TORQUAY UNITED SUPPORTERS TRUST

Good Morning FloridaGull although I guess it is very early across the pond..

Thank you for your response to my comments and Nick's follow-up..

It is good to be able to have a discussion with another poster in a proper adult way. I am pleased you took my previous comments in the appropriate manner with which they were intentioned. It is always difficult with the written word to get across the sentiment that sits behind the type!

One of the reasons I only post occasionally is because I have no time for some of the other playground stuff posted by some. But, I enjoy reading most of the rational comments on the forums and it is thanks to Jon for this site and Merse (BTPIR) and Dave (TorquayFans) that we are able to have such a forthright exchange of views.

What is really interesting is I think that we all pretty much sing from the same hymn sheet as TUFC supporters. Supporting TUFC is a form of addiction. It runs to the heart of what most of us are about. We all want the club to be here for years to come. My dad took me to my first game when I was 6 then my younger brother shortly after. I took my son (now aged 16) to his first game when he was 3. Now we both stand on the popside with my brother and his son (aged 13). Both of these lads are not interested in supporting the glamour premier league teams. They are Torquay through and through like their fathers.  I would love for them to bring their sons and grandsons to the club in years to come.

But despite having a common love for the club, supporters will always disagree on things and have different views. Life would be very boring if we all agreed. But, I think it is understanding the rationale for views, opinions that is important.

It is with this in mind that I can empathise with your comments around how you felt in the past regarding TUST, but I would urge you to give the current board of TUST a chance. Michael Goulbourne single handedly dragged TUST back from the dead despite various health issues before handing over the reigns to Michel Thomas as chairman . I am aware that Michael's approach will have divided opinion, but everything was well-intentioned even if it was not well-received by you. If you ever had the chance to speak with Michael you would know what I mean. He is an inspirational individual.

Michel Thomas has picked up the baton from Michael and has taken things to another level. He has put together a board of great people including the likes of Nick who are all very long standing supporters and he runs TUST in a truly collegiate manner. There is no doubt in my mind that certain actions in the past by TUST including communications etc could have been dealt with in a different way which may have had alternative results, but we all make mistakes. If these were made, the one thing that can be said is that any motives that sit behind them were well intentioned. If you were to sit in a room now with the current trust board I think you would be nothing but impressed with their passion and desire to want the best for the club.

With regard to the running of the club now, I would also wholeheartedly agree with you that we have an excellent manager who is adored by the fans and his style of play and warming personality has brought back many lost supporters and has hopefully gained some new ones. His appointment was an excellent decision by Mr Osborne and he should be rightfully applauded for this. Similarly, the appointment of George Edwards to run the off-field activities seems to be a very good move in ensuring the efficiency of off-field activities.

So, on the face if it everything is rosy and that would be fantastic if that remained the case. Where you and I do disagree however is with regard to your comment that TUST wish to be "pessimistic". I don't think they have any desire to be pessimistic, but I think they do feel an obligation to be "realistic". The one thing that keeps me awake at night (well sometimes anyway..) is the motivation that sits behind the tenure of Mr Osborne as club owner. TUST wish to keep close to the club in order to understand the endgame that Mr Osborne has. It has to be said that Mr Osborne and Mr Edwards will not have that same core belief, love, drug, whatever you want to call it that you and I will have which has been built up over 40 years (50 in your case) of supporting the club. The clubs' very existence is an integral part of who we are as individuals. Mr Osborne and Mr Edwards cannot be defined in the same way. That is not their fault, it is just the way it is.

Are they both converts to TUFC? Do they now share the same addiction as us? I truly hope so...

But if not, then one has to question what the plan is for the future? The capital being injected into the club is fantastic, but remember these are loans. To the best of my knowledge I don't think Mr Osborne is a philanthropist. I would also suggest that both he and Mr Edwards are nobody's fools. They are very astute business people and this is a very positive feature if channelled in the most appropriate well-intentioned manner for the long term benefit of the club. What is it that Mr Osborne truly wants to achieve from owning TUFC?

The TUST board have nothing but my total admiration for the excellent work (which is entirely voluntary) they do behind the scenes. It is disappointing that the vast majority of supporters are perhaps unaware of this and therefore I don't believe they get the recognition they deserve. Trying to change the misconception that exists is a challenge and I am happy to do my bit by trying where I can to engage with supporters like we are doing. Whether I succeed or not remains to be seen, but I have tried!

Best Wishes

Matt

Those who believe TUST should be wound down because it's superfluous would be well advised to read and re-read the above. There will come a point when TUST is just what supporters of TUFC will desperately need; ignore the signs at your peril!

🚨🚨AGM 2019🚨🚨



This years AGM will be held at Torquay Athletic Rugby Club, our local sporting partners, followed by an informal social afterwards on Thursday 24th October, 6.30pm.



We would love to see as many members there as possible for the meeting and then a get together afterwards. For our Corporate Members this could be a good networking event to meet up and share contact details.



See you all there

September 2019 Newsletter

Chairman's Comments

Dear Members,

I believe that this season has provided much to entertain us already, with many enjoyable, memorable moments... and a few not so. I am sure we are all united in wishing our young team, and slightly older manager, well in moving onwards and upwards in this new exciting challenge.

Meanwhile, as well as supporting our team, the TUST team of board members and volunteers have continued to be busy in the background. I would like to re-emphasise that our main remit is to support our club not only to be successful, but to continue to be sustainable in the long term, to remain within our locality, whether at Plainmoor or elsewhere, and to have good inclusive governance. To this end we have aimed to highlight the community value of our football club to our community leaders, to the local business fraternity, to the local public in general and to new and old visitors to Plainmoor. The Fanzones, Matchday Ambassadors, Outreach hubs, TUST brochure and our business networking have all been developed towards this aim. The community and the supporters are a constant!

We have some important decisions to make at this year's AGM, and we would appreciate as many of you attending as possible to guide the board with these. I will leave you to read the summary of the minutes of our last board meeting, and these will inform you of some of the decisions and issues we are facing.

The AGM details and proposed motions will follow in the next few days. It will be held at Torquay Athletic Rugby Club, our local sporting partners, followed by an informal social afterwards (Thursday 24th October, 6.30pm). I do urge as many of you as possible to come along this year. In my view, we need to be there for our club. As do the supporters trusts and associations that exist at the majority of clubs around the country.

Best wishes

Michel Thomas
Chairman

COYY


Summary of 16th September board meeting

Partnership with Torquay United Community Sports Trust (TUCST)

The Chair reported that he and other members of the board had met that morning with representatives of TUCST and Torquay United Ladies Team. All parties were keen to promote and develop the partnership.

TUCST produced a paper setting out areas where it needed financial support without suggesting the amounts required. These included out-reach events, kit for the TQ1 Club for young supporters, clothing for the community coaches and any help for the ladies team.

There was support in principle for a season-long commitment to fund these groups, possibly contributing a percentage of membership fees, net of expenses. This would require further consideration and budgeting and reference to the TUST’s financial regulations. Any proposals to then be taken to members for discussion and direction at the AGM.

As an immediate gesture of support to meet priorities it was agreed to contribute £500 to the TQ1 Club for the purchase of shirts for competitions and £500 to the ladies team for tracksuits. TUCST would also be invited to submit a budget request for the coaches training tops. In all cases the clothing would carry the TUST name and logo as sponsors.

Torquay United Supporters’ Club

The proposal for the launch of a new supporters’ club initiated by the Club was discussed. The board were keen that the two bodies should work collaboratively but concerned that there could be duplication of roles. An approach had been made to Andrew Candy, appointed by the club to oversee the formation of the TUSC as an independent body and he shared this view.

Meeting with Media and Supporter Liaison Co-ordinator
All agreed that the appointment of Dominic Mee to this role was a positive step and early dealings with him had been very encouraging with an indication that he was keen to work with TUST. Nick Brodrick had arranged a meeting with him on 21st September and possible items for discussion were considered.

In the meantime, Nick tabled the results of a survey that he had carried out of all National League clubs to establish which ones had a Supporters’ Liaison Officer. 50% of those clubs which responded did have such a role.

Football Supporters Association

Details of the FSA’s proposals for improving the regulation of professional football clubs had been circulated prior to the meeting and were supported by the board. These to be forwarded to the club owner and directors for their information, as requested of us by the FSA.

Links with other supporters’ trusts

The Chair reported on the informal meeting that he and several of the board had enjoyed with members of the Hartlepool United Supporters’ Trust prior to the game on 31st August. It had been a most helpful discussion and HUST had subsequently provided details of its plan for a phoenix club which it had narrowly avoided having to implement in 2018.

Further consideration of promoting links with other trusts to be undertaken at a future meeting as an action arising from the Strategic Plan. Nick Brodrick to research which National League clubs have supporters trusts. It was suggested this could include invitations to meet and welcome representatives informally before games as we have already been doing with current contacts.

Business networking and new brochure

Ali Bryant reported that there were four new corporate members making 14 in total. She had started work on drafting an updated TUST brochure and invited contributions from other members. She also confirmed that TUST had bought two pop-up banners as previously agreed.

The Chair advised that he had attended last month’s local Devon Partnership meeting and at the Paignton Chamber of Commerce business breakfast he had been invited to make a presentation on TUST’s work to the Preston Rotary Club on 15th October.



Strategy Team report

Rick Williams introduced the draft Strategic Plan which had been prepared by the Strategy Team. It had been circulated with the agenda, setting out the details of how the board proposed to deliver TUST’s objectives. A number of the proposals would be considered in more detail by the board over the course of the next few meetings and were included in an action plan as an appendix.

It was agreed to present the Plan to the membership at the AGM for approval.

AGM – Thursday 24th October at 6.30pm

The venue was confirmed as Torquay Athletic Rugby Club and the AGM would be followed by a social evening.

The AGM required the attendance of at least 5% of the membership for a quorum. The agenda and associated papers would be sent by the Secretary at least 14 days in advance.

Michel Thomas, Ali Bryant and Matt Carpenter’s terms of office are due to end. The former two indicated their intention to stand for re-election. Co-optee Rob Dickinson also intends to stand for election.

Annual accounts

The Treasurer tabled the accounts for the year ending 30th June 2019 as reviewed by Independent Examiner, Andrew Fiderkiewicz. The balance sheet showed current assets of £44,428, turnover of £15,933 including membership fees of £9,419 and ‘profit’ for the year of £5,938. The accounts were recommended for approval by the members at the AGM.

Looking forward to the AGM.

A good chance to have a poke around the Rec.

Permanent home to Torquay for four seasons 1900-04.

I know so much about the history but I haven't really been there for donkeys' years.

Have seen quite a few cricket matches there - but all in the 70s.

Have only ever seen two Tics games. One was the Devon Senior Cup Final so must have been 1979.

Yes - see you there. I would love to get there early to help set up - but a bit of a tight squeeze for workers to get there by 6.30!

If anyone else is going, please say hello.

Latest press release from TUST

TORQUAY UNITED SUPPORTERS TRUST ( TUST )

PRESS RELEASE DECEMBER 2019

GULLS’ SUPPORTERS TRUST LOOKING FOR FAN ENGAGEMENT
TUST ( Torquay United Supporters Trust ) congratulates our Devon neighbours, Exeter City, for coming top of all the clubs in the four tiers of English football in the recently released Fan Engagement Index and Plymouth Argyle on their 14th place in the top twenty.

The Fan Engagement Index - based on publicly available data - awarded points to clubs based on how they communicate with supporters, how fans help with the club’s governance and the transparency of supporter meetings.

Kevin Rye, who previously worked with Supporters Direct, is now a fan engagement consultant said, “ One of the reasons why clubs fall down is because they don’t have a direct relationship with the most active supporter organisation, which in most cases is a supporters’ trust.”
He added, “ I hope this gives some principles and structure to fan engagement and opens up the conversation between fans and clubs, bringing the two together.”

With Torquay United currently outside the EFL, the club clearly wasn’t included. But had it been where might it have come?
Currently TUST has been frozen out from any involvement in the club despite it being the only supporter organisation in support of the Gulls with over 360 paid up fan and corporate members. TUST chairman Michel Thomas said, “ I strongly feel that it is extremely important that, at every football club, the owners and directors should liaise closely and positively with any supporters’ organisations in order to secure a longer term, sustainable position as an asset to the local community.”
Exeter City came first in the index because they put fan engagement at the heart of what the club does.

To strengthen the growing importance of supporters trusts TUST are to join with the trusts at both Exeter and Plymouth to form an influential Devon Supporters Group of all three clubs.

In the forthcoming General Election the Conservative manifesto pledges to set up a fan led review of football governance, which will include consideration of the owners and directors’ test as well as promising to establish a £150million Community Ownership Fund to encourage local take-overs of under threat organisations or community assets, including “ local football clubs”. Labour, meanwhile, has pledged to legislate for accredited football supporters’ trusts to be able to appoint and remove at least two club directors and purchase shares when clubs change hands “.

That both the Tories and Labour include these in their manifestos underlines the need for football to be run properly and this can be done with the volunteers that make up Supporters Trusts such as those who willingly give their free time to Torquay United’s own trust who last season ran the highly successful Fan Zones and MatchDay Ambassadors, neither of which, on orders from the club’s directors, have been seen this season.