FAN ZONE
TUST's Chair, Nick Brodrick's column in this week's Herald Express - updated for the latest news.
WHAT A TURNAROUND AS FANS ARE ASKED OUR OPINIONS
TUST’S PAINT UP PLAINMOOR GATHERS PACE
A HOST OF EX-PLAYERS PAY THEIR RESPECTS TO PAUL
As each week goes by United fans are being invited to be part of the Bryn Consortium’s journey as the club’s new custodians outline their plans. Despite being in administration - and hopefully this is the last week - ideas centring on fan involvement and participation are coming out of Plainmoor like a breath of fresh air.
The arrival of Paul Wotton as manager, alongside the appointment of football legend Neil Warnock, received positive reactions with Warnock’s football profile pushing Torquay United into national news.
Following not far behind came the arrival of local sports clothing company VX3 with four very progressive shirt designs and shock, horror, fans were asked if they would like to vote for their favourite, unheard of!
Whilst the Yellow Army were recovering from this, and by the way option 2 won with voters probably swayed by the palms, the club then announced a survey to actually ask fans their opinion about all things Torquay. Go to: We Want To Hear From YOU! - Torquay United
Almost 6,000 responded to the shirt vote and at the time of writing over 900 had already completed the survey. I hope that those of you who sent suggestions to this column have repeated them in the survey. To the doubters, and there are some, the ‘evidence’ is piling up that we, at long last, have our football club back; one that is a proper community club.
*****
Thank you to Christina Smart, an exile, who asks whether it would be possible to have a TUFC pop-up shop at away games selling merchandise.
Work started not only on the pitch on Tuesday but also on the first stages of Paint Up Plainmoor, a TUST initiative that as Chairman I am co-ordinating. One of our volunteers, Ken Dowell, a carpenter, began sorting out numerous outside doors which either need some maintenance or replacing before the painting teams move in.
*****
June is clearly going to be a busy month with more updates, exciting times are on the horizon.
Let Torquay fan Dan on X sum up what all United fans are thinking: “ Updates when we don’t expect updates. Updates when we need updates.”
Three words express the views of the fan base of the Bryn Consortium, ‘honesty, transparency, caring.’
****
All United fans will be aware of the death of legend Paul Holmes at only 56. His funeral was held last Friday and attended by a huge number of his former colleagues from his two spells at the club.
Players like Tony Bedeau, Sean Joyce, Russell Musker, Tom Kelly, Paul Compton and David Woozley were just some amongst a large gathering who paid their respects.
****
Now that a General Election has been called, there is, unfortunately, not enough time for the Football Governance Bill to introduce an independent regulator.
TUST, along with 170 other supporters’ groups, through the FSA, signed an open letter to all the Party leaders.
The letter contains the following, “There was cross-party support for the bill which was endorsed by football supporters up and down the land.”
It concludes, “Football supporters are now calling on all political parties to give a commitment to include this in their manifesto and, should they win the election, to work with the FSA in a new Parliament to re-introduce legislation in the first King’s Speech.”
****
Top Ten Non- League Average Attendances 2023-24: Chesterfield 7,893, Oldham Athletic 6,924, Southend United 6,493, York City 4,854, Hartlepool United 4,146, Scunthorpe United 4,038, Yeovil Town 3,916, Macclesfield Town 3,211, Bury FC 3,067, Kidderminster Harriers 2,856.
Could this time next year see Torquay in this top ten?
****
With administration coming to an end, speculation is mounting as to who will form part of the season’s playing squad. We know Aaron Jarvis, Jack Stobbs and Brett McGavin won’t be around as they have all posted messages saying goodbye.
It seems possible that a few of last season’s squad have been offered contracts along with new additions. Squad building and season ticket news must be around the corner - exciting times indeed.
Have Plymouth just taken a huge gamble or an inspired choice as Wayne Rooney becomes their new manager?
Thank you to all who have emailed, your contributions are all read and greatly valued. Email: fanszone.tu@gmail.com.
COYY
SUPPORT TUST - SUPPORT YOUR COMMUNITY
Comments