Fan Zone 21/03/2026

TUST
3 hours ago
4 min read

FAN ZONE

By Nick Brodrick, TUST's Chair and TUFC board member.

**************************

WILL IT BE THE NEW MANAGER BOUNCE AS JIMMY BALL TAKES OVER?

COULD SOME BIG PLAYERS BE RETURNING AS STRIKER MOORE SIGNS?

UNITED’S WOMEN NEED YOUR SUPPORT ON SUNDAY IN TITLE CLASH

After all the not unexpected speculation the announcement of Jimmy Ball as the club’s new manager came on Wednesday evening. Many had already guessed this was the club board’s unanimous choice and, as is the case in today’s age, there are some who feel underwhelmed but the majority are already behind him helped by the way he spoke in his two interviews.

I can vouch there was a rigorous recruitment process with Danni Wyatt especially and myself as TUST TUFC directors involved from start to finish.

_____________________________________________________________________

Jimmy’s back story is there for all to read and after four successful years at AFC Totton he deserves to lead a bigger club with ambitions to be back in the Football League.

His legacy at Totton is a success story and the heartfelt tributes written by the Totton fan base are a testimony as to how highly they regarded him.

But things in football can change in the blink of an eye and nothing stands still hence his desire to take over at Plainmoor.

He inherits a squad very much in the play-off mix, he has previously worked with some and it’s possible that big players Sam Dreyer and Callum Dolan could return soon.

_______________________________________________________________________

The focus is now on today’s fixture at Dagenham & Redbridge, not that long since they too were in the Football League and co-incidentally with a new manager, albeit a caretaker in Andy Carroll at the moment.

So, altogether now – Jimmy Ball’s Yellow Army, Jimmy Ball’s Yellow Army.

_______________________________________________________________________

And looking ahead to next Tuesday night matches at this level don’t get much bigger than United at home to current leaders Dorking Wanderers, a fixture re-arranged after the original date was postponed.

Under the Plainmoor lights could we expect a 4,000 plus attendance?

Bring a friend to swell the crowd and let’s give our new manager a big South Devon welcome and Marc White a night to remember – for the wrong reasons.

_______________________________________________________________________

It’s a big Sunday too for United’s Women, a top of the table clash with Forest Green. Last Sunday’s postponement at Saltash leaves the women preparing for this week’s test with United currently topping the table, undefeated, four points ahead of second placed Sherborne but Forest Green are third eleven points behind, also unbeaten, and with three games in hand.

United women and Forest Green have to play each other again after Sunday. So, let’s get as many from the Yellow Army to the Newton Abbot Rec for a 2pm kick-off. TUFC Radio are covering the match if you can’t be there.

______________________________________________________________________

Now that the manager’s position is settled many are wondering if there are going to be any signings as the transfer deadline on March 26^th approaches. The answer came late Friday afternoon with the signing on a free transfer from Maidstone United of striker Deon Moore until the end of the season (whenever that might be). The last centre-forward called Moore did okay (Kieffer).

Moore, the Stones top scorer, parted company by mutual consent earlier in the week. He joined Maidstone from rivals Welling United last Summer. Previously Moore has played for a host of teams including Woking, Sutton United and Lewes. He is also an international for Guyana with five goals in 12 appearances.

______________________________________________________________________

Matt Carson, who Ball has worked with previously, has returned from his loan at Weymouth while Kieran Wilson returned to parent club Exeter and immediately joined Truro in their desperate bid to avoid a straight return to National South.

______________________________________________________________________

Non-League Crowd Watch: Southend v Forest Green (Saturday) 8,702, Southend v Rochdale (Tuesday) 7,259, Scunthorpe 5,042, Torquay 3,260, Kidderminster 3,029.

______________________________________________________________________

One of Jimmy Ball’s strengths is working with academy players and developing talent. This has been my and TUST’s wish for a long time.

Now what if he could find a Max Dowman. Who is Max Dowman? For those who don’t know Max provided an assist and also scored for Arsenal against Everton at the age of 16 last Sunday.

He was first scouted at age 4 and went into Arsenal’s pre-academy. By 13 he was the youngest ever to represent Arsenal’s Under-18s, at 14 in the Under-21s. He played for England’s Under-17s when 14.

Surely, somewhere in South Devon there are talented youngsters waiting to be discovered. With the arrival of Ball perhaps hope can become reality.

_____________________________________________________________________

Many thanks to those who have contacted me recently: Neil Luscombe emailed with his thoughts on Chesham’s time- wasting tactics, Geoff Earnshaw wrote about Paul Wotton’s sacking with some replacement names to consider, Laurie Walker felt Wotton’s departure was premature while Keith Virgin re-remembering 5-0 defeats decided a United defeat ended up 1-6 but he left when it was 0-5!

Views on Jimmy Ball’s appointment? fanszone.tu@gmail.com.

_______________________________________________________________________

In the meantime, all eyes are on today’s trip to Dagenham and the new manager bounce.

Once again, altogether - Jimmy Ball’s Yellow Army.

Finally, next Saturday is Non-League Day.

COYY

JOIN TUST