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Fan Zone 25/10/2023


CLAMOUR FOR ACTION GROWS AFTER WOEFUL WESTON DEFEAT


FOOTBALL FANS ALL OVER RIGHTLY MOURN SIR BOBBY CHARLTON


DILLON’S GOOD DEEDS RECOGNISED



“We want six” chanted the youngsters in the away end amongst the 850-odd in the club’s first community day of the season. Their presence helped swell the attendance to a healthy 2,510 on a day when Torquay finally managed, for the first time, to put on a decent performance for two halves.

It has to be said that a bizarre penalty in the first half changed the outcome of the match, not just for United’s fortunes but also for James Holden the on-loan Welling keeper from Cambridge United who ended up getting himself a second yellow and so sent off.

With five goals by this time many hoped that total would be increased, certainly the youngsters behind the goal United were attacking. But stand-in outfield player Tristan Abrahams who took over the green jersey had, in truth, little to do in the final fifteen minutes.

Cynics would question whether the way this squad are playing are champions in waiting especially as they have allowed rivals Yeovil a four point advantage. Whilst four points doesn’t seem too much it does make the home clash with them on November 7 vital if Torquay have any aspirations of winning the league to avoid the play-offs.

*****

For the first 30 minutes Torquay huffed and puffed allowing Welling to dictate and it was no surprise when the visitors went ahead but in a moment of madness the Welling keeper turned the game on its head.

Dean Moxey and Aaron Jarvis both made the Non-League Paper’s Team of the Day while Jarvis and Tom Lapslie featured in the Vanarama Team of the Week.

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Prior to the match there had been a growing swell of unrest on social media with threats of a half-time pitch protest. But Torquay’s CEO who has all social media monitored had beefed up security particularly on the Popside so in the end nothing transpired.

Whilst TUST has called the club to account, no way does it support protests or boycotts. TUST would much prefer to have a civilised conversation with those running the club. But all attempts to do this have fallen on deaf ears.

So, as the club has turned down requests for a fans’ forum with club officials, we have organised our own to be held at the Livermead Cliff Hotel on Wednesday November 8 with a Zoom option for those who cannot be there in person. We have sent an invitation to owner Clarke Osborne to be there too.

Now, following the abject showing at Weston-Super-Mare on Tuesday the clamour for the club to act is growing stronger by the day.

It was a woeful performance and rightly the 850 who stood in the rain have every right to be angry.

Defeat now leaves United a massive seven points behind leaders Yeovil who have now won five in a row, last night in front of a record National South crowd of 6,289.

*****

Non-League Crowd Watch: Rochdale v Oldham 6,722, Southend v Solihull Moors 6,356, Bury FC v Wythenshawe Town 3,195, Hereford v Curzon Ashton 2,932, Chester v Scunthorpe 2,676.

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Those readers of a certain age will recall with fondness and a hint of nostalgia where they were watching England win the World Cup in 1966. Whilst Geoff Hurst grabbed the headlines with his hat-trick, the others in the team shone too, no more than Bobby Charlton who sadly died on Saturday.

Charlton, a most unassuming person, became Sir Bobby but his last years were spent with dementia from which all his teammates except goalkeeper Gordon Banks died. Only Hurst remains of that side.

Did Bobby Charlton ever play at Plainmoor? Yes, for Manchester United on July 29 1972 with his photo on the front of the programme.

15,000 turned up to watch this pre-season friendly with Manchester United’s team boasting Denis Law and George Best amongst others and managed by none other than Frank O’Farrell.

It ended in a 0-0 draw. The programme must be a treasured collectors’ item especially if it has any autographs on the cover.

Were you there? Send me your memories to: fanszone.tu@gmail.com or Twitter/X: @FanszoneT.

*****

Torquay United Women’s FA Cup journey came to a swift end on Sunday going down 7-0 to a strong Exeter City. Time to concentrate on the league and pick up some much needed points.

Better news for the Under-18s who remain unbeaten in the league following a 4-0 win over Wimborne.

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Torquay are proud to be involved in a variety of community projects as Gary Johnson told us recently but here is an unprompted example of the public spirited way a United player went out of his way to help some elderly train passengers.

Reader Mark takes up the story, “We were travelling back from watching England at Wembley (last Tuesday, England beat Italy 3-1) we realised we were sitting next to Dillon de Silva. Due to problems at Dawlish when the train arrived at Exeter St David’s quite late there was some chaos and Dillon immediately started helping elderly passengers with their luggage”. Well done Dillon.

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On Saturday Torquay travel to Hampton to take on Hampton & Richmond for whom this is only their fifth at home following their pitch improvements taking longer than planned. On Tuesday they had a comprehensive 4-1 win over Worthing who remember embarrassed Torquay earlier.

Meanwhile leaders Yeovil have two home games, a local derby last night against Weymouth winning 2-0 and on Saturday Braintree are the visitors. With the arrival of Sonny Cox on loan from Exeter he gives them four strikers in their squad. If only.


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