FAT: Torquay United v Chippenham 3pm 17th December 2022

Strange! At Sandy Park at the moment 15 minutes from kick off Exeter Chiefs v Bulls in bright sunshine and pitch looks perfect. It is on free to view TV ITV if you want some afternoon entertainment. 🏉

In a way I am not surprised and in a way I am surprised.

I can understand that the prolonged freezing weather may have frozen the pitch solid - despite the mild weather this morning. Better not to risk player safety on a frozen pitch.

What I find annoying and unforgivable is the cavalier attitude the club shows towards its loyal supporters. The way the current directorate is treating fans, they really do not deserve the support that the club gets.

I quite fancied Buckland v Falmouth today. That would have been my Saturday afternoon had we been drawn away in the Trophy.

Excellent communication from Buckland (light years ahead of Torquay United on genuine fan engagement) yesterday letting us know there would be a pitch inspection and finally making an early decision to call off the game yesterday tea-time and tell everyone immediately.

Of course, Buckland allow you to pay on the gate anyway, so no prepaid money to refund.

In contrast, Torquay United build up the game with no mention of any doubts whatsoever over the game being on. They continue to pre-sell tickets to a game which was obviously extremely unlikely to take place.

You might think that our “professionalism” gave us an advantage over Buckland in terms of equipment and personnel to get the game on. Also, milder temperatures nearer the sea gives Torquay a further advantage.

This morning, the weather is far milder than expected and the club shamefully continues to sell match tickets at a scandalous £2 on the day surcharge. Borderline fraudulent.

Then a sudden announcement at 10 o’clock that the game is off. No automatic refunds. Anyone conned into prepaying has to jump through hoops to get their money back.

What has changed in the last 12 or 24 hours to make the game unplayable? Nothing. It was never likely to be played.

The club’s farcical pay in advance policy has been tantamount to obtaining money under false pretences.

It is a very dangerous game taking fans for granted - even the most loyal have a breaking point.

Well it was a blessed relief NOT to have to go to Plainmoor this afternoon.

The highlight of a TUFC match is listening to the wit and wisdom of Chelstongull. With his presence scuppered by the club's stupid ticketing policy, an afternoon of misery watching shit football beckoned.

I decided to make the most of an afternoon off by going for a stroll in the balmy Winter sunshine down by the seafront - down to Corbyn Head and back.

Imagine my surprise as I passed the Rec on my way back and heard the sounds of what sounded like a small crowd. Intrigued, I wandered through those historic gates to see a field full of muddied oafs playing a ridiculous game with a ridiculous-shaped ball on a soft muddy surface. I watched for a few minutes to try to work out what was going on, but soon decided enough was enough and it was time to move on.

Then I bumped into someone I know who is heavily involved with TARFC and stopped for a chat. It seems that the once-mighty Torquay Athletic were playing a league match against Brixham's reserve team. How the mighty are fallen! I told him that my last Tics game had seen them beat Brixham (first XV obviously!) to win the Devon Senior Cup in 1979. I turn my back for 43 years and come back to find them facing up to Brixham's reserve team on equal terms!

I did take the chance to confirm that I am 100% confident that Tics were originally founded in 1876, but am not convinced they won't try to have a 150 year celebration in 2025!

I then bumped into someone else I used to work with and had a long catchup chat.

I don't like chatting when proper football is on as I want to watch the game, but it was quite nice to go to the Rec, have a nice chat and not worry about the ridiculous game that was going on in front of me.

I have made a date to revisit the Rec in another 43 years' time for another taste of Rugby Union. Maybe Tics will be playing Brixham's third team by then. Let's hope I am still up to it by then.

No. Just wandered in out of curiosity.

The game was into its second half, so there may have been a charge if you turned up at the start.

link - Home game awaits the winner of this match against either Taunton or Slough.

If Omar, Hanson and Wyatt are fit, I'd rest Moxey, Ellis and Lapslie altogether.

I'd start with Halstead, Donnellan, De Silva and Goodwin all on the bench.

A good chance for quite a few players who have looked barely National League South standard so far this season to step up to the plate and prove that they really are National League South standard.