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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UNITED WOMEN GO TOP OF THE TABLE AFTER 3-0 WIN AT RIVALS
IT’S UNLUCKY MATCH 13 AS UNITED DROP POINTS BUT STRIKER ARRIVES
FOOTBALL GOVERNANCE BILL ABOUT TO GO THROUGH PARLIAMENT
Torquay United’s Women soared to the top of the South West Women’s Regional League Premier Division table after beating league leaders Forest Green Rovers away, their first defeat denting their 100% record. With the side looking to bounce back into the National League following last season’s relegation, Sunday’s 3-0 win was just the tonic they needed.
Tee Kaptein put United ahead in the first half with a second after the break from Chloe Williams to settle any nerves before Tracey Cross added a late third. Now that the women’s side is very much part of the club this has given them a big boost as they also look to progress in the Women’s FA Cup with a Round 1 tie coming next against Bridgwater Town.
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The men’s side had a disappointing long trip to Hornchurch for, as it turned out, unlucky match 13. Manager Paul Wotton had predicted before the game, “They’ll be organised, they’ll be fit, they’ll be strong and, again, we will have to be at our best to get anything.” And so it proved.
Predictably, comments on social media were dominated by the doom and gloom supporters but by my reckoning there are 33 league fixtures still to play and nobody won promotion in October.
From his press conferences Wotton is always honest and up front saying that the team is miles from what he wants and he is always on the lookout for new players.
Wotton is on record saying an injection of pace upfront would be good. And the arrival of striker Jordan Young from Yeovil, announced with another great CutLeaf video, for an undisclosed fee, fits the bill. With a decent goal return and selected for a place in the National South team of the season last year suggests Young will be a good addition to the squad.
I think I’m right in saying Wotton had five years at Truro putting a decent side together so as fans we need to show some patience.
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What is fact, is the amazing support this club has. 3,701 fans inside Plainmoor last Tuesday for a mid-week evening game in 6th tier football. As it happens, even for the 24 Worthing supporters, they witnessed a pulsating match which all agreed was a terrific advert for non-league football. Had the game ended even nobody would have complained.
It was two key half-time changes plus a formation going to 4-3-3 that altered the course of the match and Magic Mussa showed just why he was signed.
There are no easy games in this division and every side wants to beat an ex-league club.
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Non-League Crowd Watch Tuesday: Torquay 3,701, Scunthorpe 3,269, Kidderminster 1,936, Chester 1,807.
Non-League Crowd Watch Saturday: Southend 6,710, Oldham 5,651, FC Halifax 3,961, Hartlepool 3,356, Yeovil 3,333.
The draw for the 2nd Round of the FA Trophy was made on Monday with United at home for a West Country derby with Truro City. The tie to be played on Saturday November 16th.
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“I want to put fans back at the heart of the game and put clubs up and down the country on a sound financial footing,” said Lisa Nandy the Culture Secretary last week as she announced the Football Governance Bill. This was started under the previous government through Tracey Crouch’s fan-led review.
Labour has now taken charge of this and comes about as Nandy explained, “financial instability has meant loyal fans and whole communities have risked losing their cherished clubs as a result of mismanagement and reckless spending.”
All Torquay fans now know that thanks to the forward thinking of the Bryn Consortium TUST, through its Community Share Issue, has a 28% stake in the club with, importantly, heritage rights which are at the heart of this new bill going through Parliament.
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One of the joys of football is that it’s a sport full of opinions but once again there was controversy at the weekend with VAR giving West Ham a last minute penalty which indirectly led to Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag losing his job. Admittedly, this sacking has been on the cards for some time as the club has never successfully found a long term successor to Sir Alex Ferguson, having gone through six managers. It’ll be a brave person who lands the job next.
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Are you glad VAR isn’t used in non-league football? But hold on. What about Cody Cooke’s disallowed goal at Welling or Brad Ash’s at Hampton? Would VAR have overturned those decisions. Then, of course, there was Worthing’s ‘offside’ opening goal that clearly should have stood.
As managers say decisions like these tend to even themselves out during the course of the season. So maybe, on balance, no VAR thank you.
What’s your view? Send to: fanszone.tu@gmail.com
After Saturday’s visit of Chelmsford City to Plainmoor it’s a bonfire night trip to Salisbury next Tuesday.
COYY
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