FAN ZONE
TUST's Chair, Nick Brodrick's column in this week's Herald Express - updated for the latest news.
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A RIGHT SHOWER AT FARNBOROUGH BUT ALL CAME GOOD IN BATH
MANCHESTER CITY DAY OF RECKONING DRAWS CLOSER
STAND BY FOR THE LAUNCH OF TUST’S COMMUNITY SHARE ISSUE
‘They’ll be days like this’ sang Van Morrison and sensible United fans accepted this at the final whistle on Saturday at Farnborough - and it’s not as if Neil Warnock hadn’t warned us.
The day had started full of optimism and hope with the Yellow Army riding on the crest of a Torquay wave setting off for the first away game of the new National South season.
Even co-chairman Michael Westcott climbed aboard the newly sponsored - by Torbay Facilities Management - Travel Club coach armed with a mountain of bacon rolls for all the passengers.
Despite the lengthy journey, not helped by the various speed restrictions and traffic, notably crawling past Stonehenge as usual, on the 303 (wonder if they listened to 606 on the way home) all reached Cherrywood Road safely. Estimates put the away support at around 500, difficult to tell as the new home and away replica shirts were dotted around the stadium.
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This was my first away trip as a director and, of course, it was a new experience. Collecting a special lanyard on arrival and ushered into the Platinum Lounge for drinks and a sit down two course meal. Have to say the hospitality and friendly welcome were top class.
It was also an education sitting alongside three of the Bryn Consortium and Neil Warnock who attracts photographers and selfie takers everywhere he goes.
It was also illuminating sitting behind the two benches and, at certain points in the game, it was more entertaining watching and listening to the two managers and coaches shouting their instructions and reacting to numerous refereeing decisions. Being a manager is not for the faint-hearted and goodness knows what a heart monitor would record if fitted.
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The first half showed United second best, despite having had an overnight stay at Newbury, and Paul Wotton looked tempted to make changes mid-way through the half but in fact waited until the break.
Whilst the second half performance was an improvement and Turner in the home goal made a couple of timely saves the most United probably deserved was a draw. It seems churlish that some fans are already criticising the team after the game - some have short memories.
Fortunately, there are another 44 league games left to play, 43 after Tuesday. Wotton strikes me as a manager who is not prepared to put up with disappointing displays so it was no surprise he rang the changes at Bath resulting in a deserved 2-1 victory despite problems getting to the ground. And a wonderful 675 Yellow Army watching.
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Elsewhere the weekend saw the start of the Premier League with changes to the controversial VAR system with the introduction of ‘referee’s call’, replays of key incidents will be shown on in-stadium big screens, speedier decisions, war on time wasting and only thirty-second celebrations will be allowed.
The other Premier news is that the long awaited independent hearing into Manchester City’s 115 charges is likely to begin in September. The case will last until December with the verdict expected between January and March, the worst that could happen is relegation - but how far down?
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Non-League Crowd Watch: York City 4,684, Hartlepool 4,452, Scunthorpe 4,436, Kidderminster 2,504, Macclesfield 2,466.
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On Friday TUST launches its Community Share Issue which we talked about at the recent Fans’ Forum. There’s a share offer document to see and a great CutLeaf video to watch.
We need to raise a minimum of £100,000 to guarantee another seat on the football board and importantly a Golden Share.
Further details and how to donate will be released on Friday.
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One of the key points raised by Michael Westcott at the Fans’ Forum is the club’s aim to attract younger supporters to be the regulars for the future. For the older generation fans support clubs but for Generation Z the focus is on individual players. The biggest stars are becoming the main attraction and are winning the hearts and minds of younger fans and this is now the TikTok and YouTube age.
As the weeks go by younger elements of the Yellow Army are likely to follow a player more than the team, let’s hope the media department make the most of this development.
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Many thanks to readers of this column who contacted me about the problems being served in the Gulls Nest last Saturday. Your comments have been passed on to the club and I’m sure there will be changes. It is a steep learning curve for the Bryn Consortium but at least they listen and react.
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It might be early days but at the time of writing the two relegated sides from the National League - Boreham Wood and Dorking - are the early pace setters behind unbeaten Farnborough.
And Marc White’s Dorking are in town on Saturday when another big holiday crowd will be really important.
Contact me on: fanszone.tu@gmail.com
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