FAQ's

Nick was elected to the board in October 2018 after helping to pioneer the MatchDay Ambassador Scheme – a joint venture between the Club and TUST. He is now the Ambassador Co-ordinator which has evolved into him being a link between supporters and the Club on match days dealing with any supporters’ issues together with, to date, three assistants. Nick is a retired Independent Prep School headmaster of over 35 years; he is married to Jane with three grown-up children. His first ever Torquay match was in January 1965 when the Gulls drew 3-3 against Spurs in the FA Cup 3rd Round standing in a crowd of 21,000 with his father who, at the time, was a local Bank Manager in Fleet Street, Torquay. He has been a season ticket holder in the Family Stand for almost 30 years, originally driving on match days from Wokingham, Berkshire but since 2016 the journey has been much shorter from Williton, Somerset – a mere 65 miles instead of 180! Nick now writes the weekly Fans' Zone column in the Herald Express. Aside from TUFC, Nick enjoys gardening, reading, playing bowls and his role as a local Parish Councillor.

Robin’s role as Vice-chair involves undertaking various delegated tasks on behalf of the TUST Board and deputising for the Chairman, when he’s on holiday etc. Responsibilities include community liaison-meeting, engaging and building relationships with outside groups, organisations and individuals and managing our recently awarded Premier League Fans Fund grant. He has supported the club since his Dad first took him up to Plainmoor aged 3 and became a “regular” in 1964; often standing at the back on the Pop-side on a stool! Robin’s favourite matches include the play-of semi-final second-leg v Scarborough (when Rodney Jack was “on fire”), the Play-off final penalty shoot-out win v Blackpool and the win against Cambridge in the play-off final to regain Football League status. He currently sits in Bristow’s Bench with a group of friends and his eldest son but was a mini-stander for many years;which could be an interesting experience at times as segregation from away fans was limited or non-existent at many matches! Away from TUFC, Robin enjoys long walks, swimming and live music.

Bob is a Paigntonian and retired school teacher. He first visited Plainmoor in the 1967-68 season with his dad, grandad (who by then had both been ardent supporters for many years) and brother. After supporting the Gulls through to his mid 20s there followed what he calls his “wilderness years” when for various reasons (none of which are accepted by his mates who are true lifelong supporters) he didn’t go. However, in 2014 a friend suggested that they go to the Boxing Day match and he has missed very few home games since. He stands on the Pop Side which he doesn’t think you can beat for atmosphere. Bob lives with his partner Andrea who is now also a Gulls fan. When not supporting the Gulls Bob enjoys playing finger picking blues guitar, cycling, walking and playing walking football with TUCST.

Ali Bryant joined TUST originally as Secretary in January 2016, and has since taken on the role of Treasurer, having previously overseen a very succesful time as TUST's Communications Officer. She was born in Singapore and returned back to Torquay with her parents in 1984. Her first game at Plainmoor was in 1990 against West Ham, winning 1 - 0 late on in the game with Paul Hirons scoring soon after coming on. Over the following 12 years she went to the occasional game but started going regularly from 2002 and has rarely missed a home game since then. One of her favourite Torquay matches she has seen is the 2 - 0 win at Wembley against Cambridge in the Play off final. It was particularly special as she went with her Dad, who has since passed away. Ali, is married to a Plymouth Argyle Supporter and has four children and works as a community nurse in Torbay. Her other interests other than Torquay United are listening to live music, watching all sports, reading, and spending time with her family.

Rick joined the board as secretary of TUST in April 2018 and is responsible for ensuring good governance and protecting members’ interests. He brings to the role over 25 years experience as chief executive and secretary of a charitable housing association from which he retired in 2020. Rick first attended Plainmoor with a schoolfriend in the late Sixties and his first memorable match was the League Cup tie against Spurs in 1971 when Torquay scored first before losing 4-1 in front of a crowd of over 20,000. He started supporting on a regular basis from 1979, mainly games in the North as he was a student in Sheffield. Rick has been a Popside regular since returning to Devon in 1985. He has attended all the big games in the past 40 years and enjoys the away day experience but doesn’t get to many these days. Rick is married to Karen and has a grown son and daughter. He plays 5-a-side, golf and tennis and other interests include motorcycling, a wide range of music and trips in his motorhome.

Rob joined the board in 2018 shortly after volunteering to help out with the social media management side of the digital team. Rob is from West Bromwich and has lived in Torquay since 1990, and after growing up just down the Road from Plainmoor fell in love with his local club. He starting attending Plainmoor in the early 90’s with a family friend who would take him onto the Popside. Little did he know that Darren Moore (who was in the squad at the time) would one day be a hero at the baggies. Rob is a cab driver and is married to Sara with 3 young children. This is the main reason he joined TUST in the first place. To ensure that the club has got people looking out for its best interests, And to protect the long term future of the club for the next generation of Gulls including his and everyone else's children.

Michel (or Mike as he is also known!) Has supported the gulls for the last 50 years. He is married with two children and is a retired primary school and sports' teacher. Having also previously trained in Torquay to be a hotel manager, been a local taxi proprietor as well as being an ongoing company director (property, tourism and exports). He subsequently, in more recent years, has taught English as a foreign language. He is now enjoying retirement and having more time to support his beloved Gulls!

Robert first saw Torquay United play almost 40 years ago with his grandparents and it remains a family affair with his wife, twin children, sister and father-in-law regularly attending. He also helps out with the match day Ambassador Scheme and thoroughly enjoys talking to fellow fans on their arrival and being first point of contact for any queries. Like many others his favourite game is the 2009 play-off final against Cambridge. He qualified as a chartered surveyor 20 years ago and is based in Torquay working throughout Devon. He was also a school governor for 19 years at three Torbay schools and was chair at two of them. A keen sportsman all his life, he now does tae kwon do with his children and regularly walks across Dartmoor with his wife Tracey.

Sam started supporting the Gulls back in November ‘04 in a 2-0 win against Oldham athletic. His dad took him and his brother, none of who had any real experience of live football, and it didn’t take long for 2/3 of them to be hooked. In the years that followed they graduated from ‘casual fans’ to season ticket holders, moving from the family stand to the grandstand before finding their home on the popular side. Sam writes the odd article for the popular online fanzine TorquayTalk, as well as contributing to the TalkingTorquay podcast. His goal is to engage with the younger fans and help drive memberships.

Harry has been an avid gulls fan since his Grandad started taking him in 2010. When his grandad passed away in 2011, his mum started taking him where they had season tickets in Bristows. In the years that followed Harry moved over to the Popside and got involved with organising the TUFC Travel Club with Mark Shephard, running away travel to games for Torquay United supporters. Harry’s aim as part of the TUST board is to promote wider youth engagement with the club through his role as a secondary school teacher and running the TUFC Travel Club.