Fan Zone 03/08/2026
- TUST
- 5 days ago
- 4 min read
FAN ZONE
By Nick Brodrick, TUST's Chair and TUFC board member.
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THE WORLD’S GREATEST COMPETITION TURNED INTO A FARCE BUT SANITY RETURNS
EXCITEMENT BUILDS WITH UNITED READY TO FACE HORSHAM BUT WHO STARTS?
UNITED’S WOMEN’S NEW KIT HAS THE WOW FACTOR AS PREPARATIONS CONTINUE
Hard to believe but with Hornchurch still fresh in the memory for many, 87 days have passed in what will be remembered as the summer to end all summers. Not only have our own gardens turned from green to brown but football pitches have suffered from no proper rain, Plainmoor included.
Then add in the shenanigans of the World Cup before – ticketing prices, during - controversy over refereeing decisions and a red card overturned, and after – FIFA president Infantino trying to sell the crown jewels.
Amongst all this Jimmy Ball’s Torquay United have gone about their pre-season training with some solid performances as the new players settle into the squad.
With competition for every place, it’s hard to second guess the starting eleven for Saturday’s National South opener against Horsham but don’t be surprised if there are a few departures in the coming weeks.
Pre-season fixtures finished on Friday with a match against a youthful Exeter City in front of a healthy 3,358 and with the twin strike force of Deon Moore and Isaac Westondorf both scoring surely they’ll be leading the line come Saturday.
With Sonny Fish leaving the club by ‘mutual consent’ last week to try to resurrect his career at Dover, his departure may well open the door to Trialist A aka Harry Shield signing a contract.
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The Yellow Army after three home friendlies have had a good look at Jimmy’s signings and will have started to form opinions.
Who will start in goal?
Who will play in the middle of defence?
For me, one of the more encouraging aspects of Ball’s leadership has been his willingness to try different formations which means the team will have at least a Plan B if required.
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Nothing is a given in football and wins and points have to be won on merit and there will inevitably be a number of teams challenging for that single automatic promotion slot.
What is clear is for United to finish first the team can only afford to lose matches in single figures. Fourteen losses last year were unacceptable.
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What to make of the FIFA Forward Enterprise Scheme? It has rightly been condemned by all right- thinking football authorities and ditched. UEFA, who led the European revolt, are now reported to be threatening to sue Infantino so the story continues.
FIFA, under the previous leadership of Sepp Blatter, has a history of being mired in controversy and corruption. No wonder English football now has an Independent Regulator.
It was Shakespeare in Macbeth who wrote, “unchecked ambition and the lust for authority act as destructive forces”.
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United’s Women continued their pre-season friendlies in Wales on Sunday with a narrow 1-0 defeat at Swansea City. United’s side included new signings Hannah Bishop and Ella-Mae Miller with the squad wearing their new VX3 kit which has had the ‘wow’ reaction and by the way look out for TUST’s Forever Yellow sponsorship on the back.
Ryan Perks’ side complete their warm-ups on Sunday against Cardiff City (away) but their opening league fixture is at Wycombe Wanderers on August 16th.
Fancy sponsoring a player? There are a number of the women’s squad looking for sponsors for £300.
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Our TUST Platinum Forever Yellow subscribers will have had details of an exclusive online Meet the Manager event next Monday August 10th.
As a kind of preview if you go to www.torquayunited.com search for ‘When Baker Met Ball – A West Country Ramble’ on YouTube. Worth a watch and filmed in Tolchard’s specially kitted out executive box filled with Torquay players and match memorabilia.
Here’s something else on YouTube you might like to watch. ‘Taskmaster’ creator and life-long non-league fan Alex Horne fronts ‘All In: Chesham United’, a behind-the-scenes documentary series.
The latest episode now available follows Chesham on their 200+ mile trip to Plainmoor soaking up all the atmosphere. You can watch it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MpChrQi0TFE.
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TUST member Rob Drew, Treasurer of the Torbay Civic Society, has contacted me at fanszone.tu@gmail.com to draw our attention to three Blue Plaques celebrating Torquay United’s heritage. Two are dedicated to comedian and lifelong Gulls fan Peter Cook and a third to former chairman Arthur Milner. Popside supporters pass one of the Cook plaques in Marnham Road.
There’ll be more about these plaques next week but in the meantime Rob asks if the club and TUST would consider commissioning a new Blue Plaque celebrating the deep-rooted value of Torquay United to the local community. What do members think? Fanszone.tu@gmail.com.
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And finally, a big shout-out to our amazing volunteers under David McNair who have given freely of their time to Paint Up Plainmoor during the close season. If you haven’t been to Plainmoor yet you’ll notice many differences including an additional bar area in the Gulls Nest.
COYY
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