A Call to Arms
Posted: 27 Mar 2017, 08:33
We have a month to save Torquay United.
History shows that once the likes of GI get their hands on a football ground there is a very high risk that a promised new ground won’t be built. A new ground may or not be helpful in the long term but if GI get the freehold of Plainmoor we can expect to be homeless soon and the club dead soon after.
The future of our club rests with the council and mayor. We need a concerted campaign so that they can see strength of feeling to save Plainmoor. They must understand that if they sell the land they are signing the club’s death warrant – the end of more than 100 years of history.
Talk of a phoenix club is irrelevant without Plainmoor. Anything other than a regional league club wouldn’t be viable.
Relegation would play into GI’s hands. The players are putting up a fight on the pitch. Fans need to do the same off it. Forget talk of boycotts for now, we must get behind the team.
We need all fans to understand the gravity of the situation and to take action. We need the media to publicise what is going on and ensure the council understands the consequences of agreeing to sell.
So what is to be done? Some suggestions -
Turn up in numbers for the remaining home & away games and support the players with passion for 90 minutes.
A concerted campaign of publicity and action.
Get media coverage – Herald Express, Western Morning News. Local radio & TV.
Get a ‘SAVE PLAINMOOR Save Torquay United’ banner made (as a focal point for publicity).
Distribute leaflets explaining the true situation and urging people to contact councillors.
Another petition – a paper one to be signed at matches and in the town.
Demonstrate outside the Town Hall (with publicity).
Talk to the Football Supporters' Federation.
Can the Trust coordinate a campaign?
Some funds will be needed. Does the Trust’s constitution allow them to spend funds on this sort of thing?
Living in Essex I’m limited in what I can do but I’m coming down for the Chester game and am willing to pay for and help hand out say 1500 leaflets on Saturday if someone can organise printing locally.
I'm involved with the FSF and am happy to talk to them.
If we don’t organise now and fight to save Torquay United we will be accepting that this is the end of professional football in Torquay.
History shows that once the likes of GI get their hands on a football ground there is a very high risk that a promised new ground won’t be built. A new ground may or not be helpful in the long term but if GI get the freehold of Plainmoor we can expect to be homeless soon and the club dead soon after.
The future of our club rests with the council and mayor. We need a concerted campaign so that they can see strength of feeling to save Plainmoor. They must understand that if they sell the land they are signing the club’s death warrant – the end of more than 100 years of history.
Talk of a phoenix club is irrelevant without Plainmoor. Anything other than a regional league club wouldn’t be viable.
Relegation would play into GI’s hands. The players are putting up a fight on the pitch. Fans need to do the same off it. Forget talk of boycotts for now, we must get behind the team.
We need all fans to understand the gravity of the situation and to take action. We need the media to publicise what is going on and ensure the council understands the consequences of agreeing to sell.
So what is to be done? Some suggestions -
Turn up in numbers for the remaining home & away games and support the players with passion for 90 minutes.
A concerted campaign of publicity and action.
Get media coverage – Herald Express, Western Morning News. Local radio & TV.
Get a ‘SAVE PLAINMOOR Save Torquay United’ banner made (as a focal point for publicity).
Distribute leaflets explaining the true situation and urging people to contact councillors.
Another petition – a paper one to be signed at matches and in the town.
Demonstrate outside the Town Hall (with publicity).
Talk to the Football Supporters' Federation.
Can the Trust coordinate a campaign?
Some funds will be needed. Does the Trust’s constitution allow them to spend funds on this sort of thing?
Living in Essex I’m limited in what I can do but I’m coming down for the Chester game and am willing to pay for and help hand out say 1500 leaflets on Saturday if someone can organise printing locally.
I'm involved with the FSF and am happy to talk to them.
If we don’t organise now and fight to save Torquay United we will be accepting that this is the end of professional football in Torquay.
if it wasn't such a sad state of affairs this is exactly what I would do.