resurgence taking forty-six points from twenty-four matches - that’s promotion form.

Johnson, before Saturday’s last home game of the season, underlined the importance of the players and the club showcasing what Plainmoor and Torquay could offer a TV audience and he wasn’t to be disappointed. CEO George Edwards’ meticulous eye for detail ensured all was fit for those watching at home as well as those in the 3,075 crowd as the pitch was in perfect condition while Johnson’s squad played at the top of their game. The manager always cries out for his team to entertain, well they did this royally and he could go home up the M5 proud of his team’s performance in the final home game of the season.

It was a carnival type after game atmosphere as the players, along with their children, and management thanked the Yellow Army and vice versa.

With this feel-good factor in mind the club have not surprisingly announced season ticket prices for the 2022-23 campaign and Gulls’ fans have until Friday June 3 to take advantage of Early Rate Discounts. For all the details go to www.torquayunited.com.

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Surely owner Clarke Osborne must be fired up to back Johnson for that EFL promotion push with the prospects and the momentum looking good for next season. And that seems to be confirmed with the club statement, ‘We are as committed as ever to regaining its place back in the EFL, so let’s make 2022-23 that season!’

Although it’s still speculation which players the Plainmoor faithful saw for the last time, there’s no doubt Stephen Duke-McKenna will not be seen again and he signed off with a brilliant piece of skill opening the scoring in the 70th minute with a sublime piece of skill before his left foot planted his shot past the Chesterfield keeper.

Armani Little’s 15th goal of the season from the penalty spot might have been a soft award but Jim Kellerman’s tug may have been just retribution for his earlier elbow, unpunished, into Asa Hall’s face sending him to hospital in an ambulance with a broken nose and concussion. Surely a red card offence, as shown by the TV cameras, with the referee close by and watching.

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Plainmoor was the place to be on Saturday with a Wembley Dream Duo reunion and former loanees Sam Sherring and Adam Randell in attendance watching.

Which Torquay fan can forget May 17 2009? That was the date of the Blue Square Premier play-off final between United and Cambridge United played in front of 35,089.

Step forward the two Torquay legends, the goalscorers of that memorable afternoon Chris Hargreaves and Tim Sills who helped United to return to the Football League, re-united in the Family Stand.

Sills was there with his family for the weekend while Hargreaves was working for BT Sport, Sills confirmed to the Fans’ Zone that he’d had a great season with his Hamworthy United side taking them to the FA Vase semi-finals before being knocked out on penalties.

Hargreaves, meanwhile, having left his coaching role at Bristol Rovers, is searching for another job in football and speaking to the Fans’ Zone said maybe a manager’s role is not far off. Pleased to say he reads this column.

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Remembering another date? May 8 2004 was the last day of the 2003-04 season with Leroy Rosenior’s side at Roots Hall needing to beat Southend and rivals Huddersfield not to win at Cheltenham to gain automatic promotion out of Division Three.

The Gulls raced into a 2-0 lead with strikes from Steve Woods and David Graham. The hosts grabbed a goal back while Huddersfield took the lead but Cheltenham snatched a late equaliser to send United up amongst huge celebrations from the travelling 1,800 Yellow Army. It was a fantastic afternoon which will last long in the memory. Tony Cottee was there for Sky Sports Gillette Soccer Saturday reporting on the match.

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Talking of ex-Gulls Paul Hall runs the QPR academy and he has been instrumental in sending us The Duke and earlier Sinclair Armstrong, any more like them next season will be very welcome.

Armstrong told West London Sport about how his loan spell on the English Riviera helped him to cook. He admitted he had to grow up fast since moving to London from Dublin eighteen months ago but moving down to Torquay for three months was a huge step forward in his development.

“When I went over to Torquay I didn’t even know how to cook and when you are there on your own you learn these life skills that you need when you grow up.”

So, Torquay for sun, sea and cooking! Wonder what’s his speciality!

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They love their football on Tyneside, what about this for an attendance record? Newcastle Women on their debut at St. James’ Park, winning 4-0, attracted a crowd of 22,134. Neighbours Sunderland in their League 1 Play-Off Semi-Final 1st Leg drew 44,742 - another record.

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Last week we asked how you voted for your players of the season and it was too close to call, Well on Saturday after the match we found out - Shaun MacDonald as Player of the Season and Joe Lewis as Young Player. Let’s hope both will be in 1899 shirts once again in August.

Will you be renewing your season ticket? Send your yes or no to: [email protected] or Twitter: @FanszoneT

Should contracts still be up for grabs, Ali Omar did his chances no harm with a bright display which saw him in the Vanarama Team of the Week.

United finish their season at Southend on Sunday and maybe a chance for Moyse and Slough to show their potential - safe travels to the Yellow Army.

COYY

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