Dave
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Posts: 13,081
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Post by Dave on Dec 30, 2009 23:07:25 GMT
It will soon be 2010 and as I wonder just what the year ahead will hold for me and Carol, I had a look back at what I will leave behind in 2009. I think the very best moment I will remember 2009 for was watching Lewis lead our team out at Wembley an event due to family commitments I was unable to attend, but got to watch on the TV. That day was made even more special as we regained our league status and therefore the year 2009 will always be a very important one in the history of Torquay United.
The year started off with carol still having to wear her wig as her hair had only just started to grow back after having to have chemo for the second time. Thinking about that has just made me remember what was said to me when I returned to work after this years Toolfix Christmas party. Everyone said how well Carol looked this year at the party, well they don’t get to see her much and she did not look that well at the 2008 Christmas party and that was understandable.
The most emotional day was the Sunday I went with Lewis and Grahame to see dear little Megan, a wonderful brave little girl who was so full of cuddles and love to give, I hope she will never stop fighting and prove to all those who gave up on her, that they were so wrong to do so.
I believe I have been more stable on the forum than I was the year before, but then that was a very hard year learning that Carol had got the cancer back. Mind you I still managed to have two big fall outs with merse, but we have been big enough to shake hands and move on and anyway we have never let things get so bad between us that we ended up having any bad feelings toward each other.
I can’t think of any other events that really stand out in the year, I’m sure there must be some more, but it was a quite year in many respects and while I worked hard, there has always been the worry about the security of my job. That should not be such a concern next year as we have at last let the unit we own next door for at least 18 months, very good timing as we were due to have to start paying rates on the building as well as paying the mortgage.
I may add other things later if I remember any more, so what did 2009 mean to you.
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Post by graystar on Dec 31, 2009 0:06:46 GMT
Dave, I agree wholeheartedly with you on the year just ending! Lew also finished his second batch of intensive chemo during February and his hair had just started to grow back a couple of weeks before the Kettering game when he was mascot for the first time. I have a couple of very short clips of him walking around the ground with the other two boys who were also mascots on that day. He wore his leather look flying jacket to keep him warm as it was a bit breezy.
The other things that we will remember very happilly are the trip to Wembley and the fantastic feeling of being at the Play Off Final and watching Lew go out with the Players and the brilliant result and feelings of intense happiness after the game. The only people who spoilt that day were the plonker stewards at Wembley who seemed intent on ruining the outcome with their petty ''jobsworth'' antics at pitchside during the celebrations. But we were determined they wouldn't wreck it for us and Lew was a very happy boy and we were immensely proud of him for leading the team to glory!
We will always be very grateful for the way the TFF clubbed together to provide Lew with the kit and other TUFC items that were bought for him and the drum lessons he later had. Thank you everyone especially you mate!
Like yourself I also felt hugely emotional and very privilleged to meet beautiful little Megan and her mum and dad, and the photographs you took were incredibly powerful images of our two very dear children sharing a lovely cuddle.
I just hope that 2010 brings much more happiness for us all including yourself Dave and your lovely Carol. We all deserve some goodness in our lives and I hope and pray that that is the case next year! Take care all.
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Post by jmgull on Dec 31, 2009 0:10:09 GMT
The moment of 2009 for me was undoubtebly the split second when the ball hit the back of the net from Sills' header at Wembley, such a wonderful almost slow motion goal. 2-0......game over.......promotion........back in the league........pride, joy and a tear  |
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Post by stefano on Dec 31, 2009 0:35:56 GMT
For me the first two excellent posts on this thread puts everything into perspective. It also illustrates why sport is important to us as a release both for ourselves and those close to us who are going through a difficult period. I buried my elder sister two weeks ago although thankfully her death was sudden and unexpected rather than a prolonged illness which so far I have not had to cope with but have got the greatest of respect and admiration for those that do. On the sporting front Wembley and promotion would have been my best memory but I was on holiday in Barcelona at the time which was booked before we were even certain of the play offs. Second night was memorable for rioting right outside of our hotel when Barcelona won La Liga. Apparently the top end of Las Ramblas where we were staying is where they always gather and won't move on until the riot police move up the road at 4am. That and the news coming through from Wembley the next day that we were getting promoted was probably my best memory of a year when more under equipped soldiers were killed in an unjust war, the banks ran out of money, thousands got stranded abroad because airlines had gone bust, Michael Jackson died, X factor immediately tried to produce replacements, and pick and mix at Woolworths became a thing of the past. Sometimes best to stay in the past .... I love 'La Banda' being added to the site! |
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Post by aussie on Dec 31, 2009 9:47:31 GMT
Seeing Lewis run out at Wembley had my in bits and then we won, well that had me in bits, very happy bits mind you but bits all the same! Have had some right crap chucked my way this year but those things I mentioned have helped wash away the bad luck I`ve had so far, lost my business, lost my van, lost my way a bit with something I don`t want to share and had too move out of the house I was renting, had two absys`s ( no idea how to spell that correctly ) and I could go on, so here`s hoping next year improves! I hope your year hasn`t been as bad as mine and I hope you all have a good 2010!
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merse
TFF member
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Post by merse on Dec 31, 2009 10:41:03 GMT
 For me it was five seconds that encapsulated the whole season........................... Wayne Carlisle sending over that inch perfect cross at Wembley and the realisation that Tim sills was going to bury that header gave me the chance to really savour the whole moment. The anticipation of the net bulging nano seconds before it actually did was better than sex ~ well better than the sex I get these days anyway! Once that ball was in the net, there was the certainty that all the mindless criticism, newspaper comments from morons with made up names, and internet bitching against our very talented and extrememly hard working young manager was all going up in the faces of the perpetrators. For once, revenge was a meal eaten extremely warm! Have you noticed how, now that the team are adapting and performing to Football League requirements; there is an awesome silence and disappearance of exodus like proportions from the anti Buckle Brigade?
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Dave
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Posts: 13,081
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Post by Dave on Dec 31, 2009 11:54:42 GMT
Stefano has reminded us about some of the other things that have happened in 2009 and ones we have had no control over, but have affected our own lives in one way or the other. The bank crash has cost so many ordinary people their jobs, their homes and the life they knew. Loved and enjoyed. Lost not by anything they have done wrong, but mainly because of the greed of others who now sit there saying I’m alright jack I walked away with millions.
For me it got to a point I dreaded the time each day the news came on the radio or TV, not just because it was always full of so much doom and gloom, but so many days it brought us news of yet another British soldier being killed in a war that I can’t really understand why we are in. The news also so often let us know of all the suicide bombers still killing hundreds of people in Baghdad and maybe due to lack of knowledge or maybe just understanding, I do ask just what good did we really do in that country.
There have been some terrible stories of violence, hatred and people killing each other, for someone like me who really is a peace lover and one who could not do such acts, my mentally simply can’t understand how other people can do some of the things they do to other human beings.
You only have had to read the Herald Express over the last few weeks to learn that that has been so many acts of mindless violence in the Bay and on that front it seems to be getting worse by the week, but much of that violence is sadly more drink related and just how do you stop that.
Ant has never had one single drink of alcohol in his life, but that never stopped him suffering a beating in Torbay one night, it was many years ago and at that time he used to dance on stage for the Radio One Roadshows.He also earned some extra money being paid to dance at a night club on a podium and would have lots of girls standing around watching him.
Only one bloke got a bit jealous and when Ant left to come home, he head butted Ant in the face so hard his front teeth were knocked back and up into the roof of his mouth. 3.30am he came home and woke me up and it hurt me so much to see what had been done to him, Ant would not hurt a fly, yet some thug thought it was OK to do what he did to Ant.
We went together the next morning to a dentist to get some emergency work done and the next day we headed up to watch TUFC play Forrest Green Rovers in the FA Cup game with big Nev in goal for us, I did feel a bit guilty eating a pie when he could not due to the injuries he suffered.
Each and everyone of us could find that one day we are just in the wrong place at the wrong time, might just be the one who comes across someone who over reacts when we make a mistake when changing a lane on a road and the driver of the car we cut up unintentionally, is some mad man who won’t be happy until he can punch your lights out.
But in another post Stefano thanked us for making him so welcome on the forum and Aussie in his post told us of the terrible year he has had. For Aussie life has been pants this last year, but he will tell you all the friendships he has made because of the TFF, he will tell you that when he comes on here he feels he his with his family and while he often will have a real old rant about things, he knows he is amongst friends and people who will help if they can.
It’s the reason the TFF is a special place for me, it’s a place I can come and escape from the world outside, be with like minded people who share the same love of Torquay United that I do. I knew I had to make the TFF so different from any forum I had ever used before, not just in the way it looked or worked, or how many different features it might have, but in the way its members were to each other and that is something that really was very important to me.
The way so many us knew how to survive on a forum was to get in there first, get in the digs and try to come out of every battle as the winner, if someone else got upset, then so be it, it was life on a forum as we knew it.
I never wanted that for the TFF, I have always believed if we had the right sort of members on here, we could not only enjoy intelligent debate, we could enjoy a real sense of togetherness and that the TFF was our place where our friends hung out as well.
Lets be honest, with the world outside as it is, why should not our world in here just be an escape from all that and a place where we can get some real enjoyment and not abuse or find people are trying to put us down for any views we may hold. We should all be able to respect the views of other members, even if we can’t agree with them, or feel they must live on a different planet.
There have been so many days when I have felt a real pride in the TFF and all because of the way people on here have shown that real sense of togetherness and a real friendship. But there have also been some days when I have despaired at a post made and aimed at another member with the sole intension of upsetting them.
The fact is some people somehow change when they get behind a keyboard and so often then appear so different from how they really are in real life, I do find that a bit sad at times and wish people would just be who they really are and not feel the need to make themselves look a completely different person.
I was surprised to learn how one member was upset because how he was perceived on the forum, but then at the end of the day it really was only because of the way he made himself look to other members with the content of what he put in his posts.
You only need to read the post about davethegull to know, that how someone may come across on the forum, can be so different from how the person is in real life. That is why I will continue to promote goodwill and friendship on the TFF and try to rid the forum of any personal abuse to other members. It is as I said a different way than what we may have been used too, but it has to be the best way and even more so if this is a place where we can escape the horrors outside in the real world.
So a new year is about to start, I have no fear of what lies ahead in 2010, I will do what I have been doing for so long now and that is to hold Carols hand tight and together we will face and deal with whatever life decides to throw at us.
I have the love in my life I need, I have mostly the family I want, some I know for now I can’t have, I have the friendships I need to help make me a better person and I have all of you my fellow members, who really have brought me so much joy in my life.
So thank you one and all and I hope you all carry on and give your great support to the TFF, because as I have said so many times, its you who make this the very special place it is.
Happy new year to everyone on the TFF
Dave
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chelstongull
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Favourite Player: Jason Fowler
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Post by chelstongull on Dec 31, 2009 12:26:25 GMT
The win at Wembley has to be there, being (IMO) probally the most important win in the clubs history. Gawd 'elp us if we hadn't won that day.
The TFF carveries - especially Dave and his Torrey Canyon gravy spill.
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Dave
TFF member
Posts: 13,081
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Post by Dave on Dec 31, 2009 12:40:58 GMT
PS I forgot to ad the great pleasure Ant has once again brought me this year, all those goals he scored to not only turn the cup final around but to destroy the other team, along with him just being such a wonderful son who I'm so proud off, not just because of his job, or the great person he is, but all the work he does for both the South Devon League and the Devon FA. Without people giving so much of their free time, there would be no local football for anyone to enjoy.
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Rob
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Post by Rob on Dec 31, 2009 15:07:52 GMT
For me it was five seconds that encapsulated the whole season........................... Wayne Carlisle sending over that inch perfect cross at Wembley and the realisation that Tim sills was going to bury that header gave me the chance to really savour the whole moment. The anticipation of the net bulging nano seconds before it actually did was better than sex ~ well better than the sex I get these days anyway! That's the one for me as well. You knew Sills would bury it and we were back in the promised land. I did also enjoy watching the Cup being raised aloft on the balcony. Joyous. The other moment, I guess, has to be the death of Michael Jackson, which will surely be top of most news polls for the year. I did enjoy my little'un getting in to Chelsea, as well. |
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davethegull
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Post by davethegull on Dec 31, 2009 16:42:28 GMT
Gotta agree with Rob and Merse, when Wayne shaped himself for the cross you just knew it was going to be a goal. I watched it on my balcony thousands of miles away and i swear you could have heard the scream i let out at Wembley! I watched it with a Leeds fan mate of mine and he just couldn't get his head around how important it was. But fair play to him for watching it!
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merse
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Post by merse on Dec 31, 2009 17:02:56 GMT
That's the one for me as well. You knew Sills would bury it and we were back in the promised land........................ The other moment, I guess, has to be the death of Michael Jackson Shouldn't that be "bury him" then? I didn't know Sillsy was an undertaker!  |
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Post by flats on Dec 31, 2009 18:35:21 GMT
My Cousin and ex-TUFC loanee, getting an MBE in the QNYHL.
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Post by stuartB on Dec 31, 2009 19:16:14 GMT
My Cousin and ex-TUFC loanee, getting an MBE in the QNYHL. Jason Roberts? |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Dec 31, 2009 19:19:58 GMT
My Cousin and ex-TUFC loanee, getting an MBE in the QNYHL. Jason Roberts? Bristol Evening Post: Also among this year's honours recipients is former Bristol Rovers striker Jason Roberts, who receives an MBE for combining a successful footballing career with charity work to encourage young people in the UK and the Caribbean to play sport.
The 31-year-old, who plays for Blackburn Rovers, scored 38 times in 78 appearances for Bristol Rovers in a spell at the club from 1998 to 2000.
Three years ago he set up the Jason Roberts Foundation, a charity that works in the UK and Grenada, his father's homeland and the country he represents at international level.
Mr Roberts said: "The foundation works with under-privileged kids in Grenada and London to steer them in the right direction, using sport as a hook." |
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