TORQUAY UNITED SUPPORTERS TRUST

18th August 2023

TUST STATEMENT

The TUST board has concerns about the running of our club

Back in 2018, a few months after taking over Torquay United, owner Clarke Osborne wrote this to the then chairman of TUST: “I know from the discussions you and your members have held with the club that there are plans to enhance supporter engagement, both through TUST and Torquay United Official Supporters Club.”

“I and the club are committed and keen to continually improve this dialogue and develop improved communication and links with all supporters.”

Why then is TUST currently frozen out?

Prior to September 2021 TUST held fairly regular meetings with the club’s supporter liaison officer usually at Plainmoor but then on Zoom when Covid struck. Then the club’s directors, unfortunately, cancelled any further meetings with TUST, as a group, due to the club’s lack of ability to react constructively to some criticism during the meeting.

Current chairman Nick Brodrick then undertook a year long series of meetings, five in total, with the club’s two in-house directors culminating in the re-engagement of sessions, at Plainmoor, with the club’s supporter liaison officer. The first of these took place in March.

Another meeting was agreed for May but in-between Mr Osborne made his statement about the club remaining full-time in National South and TUST issued its statement in response.

The May meeting was due to take place but was cancelled the night before. Since then TUST and its chairman have been cancelled.

Speaking with supporters at a recent home match and reading posts on the various fans’ forums and social media in general, there is a growing groundswell of opinion questioning the running of the club.

Under previous owners/chairmen Tony Boyce, Mike Bateson and Alex Rowe, for example, supporters were welcomed and you were made to feel like a guest instead of a paying customer.

There was an open channel of dialogue and fans were allowed to say their piece. There was no secrecy about plans for the future and fans were kept in touch with developments on and off the pitch.

Under this current regime fans are not allowed to know anything about OUR football club. Yes, we are all very grateful to Mr Osborne for rescuing us and writing the cheques but there is more to running a football club than ploughing in money, because Torquay United is the heart of the community.

Where is the Five Year Plan we were promised?

Where is the local board of directors we were promised?

Where is the academy Mr Osborne said was so vital? In a statement made on January 19 2018 Mr Osborne said this: “The major success, in my opinion, is the reformation of a youth system and the start of building a strong sustainable Academy. It forms the backbone of future sustainable success.”

So, now five years later not one player has made regular appearances in the first team. Where is the pathway? Why can other clubs, one notable one not far away, produce players, some of whom were born in Torbay, to be sold for £1million+?

From day one Mr Osborne talked up moving the club to a new stadium: “I am convinced that a purpose built multi-event stadium and academy, with supporting leisure activities, good road, and rail communication and acres of car parking will provide the facilities and finance for sustained success and bring considerable inward investment and spend to Torbay.” (Quoted from club statement 2018).

We’re still waiting.

Despite repeated requests, why won’t the club allow the trust, along with the Community Sports Trust, to run, what were very popular, fan zones before selected matches?

Numerous long standing supporters refuse to attend matches because of the decisions taken by those running the club on Mr Osborne’s behalf. Supporters are treated with contempt, trying to buy a ticket is impossible for many and there is no encouragement to promote the club in the town as there used to be.

Now, as the only official supporters’ group, with a growing membership, TUST has been muted and not allowed to communicate fans’ feelings to the board, being told ‘we are negative’.

We know there have been calls for a boycott which we do not subscribe to but all we do ask is for the right to have engagement with the club on behalf of all the Yellow Army.

To quote Mr Osborne from 2018: “Engagement is the key word for the team at Torquay United and they are working hard to improve our processes and communication.”

Well, Mr Osborne, those whom you have entrusted to run the club like this have failed.

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WHY SHOULD YOU JOIN TUST NOW?
The most important thing right now is for TUST to have a bigger, more authoritative voice. The more members we have, the bigger the voice we have and the greater influence we may be able to have in the future on how the club is run sustainably for the benefit of supporters.

See other Frequently Asked Questions on our website here; FAQ's | TUST

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Mmmmmmm…’nothing heard out’ eh? 

I’m composing…although I’m sure there are people who wish I was de-composing! 💀

Now imagine if you will…

Ah Socrates the great Brazilian footballer from the 1980's. A very wise man. He also said "Smart People learn from everything and everyone; Average people learn from their experiences; Stupid people already have all the answers". I don't know how he had time to think about these things with all that training! 😉

1st September 2023

FAN ZONE

TUST's Chair, Nick Brodrick's column in this week's Herald Express - updated for the latest news.

DON WALKS INTO WORLD CUP HISTORY BOOK

WHAT’S NOT TO LIKE? UNITED NOTCH UP FOUR WINS IN A ROW

MORE WOE AS SOUTHEND HIT ROCK BOTTOM

RENDELL AND BENYON TURN BACK THE CLOCK

Torbay footballer Don Ford is walking tall following his performance in the England Over 50s team as they won the Walking World Cup at St George’s over the Bank Holiday weekend. Ford, who plays for Torquay United under the umbrella of the Community Sports Trust, helped England to victory in a penalty shoot-out against the Czech Republic in the final.

Ford said, “Absolutely fantastic experience and to win the World Cup was amazing.”

*****

Torquay United’s National South side are a long way from winning any cup or title but although performances have not been what many would like, four wins on the spin is a decent start to ensure the Gulls are flying high near the top of this league as they should be being full-time professionals.

But it’s not pretty and not flowing football. Saturday at Slough and Monday home to Braintree it was a case of ‘no show’ first halves. I don’t know what is said at half-time but can only guess; the cost of replacement hair dryers must be increasing game by game.

On Saturday it was Brad Ash to the rescue as, if those there had their way, the flames would have been licking around the manager’s tenure. Then on Monday it took a 95th minute penalty, won and neatly despatched by Aaron Jarvis to save the day.

As one fan commented, “We have good players but not a good team.”

*****

It’s a far cry from United teams of yesteryear as those with long memories can trot off players and teams which produced winning, entertaining football. No more so than prolific goal scorer Robin Stubbs who last Thursday, August 24 in 1963 made his United debut in a 1-1 home draw with Tranmere Rovers. Stubbs still attends home games sitting in the Directors’ Box at Plainmoor.

News on two other ex-Gulls: sadly Andy Donnelly died last week at age 80. Donnelly or ‘Handy Andy’ as he was affectionately known, was a great goalkeeper despite his lack of inches. In total, between 1967 and 1972 he played 160 games for United before playing in South Africa for ten years.

A few weeks ago we brought you news of Paul Holmes who had been unwell with cancer and about whom super fan Helen Chamberlain raised awareness to crowdfund for a giant TV. Needless-to-say the money was raised in super quick time.

Now the club are holding a special event in Boots & Laces on Sunday September 10 at 2pm with a number of ex-players in attendance. In addition there is an online signed shirt auction. All details at torquayunited.com.

*****

Yet more ex-Gulls news: how about this? On Saturday in the Southern League Premier Division AFC Totton met Hanwell Town. Nothing unusual here except Scott Rendell opened the scoring for AFC Totton who went on to win 5-3 with Elliot Benyon netting Hanwell’s third. Many will remember Rendell and Benyon had a useful partnership up front for Torquay a while back.

*****

Saturday’s Non-League Crowd Watch: Southend v Eastleigh 5,696, Hartlepool v AFC Fylde 4,376, Bury FC v Cheadle Town 3,235, Hereford v Peterborough Sports 2,510, FC United v Macclesfield 2,342.

Bank Holiday Monday’s Non-League Crowd Watch: Chesterfield v Hartlepool 8,451, Oldham v Solihull Moors 6,815, Torquay v Braintree 2,543, Maidstone Utd v Taunton Town 2,014.

*****

Last week Southend United appeared in the High Court once again to hear the judge say, “If this was not a football club with the attachment of its fans, I would be winding you up today.”

As a result of the club’s failure to pay its HMRC tax bill, the National League, as promised, has docked the club 10 points, subject to an appeal, dumping them bottom of the table. In Friday night’s game fans, to show their displeasure, threw tennis balls onto the pitch in the 10th minute to show their feelings at the way the club is being run.

The club’s supporters’ trust - The Shrimpers Trust - has had conversations with interested parties thinking about taking over the club from Ron Martin with currently an Australian favourite, and tellingly had this to say, “We have made it abundantly clear to everybody we have spoken to that supporter involvement should be a key component of any new structure.”

The trust continued, “We believe this to be the only way to avoid our beloved football club being at the mercy of unscrupulous and/or deficient owners again and to ensure that supporters are afforded a voice in the running and direction of the club.”

*****

It’s been a rough start for two National League managers as both Eastleigh and York City have sacked theirs even before the magical ‘judge us on ten games’.

Torquay United’s Women’s side have had a tough start to life in a higher division. Their opening league fixture ended in defeat and on Sunday were knocked out of the league cup when opponents Moneyfields scored a late winner. United now go again in the Plate competition.

*****

Saturday sees United travel to Aveley, a side the Gulls have never played. Aveley, based in Essex, were founded in 1927 and play at Parkside with a ground capacity of 3,500. For a team that’s just been promoted they’ve made a solid start and play on a 3G pitch.

So, what’s your view on Torquay’s start? Contact: fanszone.tu@gmail.com or Twitter/X: @fanszonet.

COYY


Don Ford of Torquay United Walking FC and England with the World Cup

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Socrates himself is particularly missed. A lovely little thinker, but a buggar when he's pissed.