Torquay United Fans Forum

It was an honour to stand amongst our support at yesterdays game. I've talked about an ever growing number of young fans spreading out along the popside, a new breed of TUFC supporter and very reason why we as fans have to do all we can to keep our club alive, they along with every fan there were a total credit to our club.

The atmosphere was carnival like before the game and never stopped through out, from teenagers to those in their 20's,30's there was no age limited as I looked around to see everyone joining, an absolute blast, even after the final whistle even though not a great result, not always a good performance either, the singing continued as Downes, Hall and the entire squad set up line up in front of the fans, unity, togetherness, and the real meaning of oneclubunited.

As said the performance wasn't great , some individual decision making was awful at times, hanging on the ball when an obvious pass was on for instance, quality of crossing into box was poor also, but rarely troubled at the other end, but for an absolute worldie of a save from their keeper from a Jarvis flick right in front of us, and the ball cleared of the line from the resulting corner TUFC could have left with the points, first half for TUFC was better than the second which was a little scrappy, but during the closing moments of the game as the fans got louder, almost trying to draw the ball home, TUFC had really good possession but just couldn't find the quality to seal the win.

Weymouth a clean tidy ground, well organised from their stewards, to inside the ground where there was a small club house set aside for TUFC fans, who brought plenty of beer I can only wish them well for their future.

Got my ticket, travelling with 2 others, looking forward to the day out.

As for my prediction, Weymouth picked up a very credible 3.3 draw v St Albans, but so many factors for us have changed the divisive GJ gone, events of the field brining unity and togetherness.

We've got goals in our team, but weak at the back almost anything can happen.

Weymouth 2 v 2 TUFC

Some have inside knowledge and can present facts, others like myself and have beliefs, perceptions and opinions, the ONE things will need to know and this a fact, we're caught in fight now top save our club, avoiding the option of being forced into a phoenix club which isn't ideal.

Being it we're in a fight to save our club I'd suggest it's my personal opinion we need to park our facts, beliefs, perceptions and opinions, because the time frame to find a new buyer is a short one, and if the club is to avoid administration it needs to raise enough money to cover operational costs I.E wages, food and drink to sell etc.

We all have the ability no matter what forum or social media platform to do what I did yesterday. I had a chat with Mel Hayman and asked some questions, note these are her words not mine.

She told me all monies owed to CO had been written off, up to you if you want to believe that.

In line with what Peter Masters posted the club has applied for a protection in court order, which I understand allows them to ring fence monies coming in to cover wages and other costs, the club is looking at additional fund raising through events in boots and laces.

To this ends, I suggested a 'gift a ticket service' as a way of getting gates up, I said I'm happy to buy an extra ticket, but rather than it being snapped up by a freeloader on FB I'd want it to go to, someone who genuinely wanted to go but couldn't to.

On potential new buyers the response was; The club have had some positive feedback.

Also she Mel Hayman, told she was voluntary and was not paid, again up to you whether you believe that or not.

I'll close this post off now, as I'm sure it may not be popular with some, I am fully well aware there can be a certain amount of tell them what they want to hear, so my message is again, it's up you to believe what you want, and make your donations accordingly.

Southampton Gull wrote: ↑24 Feb 2024, 11:24 Never say never. Council members change every few years. As money gets tighter and budgets shrink who can say for sure that in time it won't be sold.

Agreed, however there's been two council elections since CO arrived, the council control changed on both occasions, the stance on Plainmoor has not.

Torbay like most local authorities has been cashed strapped for a while and could have sold Plainmoor a number of times over, yet have not.

The rention of Plainmoor will be a vote winner, think it's future is safe in the medium to long term.

Exactly, if there's evidence that's backed, it's in the public interest to reveal it.

As said in my post last night, if Osbourne comes and grabs any goodwill cash after today, then, there will be no money to pay the staff. If your still concerned I'd say the answer to your question is right in front of you.

Send your money to the TUST.

standupsitdown wrote: ↑23 Feb 2024, 19:47 They would have done if Osborne had got his hands on Plainmoor.

To be fair the council have reiterated there position time, time and time again that the freehold of Plainmoor was not for sale, so there was never that chance, and whilst I think the fanbase may have played a very small part in hastening CO decision, more likely the realization that he (CO) was never going to get what he wanted is the driving factor behind him withdrawing funding.

CornishGull wrote: ↑23 Feb 2024, 18:28 I think the idea of playing at Buckland was because some people (may actually have been a single individual) thought we should start a Phoenix club whilst Osborne's Torquay United was still existence at Plainmoor. Daft idea.

Totally agree. There's been a growing number of people talking about a possible phoenix club, which I think was mistaken as a suggestion that us fans wanted to start a phoenix as a rival to 'the' club, that was never the case, and a rival TUFC would have been a total non-starter.

Even though personally I'm not fearful of a phoenix TUFC, I, and I think most are looking at the phoenix club option as a total last resort, when all other options have been exhausted and we're forced into such an option.

Agree with the above posts, I've woken up today buzzing for this game also haven't felt like this about TUFC for a long time , my lad has brought a ticket despite having his own game so will probabaly gift that later, also I've had a few messages from friends and workmates who don't support TUFC saying they have tickets for the game.

The important thing from here is not to let todays events slip away, we have to do everything possible to keep the momentum up, anyone who follows my posts will know I've been Osbourne and Johnson out for some time, fully knew the consequences of CO cutting his losses and running. I see this weeks events as not the end, but a massive chance of a new beginning to build something much better, however it must be understood, no one is going to do this for us, it's up to us to make this happen.

Personally don't know the answer, is it a case of, is Clarke Osborne funding the club or not.

He (CO) says he's no longer funding the club, so if the gate money doesn't get held back to pay the staff wages, then no one will get paid, and we'll soon know the answer.

All Information is on the official site, look under 'what happens next' all gate money will go towards paying staff wages.

I've just brought my ticket, the website froze a couple of times, got there in the end. Well if I'd had time to post before yesterdays events, would have leant towards an Aveley win, however the dynamic here has changed completely.

With Aaron Downes making the decisions, will the make up of the team change, tactics alter we'll soon see. The one thing I do know is, the protests will stop, the toxic atmosphere will disappear and fans will unite, behind the team.

TUFC 3 V 1 Aveley

Torbay Councils position here doesn't surprise at all, I never understood why some were suggesting any phoenix club (last resort) would have to ground share with Buckland, if it comes to that I can't see why any phoenix club couldn't secure the use of Plainmoor.

TommyGunn wrote: ↑19 Feb 2024, 14:37 It was at the start of the season. Christmas it was a top three finish. Now it is a min 7th finish. April despair?

Why are we so shit?
Compare 2024 squad with some of the players of 2018/19 that played in the national league south. Some real quality players back then for this league.

Has Gary Johnson really got the same budget?

Jamie Reid.
Ruairi Keating.
Saikou Jenner.
Brett Williams.
Opi Edwards.
Conner Lemon Evans
Kalvin Lombombo Kalala
Jake Andrews.
Frankie Vincent.
A 6 years younger Asa Hall.
Kyle Cameron.
Jean-Yves Koue Niate
Samir Nabi.
Ben Wynter.
Liam Davis.
Ryan Dickson.
Jamie Sendles White.
Shaun Macdonald.

For a start several of those players were on loan that season, possibly wouldn't have cost anything in wages, some others like Cameron were unknowns at the time, possibly wouldn't have been on huge contracts.

If you take into account we've kept the likes of Lapslie, Hall, Dawson, Moxey and Jarvis from last season, whilst GJ maybe working with less money, however this points towards our budget dwarfing all bar a couple of clubs in this league, ask yourself how much budget Worthing have compared to us for instance, budget is not the reason why we've done so poorly.

we should have been on Yeovil's heels all season, moneys been wasted on the sick, injury prone, and old men creating an imbalanced squad, leaving no room for manoeuvre.

So the Gulls head of to Cherrywood Road of the back of another blank away day, we know our teams away record is poor, however when you look at our last recorded away win which came on the 28th Nov and we've seen the team pick up just 1 single away point since, it's reasonable to suggest our away record is worse than poor.

Saturday Braintree gave us chance didn't they, having a man sent off 28 minutes in, you'd expect full time fitness to take charge, however TUFC managed to record just 1 sole shot on target and a poultry number of corners, defeat followed and to make things worse I believe it was a straight red card shown to Lapslie after he'd been substituted so faces a possible 3 match ban, if your wondering when they're going send in the clowns, they might already be here.

Also I believe suspensions at this level don't kick in for 7 days, so he could be available for this game.

Back in September TUFC picked up a comfortable 3.0 home win v Farnborough, but a lot has changed since then, much water has passed under the bridge. Tuesdays opponents have picked up some form after 3 successive defeats, beating Truro and Dartford in their last 2 games, while TUFC now sit bottom of the current form table.

Under normal circumstances I'd suggest a TUFC win here no matter the form we're in, but Farnborough can not be taken lightly at all, they're very strong at home, if my maths are correct it would appear 31 of Farnborough's 42 points have been amassed from home fixtures, victory here would see them go above us on goal difference. Failure to win this game will almost certainly end any faint hopes, and they are faint now at best, of the play-offs, an utter disaster.

Farnborough 2 v 1 TUFC