Fan Zone 25/04/2025

TUST
Apr 25
4 min read

FAN ZONE

TUST's Chair and TUFC board member, Nick Brodrick's column in this week's Herald Express - updated for the latest news.

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2000 YELLOW ARMY TO DESCEND FOR HEMEL HEMPSTEAD SHOWDOWN

UNITED’S EGG-CELLENT EASTER WEEKEND ENDS WITH MAXIMUM POINTS

JAMES HAMON WINS THE TUST IAN TWITCHIN TROPHY

Here we are 24 hours away from a mouthwatering fixture at Hemel Hempstead with Paul ‘Mr Calm’ Wotton and his players knowing what they have to do - and equally let’s hope St Albans can cause an upset.

2,000 fans at the ground and all those elsewhere will be following every kick in Hertfordshire and Cornwall.

*****

As the 2024-25 season draws to a close in the majority of leagues across the country promotion and relegation issues become reality as a (C) or (R) appears next to your team’s name in the table but in the case of who is going up, not in the sixth tier of English football.

For in National North and South the team in each division that will be the eventual champions will be decided on Saturday.

What a crazy division is National South where any one of six teams could still mathematically end up being champions with automatic promotion and as this column has been saying for weeks the final placings could well come down to goal difference.

Meanwhile in National North Kidderminster sit top with Brackley on the same points, 89, but with a far superior goal difference while favourites Scunthorpe are two points adrift.

Will Torquay rue not putting more than three past Weymouth when the final score might well have been six, maybe even seven?

*****

First, let’s wind the clock back to the start of the Easter weekend. It started with the Yellow Army singing in the rain on a very wet Friday afternoon in Cornwall playing for the first time at the new purpose built Truro City Stadium which is still in the process of being put together.

It did, though, turn out to be a very good Good Friday as a spectacular Matt Jay goal knocked the league leaders off top spot in a Devon/Cornwall derby that some had named the Battle of the Scones - cream versus jam, which goes on first. In the hospitality portacabin for directors the half-time offering was in no doubt, it was jam first.

We forgave them as we took home the three points, only Truro’s second defeat in their last sixteen games.

*****

It’s an interesting venue for a football ground on the outskirts of Truro, with absolutely no road sign indicating where it is, the new complex is at the back of a huge park and ride car park.

That over 550 Yellow Army were in attendance in an open terrace helped contribute to set a new attendance record of 3,306.

And if it’s any consolation those of us sitting in the stand got equally wet as the rain drove in.

*****

So that brings us to Easter Monday. So many questions. Could Weston, still in with a chance of making the play offs, see off visitors Truro? The general consensus was that the Worthing versus Dorking clash would end in a draw and, of course, United improve their goal difference with a sound win over already relegated Weymouth.

United got off to a flying start with Jordan Dyer (who was later to go off with a worrying injury) heading home an early Young corner but Weymouth’s defence proved resilient. No matter the build ups the final pass was lacking and the teams went in for their half-time break with the score only 1-0.

Once Matt Jay (he was to go off later with an injury) had cheekily back-heeled the second followed shortly after with Jay Foulston slotting home we all hoped the floodgates would open especially as Truro were a goal to the good at Weston.

Headers from Palmer and Dreyer really should have hit the net and other great chances went begging as Weymouth tried to stem the tide.

The killer news came when Weston-Truro played 12 minutes of added time with the ‘missing’ Tyler Harvey claiming his second with a penalty.

*****

So there we sit this morning joint top on points with Truro but two goals worse off. As it stands it’s Truro’s to lose.

But wait a moment, on Saturday they might be at home but their visitors St Albans have a huge incentive, for a win could see them avoid relegation. The final trap door place is between them and Salisbury (who have a trip to already relegated Welling) and Enfield Town, needing points to guarantee safety, home to Worthing.

As United battle it out in Hertfordshire at Hemel Hempstead, roared on by an amazing 2,000 Yellow Army, those there will be casting anxious looks at their phones for the latest scores.

Do we dare to dream? Paul Wotton reckons it will go down to the last five minutes on Saturday.

*****

5,567 at Plainmoor on Monday was a remarkable vote of thanks from United fans who have bought into the Bryn/TUST running of the club. From a year ago to all this has been a remarkable journey and whether it’s automatic promotion or the lottery of the play-offs to be in this position is the stuff that’s made of dreams.

*****

Good Friday Non- League Crowds: Southend 9,614, Bury FC 8,719, Oldham 6,717, Yeovil 4,092.

Easter Monday: York City 7,918, Torquay 5,567, Scunthorpe 5,364, Kidderminster 5,341, Woking 4,701.

*****

After Monday’s game the TUST Ian Twitchin Trophy was presented on the pitch by Ian’s son Patrick who, together with his wife Claire, were guests of the club, to ever present James Hamon who has played in every game keeping 19 clean sheets.

Ian Twitchin is remembered as a Torquay legend making a record 435 appearances. The trophy in his honour was first presented to Liam Davis at the end of the 2018-19 South promotion season.

Just saying!

A win at Hemel and who knows.

COYY

Don’t forget to buy a lotto ticket in the 1899 Lottery. Over 200 sold so far.

You can get all the details at: https://draw.ourclublotto.co.uk/tufc/

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