MIS - FIRING GULLS - ANGUS MACDONALD OPENS UP AND TUST SUPPORTS BEWELL@STEPONE - TRUST AT FOOTBALL CLUBS SO IMPORTANT
For long standing dedicated Torquay United fans, whilst the current situation is unacceptable, let’s face it, we’ve been here many times over the years. That, of course, doesn’t make it any easier especially to those who may have been brought up on National South promotion and the near miss of an EFL return.
Supporting any football club means experiencing highs and lows. No club was promoted in October and neither has any been relegated. In one sense it was reassuring to have heard from the club’s saviour and owner, Clarke Osborne, last Friday when he spoke at the Shareholders’ AGM at which he reiterated his support for the club and that his desire remained as wishing to find a suitable area to build a new stadium.
However, listening to comments aired before Saturday’s game the majority would rather have heard about the misfortunes on the pitch as the mis-firing Gulls failed once more to record a home win, the last one stretching back to May with the 2-0 defeat of Chesterfield.
******** Is it the budget? Is it the use of the budget? Has Gary Johnson lost his touch? This season’s signings have the makings of good players but they’re sure taking their time showing us.
The forums are, once again, awash with solutions and whilst posters are well meaning the only people who count are the owner, the directors and the manager.
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Matt Taylor, the Exeter City manager, was talking on BBC Radio Devon about trust, how important trust is in football. Trust between manager and directors, between manager and players and between the manager, players and supporters.
Here at Plainmoor we have to trust those in charge, that all is well and things will improve. Following on after a 6-0 defeat was always going to be a big ask but a terrifically worked opening goal inside four minutes should have been the cue to go on and take the game by the scruff of the neck but somehow Scunthorpe grew in confidence and once they equalised could, but for Mark Halstead, top keeper in the Non-League Team of the Day and the Vanarama Team of the Week, have gone on to take all three points.
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Dealing with mental health, not just in the community but within football, is an important part of modern society and credit to the club last Saturday for opening the gates with free tickets for local NHS workers.
On this theme former favourite of the Yellow Army, Angus MacDonald has opened up recently about his various illnesses including bowel cancer, a diagnosis he received whilst playing for Hull City.
Playing for England Under-16s at a Tournament in France he picked up a stomach bug which led to a blood clot on his lung. From starting out at Southampton he moved to Reading but still had his medical problems.
Released by Reading at age 21 he moved to Torquay having previously been on loan. Three years at Plainmoor eventually led to a move to Barnsley where it was discovered he had colitis. He did, though, explain his medical problems blighted his time in the Bay. However, after Barnsley he moved to Hull City where he had a blood clot in his leg and this led to discovering he had cancer.
He has, fortunately, been on the road to recovery and subsequently joined Rotherham United and this season is now at Swindon Town. It’s been a tough ride for him which has also affected his mental health.
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MacDonald’s case history should be a motivation to any man living in Devon who has any mental health issues as the Step One Charity is on hand to help with its BeWell@StepOne service. They offer free courses, workshops and peer support groups for people across Devon. For over 85 years Step One have worked closely with local NHS Trusts, GP surgeries and communities. The charity hopes that by signing up to these free and accessible online courses, people that may be struggling can receive early support and guidance for their mental health concerns, both preventing them from falling into a crisis as well as reducing some of the burden on the severely stretched NHS.
BeWell@StepOne Community Trainer Dominic Bryant had this to say, “When exploring the balance between men and women attending our free courses, it is clear that we get considerably fewer men enrolling. This is a real shame and can seriously impact their future wellbeing both physically and psychologically.”
He added, “We are doing our best to reach out to as many men as possible and are really pleased that organisations including the Torquay United Supporters Trust are keen to help us in this task.”
This month the charity is launching a new Men’s Wellbeing Walk taking in some of Paignton’s beautiful coastline.
There is also a BeWell for Business offering Mental Health First Aid Courses. You can find out about all the free online courses at www.steponecharity.co.uk/bewellstepone-online-courses.
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Non-League Crowd Watch: 2,520 Wrexham fans turned up at Oldham to swell the gate to 9,496. Chesterfield surprisingly lost at home to last night’s Plainmoor visitors, Maidenhead United in front of 7,511. 6,458 were at Notts County but one of non-league’s rising clubs, Macclesfield Town, had a gate of 3,021 last Tuesday while on Saturday this increased to 3,201
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Monday’s 4th Qualifying Round FA Cup draw sees United home to National South Hampton & Richmond on October 15 with £9,375 to the winners.
Meanwhile in the Women’s FA Cup 2nd Qualifying Round United’s Women had a crushing 9-1 win over Feniton Ladies with Mia Preston (2), Rui Bailey (2), Ellie Bishop (2), Daisy Self, Tracey Cross and Bec McMullin on the score sheet.
Just for the record Exeter City’s Women played at St James Park last Sunday in front of 2,621.
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As part of Black History Month TUST along with Exeter City Supporters Trust and the Argyle Trust as ‘Devon United’ have teamed up to financially support a statue of Jack Leslie which was unveiled last Friday at Home Park.
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And thanks to Sue Turner from Camberley who’s hoping early Saturday kick-offs could lead to live streaming as being outside the 3pm blackout.
A long, safe trip to the Yellow Army on Saturday to York City who seem to have made the step up into the National League look easy.
COYY
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