FAN ZONE
TUST's Chair and TUFC board member, Nick Brodrick's column in this week's Herald Express - updated for the latest news.
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WHAT A YEAR TO REMEMBER FOR ALL AT TUST AND THE FOOTBALL CLUB
FANS RETURN IN HUGE NUMBERS WITH A WHOPPING 5,000+ ON NYD
WHO ARE GOING TO BE UNITED’S BIG RIVALS FOR THE TITLE?
So, 2024 has come to a close but what a year it turned out to be. Back in January even the most optimistic fan could not have foreseen the events of the past ten months.
Come February 22nd Gulls’ supporters worst fears came to fruition as then owner Clarke Osborne called time on his investment in United with administration and the club’s demise a distinct possibility.
Then up popped Michael Westcott, a pub meeting with a number of TUST board members and the start of a ‘Save Torquay United’ plan began to emerge. There were disappointments and hurdles to overcome but the Bryn Consortium began to take shape and, like all the best stories, there was a happy ending when Bryn were confirmed as the new custodians of the club.
Events since May have been well documented but a new manager, new squad, Paint Up Plainmoor are but a number of key decisions to transform not just the football product, the main reason why supporters go to Plainmoor, but the fabric of the stadium itself.
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Going to a home fixture is once again a pleasurable experience as fans pour through the turnstiles with hope, expectations and smiles and to date ‘fortress Plainmoor’ has returned, a vital ingredient if promotion is to be achieved.
It’s been an amazing period in my life too, as my 60th year of supporting the club comes up on January 9th when United pulled off a fantastic 3-3 FA Cup Round 3 with the mighty Tottenham Hotspurs at a Plainmoor filled to the brim. More of this next week.
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Talking of big crowds the 4k challenge for the last home game, a 1-0 win over a stubborn Hemel Hempstead, which put the Gulls top of the table for Christmas, didn’t quite make that magic number, 3,701, though, was a pretty good attempt considering it was the last Saturday before Christmas.
The current National South highest attendance record is 6,462 from March 29th 2024 for Yeovil Town versus Torquay but it wasn’t beaten for Torquay versus Truro on New Year’s Day but a massive 5,135 saw Jordan Young’s sublime strike secure all three points.
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But credit where credit is due, South Devon has taken on board the new offerings at Plainmoor, the refurbishment of the restaurant, the Cove, the upgraded hospitality suites, the rebranding of Boots & Laces together with other initiatives, like the restocking of the club shop with quality VX3 merchandise. These and many others add up to a completely new matchday experience.
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All of us who are directors are acutely aware we are on a steep learning curve about how to manage a professional football club and if there are other clubs on our doorstep who have a proven product it would be short sighted not to find out how they achieve this.
To this end I spent the day last Sunday at Exeter City shadowing their Supporter Liaison Officer for the day with all the hundred and one jobs that have to be completed before a ball is kicked. There are numerous good practices which are worthy of consideration.
It was also one of those quirky matches in which visitors Crawley Town, fighting relegation, romped into a 4-1 half-time lead only to see Exeter grab a second half stoppage time equaliser to level at 4-4.
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With 2025 now upon us, what will the year bring?
This has to be one of the tightest races for the one guaranteed promotion place in recent National South history. United go into it top of the pile by a single point following a 2-2 Boxing Day draw at Weymouth, where an estimated 1,000 Yellow Army were present.
The signs are it’s going to go to the wire. Only 4 points separate United in top and Weston-Super-Mare in seventh on goal difference and eight different sides have led the table so far this season.
Of the current top seven, four teams have yet to reach the summit, Worthing, Dorking, Maidstone and Boreham Wood.
So, who might be Torquay’s biggest threats in 2025? Boreham Wood have crept up to second on the back of a eleven league match unbeaten run (9 wins, 2 draws) with Maidstone unbeaten in twelve (8 wins, 4 draws) in third. United are also undefeated for the last eleven league fixtures (6 wins, 5 draws). It promises to be a fascinating race.
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Non-League Boxing Day Crowd Watch: Southend 8,408, Bury FC 5,834, Aldershot 5,412, Hereford 4,925, Yeovil 4,355, Macclesfield 4,181, Dulwich Hamlet 2,883, Hednesford Town 2,503, Margate 2,500, Truro 2,313.
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Do you make New Year resolutions? Some still do but maybe forget them after a few days. If you had a New Year resolution for the club what would it be? Send to: fanszone.tu@gmail.com.
Christmas Quiz answers with the name of the winner coming next week; thanks to those who have entered.
Saturday sees Torquay travel to Worthing for an FA Trophy match.
From all at TUST we wish you a Very Happy New Year.
COYY
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