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’S AWAY TRAVEL WOE BUT JAY SWOOPS WITH TWO IN TWO
WHAT A YEAR AS TUST LOOKS BACK ON EVENTS IN 2024
ALL SUPPORTERS ASKED TO VOTE ON THREE UP THREE DOWN
“I am very disappointed and obviously very angry as well. I never felt that we were at the standard and the level that we needed. We have to be angry, I hope we are.” Paul Wotton after Saturday’s defeat at Chelmsford? No, the quote is from Mikel Arteta following the surprise 1-0 home defeat in a London derby to West Ham, putting a severe dent in Arsenal’s title challenge. It just underlines the unpredictable nature of football.
A seemingly comfortable 2-0 half-time lead put Torquay’s own promotion aspirations firmly on track only for another crazy final few minutes.
So what did Wotton say after the game? “ We can’t be 2-0 up away from home and lose, it’s bitterly disappointing and the fans have a right to be angry at the end. It feels like one step forward, two steps back.”
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The Yellow Army had hoped lessons had been learnt after Slough grabbed a stoppage time equaliser earlier in the month to deprive the Gulls of three points, but on Saturday Chelmsford hit two late goals to deflate not only those who had made the trip to Essex but also many listening to the radio coverage.
No team has a divine right to win a match but to throw away goal advantages is usually from mistakes self inflicted although Chelmsford’s winning goal appeared to come from a double refereeing mistake. As a result of that defeat United dropped to seventh, the last play-off place, their lowest position this season but the table still remains very tight.
Feel for Matt Jay whose first United goal must surely win the club’s Goal of the Month even Season.
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Torquay’s current away record is beginning to be a concern with the last win on the road being in late November at Enfield who were propping up the division at the time.
United made the relatively short trip up the M5 on Tuesday night to take on Weston-super-Mare who sat one place below and two points behind. After a really poor first 45 when the home side could have been more than just one goal ahead, the second half turned into a more competitive match and Matt Jay’s second goal in two games saw the points shared.
United’s new striker, Offrande ‘Ozzy’ Zanzala was signed in time to be a second half sub. Zanzala has League 1 & 2 experience including a spell at Exeter City in their League 2 promotion side.
With twelve games to play nothing has been decided yet and current leaders Dorking have eleven matches to play with six more points than Torquay who moved up to sixth after Tuesday’s draw.
There are, though, a number of intriguing fixtures coming up on Saturday there’s Chelmsford (11th) v Worthing (4th) and Tuesday next week when United are at Chippenham, Truro (5th) take on Boreham Wood (3rd).
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Without tempting fate at long last the National League published the South play-off dates last week. If you can’t claim the automatic promotion place finishing either second or third is the next place to be as both guarantee home ties. Finishing second gives a home semi-final on Saturday May 3rd and finishing third home on Sunday May 4th. The play-off Final is the weekend of May 17th/18th.
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Saturday Non-League Crowd Watch: York City 6,926, Halesowen 3,043, St Albans 2,648, Sutton United 2,508, Hereford 2,483.Burnley Defence Watch: Following a 4-0 home win over Sheffield Wednesday,
Burnley played 34 goals against 9.
Talking of records Leicester City became the first top flight team to lose six straight home games without scoring.
Two teams have scored over 100 goals so far, Bury FC 106 in the North West Counties Premier and Nuneaton 104 in the Capelli Sport Midland Division One.
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A year ago this was to become one of the worst feelings a football fan can have - the owner pulls the plug, no more funding with the club hurtling into administration. It was February 22 2024 when then owner Clarke Osborne made that bombshell statement.
Would Torquay United survive, would the gates be padlocked? These were worrying times but little did anyone know in those dark, early days that help was at hand although there were to be many twists and turns.
If you want to know more about how Torquay United was saved you can read about the drama on TFF Torquay United Fans Forum here: TUFC in administration - An inside view from the TUST board. | TheTFF Torquay United Fans Forum
For TUST’s CSI investors there’s another chance to collect your envelope containing your share certificate and pin badge from Boots & Laces after Saturday’s game with Boreham Wood between 5pm and 5.30pm.
Details of Meet the Manager and an Investor Golf Day coming soon.
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All 72 National League sides have signed up to the 3UP Campaign which is pushing the EFL to vote in three-up, three-down between League 2.
Fans are asked to vote on this at the FSA (Football Supporters Association) go to: https:// thefsa.org.uk/news/we-want-your-views-on-three-up-three-down/
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Attendances at recent home games have been the envy of many EFL clubs and this Saturday’s big game against promotion rivals Boreham Wood needs another massive crowd so get on down to Plainmoor, the team needs its vocal twelfth man.
COYY!
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