FAN ZONE
TUST's Chair, Nick Brodrick's column in this week's Herald Express - updated for the latest news.
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RICOCHET PLAYS IMPORTANT ROLE - UNITED’S WINNING START IN NEW ERA
SEVERAL PLAYERS ALREADY FANS’ FAVOURITES
RETURN OF THE NON-LEAGUE CROWD WATCH - OH YES!
For the majority of a bumper August crowd - 3,837 were inside Plainmoor - it was a pinch yourself moment when the two teams emerged from the tunnel, United’s players receiving the kind of roar that’s associated with sighs of relief.
Relief that a football league fixture was being played and relief that there is a football club alive and kicking.
And what a joy to see fans with broad smiles on faces at the prospect of a competitive match with visitors Enfield Town. Would the new National South side bow down to the pressure of a big occasion or would they be party poopers? Within four minutes we had our answer as a glancing header from a decent cross sent the 200 plus Towners into raptures in their section of Bristow’s.
That was not what was meant to be in the script and for a while the Popside was silenced receiving the usual reply from the Enfield crowd.
But Paul Wotton has instilled a much needed positivity into his squad who knuckled down to dominate possession with slick passing and inter-play using the width of the pitch with danger down both sides.
It was a lucky ricochet off an Enfield defender’s back from a Matt Carson shot which was going well wide to level up the scores and it was from Carson’s cross that Brad Ash headed home what proved to be the winner.
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There were so many replica home shirts in the crowd it was impossible to count them but the Bryn effect was there to be seen. And what a great gesture to have Jim McNichol in the directors’ box and then in a photo at half time with all the Bryn Consortium. McNichol, of course, forever tied to Bryn the Alsatian.
It was a shame not to have broken through the 4,000 barrier but it was good to see the numbers queuing to buy a match day ticket at the ticket office while others went through the ‘Pay at the Gate’ turnstile with their credit card.
The proper match day experience is returning to Plainmoor although there were issues with slow service in both the Gulls Nest and Boots & Laces. Hopefully, the club has picked up on these and will react.
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Back on the pitch fans are already talking about their favourite player with Sam Dreyer a standout at the back and the creative excitement of Omar Mussa. The whole team, including the subs, have already shown the kind of commitment and ‘never say die’ attitude that will stand them in credit even in defeats.
A football season is a marathon but already fans can see that under Paul Wotton we are in for a journey to remember. Where will it take us? Come the final match at Hemel Hempstead on April 26 2025 we’ll know. Let’s enjoy the ride!
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Even that poet, Neil Warnock, got in the mood on X (formerly Twitter) before Saturday penning the following:
‘I’ve been a manager for most of my life / But I’m going to the game without any strife / It’s the start of the season and every fan wants to win / I’m here at Torquay wishing the same and all the best for Bryn’.
Before the game there was a fitting minutes applause in memory of former director Merv Balson and ex-players Paul Holmes and Alan Little.
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Torquay was not the only club to be thankful that they had been able to look forward to another football season as fans of Southend United, a massive 7,962, turned up at Roots Hall to celebrate their being saved. Their 1-1 draw with York City was their first under the ownership of the new consortium.
Good luck to Truro who played at their new home in Cornwall for the first time in years.
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It’s back and you’ve all missed it: Non-League Crowd Watch: Southend 7,962, Oldham 5,552, Torquay 3,837, Yeovil 3,646, Bury 2,947, Hereford 2,888, Truro 2,676.
Saturday’s visiting directors were telling me about being the first fully fan owned club in the country. They, too, have had a Community Share Issue and currently are running a Crowdfunder to raise £35,000. After five days their total was £6,740.
TUST’s Community Share Issue is now only days away from launching to raise a minimum of £100,000 to gain a Golden Share and a second seat on the football board. An offer document and a CutLeaf video coming soon.
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Torquay’s Women had another useful work-out in a pre-season friendly against higher league opposition in the form of Plymouth Argyle and, despite suffering a 5-0 defeat, gained valuable playing time. It was encouraging to hear at last week’s Fans’ Forum that a number of their league fixtures will be at Plainmoor.
United are off to Farnborough on Saturday for their first away test and with the Travel Club taking bookings in Boots & Laces on Saturday there is sure to be a good attendance.
If you have any issues you would like me to bring up at TUFC board meetings email: fanszone.tu@gmail.com.
COYY
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