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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OVER 5,000 WATCH UNITED WIN ON NEW YEAR’S DAY TO STAY TOP
CHRISTMAS QUIZ ANSWERS AND WINNER’S NAME
60 YEARS AGO THE PRINCE OF PLAINMOOR GRABS UNITED FAMOUS CUP DRAW
First the good news for 2025. What an amazing New Year’s Day attendance with over 5,000 fans packed into Plainmoor for the Devon versus Cornwall fixture between United and Truro City. The visitors under new Canadian ownership with experienced manager John Askey at the helm are pushing hard for promotion.
Truro are another South-West club on an upward trajectory. After a nomadic existence last season they now have their own home ground and pulling in an average crowd of 1,663.
Wednesday’s match was always going to be a tense, close affair especially as the sides had already met in November for an FA Trophy tie with Torquay emerging 1-0 winners.
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As it turned out the talking points afterwards were about the three Jordans - Dyer, Young and Thomas.
With home keeper James Hamon defying his critics, making a series of crucial saves, the sides started the second half even, at 0-0. The first twenty minutes saw the Gulls on the back foot and it took a wonder solo goal from Jordan Young to secure the points.
United’s defence has got better and better as the season has progressed with Jordan Dyer pivotal in its success as eleven clean sheets confirm. And after Jordan Thomas got his marching orders following a second yellow (he’ll forever regret his actions in getting the first) the defence was magnificent. With blocks and throwing bodies in front of goal United took all three points to stay top but Boreham Wood and Maidstone, amongst others, are breathing down our necks.
The second half of the season promises to be a cracker!
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Now for the bad news. Or is it? Depending on your point of view going out of the FA Trophy at Worthing on Saturday is a blessing in disguise. A continuing run in a cup competition inevitably brings a fixture pile-up distracting from the number one priority. Or was it a disaster, allowing promotion rivals a morale boosting win and a first defeat in fourteen?
What’s your opinion? Send to: fanszone.tu@gmail.com
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New Year’s Day Crowd Watch: York City 7,554, Torquay 5,135, Scunthorpe 4,165, Kidderminster 3,402, Maidstone 2,750.
FA Trophy Crowd Watch: Southend 3,113, Kidderminster 1,854, Gainsborough 1,726, Aldershot 1,721.
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Christmas Quiz Answers: 1. Hereford FC 2. Arkell Jude-Boyd 3. Bridgwater Utd 4. Austen Booth 5. Jadyn Crosbie 6. Penryn Athletic 7. Ed Palmer 8. £250 9. Valspar Trade 10. Tiverton Town 11. Swindon Town 12. Danni Wyatt 13. Manager of the Month 14. Are You With Me?
Congratulations to our winner, TUST member Andrew Senneck from Guernsey who wins a £25 club shop voucher.
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60 years ago today - January 9th 1965 - is anniversary of a famous Torquay United match played in front of nearly 21,000 packed into Plainmoor. The much anticipated FA Cup Third Round tie saw Fourth Division Torquay up against First Division Tottenham Hotspur under legendary manager Bill Nicholson.
Many of London’s Fleet Street football reporters were in attendance and despite United taking an early lead through a Bill Atkinson penalty Spurs eased into a 3-1 lead with the clock ticking down.
Then step forward local hero, 23 year old Robin Stubbs, with two quick fire goals to level the scores in the 83rd and 85th minutes. There was even time for a Tommy Northcott header to rattle the crossbar.
Cue a pitch invasion as United would take the mighty Spurs - Alan Gilzean, Alan Mullery, Jimmy Greaves and future United manager Cyril Knowles to name but a few of the visitors’ household names - to a White Hart Lane replay.
Sadly, there was no fairytale ending as Spurs’ class told running out 5-1 winners but over the two matches Jimmy Greaves and Robin Stubbs each netted three apiece and both would carry on scoring goals for fun.
Robin can still be seen at Plainmoor supporting the Gulls from his seat in Bristow’s. For those of us fortunate enough to be there on that day, Robin Stubbs is still the Prince of Plainmoor.
Were you there 60 years ago? What are your memories? Send to fanszone.tu@gmail.com.
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There’s another important game on Saturday at Plainmoor with Welling the visitors and United looking to avenge one of their three league defeats on the road earlier in the season. Welling played Weymouth on Tuesday night winning 2-1.
Let’s get another big crowd on Community Day behind the team.
COYY
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