Torquay United Legends v Fans 1pm ko 6/5/18

As Jon says 'What's not to like ?', and for anyone in the Torbay area, what better way to spend a sunny afternoon. Some real old favourites among those names listed, and obviously a couple of the greatest legends in the club's history, that Jon's already specially mentioned.

I know that some from farther afield will be driving over next week to renew their season tickets and so be able to spend the £20 voucher in the club shop before 1st June. Two trips to Torbay for non first team purposes might be a bit much, but a little contribution to Damon's fund is still possible from the comfort of your sunlounger or armchair.

Taiwo Atieno amongst the number ?  I thought Taiwo played well in his spell with us. Possibly in the starting eleven for that wonderful win at Home Park ? Dovetailed well on a number of occasions with Rene Howe also. Taiwo crossed my mind a few months ago and I wondered what he was doing. His Twitter feed was a huge disappointment though, packed with anti Trump sentiment. A few friendly chants of 'Four More Years !' or 'Make America Great Again' wouldn't go amiss this afternoon if he comes within earshot. His re-tweets when he sticks to sport, are of a much better standard....particularly the one below.

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A very enjoyable afternoon. Hats off to Joseph Pope - aged 18 - who organised it all. The youth of today are great aren't they? Let's hope they still have a club to support when us old farts are pushing up the daisies.

It was a nice chance for many of Damon's former team-mates to show some solidarity in a practical way and a good chance for some fans to get the opportunity to play on the hallowed turf. Also a great chance for a couple of bitter old gits in London to have a moan.

Teams of ex-players playing charity games are almost always styled as "Legends". Argyle's "legends" play regularly and raise a lot of money for good causes. Many of those who play regularly for them only ever played for Argyle reserves.

In contrast, we were treated to at least three bona fide legends: Kevin Hill, Lee Mansell and Kevin Nicholson.

Rather than play Legends v Fans as advertised, the ex-players were split across the teams in a "Red Aldershot kit" v "Whites Woking kit" match.

On top of the three legends, we had the chance to see many other players who have played significant parts in fine TUFC teams.

Ex-players in the whites team were Michael Poke, Guy Branston, Lee Hodges, Lee Mansell, Robbie Herrera, Kevin Nicholson and Ben Gerring.

In the reds team Chris Todd, Aaron Downes, Danny Stevens, Joe Oastler, Kevin Hill, Chris Zebroski.

Interesting to see Zebroski turn out. With Eastleighs's owner disappearing, I wonder if he might become available. He is a player whose style and workrate would surely reap dividends in National League South.

The result does not matter. Whites went ahead through a Nicholson screamer. Zebroski equalised. Whites then went 3-1 ahead but were pegged back to 3-3.

Quite a decent attendance - higher than quite a few National League South teams get for league matches.

I’d rather have Romain on balance. He offers not dissimilar qualities, has youth on his side and has worked effectively under Owers already. Romain understandably wants something better than Conference South next season and is currently under continued contract at Dagenham and Redbridge, though.

Looking at reports from this season at Eastleigh, it would appear Zebs has certainly still got that work rate and has chipped in with 10 goals from 29 starts and 10 appearances from the bench. As for his convictions, he has served his time, so absolutely no issue from me on that score. Can’t see him dropping down just yet.

Glad to read the benefit match was enjoyed and raised money. I really don’t understand why a couple of others have moaned about it and I thought I would give that thread a miss. Seems utterly bizarre to me why the holding of such an event would meet with any criticism whatsoever. It sounds as though it was also an opportunity for the Club to connect with it’s community, which is no bad thing either. Fair play to the young man Jon mentions who enabled it to happen.