TUST Newsletter 26/05/2025
- TUST
- May 26
- 8 min read
MAY NEWSLETTER
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Chairman’s welcome
It wasn’t the end to the season we all had hoped but given the starting point a year ago, to miss out on automatic promotion on goal difference, whilst a huge disappointment, was a fantastic feat.
At our consultation evening in The Cove last Thursday I thanked not only those members who attended in person and also online but took the opportunity to publicly thank all of our 1,141 members. Membership of the trust is so important and if you could introduce a friend that would be amazing.
As part of the evening I gave some insight into my and Danni Wyatt’s role as directors of the football club. We have attended to date all three board meetings during which TUST has a set slot on the agenda with us free to talk about any topics of our choosing.
Generally, the topics are those which have been discussed from our own board meetings or from members’ questions. Recent ones include the financial state of the club Bryn inherited, the Football Governance Bill, the introduction of the 1899 Lottery, the proposals for a club membership scheme and the use of Plainmoor Green for fan zones.
It is a great honour and privilege to be a director and we both take our roles very seriously. I am particularly pleased to have been instrumental in the setting up and appointment of Paul Bastard as the club’s supporter liaison officer. We both owe thanks to Exeter City’s SLO Richard Knight for allowing both of us, on separate occasions, to shadow him on match days.
I have also put together a Club Charter which is a handy guide for supporters covering the main areas that help run a professional club. This will be available soon.
Finally, a big thank you to our volunteers who have continued to Paint Up Plainmoor. It might be the close season but there is still plenty of activity to keep us all busy.
Have a wonderful Summer.
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1899 Club Lottery
This is a TUST-led initiative which was put to the Club several months ago. It is good to see it up and running and already attracting more than 500 players. The first month’s cash prize was £1,434 and raised approximately £3k for the Club which will hopefully grow each month as others join the lottery. After feedback from members we have consulted with the club on the prizes and should see some changes moving forward to make it more attractive in the way of adding cash runners up prizes. This will help grow both the Jackpot and profit for the Club.
Bristow’s Bench railings
One of the issues frequently raised with TUST over several years has been the lack of railings in the lower steps of the Bench. Less mobile supporters are often seeing struggling to climb or descend this steep section. Apart from the inconvenience caused, there are clearly health and safety implications. The TUST board have taken the decision to fund the necessary addition to existing railings with £3,200 from this year’s budget and this work will be carried out during the close-season.
New faces
We are delighted to welcome the familiar face of Paul Bastard as he takes on the voluntary role of Supporter Liaison Officer for the Club. TUST member Paul needs no introduction as he is known to all Gulls supporters, home and away, for his matchday attire and friendly persona. We also look forwards to welcoming the Club’s new Managing Director. Our appointed Club directors, Nick Brodrick and Danni Wyatt, were part of the interview panel for this crucial role and the appointee brings a wealth of experience to the position. His identity will be revealed by the Club shortly so we will not jump the gun but the TUST board have already arranged a meeting with him next month to introduce ourselves and highlight the Trust’s main areas of concern with communication being top of that agenda. Finally, we are pleased to announce that Joe Uglow has been co-opted on to the TUST board for a six month term. He will lead a much-needed review of our website as well as bringing his extensive links to the Club’s fanbase to the table. It is interesting to note that 5 of the current 12 board members are under 40 years old.
Members’ Consultation evening
This event was held last Thursday with 32 members attending in The Cove and up to 25 joining via Zoom. Overall it was a positive event that was welcomed by attendees and resulted in some good feedback and potential ideas. We will be hosting similar events in the future when we will endeavour to resolve some of the audio issues we experienced on this occasion. The remainder of this Newsletter provides a summary of some of the key points;
Season Ticket pricing – the Chairman explained how the TUST board had been consulted and agreed the proposals but had been disappointed at the subsequent roll out. Most attendees recognised the need for an increase and were supportive of it. There was some sympathy with U14s re-pricing but also recognition that they had enjoyed an exceptionally cheap rate until now. Nick advised that the Club directors were aware of the concerns and would be considering these.
Communications – all agreed that the comms from the club on this and other issues has been poor and is an area for much needed improvement. The board also shared that comms between it and the club could also be lacking with uncertainty over who is responsible for different issues and getting replies to emails generally. Nick explained that these issues would be raised with the new MD as a matter of priority.
Plainmoor – the future of the ground is much more secure than in recent years with the Articles of Association arising from TUST’s shareholding giving it the right of veto over any future plans to re-locate. However, speakers from the floor were keen that the Asset of Community Value registration should be retained as an additional protection. This will be considered at the next TUST meeting.
Community and business engagement – under the previous ownership, TUST had prioritised community and business engagement to promote the Club as it considered that this was lacking from the Club itself. The new regime appear to be much more committed to these important aspects and it was agreed therefore that TUST’s role should be to support the Club in these rather than lead.
Charity of the Year - The Chairman outlined a new policy in the Club Charter whereby the Club will invite supporters to nominate a charity for it to adopt each season. Members are invited to submit their suggestions with a brief summary of the objectives of the charity to info@tust.co.uk by the end of June.
Funding options
Finances – projected surpluses of £20-£25k pa over next 3 years were explained.
Torquay United Community Sports Trust Youth Sector sponsorship – as expected there was unanimous support for putting funds towards supporting youth development. TUCST had put forward a strong case for £10k of sponsorship for the 25/26 season. This money will be ring fenced for the Youth set-up only and not used on the other activities that TUCST carry out. In seeking sponsorship, The TUCST Board have two main priorities:
To help with the costs of player subscriptions and kit packages to keep these to a reasonable level in the current economic climate. The TUCST Board have already decided that it will need to require financial contributions from its senior age group players (i.e. the Under 18 squad). Under the previous ownership the club had, in effect, subsidised this age group by not seeking contributions, but this is no longer sustainable.
To build capacity in the sector in anticipation that there will be a transition to an EFL academy. This would include investing in higher quality coaching (e.g. specialist goalkeeping coaching), professional development for coaching staff, better training equipment, physiotherapy for injured players.
The sponsorship will be paid in stages and TUST will be receiving progress reports on how the money is spent to ensure it is used appropriately.
Women’s Team – it was explained that the WT is intended to be self-financing and will not require subsidy from the Club. A proposal to sponsor shirt sleeves at £2,400 was approved. There was general support for the Women’s Team with no attendee objecting to this proposal or questioning the decision to incorporate it within the club.
Digital screen – the current one is not operational and the Club want a new one at a cost of £25k. Return from sponsorship etc is estimated at £20k per annum. The general feeling was that this should be a club issue and funded by it. There was a suggestion that TUST might make up the first year deficit of £5k.
Hospitality – the idea of TUST taking a table in The Cove was presented but strongly rejected by attendees. There was a concern that, whatever the good intentions, it would be perceived as a ‘jolly’ and inappropriate use of TUST funds. This view was shared by a majority of board members present.
Grow lights – this suggestion has arisen since Thursday’s meeting and was not discussed then. The Club are keen to acquire Grow light rigs that help the pitch to recover more quickly. Grow lights are advanced lighting systems designed to enhance the growth and health of natural grass on stadium pitches. These specialized LED lights are tailored to provide optimal light spectrums that mimic natural sunlight, creating an ideal environment for plant photosynthesis. By harnessing the power of targeted light, these systems promote robust grass growth, creating a lush and resilient playing field. We know that Julian, the groundsman, has been wanting these for some time. The Club has received a good offer to purchase these at a discounted rate in return for some publicity. TUST is seeking clarification on the detailed requirements but we believe this will be a beneficial use of our funds that will have a direct impact on the team’s chances of success. Let us know your thoughts please.
Memberships
A good discussion about this topic with some positive ideas. From a starting point of the board expressing concern about retaining members there was a feeling that we should actually be seeking to increase numbers and setting a target for this. Having got our club back, the new campaign should be: ‘Building for the Future’.
Professional marketing advice – perhaps see if any member can help but if not consider the cost/benefit of appointing a consultant.
Introduce a friend – could members be encouraged or incentivised to introduce a new member?
Membership benefits – discounts in club shop / bars and other businesses.
International members – can anything be done to attract more?
Club website – should have a direct link to TUST and TUST application form. This has subsequently been agreed with the Club.
Youth membership – revisit option of a youth sub-section and even a youth board.
Membership rewards – a monthly draw for members with modest prizes as incentives. Membership will be an agenda item for the next TUST board meeting. For anyone who wants to see more of the Consultation Event, the full recording is available here, although we apologise again for the poor audio quality for speakers from the floor: https://youtu.be/DCUI1_OU46k?si=ak0CDp_t8rrktN9t
Remember – TUST always welcomes questions or comments from its members. Contact us via our social media or by e-mail at info@tust.co.uk . We are all volunteers and this is not monitored 24/7 so replies might not be immediate but you will get a response.
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