Torquay United Fans Forum

[quote="Southampton Gull" post_id=217748 time=1515277493 user_id=60]


Why not? He's been on here for some time actually.
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Well if he is he's not taking any notice of what's posted.

Agree totally. Perhaps we need
A figurehead to represent the fans to pull us all together. Perhaps I'm talking crap , tired and so frustrated.

The point i was making about the likes of Middlesbrough and Rotherham is that their former 'spiritual' homes if you like were demolished and they relocated to new stadia in new locations. Just like if Plainmoor was razed forcing the club to build a new ground. Change happens and although history and heritage is an integral part of a football club, it will always have both regardless.

I saw Scarborough in their early formative days play local to me at a village called Teversal in Derbyshire and literally it was a pub match but Teversal are a village team with no fans whilst Scarborough had 500 and the ability to quickly climb the leagues simply due to having significantly more resources than their opponents.

I agree, it's a mess and has been for 6 or 7 years now and will continue to be so without serious fan intervention.

Yorkie , Rotherham and Middlesbrough ECT have upgraded from there own home to wonderful stadia.
Point i was making if we go bust and lose plainmoor we would be lucky too use paignton green using jumpers for goalposts. Who knows if we went bust and plainmoor was available if we could still use it.
I've not seen a game at Scarborough but I actually did a delivery there as I'm a HGV driver and managed a look around. It's only small but I bet a good game with a full house would be good atmosphere

Good points yorkie , what a bloody mess mate.

[quote=westyorkshiregull post_id=217747 time=1515277111 user_id=18627]
Agree yorkie , all I would say from my opinion if the club went bust and lost plainmoor say , then for me the identity has gone. Scarborough is a good example , there ground is now housing and though they have a home now its nothing compared to the old ground.
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I see what you are saying West but it's only like say a club moving grounds like for example Middlesbrough are now at the Riverside when before it was Ayresome Park. Rotherham were at Millmoor but now have the New York Stadium and there are many other examples. Times change and a phoenix Torquay having a temporary home until a new smaller purpose built one could be funded and built would be all part of the adventure. Beats travelling around the country getting smashed by village teams every week and being ignored and mugged off by players, manager and board every frigging season.

A new home for a new club would be the ultimate aim. I've been to Scarborough's ground a few times now, the Flamingoland Stadium and whereas a year or so before they moved into it they were playing at Bridlington Town's ground 15 miles away and getting circa 500 attendances, now they are getting well over a thousand every game now and are joint top of the league. This is a league 3 tiers below Boreham Wood yet they get nearly a thousand more fans through the door. I'm sure this could happen at an AFC Torquay.

The Flamingoland Stadium is only a small ground but it's their new home and they have new hope and pride and good luck to them. Their club went bust due to the usual tosser owners but through spirit, togetherness and hard work from a dedicated few they have a new club and a bright sustainable future. Torquay have a bigger fanbase than Scarborough and the possibility to emulate this is there but not the will.

[quote=nickbrod post_id=217733 time=1515274792 user_id=2287]
He's even more unlikely to read this as his name is Clarke Osborne. You'd be advised to send your letter to Gaming International. Sorry but writing on here might make you feel better but it's not going to the person who matters.
[/quote]

Why not? He's been on here for some time actually.

Agree yorkie , all I would say from my opinion if the club went bust and lost plainmoor say , then for me the identity has gone. Scarborough is a good example , there ground is now housing and though they have a home now its nothing compared to the old ground.

I'd rather just have a football club representing the town regardless of where they play and what league they are in. So long as i have a say in the running of things as a member and my contributions in terms of support, financial input and voluntary actions are valued and make a real difference then that's fine by me. How long can you lot go on shovelling time and money into a club that's clearly going down the shitter. It's sad but i think this is the reality and after 5 years of this i find it difficult to believe there are still fans who believe otherwise.

Is it not best to put time, money and energy into something we all have control over. A fan owned and run club. Whatever the level. All the clubs like Scarborough and Hereford had to start somewhere. Both now aren't a million miles from where they left off and minus the twatty owners.

Whatever happens depends for me on plainmoor , keep that and maybe if a club rises from ashes or a miracle where someone takes over club , we still play there. If we lose plainmoor then it's bye bye club forever and ever.

It's plainmoor or bust. I'd rather have plainmoor in southern league that gi stadium in the football league anyday.

[quote=nickbrod post_id=217733 time=1515274792 user_id=2287]
He's even more unlikely to read this as his name is Clarke Osborne. You'd be advised to send your letter to Gaming International. Sorry but writing on here might make you feel better but it's not going to the person who matters.
[/quote]

Bit of a harsh tone in the post nick but accurate fair enough.

Sending a letter to Clark or Gaming won't matter either unfortunately.

I'm glad at least that for a change it's not me who has resurfaced the 'phoenix club' mantra again although IMO it's the only solution now.

He's even more unlikely to read this as his name is Clarke Osborne. You'd be advised to send your letter to Gaming International. Sorry but writing on here might make you feel better but it's not going to the person who matters.

In theory, fan ownership is a good idea. Ran with passion for the football club, and trying to make it sustainable. But do you seriously think CO will give the club to the fans? Hell no. He’s getting what he wants.

I asked on a separate thread about the tust, and if they were still going. I actually saw on their twitter earlier they hadn’t tweeted since september. Look what’s happened since then. I genuinely feel like everyone has given up and accepted the end is nigh. And that is the real heartbreak Mr Owers.

Why is everyone blaming our current plight on mr osbourne. He took over the club just days before we were going into administration. Without clarke osbourne there would be no tufc. This season mr osbourne has invested heavily in tufc. A vastly increased playing budget, a complete overhaul of the infrustructure of the club, plans to start a youth acadamy and a reserve team. When things started to go wrong at the beginning of the season, the manager, kevin nicholson was sacked. The blame lies not with clarke osbourne but the the current management team at the club. The manager is completly out of his debth. Gary owers should be sacked. Mr osbourne has stated on many occasions that he knows little about football. Thats why he appointed mr harrop as general manager. Mr harrop made the mistake of appointing mr owers and he alone is to blame for the shambles on the football field

Your point about fan ownership is interesting. Look at Exeter for example - they've come from the brink and now look at them.

The model is fairly simple for me - have the best training facilities you can, the best academy and staff that you can and then sell on those players that can play at a higher level and continue to re-invest in the club.

Dan Gosling, Ollie Watkins just two players that could easily have been captured by Torquay had the structure been correct.

I think fan ownership has to be the long term way forward where right from the top of the club we know "the why" people are involved is for the right reasons. Nothing I've seen or heard has convinced me that Mr O is here for the right reasons thus far.

[quote=SuperNickyWroe post_id=217680 time=1515260380 user_id=54]
that's a long letter.

Mine would just say "Please f*ck off now."
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:clap: :goodpost: :nod: