Fan Zone 07/08/2025
- TUST
- Aug 7
- 4 min read
FAN ZONE
By Nick Brodrick, TUST's Chair and TUFC board member.
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FANS’ FORUM DELIVERS OPENNESS AND TRANSPARENCY
NEW CEO TASKED TO REDUCE PROJECTED DEFICIT
FAN ZONE BIGGER AND BETTER THIS SATURDAY
t’s been said many times – and will be again - that fans are the life blood of any sporting team. Parents watching their children at school to avid fans who follow their team to the ends of the earth.
Not that long ago there was talk that five- day cricket Test matches are no longer viable or popular. But tell that to the thousands who turned up at The Oval for the fifth day of the final test England versus India. An hour’s cricket on the Monday morning saw India deservedly grab a famous victory to level the series. What drama! What fun! What entertainment! And the fans loved it.
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Torquay’s pre-season came to an end last Saturday with an emphatic 5-1 victory at recently relegated Weymouth with Cody Cooke, knowing he now has competition for his position, netting a hat-trick.
So, bring on the Enterprise National South season with plenty of drama, fun and entertainment. Every fan, every manager, every player and club director go into the opening fixture full of excitement and anticipation hoping this is going to be the season for promotion. Realistically, there are probably only around ten sides who could handle a step up.
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On Monday evening in a busy, packed Boots & Laces function room for the Fans’ Forum I asked Paul Wotton about the strength of National South. He acknowledges that many sides have ‘splashed the cash’ with some paying astronomical wages and he thinks there’s around seven or eight teams who will challenge at the top.
Of course, we all hope that United will be amongst that pack and at that Forum the manager confirmed his new squad members have raised the standards of those who were here last year.
It’s noticeable that his main targets have been strengthening the mid-field and with players who all have played at higher levels. Wotton has the numbers to be able to rotate the personnel in the centre of the pitch along with other options up front.
His minimum requirement is to once again make the play-offs.
The Forum was a refreshing event as new CEO Mark Thomas gave an open and transparent assessment of the club’s business plan for 2025-26. There is clearly a need to maximise the club’s non matchday revenue streams and to this end there are many ideas to boost the coffers. It was a very positive evening.
For those unable to attend, the evening was filmed and the business plan slides are to be posted on the club’s website.
Season ticket sales are up 25% on last year with 1,528 sold.
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At TUST we are fully behind and working with the Bryn Consortium, the manager and the new CEO. To highlight our commitment, we have in recent weeks funded the new additional hand rails in Bristows and this week paid for grow lights to be used to rejuvenate areas of the pitch when required.
In another initiative TUST has worked with the club to produce a Club Charter which will be available to read on the club website with copies in the club shop.
All these show how TUST, as a significant shareholder, is helping to drive up
standards to move the club forward.
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Following a number of near misses and unfortunately one recent hit, practice shots at a temporary goal before matches have become a health hazard so much so that netting is to be erected along sections of the Family Stand for spectators’ safety.
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So, with a new updated fan zone on Plainmoor Green, 12 to 3pm, on Saturday the excitement of a first home game will be building.
Food outlets, bar, music, fun and games and competitions it promises to be a great start to a new football season and it’s not just for the fans as members of the local community are welcome too.
Enfield come to Devon following a morale boosting final pre- season 2-1 victory over Tottenham’s Under-21 side on Tuesday evening completing a North London double having won 2-0 previously over Arsenal’s Under-21s.
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United striker Ben Seymour, on a season loan, scored one in each half, one with his right foot and the other with his left in a pre-season friendly for Taunton Town who also included Austen Booth and sub Chris Zebroski. Visitors Bedford Town fielded a strike partnership of Shaun Jeffers and Tyrone Marsh. Taunton won 3-1 despite Bedford taking the lead through Marsh.
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These continue to be worrying times for fans of Morecambe and Sheffield Wednesday, both with uncertain futures as deadlines seem to come and go.
Last Saturday TUST posted an open letter in support of the Shrimps Trust at Morecambe and their vice-chairman very kindly thanked us.
The recent passing of the Football Governance Bill and the introduction of a football regulator may go someway to weeding out unsuitable owners to ensure no more football clubs go out of business.
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United’s Women’s pre-season has got off to a promising start with an 11-0 win over Teignmouth Ladies and 3-0 over Feniton Ladies with many trialists trying to impress.
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One of the club’s vital revenue streams has been the 1899 Lotto and the next draw is August 14th. Are you in the draw? Go to https://draw.ourclublotto.co.uk/tufc/
I’m away on holiday over the next week so this column will appear the week after. Dare we hope for an opening day victory and an end to the Maidstone hoodoo?
COYY
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