Fan Zone 24/10/2025
- TUST
- 1 day ago
- 4 min read
FAN ZONE
By Nick Brodrick, TUST's Chair and TUFC board member.
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TWO GOALS OF THE SEASON CONTENDERS FRY THE CHIPS
COUNCIL LEADERS ENJOY A SPECIAL NIGHT AT PLAINMOOR
SUNDAY’S WOMEN’S DEVON DERBY COULD SET A RECORD ATTENDANCE
You can’t please all of the people all of the time and this seems pretty appropriate for football fans. Football matches have always been about opinions and it’s an interesting point about human behaviour as we all see the same things differently.
Take Tuesday night’s National South fixture under the new LED lights. Some were overheard to say they were no different from the previous ones. “Too dark in the corners”.
And what about the match itself? Surely, this was a home banker against the bottom club, Chippenham, who have only won once this season? A cricket score at the very least. So, for many 3-0 was job done but for others it should have been six or more – “didn’t we miss out on promotion last season on goal difference?”
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With Saturday (Away), Tuesday (Home), Saturday (Away) in the same week, the manager has to juggle his squad especially giving those returning from injury minutes on the pitch.
By his own admission Paul Wotton acknowledges he may have made his changes too early in the second half but at least he’s honest enough to admit a mistake.
It was, though, a good night with two class goals in the first half in front of the Family Stand, for in the directors’ box were Dave Thomas and Chris Lewis, with their wives, the two Torbay Council leaders.
Thomas and Lewis were the guests of the two co-chairmen to show off Plainmoor before an important meeting with the Council yesterday (Thursday).
The Boardroom notes in the matchday programme explain, “Later this week we’ll be meeting with the Council to map out our long-term vision for Torquay United as one of the area’s most important community assets. Our goal is to reset and strengthen the relationship between the Club and the Council, to work together for the benefit of the wider community and to realise the full potential of this great football club as a force for good in Torbay.”
Having spoken with our guests at half-time they were pretty impressed with the two goals – a terrific Jordan Young free-kick (confirmation it was a ‘free kick’ on the new Big Screen in case anyone was in doubt!) and a cracker from Sonny Blu Lo-Everton.
The third goal from Louis Dennis was pretty special too in its creation.
It was a shame that Plainmoor’s first sub-3,000 crowd missed out on what could be two ‘goal of the season’ contenders but another disappointing away performance at Chesham may have put a few off.
The next home fixture, against current league leaders Hornchurch on November 1st should see another big attendance.
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Talking of big attendances could Sunday’s Adobe Women’s FA Cup tie between United’s Women and Exeter City set a new record? It’s a 2pm kick-off (don’t forget the clocks go back this weekend) and it’s great value for families.
United’s Women warmed up with a 7-0 win at Tiverton Town last Sunday in the Red Rock Electrical Women’s Premier Cup. Exeter are fresh from a 4-0 WNL Cup win over Fulham.
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Non-League Crowd Watch: Carlisle 8,598, York v Wealdstone 6,026, York v Boreham Wood 5,193, Morecambe 3,042, Macclesfield 2,908, Torquay 2,854.
Non-League Manager Watch: Aldershot still looking for a replacement for Tommy Widdrington who quit while after seven years as boss Altrincham sacked Phil Parkinson this week. Current Truro manager John Askey is an early favourite to take over.
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Last Saturday I went to watch Torquay Reserves aka Taunton Town as they went down 1-0 to Sholing managed by Paul Doswell probably best known for managing Sutton United.
Playing for Taunton were Matt Carson (on loan), Ben Seymour (on loan, had his penalty saved), Austen Booth, Niall Thompson and on the bench Lumbondo-Kalala.
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United travel to Dorking with the Yellow Army hoping the away hoodoo is broken and last season’s win is repeated.
Spare a thought for Truro fans who have a 913 mile round trip to Gateshead tomorrow.
And fans of Sheffield Wednesday are having to go through administration, the same administrators who oversaw events at Torquay, with 12 points deducted to put them 16 points adrift at the bottom of the Championship.
Wednesday’s owner Chansiri had seats spelling out his name in the stand removed this afternoon.
The events in Sheffield underline why an Independent Football Regulator has been appointed.
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Supporters’ Trust members are reminded that the closing date for TUST board nominations is next Wednesday 29th October. For further information contact tustsecretary@gmail.com.
And finally, oh for a return of Devon derbies involving the Gulls; Exeter won the one played on Thursday evening sending the Green Army home following their 2-0 defeat.
But the Women’s Devon derby is on this Sunday at Plainmoor. Can we get 1,000 watching?
COYY
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