Fan Zone 31/10/2025
- TUST
- 38 minutes ago
- 3 min read
FAN ZONE
By Nick Brodrick, TUST's Chair and TUFC board member.
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THIS SATURDAY WILL IT BE A HALLOWE’EN SHOCK OR TREAT?
HOW CAN THE SAME GROUP OF PLAYERS BE SO DIFFERENT AT AWAY GAMES?
WOMEN’S FA CUP TIE SETS NEW PLAINMOOR ATTENDANCE RECORD
What’s in store tomorrow? Will it be a trick or treat left over from today’s Hallowe’en? Last Saturday’s shocking first half left United fans well and truly spooked and afterwards the manager was clearly upset – the defeat was no laughing matter.
Maybe a Hallowe’en joke would have helped like ‘What did the pumpkin say when it was feeling queasy?’‘I’m not feeling so gourd.’
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For a club like Torquay United getting out of regional football is the priority but as we all know every team, every player in this league wants to beat us.
On BBC Radio Devon last Saturday at Dorking commentor Harry Salvage and Martin Gritton made what I thought was an interesting point. They argued that the majority of the Yellow Army who attend away fixtures are exiles and don’t get to watch the team at Plainmoor, where we all know we are, so far, unbeaten.
The away form is a different matter and so those watching these games are seeing a completely different side.
How can this be possible? How can these professional players be so good at home yet miserably poor away?
Paul Wotton, for obvious reasons, doesn’t want this to become the main talking point and on Monday there was a frank exchange of views with the players who are ‘hurting’.
At this week’s Press Call Wotton said he believes in the players and that it’s “staying calm and staying together.”
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After such a disappointment tomorrow’s match against the current unbeaten league leaders Hornchurch is a big game and United have to go without Cody Cooke once again and Cian Dillon who has returned to QPR.
What’s special about The Urchins recent history? In 2024 they were promoted to National South with 100 points, 95 goals scored and 21 points clear at the top. Their then manager Steve Morison left to join Sutton United and was replaced by ex-Dagenham & Redbridge boss Daryl McMahon who had one brief substitute appearance for United on loan from West Ham in a 2-2 home draw with Yeovil in April 2004.
Their latest win was a 2-1 home success over Hampton and sit seven points clear of United. And how many watched this? A pretty poor 758. Their only defeat this season was in August, a 2-0 reverse at home to Folkestone Invicta in their pre-season friendly.
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So, the headline news from last weekend was the amazing attendance figure at United’s Women’s Adobe FA Cup First Round tie with local rivals Exeter City Women – a huge record breaking 1,010 inside Plainmoor.
Sadly, Exeter, who play two leagues higher, were far superior in every department and eased to a 6-0 victory. But importantly it was heartening to see so many families with young children, many wearing Torquay replica kits.
United’s young side, strengthened this week with two experienced signings, will have learnt a lot and will need to take that experience into this Sunday’s league game with Forest Green who, like United, are unbeaten.
This is a 2pm kick-off at the Newton Abbot Rec. Your support would be very welcome.
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Non-League Crowd Watch: Southend 7,963, Scunthorpe 4,222, FC Halifax 3,708, Macclesfield 3,105, Hartlepool 3,011.
Non-League Manager Watch: Too late for last week’s Fans’ Zone, Aldershot appointed John ‘Mr Accrington Stanley’ Coleman as their new manager. John Culverhouse left St Albans to take over at King’s Lynn while Altrincham are still to make their appointment.
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Talking of managers let’s take a look at several recent Gulls’ players who are in management: Kevin Nicholson, number 2 at Exeter City, Asa Hall (Tiverton Town), Chris McPhee (Plymouth Parkway) and Tim Sills (Wimborne Town).
The National League’s ‘3UP’ campaign was mentioned in Parliament this week by Hartlepool’s MP hopefully adding pressure on the EFL to consult with their clubs.
So, tomorrow at Plainmoor is it as some are saying, a season defining Saturday? The only way to find out is to be there if you are local.
COYY
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