A Legend Departs

I can only blame the recent chaos at Alpine Towers for the inaccuracies regarding nomination papers that both Hector and Barton appear to have been victims of.

No way will Comrade Felix be allowed to turn his back on the ballot box, even if I have to stump up the deposit myself, I'm determined that he will stand in any further by-elections before the big vote next May.

I rather hope it wasn't Barton Downs breathing over my shoulder on Saturday, as if so, I'm more than a little disappointed to report that BD spent most of the 90 minutes whinging about Courtney Cameron.

Time to leave our occasional dip into the political arena and get back to the sporting arena to check on the fortunes of our much loved and sadly missed club legends, who have both taken the road north to continue plying their trade. 

Deservedly topping the bill this week is Kevin Nicholson. Financially challenged Kidderminster Harriers were struggling to find enough players to fill the bench, but went to high flying Grimsby who were looking to record their 9th league match in an impressive unbeaten spell, and came away with a excellent if surprising 2-0 win at Blundell Park.

Harriers manager Gary Whild was full of praise for his players post match:"If you can ever get one in football, that was as close to a complete performance as you're going to get – we got an early goal and then another just minutes after half-time – I thought we did really well."

"We created a lot of opportunities in the last third. The build-up play to get in was good and we looked a threat – we were solid all round."

Ah, solid all round ! what some other managers wouldn't give to be able to make a similar observation of their own team. The Kidderminster defence, expertly marshalled by Nico, have conceded 7 fewer goals than us despite having played a game more. Manse's Rovers, who have also played one game more than us, have conceded only 19 goals compared to our 28. The plus side is that we're getting good, open, attacking football to watch, and no one other than the Barnet supporters have had more goals to cheer from their team this season.   

And now on to the A list celebrity, the legendary Cap'n Manse. I hear that the red carpet has already been sent off for dry cleaning in preparation for his Boxing Day return.

Something's gone wrong at Rovers, and for we Manse fans it doesn't take much working out to pin point just what it is. If we look at their results this month there has just been the one solitary win. We could throw in their F.A Cup defeat at Tranmere as well on November 8th. That one win was away to hopeless bottom of the league outfit Telford.... I ask you, who wouldn't win there ?

So what's the explanation for this slump in form? Well let's look at what happened at the end of October, and the ramifications it's had for Rovers results so far during November. Look no further than the totally mad self defeating decision to jettison the inspirational fist pumping Captaincy they were flying up the league under, and giving the armband to someone else for, from what I can gather, no better reason than he used to wear it before.

Speaking at the end of October, Cap'n Manse was gracious about the situation as is typical of the great sportsman we know him to be. You don't need to gaze into a Mark McChrystal ball to learn that Manse is by far the superior captain of the two, as Rovers are now finding out to their cost. 

The Cap'n clearly chose his words carefully (see below) when questioned on the situation, but cleverly implies that he's more of a Captain than McChrystal will ever be, with or without the addition of an armband. A fact we legends fans would all vouch for, I'm certain.

"The situation with the armband has always been temporary as far as I am concerned.

"Macca is the captain and when he comes on the pitch he takes the armband and that is that. I've enjoyed being captain on the pitch over the last couple of months and is also something that I've done over many years at other clubs.

"I'm always happy to take that sort of responsibility, but it is a responsibility I shoulder regardless of whether or not I have the armband. I don't think I tend to play or doing anything different just because I have an armband on."

link - Manse - The one true captain

SWAPPING 7 FOR 10 ??

As the defeated Gulls limp home pointless after their long journey to Macclesfield, we can again be grateful for the welcome relief provided by two of the TUFC all time greats who are both performing magnificently for teams higher up the League than ourselves. As one TFF member (who shall remain anonymous) sat behind me in Bristow's Bench whispered in my ear when the fulltime whistle blew on Saturday: ' Thank goodness we've had those recent by-election victories to cheer, as we're enjoying precious few wins at the moment when watching the Gulls'. And sadly how right he was. If we include our early F.A Cup exit to Aldershot, that makes it just one win from the last 8 games.

Now,let's take a look at what our two favourite legendary former Torquay United stars were up to last night. Some were rightly concerned to learn that the TUFC's regular left back was in need of being 'rested' last night. No such requirement for Kidderminster Harriers super-fit left back Kevin Nicholson. Despite a magnificent 90 minutes helping the Harriers win at promotion challenging Grimsby on Saturday, Kev reported that he was still fresh as a daisy, and straining at the leash to play another full match last night. Yesterday's game at Aggborough against Wrexham concluded in a 1-1 draw. We must remember that there's precious little sentiment in football, and there's no guarantee that Nico will send down a consignment of those rejuvenating Herbalife energy and fitness products that would  allow Tom Cruise to become as sprightly as Kev himself.

Just where do you start when listing the continuing achievements of the great Cap'n Manse ?  Although still held in the very highest esteem by virtually every Torquay United fan, it seems that the fondness for the great Captain in the hearts of the people of Bristol has reached amazing levels. While we were distraught to see him leave, it must surely be right that the great performers are allowed to go on to parade their talents on the bigger stage. While just over 1,000 tuned up to watch TUFC last night, more than 6,000 paid to savour the skills of Cap'n Manse, as he again inspired (with our without an armband) a wonderful victory for his team over table topping Barnet.

Even I was a little surprised to read that a delegation of Bristol Rovers fans, so impressed by the magnificent leadership that Cap'n Manse has brought to their club, had taken a trip up to Downing Street to deliver a petition demanding that David Cameron step down in order that Manse should also run the country.

Disconsolate Gull's fans will be trying to spend their time thinking about anything that takes their mind off the current plight of their team. Selecting your own members to fill the positions in a 'Manse Cabinet' might idly while away a couple of minutes......which of course, is also the sole purpose of the Legends thread.

Mixed fortunes for the legends as Kev's Harriers lost away to Altrincham, while Cap'n Manse's Pirates continued their surge towards promotion by beating Welling Utd.

Kev at least had more luck in persuading The Conference to move the kick off time of Harriers Boxing day fixture at Forest Green to the earlier 1pm slot. If everything goes to plan this should see Kev's game finish at about 2.50pm on the 26th December, and I believe the plan is then to treat us to a live video link up, which will be transmitted via our big screen, allowing Kev to say a few words as we celebrate his best mate Manse's homecoming to Plainmoor.

While doing my usual extensive research before a Legends thread update, it did cross my mind what a catastrophe it would be if circumstance conspired to rob us of the star of the big Boxing Day event. This weekend Welling obviously targeted Rover's main danger man, and were clearly incapable of stopping Manse by fair means and so resorted to serious foul play, as The Bristol Post reported:

'The visitors played most the second period with ten men after Jake Gallagher lunged in on Lee Mansell and was duly red-carded for the challenge'.

With the big day now only weeks away, it wouldn't only be loyal Torquay fans who would be disappointed if injury robbed Cap'n Manse from receiving the well earned appreciative applause we are all waiting to give him. I also read with amusement about the school pupils in Bovey Tracey who have combined the festive spirit and Cap'n Manse's homecoming by adapting some of their favourite Christmas songs:

He knows what you are shouting

It's easy for him to take.

He knows where you sit in Bristow's Bench

So be good for goodness sake.

He's making a list, and checking it twice,

He's got a good plan to beat Martin Rice,

Super Manse is coming to town!

At the moment it's my understanding that the club intends to press ahead with their original plan, and the teams will emerge to the sound of the old Peters & Lee song: Welcome Home! rather than getting the Bovey school kids in to serenade Manse.

Just one disappointment to report this week, and that's a black mark for the gutter press. Just take a look at this ridiculous piece of so called 'reporting' that appeared in the Bristol Post:

Twenty minutes in Mansell was teed up with a good pass from Stuart Sinclair, however, the ex-Torquay United man blasted well over the goal while under little pressure.

Under no pressure, and The Post want us to believe that a player of Manse's majestic abilities would whack the ball skywards rather than into the net. The very idea is scarcely credible, and I'm sure Barton Downs is mumbling 'preposterous' to himself at the very idea.

Let's finish on an upbeat note, with a reminder that this week sees the launch of Cap'n Manse's Christmas Annual . Initially only stocked by outlets in the Bristol area (with a signing session at the Cribbs Causeway branch of W.H Smith this Thursday night) it's the perfect stocking filler for young gasheads, be they male or female...no 'Gifts for Boys' type discrimination from Cap'n Manse. The Cap'n recalls his many daring fights against relegation plus other intrepid adventures which will keep the youngsters entertained well into the new year.