FAN ZONE
TUST's Chair, Nick Brodrick's column in this week's Herald Express - updated for the latest news.
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UNITED TURN ON THE STYLE UNDER THE LIGHTS IN FRONT OF ANOTHER 3,000+
TUST’S COMMUNITY SHARE ISSUE EDGES TOWARDS £150,000
PLAINMOOR’S RE-PAINTING CONTINUES APACE THANKS TO VOLUNTEERS
Saturday’s visit of lowly Aveley turned out to be as frustrating an afternoon as it proved to be for millions trying to buy Oasis reunion concert tickets.
The visitors, cheered on by 22 fans, defended as if their lives depended on it and time after time they denied United’s misfiring forwards shooting chances.
Manager Paul Wotton, in his now trade mark honest post match assessment, said, “We’ve not asked enough questions of the Aveley keeper. We were not a big enough threat in front of goal, our forward areas were not good enough.”
We should be thankful that we have a manager who says it how it is and knows how to deal with issues. For example he took Finley Craske off at half-time for tactical reasons.
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It was yet another big Plainmoor attendance, the third home league game with a 3,000+ crowd, the first time three opening fixtures have topped 3,000 since 2004-05 season. Then on Tuesday there was another 3,000+ crowd to witness a comprehensive 3-0 victory over Chippenham. Including the two pre-season friendlies with Plymouth and Exeter Plainmoor has seen over 23,000 fans watch these six home games, 23,043. That just goes to show the faith people have in the Bryn Consortium.
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Taking a half-time lead over Aveley in first half added time thanks to Matt ‘it’s the way I score ‘em’ Carson, who was celebrating his contract extension, United really should have taken the game by the scruff of the neck but failed to convert a string of crosses and a late flurry of consecutive corners.
As the manager says, there’s plenty to work on.
If the loss at Farnborough, which saw the reaction at Bath in the next game is a guide, then it was no surprise that the team came out firmly on the front foot under the lights on Tuesday.
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What does continue to amaze has been the remarkable response to TUST’s Community Share Issue which reached its initial target of £100,000 after just five days. Our revised figure is now £250,000 as the share issue has another three weeks to run with details of it going far and wide in this country and abroad.
At the time of going to press the latest figure was £142,531 from 333 investors with more promises of donations to come. It received national coverage in Sunday’s Non-League Paper.
We can’t thank you enough for your wonderful support.
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There have been two cup draws in recent days. First the St. Luke’s Cup Devon Bowl sees United drawn away to Buckland Athletic on September 24. The last time a Torquay side won this competition was 2006-07 season.
The other big draw on Monday was the tie for the FA Cup 2nd Qualifying Round which will see United travel to the winners of the replay played on Tuesday between Wessex League Premier Laverstock & Ford and Bishops Cleeve from the Southern League Division 1 South who drew 1-1 on Saturday. Bishops Cleave (near Cheltenham) came out winners in the replay and the match to be played on September 14th, is worth £3,375 to the winners.
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On Sunday there was a good attendance in the Gulls Nest as the Torquay United Women’s side held a sponsors event with plenty of photo opportunities. TUST board members were in attendance as we are back of the home shirt sponsors (see picture below). The women’s side kick-off their new season, aiming for a swift return to the National League, with an away trip to Gloucester.
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Non-League Crowd Watch Saturday: Scunthorpe 4,967, Altrincham 3,561, Hartlepool 3,516, Torquay 3,263, Sutton 2,607, Aldershot 2,408.
Non-League Crowd Watch Tuesday: Torquay 3,087, Kidderminster 2,554, Hereford 2,449.
On Bank Holiday Monday the Southern League South saw a clash between two ex-Gulls, now managers. It was Steve Tully’s Poole Town 1 Tim Sills’ Wimborne Town 0.
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TUST’s Paint Up Plainmoor continues. Last week the final flights of steps in Bristows were painted yellow, so that’s every step in the ground painted that colour. But the time consuming painting of the nosings black carries on.
Meanwhile, painting parties are starting work on the away turnstiles and doors.
Next Monday local firm O’Neil Holman begin painting the outside of the front of Plainmoor with paint donated by Valspar Trade. Scaffolding has gone up this week.
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Having run the Matchday Ambassadors when we were last in National South and then suddenly stopped, without explanation, by the previous regime, I did a tester last Saturday.
In the course of helping visitors to find the ticket office or right turnstile I was able to guide Torbay’s MP, Steve Darling, with his faithful guide dog Jennie, the star of Westminster, to a hospitality suite where he was the guest of Neil Warnock.
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A number of fans have been sharing their memories of Torquay United with me and I intend to share these in my matchday programme notes in the future.
If you have a story you would like included it’s fanszone.tu@gmail.com
Now get used to no more football at Plainmoor until September 21. This Saturday it’s a visit to Welling who have two ex-Gulls, Dan Martin and Rhys Lovett.
COYY
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