TORQUAY UNITED SUPPORTERS’ TRUST
BI-MONTHLY NEWSLETTER
FEBRUARY 2026

 

ABOUT THE TRUST

The Torquay United Supporters’ Trust is a community-led organisation dedicated to protecting the future, heritage and identity of Torquay United Football Club.

Run by supporters, for supporters, the Trust exists to give fans a collective voice, strengthen the bond between club and community, and promote long-term sustainability both on and off the pitch.

Through engagement, advocacy and practical support, the Trust works to ensure that Torquay United remains at the heart of Torbay for generations to come.

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CONTENTS

• Chairman’s Introduction

• Report from the Trust Board

• New Membership System

• Director for the Day

• Loan Trio Funded by TUST

• Inside the Boardroom

• Working Together

• Corporate Members

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CHAIRMAN’S INTRODUCTION

Nick Brodrick – Chairman

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Dear Member,

Welcome to our new look newsletter, the first of 2026.

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Whilst all eyes are on the team’s performances on the pitch, being 28.65% stakeholders in the running of the club means that myself and fellow TUFC director, Danni Wyatt, have been involved in a recent TUFC board meeting discussing a variety of topics.

Our involvement is not solely at meetings as we are both included in many of the day-to-day issues that arise. As an example, recent alleged fan misbehaviour at the Maidstone fixture required considerable time gathering evidence and witness statements to comply with FA requirements.

Ensuring the sustainability of Torquay United is a huge priority, as it is for many clubs. Michael Westcott’s recent interview with the Torbay Weekly clearly outlined the financial burden inherited by the Bryn Consortium. At our January board meeting, Michael gave what he described as “a very unvarnished picture of the financial landscape.”

The recent staff restructure is designed to stop the club slipping back into financial trouble, despite some fans questioning why attendances at Plainmoor are not making a significant financial difference.

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As major shareholders, we have helped support the club through a number of capital expenditures, including grow lights, the digital big screen, additional handrails at Bristow’s Bench and repairs to the Plainmoor clock. Recently, we have also agreed to pay the wages of three loan players. With a promotion push underway, we wanted to support the manager’s request to strengthen the playing budget.

Torbay MP Steve Darling was recently pictured in Westminster promoting the National League’s 3UP Campaign. As a supporter of the club, he highlighted the positive effect Torquay United has on our community and local businesses.

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With the National League South title race changing regularly, we fully support the club’s initiatives to open the Wollens Terrace for the remaining eight home games and the #MARCH4PROMOTION ticket offers. Let’s get behind the Gulls and pack Plainmoor.

Finally, a big thank you to all our members.

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REPORT FROM THE TRUST BOARD

Rick Williams – Secretary

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Last month we met with the club’s Co-Chairmen and General Manager to discuss ways in which TUST can support the Club in the spirit of our new strategy of Building for the Future. It was a very positive meeting and the main outcome was a commitment by TUST to seek to significantly increase the financial contribution we make. This will not only help the club to meet its commitments and hopefully press for success on the field but also ensure that the Trust retains its shareholding percentage stake. You will hear a lot more about the proposals for achieving this in the coming weeks.

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Our Chairman and representative on the Club board, Nick Brodrick, provided feedback from this month’s Club board meeting. Unsurprisingly, the challenge of cash-flow was high on the agenda, particularly with recent postponements. Meanwhile, budgets are being prepared for next season with two scenarios in mind – promotion or not.

 

We also heard from Paul Bastard, the Supporter Liaison Officer, about his first year in post and the success of the Matchday Ambassadors scheme. Paul has weekly meetings with the General Manager and listed a wide range of topics and queries that he had been able to address with the Club on supporters’ behalf.

 

We continue our work in collaboration with the Community Sports Trust and the Club to ensure a joined-up approach to youth development and wider community initiatives. Whilst each party has different responsibilities, it is great that we are all working together for the benefit of the football club, its supporters and the wider community.

 

NEW AUTOMATED MEMBERSHIP SYSTEM

Joe Uglow – Board Member

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As our membership numbers swelled to over 1100 over the last two years, it has become clear that our historic method of using an excel spreadsheet to act as our membership database is no longer sustainable, especially if we wish to grow these membership numbers further as well as improving our membership offering.

Following a detailed review of our current and future needs, the Trust board agreed that Beacon CRM provides the functionality, security and scalability required to support our growing membership and long-term ambitions.

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Beacon is a Customer Relationship Management (CRM) platform targeted specifically at charities and not-for-profit organisations and currently provides a platform for over 1,500 charities. Partnering with Beacon CRM will allow us to:

 

• Manage memberships more efficiently and securely

• Simplify renewals and payments

• Improve communication with members

• Provide better reporting and transparency

 

Most importantly, the platform gives members greater control over their own details and preferences, making engagement with the Trust easier and more accessible.

In 2025 Beacon were voted #1 CRM for charities by the Fundraising Magazine for the sixth year in a row.

 

Work on our transition to Beacon CRM is set to start in early March and we are targeting a mid-April completion date.

We will provide clear guidance on how to access the new membership portal, how renewals will work and if any actions are required from you, as members.

 

This is a big step forward for the Supporters Trust in our journey, as we enter our 20th year. We’d also like to extend a special thank you from all the Trust Board to Ali Bryant, our membership secretary, who continues to work tirelessly to keep our current membership database up to date, we hope that this new system will afford Ali a little more time to focus on her other responsibilities as Trust treasurer & board member.

 

As well as a new membership database, we have been working hard behind the scenes with the football club to enhance what we can offer as part of our membership. We have a number of ideas, and we are also keen to hear from the membership on what you would like to see form part of future membership benefits. A consultation survey will be sent out to all members on Friday 20th February, & we’d value all your input by 6th March ahead of rolling out an enhanced membership scheme in April 2026.

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DIRECTOR FOR THE DAY

Bob Cole – Co Vice-Chair

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The Director for the Day (DFTD) experience is a reward for Platinum Investors (those who invested £1000 or more) in the Community Share Issue in 2024 organised by Vice Chair Bob Cole. Of the 95 Platinum Investors 89 are eligible for the reward – as 6 are already directors! The investors are chosen at random. To date there have been 35 DFTDs, 16 last season and 19 so far this season with all the remaining home fixtures having a designated DFTD.

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The experience involves pre match hospitality in The Cove, seats in the Directors’ Box for the match, the use of The Cove facilities at half time and after the final whistle returning there for the Man of the Match presentation

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Feedback form those lucky enough to be DFTD so far has been very positive.

 

Adam Prowse commented, “My father (Ed) and I both had a great time at the Eastbourne game, thank you for setting this up for us. It does help when we win 7-0. Everybody was very friendly and welcoming which made the day, however I was particularly taken with the very evident enthusiasm levels - I'd not expected to have to stand up to see over the co-chairman's head as our 7th goal went in!”

 

While David Jones got in touch to say, “I’m writing to say thank you for arranging for my wife [Debbie] and I to be Directors for the Day at yesterday’s match against Maidenhead United. We had a great day. The food was excellent and it was good to meet and talk to Michael Westcott and his wife Sally as well as the other people on our table. A win would have been nice but that point may prove crucial come the end of the season.”

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It will not be until the 2027/28 season that all of the Platinum Investors will have been drawn. Fingers crossed that those investors will be watching a League Two match from the Directors Box!

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LOAN TRIO FUNDED BY TUST

 

TUST are proud to announce that we have recently provided funding to allow for three loan deals to help the club’s promotion push.

To cover Louis Dennis’ suspension and Jordan Dyer’s unfortunate hamstring injury, TUST have covered the wage expenses to allow Joe Hatch & Ed James, from Plymouth Argyle & Exeter City respectively, to both arrive on an initial month’s loan.

In addition to this, we were also delighted to provide funding that has seen promising youngster Kieran Wilson’s loan extended until the end of the season from Exeter City.

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Those of you who were at Chelmsford City & Enfield Town would have seen first-hand the impact Kieran has had on the pitch, and we felt that it was important that TUST play our part as 28.65% shareholders in the football club to boost the promotion push at this vital point in the season.

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A massive Thank You to those members who pledged donations to the Supporters’ Trust after the initial announcement that we had financed the loan of Joe Hatch, members got in touch to pledge donations based on appearances, & goals scored during his loan spell, one member even pledged a donation if Hatch didn’t score!

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As part owners of the football club the Supporters’ Trust will continue to provide funding to the club utilising our membership subscriptions. This season alone we have funded Growlights for the grounds maintenance team, part-funded the installation of the new digital big screen, funded the installation of hand-rails on Bristows Bench, provided funding to the Youth Development Programme run by the Community Sports Trust & fixed the Plainmoor Clock in the Family Stand!

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Financing player signings is the next step on our journey as part-owners of the football club & our ambition is to increase the amount of money that we raise each year in line with our shareholding so that we can continue to have a positive impact on the pitch as well as off it. More details on this ambition will be shared shortly so keep an eye out for our membership consultation survey which is being sent out to all members on Friday 20th February.

 

INSIDE THE BOARDROOM

Danni Wyatt – TUST Appointed Board Member

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To celebrate a year since Danni Wyatt was made Trust Appointed Board Member, we thought we’d ask Danni a few questions to find out what life inside the boardroom is really like.

 

Q) “As the Supporters’ Trust appointed director, what does a typical board meeting look like — and what kinds of decisions are you directly involved in?”

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A) “A typical board meeting is far more detailed and wide ranging than most people realise. It’s not just about what’s happening on the pitch. it’s about finance, governance, risk, infrastructure, commercial performance, people and long term strategy too.

We review financial reports, cash flow forecasts, commercial updates, football operations and compliance. Basically everything you’d expect from a professional football club that’s also running as a business.

As a director, my responsibility is the same as everyone else’s, to act in the best interests of Torquay United FC as a whole. That means looking closely at budgets, helping shape strategic priorities, contributing to long term plans and weighing up risk.

Over the past year, one of the biggest things I’ve learned is just how connected everything is.

Football performance, financial stability, supporter engagement and community reputation aren’t separate, every decision has knock on effects, and that’s part of why I find this role so interesting.

I remember walking into my first board meeting thinking I needed to have all the answers. What I’ve learned is that good governance is actually about asking the right questions.”

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Q) “How do you balance representing supporters’ views with the collective responsibility of being a company director?”

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A) “I was appointed by the Supporters’ Trust, and I take that responsibility very seriously. Every time I walk into a meeting, I’m conscious that I’m carrying more than my own opinion. I make a point of listening to supporter sentiment, picking up on themes and concerns, and making sure those perspectives are properly understood at board level.

What I’d also say, though, is that the board absolutely do think with supporters in mind. There’s a real awareness around the table that this isn’t just a business, it’s a football club with a community, a history, and supporters that cares deeply about it.

Personally it’s not about acting as a spokesperson in meetings. It’s about making sure supporter insight feeds into the way we think and plan. Supporters tend to bring that long term, custodial mindset. Caring about sustainability, identity and integrity and that perspective is hugely valuable in football, where it’s easy to get pulled into short term thinking.”

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Q) “Can you share an example of where the Trust’s voice has genuinely influenced board-level discussion or decision-making?”

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A) “Without breaching confidentiality, supporter sentiment absolutely shapes conversations particularly around communication, transparency and long term sustainability.

Influence doesn’t always look dramatic. Sometimes it’s reframing a conversation, asking a new question, or pausing to think about long term rather than short term optics. That’s where the Trust seat adds real value.”

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Q) “What are the biggest strategic challenges and opportunities facing Torquay United over the next few seasons?”

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A) “Sustainability is the biggest theme. Financial resilience in modern football is challenging at every level of the pyramid. We have to grow revenue responsibly, manage costs carefully, and build foundations that aren’t reliant on short term fixes.

Infrastructure and facilities are part of that conversation. So is commercial growth and partnerships, matchday revenue, expanding our reach beyond traditional audiences.

But I genuinely think one of our biggest opportunities is community connection. Torquay United F.C. has deep roots. If we can continue to broaden participation, young people, families, underrepresented groups and make the club feel accessible and welcoming, that strengthens everything else.

Success on the pitch is always the aim, but long term stability off it is what sustains success.”

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Q) “You’re often associated with women’s football development at the club — but what parts of the club’s wider operations are you most passionate about influencing?”

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A) “I’m really passionate about the women’s game and making sure there are genuine opportunities for them. Inclusivity matters hugely to me. But I don’t see that as a separate or niche area, it’s part of a much bigger picture about the kind of club we want to be. If a young girl sits in the stands and thinks, ‘I could do that one day,’ that matters to me.

More broadly, I care a lot about community, inclusivity and that family feel around the club. I’m passionate about good governance, transparency and long term planning. I care about how we communicate with supporters, how we grow commercially in the right way, our brand identity, our youth pathways, and making sure the club truly reflects the community it represents.

I want to help build a culture where everyone feels they belong whether that’s in the stands, on the pitch, in the boardroom or out in the local community. That sense of belonging is bigger than any one team or department. Football should feel like somewhere you belong, not somewhere you have to fit in.

Someone said to me recently that in the UK, football isn’t just a team you support but that it’s part of your identity. That really resonated. At 31, this club has been part of my identity for as long as I can remember. Being able to help shape its future is a privilege, and I want to make sure it’s something everyone connected to it can feel proud of.”

 

Q) “Why is it important that Torquay United has a Supporters’ Trust-appointed director at board level — and what difference does it make in practice?”

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A) “Football clubs are unique. They aren’t just commercial entities they’re community institutions with generational emotional investment.

Having a Supporters’ Trust appointed director formalises that connection at governance level.

It embeds supporter perspective into strategic decision making, rather than adding it in afterwards.

In practice, it strengthens accountability and encourages longer term thinking.

For me personally, it’s been a huge responsibility and an incredible learning experience. Twelve months in, I’m still learning every week. But I’m fully committed to ensuring the voice of the wider community helps shape the future of this football club. I’m very aware that not many 31 year old women sit on football boards, that’s a responsibility as well as a privilege. This club was here long before me, and it will be here long after me. My role is to help leave it stronger than I found it.”

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Always a yellow, D x
 

WORKING TOGETHER

Want to work with the Club or Trust? See the below details for how you can!

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The club are currently looking for somebody with camera or videography experience to control the camera in the gantry above the Popside on a matchday. This role would be responsible for recording the match highlights during home games at Plainmoor & is a paid position.

If you are interested or know of someone who may be interested then please get in touch at info@tust.co.uk

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The 1899 Club Lottery continues to go from strength to strength with over 600 players currently playing each month. With the first three prizes being cash amounts there are opportunities for companies to provide a 4th prize in return for sponsorship space on the lottery. If any Trust members work for, or own a company that would like to partner with the 1899 Club Lottery then please get in touch with us at info@tust.co.uk

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…And Finally, we hope you’ve enjoyed this new style newsletter, if you have any feedback on the look, the content or ideas of what you would like to hear about in the future please contact us at info@tust.co.uk

 

CORPORATE MEMBERS

 

Please support the businesses that support your Supporters’ Trust:

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• RGS Architectural Design Consultants

• Torquay Carpets and Furniture

• O’Neill & Holman Painting and Decorating

• Riviera Events

• The Blue Anchor, Teignmouth

• Devon School of Hypnotherapy

• Regola Digital Consulting

• Weltch Media

• Torbay Footcare

• Southall Electrical

• Talking Torquay Podcast

• Torbay Oven Cleaning

• Twigger Business Solutions

• Prestige Tactical

• Charlie Baker (Comedian and Supporter)

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COME ON YOU YELLOWS

For enquiries, please email:
info@tust.co.uk