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Post by rjdgull on Nov 26, 2020 21:38:54 GMT
Hi all, just a quick reminder that it is the TUST AGM tomorrow evening, members should have received an email with log in details and “doors” opening at 6:15pm for a 6:30pm start. Any problems in receiving this then please pm me. This went well last night and unsurprisingly more exiles were able to “zoom in” and always interesting to hear their views. Should be able to hold a combined remote/in person meeting next year. |
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Post by rjdgull on Nov 26, 2020 21:40:41 GMT
26th November 2020
FANS' ZONE
TUST board member and Supporter Liaison Officer Nick Brodrick's column in this week's Herald Express - updated for the latest news.
FOLLOW THE TORQUAY WAY TO A NEW STADIUM AS THE YELLOW ARMY AWAIT NEWS OF A RETURN TO PLAINMOOR
When Clarke Osborne, whose fourth anniversary in charge falls next month, took over ownership of an ailing Torquay United, he set out his vision for the club which involved setting up a five year plan to include appointing local directors and a new stadium complex somewhere in the Bay.
It was good, then, to learn from local director Mel Hayman that the club’s plans are on course despite Covid.
Speaking at a recent Torbay Breakfast Bytes meeting on the Torbay Business Forum, Hayman, in a passionate promotion of the club, confirmed that the five year plan does still include a new stadium. The immediate goal is to put both the club and the English Riviera back into the EFL.
She went on to explain how the club wants to work not just with the local community but the whole of Torbay - ‘The Torquay Way’ - with Osborne still willing to invest millions.
Nobody can fail to see the professional way in which CEO George Edwards runs the club as Hayman explained, from Gary Johnson, his playing squad, and the innovative new shirts as shining examples, these had over 89,000 ‘likes’ on Sky Sports Instagram.
With the team top of the table these are heady exciting times and, as Hayman stressed, the club’s long term vision is to build a sustainable new stadium for the benefit of the Torbay community.
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The light at the end of the tunnel football fans have been waiting for is in sight! For when lockdown ends next week supporters are to be allowed back into stadiums.
With Devon in tier 2 we know the maximum allowed but how many will actually be allowed into Plainmoor? We await news from the club to find out but it looks like there will be supporters inside the ground on December 5 for the visit of Wrexham. We should, though, accept there will be many who’ll prefer not to mix with others and so will the live streaming continue?
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One of the major aspects of the pandemic has been the growing clamour for football to look at itself to have a reset. With the FA needing to appoint a new chairman this seems the perfect time for the football authorities to have a root and branch re-evaluation. However, football leaders are reluctant to do this.
As a result, over recent months there have been campaigns, such as ‘LetFansIn’ and ‘Sustain The Game’, to try to push for reforms but without anything changing. The DCMS committee is now becoming exasperated at the Premier League and FA’s intransigence, so much so that on Wednesday there was yet another meeting of MPs to press, as a matter of urgency, for the launching of the government’s fan led and independent review of the governance of football in the country which now looks like taking place.
Last week the government announced further funding of £28m for non-league and women’s football, of which £11m is to be shared between the three National League divisions. There does, though, appear to be a difference between this new money - a loan - and the previous £10m which was a grant.
This time maybe the NL board will have a different allocation policy from the current model which has caused much controversy as there are still questions to be answered: what was the criteria for the payments and who will actually sit on the ‘independent’ committee the NL has set up?
But with fans about to be able to return to grounds perhaps this new money will be allocated in different ways.
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What was not to like about United’s fourth consecutive win on the road at Halifax on Saturday? The 2-1 victory underlined, yet again, the man management skills of Gary Johnson and how this group of players have bought into it. What is impressive is when one player drops out, for whatever reason, be it injury or suspension, there’s a quality replacement available.
The Gulls came home with three points despite Danny Wright’s penalty miss - if you’re going to miss a penalty then blazing it over the bar is the spectacular way to do it!
The match streaming figures are impressive for, at its height, there were 1300 watching. Director Mel Hayman has revealed that United’s streaming has been watched in Japan, Australia, Iraq, USA and Brazil - pretty good coverage!
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In recent weeks this column has reported on many managers wanting a re-introduction of the five substitutes rule and last weekend the EFL agreed but no signs the National League will follow.
It’s that time of the year for buying Christmas presents and who doesn’t like a jigsaw puzzle? So what about a Torquay United one? Currently advertising in the weekend magazines is a national company selling 123 clubs ranging from Premier League (England & Scotland) down to League 2 and surprisingly a number of non-league teams including Barnet, Chesterfield, Hereford, Macclesfield, Maidstone and FC United of Manchester but no Torquay United; maybe an opening for the club shop.
Last week’s vote was for your Goal of the Season so far. Thanks for your contributions with the most popular being Adam Randell’s strike at Bromley which came at a crucial time in the game turning the Gulls’ fortunes around paving the way for that late winner.
This week it’s back to the popular ‘Three Word Fun’, send the three words which sum up the Gulls being top of the table to: fanszone.tu@gmail.com.
To all the Yellow Army stay safe.
SUPPORT TUST
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Post by rjdgull on Nov 30, 2020 7:00:07 GMT
29th November 2020
NOVEMBER NEWSLETTER
Chairman's comments
Dear members, and fellow TUFC supporters,
Firstly, hoping this finds you all safe and well, 2020 has been a challenging year for all of us in different ways. Not least, the directors and staff at TUFC who have also had to deal with the numerous implications of the Covid restrictions, in order to keep our club functioning at the level it has achieved. I cannot go without mentioning the start that Gary Johnson and his team have made, and the apparent strength of the squad that our ownership has enabled to be built, has been so uplifting for I am sure all of us.
As we held our AGM last week, a complete summary of the minutes will be available to members shortly, I would like to thank those members who attended. There were pleasingly a number of exiles represented. I also wish to offer my gratitude to all of the TUST board for their support and continuing excellent voluntary work as a team, strictly following your remit, during the year. They are all completely committed TUFC supporters. We, as yourselves I am sure, just want our club to do well and have a long term future providing an important service within the fabric of our community.
If you read the following newsletter, we make them as brief as we can, you will obtain further information on our recent actions. We have had lengthy and useful meetings with TUFC, through Dominic Mee on behalf of the directors; maintained a positive and mutually supportive liaison with the Torquay United Community Sports Trust; likewise with the acting chair of the evolving Torquay United Supporters Club as well as with the Torquay United Women's team and kept in touch with the national situation, where it might relate to the well being of our TUFC.
This has included, most importantly, supporting the FSA in their 'Sustain the Game' and 'Let fans in' (when safe) campaigns; the lobbying of government and our local MPs to include non-league and grass roots clubs in any Covid survival package; communicating the need for the government proposal to initiate an 'Independent Fan-Led Review of the future governance of football' as soon as possible. Indeed, as well as receiving positive responses from our MPs, we also received a lengthy one from the parliamentary secretary for Digital, Media, Culture and Sports. The Parliamentary debate for this governance review to be launched as soon as possible received unanimous support from all parties!
Looking forward to seeing fans in football grounds again, and wishing TUFC well in the difficult task of making this happen.
Stay safe and well,
Michel Thomas
THE TUST IAN TWITCHIN TROPHY AWARDED TO KYLE CAMERON
This shield was provided by TUST in memory of our long serving, local legend and is fittingly awarded to the player who makes the most appearances during a season. Unfortunately, as you all know, last season was cut short but we were delighted to present the second award to Kyle Cameron whose name will be added to the previous winner’s, Liam Davis. We hope to arrange a further presentation to Kyle when supporters are able to return to Plainmoor next year.
AGM report - 25th November 2020
This year’s AGM was held virtually via Zoom due to the Covid restrictions. We were uncertain how many members would choose to attend in this way but were pleased with the turnout which included a number of exiles who would not normally be able to attend a local meeting. We hope that in future years we will be able to offer the opportunity for our distant members to attend virtually.
The Chairman opened the meeting with a detailed summary of the trust’s activities during the past twelve months including its community outreach, political engagement, business partnerships, press coverage, meetings with the Club and involvement with supporter organisations both locally and nationally. He also referred to the current calls for a fan-led review of the governance and financing of football at all levels.
The Treasurer presented the profit and loss accounts showing a turnover of £10,401 and an operating surplus of £5,442. In accordance with TUST policy, up to 50% of this would be committed to community initiatives. The balance sheet showed total funds of £48,766.
Only four nominations had been received for the seven vacancies on the board, all being existing board members and they were therefore duly elected for a term of two years without the need for a ballot. It was noted that the board was keen to attract new members, particularly from under-represented groups such as exiles, females and younger supporters. We are also seeking someone with marketing experience to join our dedicated team.
Report of the board
Nick Brodrick, board member with responsibility for Supporter Liaison, provided a detailed summary of his activities during the year which included his weekly column for the Herald Express and surveys of all National League clubs in respect of season ticket refund policies and streaming services.
Nick referred to TUST’s continued liaison with local MPs and councillors, national football organisations and the formation of the Devon Supporters Trust Group which was hoping to expand to cover the South West region.
He updated members on the improved relationship with the Club, indicated by the willingness of its directors to engage with TUST via regular meetings with Dominic Mee, the Club’s Media and Supporter Liaison Co-ordinator. He had recently requested an interview with Clarke Osborne to mark his fourth anniversary of ownership and was awaiting an answer.
Rob Burkitt gave a summary of TUST’s activities on social media and its website.
Robin Causley reported on TUST’s community outreach programme. A strong partnership had been developed with the Torquay United Community Sports Trust (TUCST) and we look forward to building on this with new manager Matt Anthony. Robin also reported on the informal dialogue held with the fledgling Supporters Club and that there was a desire from both parties to work constructively together to compliment rather than duplicate their respective roles.
Rob Dickinson reported on the Torquay United Womens Football Club which is run independently from the main Club. TUST had formed a strong partnership to support the team as part of its community outreach remit.
There were a number of questions and suggestions from the floor including discussion about plans for a new stadium, the owner’s investment in the team (which was widely welcomed) and uncertainty over his long-term strategy. More openness around such plans was required if they are to be creditable. It had, for example, been many years since the last Fans’ Forum.
However, it was agreed that regaining league status was the absolute priority.
It was suggested that occasional, informal Zoom meetings for members may be welcomed by exiles in particular. It was agreed to pilot this in the New Year.
The Secretary noted that despite the year’s economic hardship and the fact that some fans may lose interest in a trust when the team is successful, TUST membership had actually increased.
The Chairman closed the meeting by thanking the board for all their hard work during the year and the attendees for their support and valued contributions. He concluded that we all want Torquay United to be a successful community focused club and one with a secure future and that lies at the heart of TUST’s remit
MEETING WITH CLUB REPRESENTATIVE
Members of the TUST board held their latest meeting with Dominic Mee, the Club’s Media & Supporter Liaison Co-ordinator, earlier this month. It was another useful discussion about matters of mutual interest and an opportunity to provide suggestions for improvements and raise supporters’ questions. Inevitably, some of the issues we want to get involved in are on hold during the current pandemic restrictions.
SUPPORT TUST - SUPPORT YOUR COMMUNITY
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Post by rjdgull on Dec 4, 2020 6:29:27 GMT
3rd December 2020
FANS' ZONE
TUST board member and Supporter Liaison Officer Nick Brodrick's column in this week's Herald Express - updated for the latest news.
THE BUZZ IS BACK AS FANS ALLOWED INTO PLAINMOOR ATER 9 MONTHS
Out of lockdown 2 and into Tier 2 with the long awaited return of fans to Plainmoor on Saturday for the visit of Wrexham aka FC Hollywood, as the club announced the release of socially distanced passes for season ticket holders accompanied with a supporters’ code of conduct.
Whilst there will be many eagerly looking forward to the buzz of live football there will be others who will prefer to carry on live streaming until probably they’ve had the vaccine. This must have been a logistical nightmare for club officials and many hours must have been spent in getting all the Covid protocols in place.
There must, too, be a strong financial element as there are significant costs staging football matches and the majority of fans allowed into Plainmoor will be season ticket holders who have already paid so there won’t be much, if any, extra revenue from non-season ticket holders admitted to cover the bills and with no hospitality allowed there’s no bar takings.
Meanwhile Dover, Hartlepool and Notts County are amongst nine National League clubs whose grounds fall into Tier 3 areas with no fans allowed. It will be interesting to see if the teams with (limited) home support have any advantage and bearing on results.
But with United coming from behind at Wealdstone on Tuesday with a brace from Billy Waters, manager Gary Johnson, who has said that when fans are allowed back, he wanted his Gulls to be top of the table, has got his wish.
Every week the boss shows his experience with his astute man management and on Tuesday he demonstrated this with his inspired half-time team changes.
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Last week TUST held its first ever virtual AGM at which there was a healthy turn-out with exiles from Bedford, Essex and Reading amongst others.
Despite the last attended home game being on February 29, with 2,126 inside Plainmoor, TUST has been busy during the pandemic carrying out surveys of all National League clubs in respect of season ticket refund policies and streaming services.
TUST has had continued liaison with local MPs and councillors, national football organisations and has joined with the trusts of Exeter City and Plymouth Argyle to form the Devon Supporters Trust Group which is expecting, in the New Year, to expand into a South West group. The FSA (Football Supporters Association) inform us that we are the only successful area in the country to set up such a group.
TUST has supported, with funds, the Torbay Food Alliance in April and two donations to the Torquay United Women’s Football Club which is run independently from the main club, the first of which enabled them to stay afloat when lockdown 1 hit.
There has been a welcome increase in TUST membership over the last few months.
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A year ago TUST, in partnership with Laura Twitchin and her family, set up the Ian Twitchin Trophy to honour the memory of her father, a Torquay United legend who had passed away. Twitchin, a loyal one club professional, pulled on a Torquay United shirt 435 times in a career spanning eleven years between 1969 and 1980. The new trophy is awarded annually to the player making the most appearances in a season. Last year it went to Liam Davis while this year’s recipient, presented with the trophy on the pitch at Plainmoor last week was Kyle Cameron.
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National League news: Last week it was announced that Yeovil Town was in talks to sell its Huish Park stadium and surrounding land to South Somerset District Council. A loss of crowds at the club’s matches since March, the loss of sponsorship revenue following the withdrawal of the main shirt sponsors and the cost of bringing players out of furlough to compete in last season’s play-offs have all contributed to the financial difficulties at the club.
This shows the fine margins between solvency and impending disaster and underlines the lifeline extended to the Gulls from owner Clarke Osborne as highlighted in last week’s column.
Talk last week of the ‘Torquay Way’ to a new stadium has renewed speculation as to where this might be and, as this column mentioned in early July, a possible site is Edginswell especially as a railway station is part of the new development for housing, school, commercial, recreational, leisure and tourism facilities plans for this area to be built by 2024.
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A major brewing story of concern for all footballers and football fans is the link between heading and dementia. It has been established that heading the ball damages the brain, though it is not exactly clear how and over what period.
There are those who say heading should be banned as the sport is called ‘foot’ball to those who say that brain injuries suffered by former footballers should take into consideration the difference between balls then and now. The old leather one when wet was like heading a cannonball.
Clearly more evidence is required but the issue must be a serious concern for footballers young and old.
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Last week’s Three Word Fun brought the heartfelt ‘ Meeting Everyone Again’ ,’ Fans back, Yippee’ and Pete (Norfolk Gulls) ‘Please Keep Streaming’.
This week, if allowed, are you going to Plainmoor on Saturday? Yes or No to: fanszone.tu@gmail.com.
As always to the Yellow Army stay safe.
SUPPORT TUST - SUPPORT YOUR COMMUNITY
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Post by rjdgull on Dec 10, 2020 20:21:10 GMT
10th December 2020
FANS' ZONE
TUST board member and Supporter Liaison Officer Nick Brodrick's column in this week's Herald Express - updated for the latest news.
COSMIC UNITED GO FIVE POINTS CLEAR AS FANS PRAISE CLUB’S ORGANISATION FOR RETURN TO PLAINMOOR
There might have been less than the 1250 fans allowed into Plainmoor on Saturday but those amongst the 975 Yellow Army who did would have been forgiven for unashamedly singing on their journey to the ground the 1969 top ten hit, ‘Bringing On Back The Good Times’ as they re-kindled their Love Affair with all things Torquay, although humming Peters & Lee’s ‘Welcome Home’ was a step too far!
Surely the 3-1 victory over visitors Wrexham to retain top spot and remain unbeaten since early October was the icing on the cake, for the real winner was the club’s organisation, led by the Covid -19 Officer, George Edwards, to ensure the fans’ return went without a hitch.
On the forums these are just a selection of comments from the Yellow Army: ‘It was far more enjoyable than I was expecting…’, ‘the club handled the game very well, the regulations put in were not over the top..’, ‘well organised and efficient..’, ‘it was great to be back watching football ‘live’ again, really enjoyed the experience and thought the club did well to organise the crowd..’, ‘stewards did a great job showing fans to their spots and assisting..' And probably the one comment that sums up the afternoon: ‘it felt a really safe environment.’
Of course those season ticket holders who chose not to attend will have done so for very personal reasons preferring to watch the live streaming. It would help the club if ST holders could let them know that their seat will be vacant.
For those who do attend don’t bring a flask as it will be confiscated but returned after the match.
Last week’s question asked, if allowed, how many would go to the match and the replies indicated by 2 to 1 that season ticket holders would stay away - ‘until there’s a vaccine’ was a typical reason.
The Yellow Army should be praised for following the code of conduct to the letter on Saturday which has meant capacity was raised to 1500 for Tuesday’s visit of Maidenhead but there were only 5 extra fans taking Tuesday’s attendance to 980.
The first half performance was relentless with possession in Maidenhead’s half easily as high as 85 per cent but just the one, terrific lob, Ben Whitfield goal. The manager’s cosmic assessment summed up that pulsating half.
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National League news: Not all NL clubs were allowed fans on Saturday with Notts County and Hartlepool, both at home, playing behind closed doors as their grounds are in Tier 3, for those sides that did have crowds these were the attendance figures: Bromley had 1031, Eastleigh 995, Sutton 934, Aldershot 920, Weymouth 800.
Dover, meanwhile, had a case of coronavirus which resulted not only in their fixture at the weekend being called off but also their next three. At present they’ve only played nine games so their re-arranged games are going to pile up with their next scheduled match not until December 22.
Congratulations to Ben Whitfield for making the NL Team of the Day after the Wrexham win. November’s NL Manager of the Month was Wrexham’s Dean Keates with Player of the Month going to Luke Young.
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Last week in Westminster Hall MPs, including members from the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Football Supporters, met to debate football governance, attended by sports minister Nigel Huddleston, calling for the Government to fire up its ‘fans led review’ of football. Whilst the sports minister promised the Government would not kick the review into the long grass he was unable to either announce a firm timetable or any terms of reference.
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Ten games into the season is usually when managers like to assess their team’s start to a new campaign so it’s not surprising with a return of 25 points from a possible 30 that boss Gary Johnson gives his squad an A+ and, at this stage, should award himself an A** for his leadership.
Importantly he’s instilled into his players a phenomenal work rate as well as a reputation in the league for scoring late goals. And now after 12 games it’s 31 points from 36 - what a start!
Johnson must be pleased for his son Lee who has been appointed manager at Sunderland with the big task to take them back up the leagues; let’s hope he doesn’t come knocking for players as Kyle Cameron and Ben Whitfield, amongst others, put in regular eye-catching performances.
This column praises him regularly for his man management skills, another example of which is Friday’s Wheel of Fortune when players have the opportunity to spin the wheel if they’ve been fined during the week with choices, depending on where the arrow lands, of nominating another player to pay it, or getting let off or worse having it doubled although the manager’s decision is final!
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Thanks to those who contributed to last week’s question. This week send in your Christmas wish for the team to: fanszone.tu@gmail.com.
As always to the Yellow Army stay safe - and follow the Code of Conduct
SUPPORT TUST - SUPPORT YOUR COMMUNITY
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Post by nickbrod on Dec 19, 2020 19:02:22 GMT
This week's column?
I really enjoy reading it!!
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Post by rjdgull on Dec 19, 2020 19:04:09 GMT
17th December 2020
FANS' ZONE
TUST board member and Supporter Liaison Officer Nick Brodrick's column in this week's Herald Express - updated for the latest news.
A FISH SUPPER AND A POINT IN NORFOLK FOLLOWED BY AN UPSET FROM THE DAGGERS ON TUESDAY NIGHT
A battling performance, although Gary Johnson called it a poor one - ‘I didn’t recognise our game at all’ - and an away point, on a heavy pitch, against a King’s Lynn team determined to show they belong in non-league’s top division enabled United to continue their run with their eleventh consecutive unbeaten league game . So not a happy manager, let’s hope his fish and chips cheered him up on the way home!
The Gulls’ defence had to work hard on a bleak Norfolk afternoon with Shaun MacDonald putting in a shift with several outstanding stops - no surprise he made the Team of the Day - but if there was ever an example of the team’s work rate it was in the 72nd minute when King’s Lynn broke from their own half and so did Ben Whitfield who ran almost the length of the pitch to divert a certain goal over his own crossbar from the goal line.
The match had 0-0 written all over it, for after all it was the team with the worst defensive record, 30 conceded with a goal difference of minus 13 - King’s Lynn - against a United side boasting a goal difference of plus 17 and top scorers in the league with 27.
The game’s controversy surrounded Asa Hall’s red card. Was it justified? Well the only person who can decide such matters, the ref, said it was a sending off and United’s appeal against it on Monday was dismissed. Whilst the team will miss his leadership, a three match rest is probably not a bad thing as the club has a decent squad with a number waiting for a start.
Despite the home side’s entrance and streaming prices, which had come in for some criticism, they had a healthy 625 inside The Walks with more than another 600 using their streaming service which had the Linnets chairman doing the co-commentary - a first? Wonder whether the scouts from Peterborough, Cambridge and Leyton Orient spotted any talent?
With the loans of Sam Sherring and Adam Randell coming up for review in the New Year keeping the current squad together to see the season out must be a priority.
*************
Then we get to Tuesday night. A further increase in attendance - 1165 with plenty bringing their previously banned Thermos flasks - who witnessed one of the most one-sided second halves without a goal being scored. On another occasion there would have been a Christmas sackful to send the Yellow Army home with a Christmas song on their lips - All I Want For Christmas Is….
As the manager said afterwards, top of the league and you should be putting at least five away in such situations.
With the possibility of Sherring, Moxey and even Wynter being available for Boxing Day their return would set up the chance to avenge Yeovil Town for what happened a year ago and importantly show that the wheels haven’t fallen off the Gulls.
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National League news: The rumbling saga of the criticism for the criteria for allocating the Government/National Lottery £10m funds back in October, which resulted in an independent panel being set up, may well be coming to an end this week.
National League clubs had a meeting with the panel last week with a final one held on Monday so the representatives of the clubs who are seeking answers, Hereford, Dulwich and Maidstone, expect to hear the outcome soon. The first two instalments of the funds have already been distributed, with the third due before the end of the month.
Tim Flowers is the latest in the hot seat at Barnet following his short spell at Macclesfield.
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United’s FA Trophy opponents in Round 3 on Saturday were either Aveley ( 9th in Isthmian North) or Chesham Utd ( 7th in Southern Premier South) with both in the unenviable situation of not being able to play league matches as their respective leagues - part of the Three Trident leagues - agreed at a recent meeting to pause fixtures until, at the earliest, January 2021. Even then that’s not certain as the Government’s recent £14m allocation for Steps 3-6 is heavily weighted in favour of loans, not grants. This is now the subject of a review with any decision not expected until the New Year.
This delay is going to complicate matters further for do these leagues play until June or have mini- leagues? Whatever is decided these clubs have to be mindful of players’ contracts being a financial drain when there is no gate or hospitality income.
Following Tuesday night’s 3-1 win at Aveley, we now know that United’s opponents on Saturday are Chesham who have gone into a Tier 3 area. So no spectators allowed but the club is hoping to be able to provide a streaming service; we await confirmation.
Chances are the team for Saturday will include players who haven’t had much game time recently, like Covolan, Buse, Waters, Umerah, Warren and Kerr.
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Last week in the Family Stand there was a lengthy discussion about having some more upbeat music for the team to run out to. Whilst A Banda by Herb Alpert and Children were fondly remembered with Children by Robert Miles still used, what would be your suggestion?
Send your choice to: fanszone.tu@gmail.com.
To the Yellow Army stay safe - and follow the Code of Conduct.
SUPPORT TUST - SUPPORT YOUR COMMUNITY
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Post by rjdgull on Dec 21, 2020 22:03:28 GMT
21st December 2020
DECEMBER NEWSLETTER
Chairman's comments
Dear members, and fellow TUFC supporters,
This year has been a difficult and challenging year for everyone in many different personal ways. The football community has also suffered, being deprived of the regular opportunity to meet up with others to share watching and playing the game we all love and enjoy.
Furthermore, our football clubs and those that rely on their living within them have struggled with many financial uncertainties, particularly those at the lower levels of the pyramid and at non-league level.
We were one of many Trusts and supporters groups who backed the FSA in asking our MPs and the government to step in with aid for those lower level clubs at most at risk. It has been a relief to see that our club and the team have come through this crisis so well and have been able to uplift us with their outstanding start to this delayed season. I should also mention that the directors and staff , with the personal experience and feedback I have had, have excelled in organising and endeavouring to provide our supporters with the best possible 'Covid safe' Plainmoor for us to return to.
I would like to wish you all, everyone attached to our club and the wider football community, a very safe and joyful Christmas. Let 2021 be a better, safer year for our world, whilst the Gulls manager and team bring us an ongoing and successful push to promotion.
Michel Thomas
Chair on behalf of TUST
Summary of December board meeting
Torquay United Official Supporters Club
We welcomed Andrew Candy, interim Chair of the Torquay United Official Supporters Club, for an informal discussion about the formation of the new group and how the roles of the two organisations may complement each other. It was a positive exchange of views and we look forward to working in partnership for the good of the club and its supporters.
Informal Zoom meetings
A proposal made at the AGM to hold future informal Zoom meetings for members was discussed and it was agreed to set the first one up in February or March and perhaps hold these quarterly if successful.
Returning supporters
The management of the safe return of fans to Plainmoor has been widely praised. It was proposed that TUST should recognise this by offering to nominate the Club as a Torbay Council Community Champion.
Torquay United Community Sports Trust (TUCST)
The chairman had met informally with the new TUCST manager, Matt Anthony, who is keen to build on the partnership with TUST established by his predecessor. We are also in discussion with TUCST to identify appropriate ways to spend the balance of cash held by them from the Premier League Fans Fund allocation.
Clarke Osborne
As previously reported, TUST Supporter Liaison Officer and Herald Express columnist, Nick Brodrick, had requested an interview with Clarke Osborne to reflect on the 4th anniversary of his ownership. He has now been advised that Mr Osborne will not be giving any interviews.
And finally…..
We wish our table-topping team every success over the Festive Season and hope that they can bring some much-needed cheer to this strangest of Christmases by collecting a maximum nine points!
SUPPORT TUST - SUPPORT YOUR COMMUNITY
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Post by rjdgull on Dec 24, 2020 20:56:02 GMT
24th December 2020
CHRISTMAS FANS' ZONE
TUST board member and Supporter Liaison Officer Nick Brodrick's column in this week's Herald Express - updated for the latest news.
RETURNING PLAYERS HELP UNITED TO FA TROPHY VICTORY AS BOXING DAY DERBY LOOMS
It wasn’t pretty, in fact it was hard work, but United squeaked past a determined Chesham United side with a 1-0 victory to ‘win’ £4,500 prize money in Saturday’s FA Trophy 3rd Round thanks to a smart free kick move orchestrated by Armani Little and finished by Josh Umerah.
The positives to come out of the match were game time for Little, Moxey, Buse returning from injuries as well as 90 minutes for Waters, Warren and Umerah.
Importantly, it brings home that winning feeling before Yeovil Town’s visit to Plainmoor on Boxing Day. And let’s be honest, those of us who were soaked to the skin watching a 6-2 hammering last year deserve something much better.
In United’s last two league fixtures they’ve been put under the cosh by tricky, pacy wingers whilst without specialist full-backs, no more so than Jamar Loza at King’s Lynn. Well, the Gulls can look forward to seeing him again as on Friday he moved, for an undisclosed fee, to Woking, for whom he has previously played, scoring 9 in 43 appearances for the Cards.
Now following Yeovil’s withdrawal from their FA Trophy match due to two suspected Covid cases United know they will travel on January 16 to Boreham Wood in Round 4. As it has turned out the two Yeovil players tested negative so the Boxing Day derby goes ahead.
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More changes in football’s rules are on the horizon. Having tried and failed for a third time for five substitutes in the Premier League, recently agreed in the Championship and Leagues 1 & 2, there was agreement for the number of subs available to be increased from seven on the bench to nine The availability of extra numbers is thought to be in preparation for the trial of permanent concussion substitutes, likely to start in January.
This column drew attention recently to the growing concern for the link between heading and dementia so it is heartening that there is some positive action about to take place. The trial is a result of the International Football Association Board’s consultations and recommendations from its concussion expert group to allow additional substitutions for players with actual or suspected concussion. This should be endorsed by all leagues.
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We are all aware there are numerous contradictory Covid-19 rules that are difficult to explain but no more so than in football.
Puzzle these out: Newcastle, just over 10 days ago, had 12 squad players self-isolating resulting in their training ground being closed down yet they still played their Premier League fixture against WBA and won 2-1.
Neighbours Sunderland last week were without eight first-teamers following a Covid-19 outbreak but played out a 1-1 draw with Wimbledon.
Dover, however had one member of staff testing positive and, as a result, had their next four matches called off.
Bromley and Barnet are the latest National League clubs to postpone their Christmas fixtures.
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Out of this Covid-19 adversity has come the welcome availability of live streaming, albeit some with quirky commentaries given by local unknowns, but a real boon to those not sure about returning to live football and, of course, for all those exiles around the UK and the World. And the club has confirmed streaming from Plainmoor will continue “ for the foreseeable future.”
But for those old enough, cast your minds back almost 40 years ago - and how then did football fans get their Torquay United news, especially if you lived away from the Bay and the Herald Express Well, the answer was Club Call. Remember that? It all began in 1986.
Now you can get your football news at the click of a mouse or a swipe of a phone but back then?
Football fans, unless you were fortunate enough to follow a club with large newspaper coverage, were lured into using premium rate hotlines relaying pre-recorded news, gossip and statistics. It must have been a great money spinner as the calls cost a maximum 50p a minute - typically 25p to 38p - and in a ten minute call the most important piece of information came right at the end . Club Call’s heydays were in the 1990s and at one point they had 12 million calls in a season with top clubs getting as many as 2,500 a day and even lower league teams had 500 daily.
To call your team you had to dial 0898 followed by your club’s unique numbers. So what were United’s, can anyone remember?
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Last week’s request for alternative run-out music brought some interesting responses, with strong feelings, ranging from traditionalists wanting to keep Robert Miles’ ‘Children’ and Herb Albert’s ‘A Banda’ to having songs from Metallica and Yazz.
So let’s keep this theme open for another week, giving you something to do over the Christmas period. Send your suggestion to: fanszone.tu@gmail.com.
To the club’s directors, management, staff, players and all the Yellow Army a very Happy and Safe Christmas from TUST.
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Post by rjdgull on Dec 31, 2020 23:30:38 GMT
31st December 2020
NEW YEAR'S EVE FANS' ZONE
TUST board member and Supporter Liaison Officer Nick Brodrick's column in this week's Herald Express - updated for the latest news.
UNITED’S FESTIVE FUN FEAST WITH YEOVIL GIVEN SIX OF THE BEST AS THE GULLS SOAR ELEVEN POINTS CLEAR INTO 2021
Ten goals, eight different scorers, six points from six and eleven points clear at the top of the table - that’s what you call a festive fun feast. So what will the New Year bring?
Yeovil were blitzed for six in a Boxing Day massacre while two days later lowly Weymouth put up a real fight but were no match for United’s magical football which created four wonder goals through fantastic team work. The only downside being the hamstring injuries to Wright and Little who perhaps should take some comfort from his own advice to young players, ‘ never give up and you have to be mentally strong.’
With the January transfer window about to open let’s hope the club can resist any approaches to a talented squad for what are a growing number of impressive displays.
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It’s that time of year for The Ultimate Sporting Trophies, also known as TUSTS.
The Fist Pump Quote of the Year Award: “They have to be the right fish in the fish tank.” Gary Johnson on deciding about potential signings.
Runner-Up: “Defend like your mother’s in goal.” Gary Johnson on advising players how to protect the keeper.
The Chesham Foggy Lens Award: To the lone Yellow Army fan watching the FA Trophy match over the fence behind the goal.
Chairman of the Year Award: King’s Lynn’s Stephen Cleeve for co-commentating on their streaming service and telling us United’s CEO, George Edwards, had driven five hours to the game.
Club Streaming Award: Joint Winners: Bromley’s MatchDay Live and United’s much improved MatchDay Show with its hour long pre-match entertainment.
Commentator of the Year: BT Sport’s Paul Dempsey for collecting his Tesco delivery whilst commentating on a Bundesliga match from home.
The Thermos Flask Interviewer of the Year: Dom Mee
The GPS Award for Covering the Most Miles in a match: Ben Whitfield
Runner-Up: Connor Lemonheigh-Evans
The Covid-19 Officer of the Year: George Edwards
The Elton John Rocket Man goal award: Adam Randell’s strike at Bromley.
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Quiz of the Year January to June
1. In January which team knocked United out of the Sportslighting St Luke’s Cup 3-0?
2. Which Dutch team did Aaron Nemane play for on loan?
3. Which Bradford City defender joined United on loan in January?
4. Which ex-United player was, in February, inducted into the National Football Museum’s Hall of Fame?
5. Who was the United player named National League Player of the Month for February?
6. Ade Azeez joined the Gulls for his second loan spell in February, seven years after his first stint. What is so special about his two debuts?
7. Which then Football League club did Kyle Cameron play for on loan with 18 appearances?
8. Where was Aaron Nemane born?
9. What was Lucas Covolan’s first English club?
10. Which Premier League team does Olaf Koszela support?
Answers next week and Part Two - July to December.
In the meantime you can send your answers to: fanszone.tu@gmail.com. Or Twitter: @fanszone.tu
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Tales from the Family Stand: It’s Sunday December 29 2013 and it’s a League 2 Christmas derby with our rivals from up the road in Exeter. Sitting right behind me in the Directors’ Box are two of the country’s funniest TV comedians - married couple Ade Edmondson and Jennifer Saunders. Making what was meant to be a funny quip cut no ice with them as they sat there without any reaction.
To make matters worse, they had the last laugh as after Karl Hawley had his penalty saved the visitors went on to a comfortable 3-1 win with Jamie Reid on the Exeter subs’ bench while Aaron Downes was in United’s defence.
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More interesting suggestions for run out music to be revealed soon but in the meantime you can send in your quiz answers to either fanszone.tu@gmail.com. or twitter: @fanszone.tu
Good to see TUST was used by BBC Radio Devon as the ‘next best thing’ as the club was unable to provide someone to be interviewed before Monday’s game.
A Happy, Safe and Successful New Year to the Yellow Army and all at Plainmoor, may it be the Year of the Return to some kind of normality and the Football League.
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Post by rjdgull on Jan 7, 2021 22:07:34 GMT
7th January 2021
FANS' ZONE
TUST board member and Supporter Liaison Officer Nick Brodrick's column in this week's Herald Express - updated for the latest news.
CONNOR - ‘HOTTEST TALENT OUTSIDE FOOTBALL LEAGUE'
Not the result we hoped for nor the start to 2021 we wanted but as the manager rightly said after that Yeovil defeat, “We won’t let it ruin our season.” It was a jaded, below par performance from most of the squad with the exception of Aaron Nemane for the Yellow Army to watch, not helped by the streaming camera playing its own ‘Spot the Ball’ competition.
Now into Lockdown 3 and without a league game until next Tuesday, the break may well have come at a good moment to allow, hopefully, more recovery time for Wright, Little and Wynter as well as a rest for those who have been ever present all season.
And don’t bet against the Johnson brothers using this break to reassess the squad to look to see if there are any signings to strengthen the promotion push, for those running the club are determined to be in the Football League next season.
Strong rumours around that Crystal Palace striker, 19 year old Rob Street, is Torquay bound and Adam Randell’s loan is to be extended to the end of the season. We await official confirmation.
Keeping the current squad together is going to be vital so not helped with the weekend’s Non-League Paper claiming Connor Lemonheigh-Evans is seen by many ‘as the hottest talent outside of the Football League.’
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Quiz of the Year Part 2 July - December
11. Which team did Armani Little support as a kid?
12. In July what did the club shop start selling for the first time ever?
13. Gary Johnson’s last match in charge of Latvia was a 1-1 draw against which country?
14. In July Ben Whitfield was named the Player of the Season for 2019-20 but who was runner-up?
15. In August Fraser Kerr signed from which other National League club?
16. Josh Umerah joined the Gulls from which club?
17. In September which loan player returned to Bristol City?
18. In October JJ Evans went on loan to which club?
19. After that FA Cup 5-6 defeat who did Crawley draw in Round 2?
20. Which same player scored United’s first goal of 2020 in January, a 2-1 FA Trophy defeat to FC Halifax and United’s last goal in December 2020 in a 4-3 League win at Weymouth?
Answers next week but you can send yours to: fanszone.tu@gmail.com or Twitter:@fanszone.tu
Answers to last week’s Part 1 January to June:
1. United were knocked out of the St. Luke’s Cup by Tavistock. 2. Nemane played for Godhead Eagles. 3. Bradford City loan was Jackson Longridge. 4. Hall of Fame was Justin Fashanu. 5. Player of the Month Asa Hall. 6. Azeez scored on both debuts. 7. Cameron played for York City. 8. Nemane was born in Amiens, France. 9. Covolan’s first club was Whitehawk. 10. Koszela supports Chelsea.
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National League news: BT Sport has renewed its exclusive rights to broadcast the Vanarama National League for a further three years until the end of season 2023-24. This new deal includes matches to be shown live in a regular Saturday slot.
Meanwhile the funding row has escalated. This column has been following the developments since the Government/Lottery grant of £10m was first distributed in October last year. The method of payments was challenged by numerous National League clubs forcing the NL board to set up an independent review committee.
Subsequently the chairman of this group, David Bernstein, former FA chairman, issued an open letter revealing that the NL board were not only refusing to release their report but were also asking for more clarification.
With the threat of legal action looming and a new set of funding, albeit loans rather than grants, of £11m for Steps 1 & 2 about to be distributed, the National League needs to urgently clarify what’s going on.
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United manager Gary Johnson told us back in the summer how important it might be for the Gulls to accumulate as many points as quickly as possible should the season be brought to a premature end, like last season.
If the National League has a formula for such an event they’ve kept it under wraps but surely they need to declare what will happen especially as the country is now under Lockdown 3 for what could be at least the next two months.
There’s been talk that the Premier League is to give their clubs two options should the season be curtailed with their choices being either 66 per cent or 75 per cent of fixtures having to be played to validate the season - that’s either 25 or 29 matches.
After Saturday United completed their 17th match so if the NL followed the above scenario they would be required to have played either 30 or 33 fixtures.
The biggest headache for administrators must be the growing number of Covid postponements - 53 so far - and the catching up that will be required. Maidenhead manager Alan Devonshire is already thinking there will games involving Saturday, Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday. With the NL league fixtures due to finish by the end of May, extending the season seems the only answer.
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Sad loss of one of United’s unsung heroes, Clint Boulton, who died last Friday. He was a no-nonsense, versatile member of the Gulls from 1971 to 1979, Player of the Season in 1977, making 286 appearances, scoring 36 goals.
To all the Yellow Army stay safe.
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Post by rjdgull on Jan 14, 2021 19:33:34 GMT
14th January 2021
FANS' ZONE
TUST board member and Supporter Liaison Officer Nick Brodrick's column in this week's Herald Express - updated for the latest news.
FRIGHTENING NUMBER OF MATCHES POSTPONED BECAUSE OF COVID-19
Tuesday night’s fixture against Solihull Moors, called off for the second time for this match, became one of a frightening 69 National League matches to be postponed due to coronavirus.
The National League board is concerned about how the season will be completed, as this column discussed last week, and as the interim General Manager Mark Ives explained they want to ensure that the 66 clubs that started, finish the season.
With concern over the increasing number of postponements, both the Premier League and EFL are tightening the protocols over goal celebrations with no hugging or handshakes and subs having to wear face coverings while the EFL have decided to introduce twice weekly Covid testing starting this week, fully funded by the Professional Footballers’ Association.
Before last weekend’s FA Cup matches the FA stipulated that teams had to play if they had 14 fit players still available and in the end both Aston Villa and Derby County had to field very under strength teams in order for the fixtures to take place.
The National League has recently introduced new Covid protocols whereby when there are one or more cases the whole team isolates; this explains the increasing postponements. But doesn’t explain how Dover, with six players isolating, were told to play their league game, salvaging a 1-1 draw with Boreham Wood. The result possibly doing the Gulls a favour.
The next step ought to be all teams having weekly coronavirus testing with United boss Gary Johnson thinking this is sensible. The big question will be who pays? At around £100 - £150 a test per person this will be a budget stretcher. Ives says the National League is monitoring the situation adding, “ The important thing for us is our clubs are able to continue playing in safety.”
Meanwhile in Steps 3 & 4 it’s looking likely that the Trident Leagues - Isthmian, Northern & Southern - have played their last matches of the season as the Southern League, subject to all the clubs being surveyed, have recommended that the season should ‘cease immediately and be declared null and void’. Whatever is decided, but not until February, it’s already been acknowledged the season won’t re-start, at the earliest, until after Saturday March 6. What a disaster in both football and financial terms for these clubs and their communities.
As coronavirus cases continue to rise Scottish football below Championship level has been suspended for three weeks, could this happen here?
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National League news: The Independent Review Panel’s long awaited report on the £10m grant paid out over the last three months, unfairly according to many clubs - United received a total of £285,000 - has finally been released but Mark Ives says both the National League and the review panel have their points. With the money now distributed it seems unlikely anything will change especially as attention is now focused on the next £11m for Steps 1 & 2.
There were talks last week between the FA and the National League as both are pressing for this money to be grants rather than loans, which, for obvious reasons would not be popular. Ives says, “We are conscious clubs are concerned with the issue moving forward. We are working closely to address that issue and try and work out what conditions are associated to the second tranche of funding.”
Welcome to striker Rob Street as an Eagle swoops in to join the Gulls and good news that Plymouth Argyle loanee, Adam Randell, is to stay until the end of the season. We just need word on Bournemouth’s Sam Sherring as to whether his loan is to be extended.
United’s squad has been boosted with the returns of Louie Slough and Olaf Koszela from their loans at Dorchester.
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Answers to Quiz of the Year Part 2: 11. Armani Little supported Portsmouth. 12. The club shop started selling face masks. 13. GJ’s last Latvia match was against San Marino. 14. Player of the Season runner-up Jamie Reid. 15. Fraser Kerr signed from Hartlepool. 16. Umerah signed from Ebbsfleet. 17. Bristol City loanee was Louis Britton. 18. JJ Evans went on loan to Buckland. 19. Crawley drew Wimbledon in FA Cup Round 2. 20. Connor Lemonheigh-Evans scored United’s first and last goals of 2020.
How did you do?
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Before Christmas we asked about United’s run-out music and this drew a passionate response. So should the run-out music be changed or should there be a distinctive Torquay anthem introduced?
The recent death of Gerry & The Pacemakers Gerry Marsden reminds us of his ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ which, although he was from an Everton household, became Liverpool’s anthem. There are, of course, other favourite anthems, for example West Ham’s ‘ I’m Forever Blowing Bubbles’ or Manchester City’s ‘Blue Moon’ and Everton’s ‘Z-Cars’ theme.
These, then, are readers’ suggestions for run-out music: a number want to keep ‘Children’ by Robert Miles, use ‘The Only Way is Up’ by Yazz, ‘Call to Glory’ by Greg Bowman, ‘Entrance of the Gladiators’ by Julius Fucik and the ‘Grandstand theme’ by Keith Mansfield.
Or should there be a Torquay anthem?
You can post your vote or ideas to: fanszone.tu@gmail.com or Twitter: @fanszone.tu
As always to the Yellow Army stay safe.
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Post by rjdgull on Jan 22, 2021 19:48:03 GMT
22nd January 2021
FANS' ZONE
TUST board member and Supporter Liaison Officer Nick Brodrick's column in this week's Herald Express - updated for the latest news.
COULD FUNDING ROW DERAIL NATIONAL LEAGUE SEASON?
Just when we were all getting excited about the vaccination roll-out with the hopeful return to some kind of ‘normal’ and United back to winning ways, along came a big blow to the future of National League football. The DCMS decision to fund the 66 National League clubs with loans and not grants from the new tranche of £11m has led to anger and recriminations.
With clubs given three options earlier in the week - suspending the season, accept a loan from Sports England repayable over 10 years at 2% interest with no interest or repayments for the first two years, the National League takes on the loan and then distributes grants but affecting future funding distribution - a meeting was held with the National League to gauge opinion.
This has led today (Friday) to the suspension, for two weeks, of National North & South. But the National Premier continues much to the relief of Gulls’ boss Gary Johnson who cannot see how the season can be suspended for the top league, saying, “It’s not an option.”
Clubs claim that they would not have agreed to starting the season last October had it been known that the funding after the first three months’ grants would not continue if needed.
The DCMS has issued a statement this evening saying,”It is untrue to suggest funding to the National League was ever promised as all grants and they have been unable to substantiate this claim.”
This now leads to accusations that either the National League or DCMS misled clubs because if grants weren’t promised to go through the season why do all National League clubs believe they were?
Clubs and fans are urged to write to their MP to lobby DCMS to review their decision.
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Spare a thought for those teams in the rest of non-league football. No matches, no income and still no allocation of their Government funding, through Sport England, to stay afloat.
It’s not surprising then that Steps 3 - 6 are agitating for leadership and decisions but without either there are now a variety of ideas circulating.
One such scheme is Project Non-League with around 35 clubs supporting a campaign against making the season null and void. They propose that teams are promoted using PPG (Points Per Games) from the last two seasons’ results but no relegation.
Last week this column reported that the Three Trident Leagues - Northern, Southern, Isthmian - had issued a statement calling for the season to be declared null and void. To establish what clubs think should happen the FA have now sent out a questionnaire survey, with a variety of options, not only to the Trident clubs but also to National North & South teams.
But taking into consideration the few number of matches played so far, for example in Step 3 81 per cent of fixtures are still to be played, some clubs have only played four, it’s going to be a big ask to complete a meaningful season.
To complicate matters further, the FA have just told clubs in Steps 3 - 6 that fixtures cannot resume until all clubs can admit paying spectators up to 30 per cent grading as was the case for Tier 2, effectively that means at Step 3 up to 600 fans. In addition matches cannot resume until all clubs are able to access secondary income such as bar takings.
Bearing in mind this directive it would seem to suggest the result of the survey is a foregone conclusion.
The FA have also added should it not be possible to complete the 2020-21 season at Steps 3&4 in full or via mathematical calculation, there will be no promotion or relegation between Steps 2&3. There is, though, still the question of returning National North & South to two leagues of 24 teams each as neither Bury nor Macclesfield have been replaced.
Should the season be ended how will this affect clubs’ sponsors and players’ contracts? These are crucial times for non-league football.
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Meanwhile back with actual football, there was United’s 4-0 second half romp in the FA Trophy match at Boreham Wood collecting £5250 prize money - Gary Johnson’s 100th game in charge - following the rather unusual postponement on Saturday based on a weather forecast which turned out to be incorrect. A trip to Southport in Round 5 awaits but will it be played?
Connor Lemonheigh-Evans’ fourth goal was United’s 50th in all competitions.
Back in the 1960s many will recall football matches played in the snow. As long as all the lines were cleared and visible the games went ahead - with an orange football!
Covid-Postponement Watch: Number of National League matches postponed to date: 72
It’s been a busy time for incoming loan transfers to Plainmoor: striker Rob Street from Crystal Palace, midfielder Max Sheaf from Hull City and James Hamon a goalkeeper from Truro City to cover for the injured Lucas Covolan.
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From responses to last week’s poll about run-out music there’s a strong feeling to retain ‘Children’ by Robert Miles for, as Yellow Army fan Tony Clark sums up for many,
“ Whenever it’s played it brings a ‘hairs on the back of your neck’ feeling.”
But there may be an alternative and I’m indebted to Herald Express reader and United fan, Alan, for bringing to my attention a US Top 40 hit from 1959, an instrumental track ‘Torquay’ by The Fireballs released on Ace records. Those who know their music remember Jimmy Gilmer & The Fireballs had a US Number One with ‘Sugar Shack’ in 1963. Have a listen on YouTube.
And two other readers, Chris Larkin and Pete Brown reckon it should be Coldplay’s ‘Yellow’.
So this week’s question: should ‘Torquay’ by The Fireballs or ‘Yellow’ be added to the club’s playlist or both?
Answers to: fanszone.tu@gmail.com or Twitter: @fanszonet
As always to all the Yellow Army stay safe.
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Post by rjdgull on Jan 23, 2021 17:59:40 GMT
23rd January 2021
CHAIRMAN'S STATEMENT
TUST URGES ALL UNITED FANS TO HELP SAVE THE NATIONAL LEAGUE
To all members and supporters
I would just like to update you on the current situation, in terms of the government support being offered to the National League (NL) and its members at this time. The full details are all available on yesterday's TUST Bulletin for your information. We do believe this decision to offer clubs loans within the 'covid winter survival package' instead of the grant, made available to NL clubs in order to begin the season in October, might impact greatly on our club, TUFC, and most or all others in the NL.
Representing TUST, I held an hour long phone call meeting with Kevin Foster MP to discuss this issue yesterday. I was able to represent all of the views given to me by the TUST board, as well as the main ones I have heard from members, you the supporters, other NL clubs and the Football Supporters Association (FSA). Pleasingly, Kevin confirmed that he had also just received a letter from our club presenting their views and concerns.
The FSA, many NL clubs and your TUST board, strongly believe that although there have been varied opinions on the three options offered to their clubs by the NL this week, the government should be urged to reconsider their decision and revert to the grant strategy offered to NL clubs at the beginning. A letter to this effect has been written by the FSA to the government, addressed to Oliver Dowden, the secretary of state of the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport. TUST also sent a letter to him yesterday.
Many clubs only reluctantly agreed to start the season and commit to significant expenditure, on hearing that they would be receiving these grants to make up for the shortfall in revenue. At NL level, clubs still have full time/part time players' and employed staff's contracts to honour, as well as the running costs on matchdays, not to forget covid testing. They do not have an income from gate money or second spend (bar, refreshments etc.) and gaining sponsorship becomes more challenging, whilst TV income is limited. Furthermore, it has been calculated that suspending or curtailing the season and reverting to the furlough scheme for staff will cost the government more than the figure that will be needed to continue to be given as a monthly grant to NL clubs to function and in some cases maybe to survive.
Kevin Foster confirmed that, as our MP, he will support the view that the government should reconsider its decision not to continue the NL support grant, but to replace it with a loan with interest or with reduced future NL payments to clubs, thereby incurring further debt. Furthermore he agreed with us that TUFC and our fellow NL football clubs have important pivotal roles to play within our communities, in many ways, as does all of grass roots football. As such, they should be nurtured and supported nationally to continue and prosper.
He suggests, as we do, that all Yellow Army supporters around the country who wish to express their views , address letters or e-mails to their own local MPs. This will have more effect. This also applies if you live in the Newton Abbot or Totnes and District constituency as well as Penzance, London...or Carlisle!
I believe it was good news for us yesterday that the majority of NL Premier clubs have indicated they want to continue with the season. A few more matches at least to get under our belts after today’s valuable point at Notts County.
Keep safe and well, whilst you enjoy watching this excellent TUFC squad in action.
Michel Thomas
Chairman
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Post by rjdgull on Jan 27, 2021 17:24:06 GMT
27th January 2021
NATIONAL LEAGUE FUNDING LATEST
TUST Update on the National League (NL) situation, pending decisions about the future of this season and finances
Dear members and supporters,
Please find below a copy of the letter written on behalf of TUST, by our supporter liaison officer (SLO) Nick Brodrick. This was sent last week directly to Oliver Dowden, secretary of state for the department of Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), as well as copying in our three local MPs.
This has been supported by a second similar letter from Torbay's MP Kevin Foster, after a meeting with TUST and communications from our club, TUFC. TUST's letter was also attached to our MP's letter as he advised me that would ensure that it was read at government level more promptly, which we appreciate. Thank you to all supporters who have also contacted their own MPs.
Hopefully, you will have already received more details from us through reading our recent Fanzone bulletin, and there are further articles in today's Herald Express, written by our SLO as well as reporter Richard Hughes.
We are now awaiting the outcome of this week's important meeting between the NL and the DCMS, , we believe that the NL are then again going back to the clubs in all three leagues before making a final decision as to whether to continue the season. The outcomes are obviously of great importance to our club, to many communities and possibly to the government. Of course, there is the significant funding of furloughed staff to consider if full -time club's cease to operate due to the unsustainable financial implications of continuing.
We will update you further when there are any important future developments, as I am sure TUFC will.
Keep safe and well.
Michel Thomas
TUST chairman
The Right Hon Oliver Dowden CBE MP
Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
100 Parliament Street
London SW1A 2BQ
January 22 2021
Dear Mr Dowden
I write to you as the Supporter Liaison Officer for the Torquay United Supporters’ Trust not only on behalf of Torquay United but also for all supporters of the 66 National League’s football clubs.
The reason for writing is to register our surprise and concern following the announcement this
week that further financial support for the National League for the 2020-21 season is to be in the form of loans and not grants.
Covid-19 has clearly affected all walks of life and sadly far too many have lost the battle but now there is the hope of better times ahead that vaccination can bring. In this context it seems strange that the previous form of funding cannot be continued. Not only is the survival of National League football at stake but also the mental health wellbeing that is derived from fans following the fortunes of their community club.
The loss of revenue from paying spectators not allowed to watch and from secondary income through hospitality bars and food outlets has brought many clubs to their knees with the very real threat of going out of business - players are on contracts and bills still have to be paid.
This week’s news has been the final straw for too many and today, as a result of the DCMS decision, the National Leagues North and South, that’s 43 clubs and their communities, have decided to suspend their seasons for two weeks.
The decision to offer loans, rather than grants, is very much at odds with the criteria for the £10m grant given to the National League to allow the season to start in October 2020.
It is clear that no club last year would have consented to start the season had they realised that once the National Lottery funding ended in December 2020, any further funds would have been in the form of loans.
The importance of the role and influence clubs play in their local communities cannot be underestimated and this must have been a factor in the decision making last year to financially support football’s re-start, albeit without spectators.
As clubs and communities have, in the majority, adhered to the rules and restrictions of Tiers and Lockdowns, it is of vital importance that these National League clubs be allowed to continue playing - but they cannot do so if there will be ‘X’ amount of loans to repay when there is no income. Players’ livelihoods, their families, local communities all rely on football being played.
According to an FA survey published in July 2019 Grassroots football is worth in excess of £10b per year to the UK economy, creating more than £400m in contributions to the Exchequer and more than £40m in health benefits.
Were the whole National League system grind to a halt, the cost of furloughing players and staff would be around £14m which would be £3m more than the £11m available - in grants - to allow the season to continue.
So, on behalf of Torquay United, club and supporters, and all National League clubs, the Torquay United Supporters’ Trust asks that you reconsider your decision.
Yours sincerely,
Nick Brodrick
TUST Supporter Liaison Officer
SUPPORT TUST - SUPPORT YOUR COMMUNITY
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