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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WOTTON: I DON’T GIVE TWO HOOTS ABOUT BEING TOP
DAVE THOMAS’S PLAINMOOR LEGENDS ELEVEN REVEALED
ARE YOU UP FOR THE 4K CHALLENGE?
AND HAVE A GO AT THE CHRISTMAS QUIZ
Hands up who thought, when the club filed for administration in February, that by Christmas the team could be top of the tree? The top of the National South table is so tight and United are just one game from heading the table as a Christmas gift as Hemel Hempstead, under a new manager, are at Plainmoor on Saturday with the club issuing the 4k challenge.
4,000 inside Plainmoor for Christmas - come on!
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Top but don’t tell Paul Wotton who doesn’t give two hoots! Whilst all around him may be celebrating, he’s keeping his feet firmly on the ground. After all the real goal is topping the table come the final match.
“I don’t give two hoots” is an interesting phrase and worth a little investigation. It may well be one of those comments whose true meaning has been lost in the mists of time but there is one main theory.
The original form, which started to appear in the 1870s, had just one hoot but was doubled up for dramatic effect. It might refer specifically to the hoot of an owl but some examples suggest it’s more general than that, most likely harking back to two senses known in the 17th century, either a loud cry or shout of disapproval.
Regardless of all that, Wotton’s ‘I don’t give two hoots’ has to be the quote of the year.
What he is pleased about is Will Jenkins Davies’ loan being extended to the end of the season.
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Unlike last season this time around it’s very tight in the top seven as these teams battle for the one guaranteed promotion place. Since the start of the campaign there have been nine different sides who have led the table, in order: Hornchurch, Boreham Wood, Hemel Hempstead who had the longest stay from September 7th until October 5th, Farnborough, Weston-Super-Mare, Eastbourne, Weston-Super-Mare, Truro, Torquay United.
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Saturday’s match was billed as third versus fifth with United looking to avenge a narrow 1-0 defeat in Hampshire, one of only three away defeats.
United started off like a train and the visitors had hit the buffers after only seven minutes finding themselves 2-0 down.
There was some controversy about the second goal and Spencer Day, the Boro manager, claimed in his after match interview that the officials apologised as the goal shouldn’t have stood.
Chances after that were few and far between for either side but in my book the second half was a master class in how to defend in numbers with great tackles and blocks. Wotton’s hours on the training ground along with Mike Edwards are paying dividends with eye catching individual and collective displays.
Of course, topping the table brings with it extra pressure as other teams will be trying even harder to knock us off our perch.
And what can we say about another brilliant attendance? Nearly 100 from Farnborough in a crowd of 3,303, the third highest in Saturday’s non-league football.
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Non-League Crowd Watch: Southend 6,877, Oldham 5,534, Torquay 3,303, Macclesfield 3,007, Yeovil 2,767, Bury FC 2,616, Hereford 2,396, Matlock Town 2,217.
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Where do you stand on the two seemingly controversial World Cup venues? 2030’s tournament is a three country one with matches set to be played in Morocco, Spain and Portugal but the most contentious decision is Saudi Arabia in 2034. Do you have a view? fanszone.tu@gmail.com.
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Last Friday night The Cove was packed out for Dave Thomas’s Plainmoor Legends Event to celebrate his unprecedented 50 years of covering all things Torquay United. Interspersed throughout the evening were heart-felt tributes paid to Dave who was visibly moved when Michael Westcott, in a piece to camera as he was unable to attend in person, said that the new media centre currently being upgraded is to be named the Dave Thomas Media Centre.
So, on to Dave’s all time legends eleven, and there were many ex-Gulls players in the audience, in goal he chose Neville Southhall, a back four of John Bond, Alex Watson, Craig Taylor and Brian McGlinchey. In midfield, Rodney Jack, Tommy Michinson, Alex Russell, Mark Loram. With up front Robin Stubbs and Steve Cooper.
All the above would be managed by Frank O’Farrell.
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Now for this year’s Christmas Quiz:
1. Which side in January ended United’s FA Trophy journey?
2. In February which player came on loan from QPR?
3. April saw United’s Under-18s win the Gary Else Memorial League Cup 3-0. Who did they beat?
4. Who scored United’s Goal of the Season?
5. A new player was signed in June from Mangotsfield. Who is he?
6. Which was Cody Cooke’s first club in Cornwall?
7. August saw the Gulls win 2-1 at Bath. Who scored the second goal?
8. TUST launched its Community Share Issue. What was the minimum amount you could invest?
9. Which national company provided paint through B&Q for Paint Up Plainmoor?
10. Which local club did Asa Hall move on to?
11. At which EFL club did Jordan Young start his career?
12. Who is the second TUST appointed director on the football club board?
13. Which accolade was Paul Wotton given for an unbeaten November?
14. What was Neil Warnock’s Princess Theatre show called?
Send all 14 answers to fanszone.tu@gmail.com. Include your name and contact details including your postal address. Winning entry will receive a £25 club shop voucher. Closing date 12 noon Thursday January 2 2025. Question setter’s decision is final. Good luck.
Happy Christmas to all readers.
COYY
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