FAN ZONE
TUST's Chair, Nick Brodrick's column in this week's Herald Express - updated for the latest news.
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IT’S EXCITING AS FOOTBALL RETURNS TO REFRESHED PLAINMOOR
IT’S THE START OF A NEW ERA IN FRONT OF A BUMPER CROWD
WHO WOULD YOU WANT AS THE NEXT ENGLAND MANAGER?
After what feels like a very long time without any football here we are eagerly anticipating the challenge of Wayne Rooney’s Plymouth Argyle today followed swiftly by Exeter City next Tuesday.
Argyle are newly returned from their training camp in Marbella and had a comfortable 5-1 pre-season friendly win at Cheltenham. A year ago United held the Pilgrims to a 1-1 draw and many thought that would herald a fight for the National South title with Yeovil. We now know it was nothing of the sort. And what a disastrous year it turned into.
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But let’s focus on the present and future with Torquay under new management. The Bryn Consortium are to be praised for turning the club around in a very short time. You only have to listen to co-chairmen Michael Westcott and Mark Bowes-Cavanagh to be infected with their enthusiasm while manager Paul Wotton goes quietly about his business.
United have played two friendlies to date both against lower league opposition without yet conceding a goal. Come Saturday it’s bound to be different and promises to be a real test, as will Tuesday night’s game against Exeter.
But surely this is just what Wotton and his players need, to be tested to their limits by technically better players. Most managers say they learn more from defeats than easy victories.
The weather forecast for Saturday is good and there promises to be a bumper crowd, 6,000 is predicted especially as the Plymouth away tickets sold out.
And yesterday saw the arrival of loan player Finn Tonks from Bournemouth and the signings of Omar Mussa and Matt Wonnacott not to mention an audacious video of Gilbert the Gull sterling a bag of chips!
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Home fans will hopefully note the changes to Plainmoor’s appearance with newly painted hospitality areas inside the Family Stand plus new carpets. While outside the Popside and entrances to the Family Stand and Bristows have undergone redecorating.
There is still much to be done but the outstanding items on the list will be attended to as and when.
TUST and the club wish to thank all those who have given freely of their time to Paint Up Plainmoor.
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Of course the other major re-set is the need for the FA to appoint a replacement for Gareth Southgate as the next England manager. Inevitably, there is plenty of speculation from football journalists in the national press and armchair ‘experts’.
The front runners, in no particular order, are: Graham Potter who has been out of work since Chelsea sacked him, Thomas Tuchel who has also managed Chelsea and last season was at Bayern Munich, Lee Carsley is the manager of the England Under 21s and could be an interim appointment should the FA go down that route, Mauricio Pochettino another ex-Chelsea manager, Ange Postecoglou currently in charge at Spurs and Eddie Howe the Newcastle manager.
So is it best man for the job regardless of his nationality or must the England manager be English?
Who’s your choice? fanszone.tu@gmail.com.
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One of the key projects the Bryn Consortium want to establish - and TUST is fully supportive - is a proper pathway for youngsters to develop their football skills from a young age and move up to the first team and beyond. The partnership with the South Devon College is the first step towards achieving this goal and the next Ollie Watkins.
The new Government has pledged its support for grassroots football ahead of the UK hosting Euro 2028. The plan is to build on the legacy of the England side reaching this year’s final and the Lionesses winning theirs in 2022.
With the UK and Ireland hosting in 2028 the Government have committed to supporting grassroots facilities and clubs, whilst ensuring all children have access to sport in schools.
Funding packages are to be put in place with the Government set to work with the FA, the Football Foundation and Premier League.
Alongside this, the Government have committed to protecting time for PE in schools, with an upcoming review of the curriculum set to ensure no child misses out on playing sport.
It all sounds very laudable and let’s hope the local talent, boys and girls, commit themselves to Torquay United, the Bay’s top professional outfit.
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All Torquay fans are well aware of the pain and drama of going into administration and the elation of finally being ‘saved’, so spare a thought for ‘rivals’ Woking whose owner, Drew Volpe, has put the club up for sale for £1 and says there’s a danger of going into administration if a buyer cannot be found in the next few weeks. The club is able to start the season thanks to a £600,000 loan.
We feel for all Cards fans.
Meanwhile, there’s good news for the long suffering supporters of Southend United as their take- over saga has been completed. The group of businessmen headed up by Australian Justin Rees officially took over last Friday. They now have a mountain of work to put the club on an even footing. Having been there recently, and still in the mending process, we know how much work is required to turn things round and TUST wishes them well.
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