Fan Zone 05/07/2026
- TUST
- 9 hours ago
- 4 min read
FAN ZONE
By Nick Brodrick, TUST's Chair and TUFC board member.
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WILL IT BE A MEXICAN WAVE GOODBYE FOR ENGLAND AND WHERE WILL YOU BE?
BUCKLAND HIT FOR SIX AS UNITED X2 ENJOY THEIR RUN OUT IN THE SUN
EXCLUSIVE FOR TUST MEMBERS - ASK JIMMY A QUESTION
Last week’s Fans’ Zone reflected on what seemed to be a host of negative comments about hydration breaks in the World Cup. This week we’re praising them because England appeared to use them to their advantage to re-set, for after both the team’s performances picked up.
I’m sitting in a sunny Somerset garden writing this while some of you based in South Devon may well be watching a Torquay United XI playing cricket at Barton Cricket Club as part of their centenary celebrations.
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Of course, the big talking point, after yesterday’s emphatic 6-0 win over hosts Buckland, is are you staying up during Sunday night/Monday morning?
There are those who will and probably miss work/school or those who will record and then go into self-imposed media silence to watch as if ‘live’.
With pubs being allowed to stay open until 5am it’s estimated that over a million extra pints will be drunk watching England.
And all the sports papers have been quick to remind us of events 40 years ago in the Azteca Stadium in Mexico when Maradona’s ‘Hand of God’ goal helped Argentina deny England a semi-final place; mind you he did score an amazing legitimate goal.
Whether you watch it live or recorded it’s going to be a tough watch; 7,350ft above sea level in a stadium where Mexico have never lost a World Cup match, in fact Mexico have played 89 games in the Azteca and only lost twice.
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So, what was the biggest football story on Wednesday? For those outside Torbay it was undoubtedly Harry Houdini rescuing a laboured England with two cracking goals to keep the World Cup dreams alive.
But for the Yellow Army it must have been the news that talisman striker Deon Moore had signed a two- year deal – ‘Deon signs up for Moore’. If his return to Plainmoor doesn’t spark a demand for a Plainmoor Pass then nothing will.
The target is 2000 season tickets by the first August 8th fixture and United fans got their first look at Jimmy Ball’s squad at Buckland on Saturday.
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‘A game of two halves’ used to be a phrase that managers often used, at Buckland it was a case of a game of two United teams as Jimmy Ball’s summer recruitment was on show, minus Moore, Young (whose partner is expecting a baby any day) and Fish.
It was a good run out in the sunshine, getting minutes in legs but more importantly no injuries.
Now it’s on to Cullompton on Tuesday (7pm) for more of the same.
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Tributes have been paid to former United striker Paul Dobson who died this week at only 63, whose late, late equaliser against Crewe in 1987, thanks to Bryn the police dog, saved the Gulls from dropping out of the Football League into non-league.
The next season it was Dobson’s 25 goals which helped the Gulls into the Fourth Division Play-Off Final losing out to Swansea over two legs. After that he was transferred to Doncaster Rovers for £20,000.
As Michael Westcott said, “Paul Dobson’s name will be forever written into Torquay United folklore.”
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I read an obituary this week of Andrew Perry who died in April aged 60. Born in Torbay and went to Montpelier School, son of parents who ran two Torquay seafront hotels, he was amongst other journals the Daily Telegraph’s music journalist who was reputedly the first to alert the country to Nirvana, Oasis and White Stripes and he was a life- long Torquay United fan.
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Three United players released at the end of the season were in action yesterday: Ed Palmer played for Asa Hall’s Tiverton Town, James Hamon was in goal for Gary Johnson’s Taunton Town and Matt Wonnacott has signed for Kevin Hill’s Exmouth Town.
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Congratulations to our six Silver, Gold, Platinum winners of our Exclusive Forever Yellow Members Prize of a match worn shirt.
Could your shirt, in the future, be worth anything like these: Geoff Hurst’s 1966 World Cup winning shirt sold for £90k in 2000 but the record is £7.1m paid in 2022 for that ‘Hand of God’ shirt worn by Maradona.
Apparently, memorabilia from World Cups are worth a lot but shirts even more. For example, Alan Ball’s World Cup shirt is currently priced at between £150,000 and £200,000; Pele’s 1958 shirt is up for auction later this year and could match the £7.1m.
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Here’s the latest news from local charity Read Easy. Read Easy have launched their ‘Read The Game, Together’ campaign to coincide with the World Cup to help fans understand and support their colleagues and friends who may find reading hard.
You can request a campaign poster from Torbay Read Easy by phoning 07593223600.
You can also find out more by going to https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1Nfvbsoevq/?mibextid=wwXlfr.
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Here’s a reminder for Silver, Gold and Platinum Forever Yellow members. Have you added your digital membership card to your Apple or Google wallets yet?
Digital membership cards were emailed out on Thursday June 25th to all current Silver, Gold and Platinum members. Please check your spam/junk folder if you haven’t received yours.
Your digital membership card can be used to redeem your club shop discounts straightaway and bar discounts slightly later from July 21st once new till systems are installed at the club.
Having trouble adding it to your wallet or don’t own a smartphone? Then please contact tustmembership@gmail.com.
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Exclusive for TUST members only.
At our monthly board meeting on July 20th our special guest is United manager Jimmy Ball.
Do you have a question you would like us to ask Jimmy on your behalf? One question only per member and depending on how many questions we get we cannot guarantee to ask all of them.
Please send me your question together with your name to fanszone.tu@gmail.com by Friday July 10th.
United’s Women’s preparations continue for their new National League season with the signing of former Exeter City striker Sarah Stacey.
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