CHAIRMAN'S COMMENTS
Dear members and supporters,
I am writing this from bonnie Scotland. I was visiting Campbell castle in the hills and Stirling castle whilst following updates of the match on Saturday, as well as receiving updates from Gulls' supporters and friends.
I had two thoughts about fortresses.... Firstly, on the pitch, 'fortress Plainmoor' was very disappointingly breached. It is early days yet and I am sure that Gary and his team learned a lot from this. They will be working hard to endeavour to put things right!
Secondly, outside the ground, the portcullis to fortress Plainmoor came firmly down around 2pm. TUST has requested that the club reconsider this new deadline for purchasing tickets. Disappointed supporters, families and a tearful child were witnessed walking away from the ground. Change is inevitable, but it seems reasonable to believe that the customer and club's loyal supporters should come first in these considerations.
You can read about all TUST's recent activities in the summary of our latest board meeting in this bulletin. Thank you to everyone on the board and all those members who give their continued and voluntary support on behalf of our club and its community. As you will see below, we are currently looking for new blood to join our board.
COYY!
Michel
Opportunity to join the TUST board!
The TUST board is keen to recruit a new member to complement the existing group of seven who work together effectively as a team. We would be particularly interested to hear from a supporter with marketing or PR skills but this is not essential. More important is someone keen to actively contribute to TUST’s objectives of ensuring the long-term sustainability of our club for the benefit of current and future supporters and the wider community.
We hold monthly board meetings and have a well established e-mail forum for exchanging views and making democratic decisions between meetings. We would particularly welcome expressions of interest from someone who could represent the younger element of our support.
If you are interested or would like an informal chat about this voluntary role, please contact the Secretary at tustsecretary@gmail.com in the first instance or approach any of the current TUST board members at Plainmoor on matchdays.
Summary of TUST board meeting held on 16th August.
TUFC
TUST had written to the Club about the new ticketing arrangements, expressing concern that tickets could not be purchased within an hour before kick-off and that many potential attendees were not aware of the new requirements and were being turned away.
After a follow up letter, a detailed response had been received from the Club’s directors and relayed to our members. We had replied with thanks but expressing TUST’s on-going concern that late arrivals could not purchase tickets.
A subsequent request to hold the presentation of the Ian Twitchin Trophy to Sam Sherring during AFC Bournemouth’s U-23 team visit had been accommodated by the Club at short notice. We thank them for enabling the successful event in the Gulls’ Nest.
TUST have also written to the Club asking it to consider livestreaming of matches outside the times blocked by UEFA rules if at all possible as we believe that this would be a popular and profitable service.
Official Supporters’ Club (TUOSC)
We have had initial, informal discussion with representatives of TUOSC and both parties are keen to work together to establish the separate roles of each organisation and areas where they could work collaboratively in the interests of the Club and its supporters.
Torquay United Community Sports Trust (TUCST).
The Chairman advised that he had been in discussion with Matt Anthony (TUCST Manager) about the future of the Senior Gulls. As TUCST were finding it challenging to find the time to continue organising the group, although still keen to support these meetings, he had offered to assist. An open meeting was suggested for all existing and any new senior supporters to discuss what form the group should take in the future. He stressed that the remit of the Senior Gulls covered anyone with an interest in football, not just TUFC. A contribution of £40 from TUST funds to provide refreshments at this meeting was agreed.
Fan-led review / FSA
The interim report produced by Tracey Crouch had been circulated to board members when published at the end of July and comments shared via e-mail. The proposals were all welcomed and supported by TUST. The full report is expected by the end of the year.
AGM
The Secretary advised that this would be held in late October or November and would be a face-to-face meeting but hopefully with an option for members to join via Zoom.
Details to follow.
SUPPORT TUST - SUPPORT YOUR COMMUNITY
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