Fan Zone 26/07/2025
- TUST
- Jul 26
- 3 min read
FAN ZONE
By Nick Brodrick, TUST's Chair and TUFC board member.
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ARGYLE HIT UNITED FOR SIX, COUNTY ROCKED AND YOUNG FRUSTRATES EXETER
11,000 PLUS ATTENDANCES AND TUST’S NEW BRISTOWS HANDRAILS
COME ON ENGLAND IN WOMEN’S EURO FINAL
So that’s Plainmoor’s pre-season done and dusted. Three matches, all against higher league opposition, in six days was some ask but a win, a draw and a loss gave opportunities for all the fit squad to get minutes in legs.
A very healthy 11,199 in total watched the three fixtures.
Argyle’s squad and attitude to the match was far superior to the one Wayne Rooney brought last year; this Plymouth side look super fit and on that showing must be one of the leading sides in League 1 this year. To be hit for six is not ideal but often on occasions like this a manager learns more about his players than when winning by a similar score.
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Exeter, on Friday night, despite having another pre-season friendly today at home against Swansea in a testimonial for long serving Pierce Sweeney, brought a decent competitive side. The first half was pretty even and the match opened up in the second half as the visitors were more on the front foot.
With City 1-0 ahead as the game reached its conclusion a flurry of player changes saw United bring on a number who look to be first team starters while Exeter finished with many of their 18’s, as Kevin Nicholson confirmed afterwards.
Jordan Young, with a trademark goal, levelled things up to silence a fairly noisy away following of over 800.
Interestingly, on Wednesday the Green Army were allowed to be in the Popside and seats in Bristows and the Family Stand – all was good natured with no trouble while Exeter’s supporters were segregated.
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Back last Saturday Torquay’s first half performance had everyone purring as the quality in and out of possession plus three sublime goals gave United a dominating half-time lead. Poor Newport County were blown away and despite being two leagues higher found themselves chasing the match resorting to a number of wild tackles resulting in several yellow cards.
Which brings me to a couple of pre-season queries. What status do cards have in friendlies? I’ve asked Paul Wotton who said he’d have to ask and I’ve spoken with a few other football people. An answer is that the cards are at a referee’s discretion, if not included in his report they’re not counted.
Secondly, why do players in pre-season only have their squad number on the back of their shirt and not their name?
If you know the answers let me know at fanszone.tu@gmail.com.
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Last Saturday saw the first appearance of the newly re-formed matchday ambassadors under our SLO.
And on Friday they were kitted out in their new uniform kindly provided by VX3.
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With the exception of Sonny Fish who had his knee surgery on Monday, fans have been able to assess the ability of the other six from the Magnificent Seven signings.
Trialist number 23 has caught the eye, Denzel Acheapong, recently returned from America. He would be competition for Jordan Thomas.
Friday’s number 17, believed to be Yasin El Ben Mhanni, previously at Newcastle United, Scunthorpe and Arbroath put in an eye-catching performance out wide left.
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Those watching this week’s matches from Bristows were able to take advantage of the additional new handrails, funded by TUST, enabling supporters to get to their seats in greater safety. Their addition is a great example of TUST listening to supporters’ suggestions for improving the matchday experience.
On Wednesday evening in the pre-match warm-up those sitting in the Family Stand ended up as if in a coconut shy as balls were flying around from shooting practice. Unfortunately, a lady received a very nasty unwanted shock as a ball smacked into her. The player responsible did rush into the stand to see how she was along with two first aiders. It was noticeable that on Friday the portable goal was moved further away from the stand.
As a result, the club has acquired netting which will be put in place at future matches. Older fans might recall that netting was used for one season by then owner Mike Bateson.
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This coming week promises to be a quieter one with the final pre-season friendly at Weymouth next Saturday and, of course, England versus Spain in Sunday’s Women’s Euro 2025 final.
COYY
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