Inspiration and admiration

[AustrianAndyGull]

Two things i have in abundance for the fans that came up from Devon last night, spent their cash, arranged a day off work and missed out on sleep only to witness that gutless pile of sh*te on offer at Burton. They do this on a regular basis and that in itself isn't unusual or particularly special.

What is special is the fact that they stubbornly accept that is how it is being a fan of Torquay and resist the temptation to go slagging off everything left right and centre on forums and social media.

I only live 45 minutes from Burton yet was so incensed about the game i had to rant about it. If i had to travel 200 miles there and 200 back to get back in the early hours then i doubt my posts would even be legal such would be my ire.

I know of some fans who go fairly quietly about their business travelling the length and breadth of the country at ridiculous expense and at great inconvenience who opt out of the slating and haranguing for the most part and in reality should be the first ones with a right to have a pop.

This takes great self control and and a dedication and understanding of the whole ethos of being a TUFC fan that sadly as an outsider i will never be able to understand.

This post is most sincere and i have the utmost admiration and respect for these fans who have seen a lot more desperate sh*t than i have in my 6 or 7 years of being a Gull. I'm slowly getting used to it now but these people are amongst the best in the land.

I have my opinion as this forum facilitates that but often i feel quite ashamed and immature in many of my posts and it's only when i read a little something from one of these special fans that i begin to realize that they are just as passionate if not more so than me about TUFC and they are in it for the long haul despite everything that is thrown at them.

We have some total c*cks as fans and i'm one of them on occasions but we also have some remarkable and resilient ones which we should all be proud of.

Supporting Torquay is hard, it is soul destroying at times but I've discovered now that once the yellow blood enters the circulation it becomes a part of you that nobody can take away. It becomes a way of life. Many of you have done it, seen it and bought the t-shirt and i haven't quite yet but i'm now to be part of the future journey and if you can see the method in the madness of my tirades then hopefully you will all see that i mean well and i feel privileged to be part of it too.

I doff my hat to these fans. I don't wear hats but if i had one i would. I admire your fortitude and i wish to the ends of the earth that Torquay would achieve something so special that you can forget all the losses at northern outposts on cold, wet, dark Tuesday nights, all the atrocious inept managers that have darkened our door and all the cash frittered away on fruitless trips to watch the mighty yellows get beaten out of sight. I wish it for you and should we ever have any success i will be elated for myself as a Yorkshire Torquay fan but i shall be made up for all you Devonians for whom it is is their blood. Lots of you deserve it and it would make me happy to see success for your club and your town. It is YOUR town and any elation i feel about TUFC is felt a 100% more by you guys and to remain so loyal and tactful in the face of yet another Torquay comedy pantomime is a testament to you.

That's it really.

[brucie]

Yes fair play to those who went. I actually had the opportunity to go on Tuesday and I have never been to Burton. Had we the remotest chance of winning I would have gone but defeat was guaranteed I'm afraid.

[Gullscorer]

Andy, I trust my appreciative brevity matches your inspired garrulity when I say:

[AustrianAndyGull]

Andy, I trust my appreciative brevity matches your inspired garrulity when I say:

Garrulity?!!

I thought he was an Irish racehorse!


It's nice of you to say so my good man. Strange how everyone seems to love positivity on here and I post two of the most positive threads in recent days and i get a pretty much zero response.

Funny that.

[bengull]

I have respect for anyone who, in times of austerity, stumps up the cash to watch us play, home or away. All support should be appreciated in times when it is so easy not to bother and stay in and watch TV.

Desperate times require strong fans with real passion to keep the support going in any way they can. You need the tough times to make the good times all the more glorious. Whenever i start to waiver in belief and desire to keep doing it, I watch Tim Sills' Wembley header on Youtube.

That one moment nullified the four years of agony before it. I remember the feeling when the ball hit the net, I remember how proud I was walking out of Roots Hall in 2004. I have faith that TUFC can continue to make me feel like that again, no matter how long it takes.

Managers, players, board members, they will all come and go, the fans will remain, in 5 years time and in 50 years time. We have an equal part to play to determine how secure the club will be at those moments.

Being a TUFC fan can take you to the edge, it can make you despair, question your own sanity, it can ruin your week, many many weeks of a year. But that one moment where it all goes right, and it all feels so glorious, no matter how fleeting, against a tide of struggle and adversity, makes it all worthwhile and a million times better than watching your 'team' win the premiership on tv.

I wouldn't have it any other way. All these arguments everyone has on here, all these differing opinions, all these rants and criticisms, it is because we all care. And we always will.

[Glostergull]

It Doesn't take following Torquay United for my wife to question my sanity. she does it regularly. And as for self control. How do you think I managed to keep a healthy dose of Faggots chips and peas down without letting it gas you all.