Post by Dave on Feb 26, 2010 19:34:53 GMT
Well it’s Friday again already and another week we have used up of our lives and another week closer to moving in to that nursing home, just where is all the time going and why does it seem to be going even faster than ever it did before.
Firstly I’m sorry I have not been on the forum as much lately, it’s not really been a choice as such but rather a necessity and not just for me but also for the good of the TFF. I wish I could put my finger on what it is that has brought me down to such a low point as everything is fine in my life and I can only think that its more to do with some things that have happened recently that has now all hit me at once.
Mind you the bloody football team is not helping much and one thing I have learned since setting out the TFF is that when I’m not as I should be, its best for me to keep off the forum to prevent me doing or saying something that would harm the very thing I love and have put so much work into.
Looking back on the last week I have been very pleased with how you have all just got on and used the forum and its been a week without any problems or major fallouts which is remarkable in itself when you think how divided we are about our current situation and also Paul Buckle.
There have been some cracking posts made this week and Timbo never lets us down with yet more great programmes and you never know what gems Leigh is going to come up with and I do know he has a real treat to share with us all next week.
I have discovered that a forum is an ever revolving door; we see posters come and go and thankfully we always maintain a good number of regular posters who really are in my view the backbone of the TFF. I’m always pleased when new members join in and contribute on the TFF, or those who have just been readers make their first post, the more who do post and share their views, the richer the TFF will be and the better it will be then for everyone on here.
It has been said to me so many times that part of the magic of the TFF is you can come on here and so often find a great post to read or something that is really special and that is something I hope never changes as that is what makes the TFF just that bit different.
I don’t think we have ever had a new member make such a wonderful entrance on the forum as we have this week and we have never had anyone win the poster of the week with such a high score recorded and when you think that the post was only made yesterday and the poster got 21 votes that beats the record set by Barton Downs that I believe was 16 votes, then it shows just how good you all thought the post was.
This week’s winner is bencurrie, a bit well done Ben and I hope you will make many more great posts on the TFF.
Ben’s winning post
The well versed football chant ‘you don’t know what you’re doing’ is running through my head. It is 22.45 on a bitterly cold Tuesday night in February and I am sitting down in the annex of Gordano Service station watching a stream of fellow Torquay United fans trundle in disconsolately eager to thaw out and escape the winter’s grasp. Barely a word is exchanged from fan to fan, a knowing nod, or a limp handshake is all the enthusiasm that is mustered. “Well that was another epic!” announces a loyal stalwart, unable to hide the sarcasm in his voice. The atmosphere strikes me as bizarre.
KFC and other food outlets have long since closed so a sizeable queue develops beside the coffee machine: a coruscating source of warmth on what has been an otherwise testing and uninspiring night as a travelling football fan. Name your cliché, a scene from the sci-fi programme ’Survivors’, perhaps the latest sketch from a comedy series, maybe the auditions for the latest incarnation of reality TV idiot magnet ’Big Brother’ or the end scene in the latest Hollywood Zombie Movie which usually ends in a gory mess, this situation could easily fit them all. As the troops trudge back outside into the rain, spirits no brightened by the well rehearsed service stop, I look at us as a group and can’t help but chant to myself ‘we don’t know what we’re doing’
It takes many personality traits to be a follower of a lower league team. Pride in abundance, eternal optimism, blind faith, sheer bloody mindedness in the face of adversity and a f**king good sense of humour. Back in the league after a 2 year stint in the uncompromising Blue Square Premier these are the nights we dreamed of last season. Massive local derbies; occasions to savour. A quick check of the dictionary tells me that ‘local’ reads as ‘close proximity’ which is perhaps why I am scratching my head at the prospect of a 5 hour round journey. Match over at 9.45pm,back in the car by 10pm, home by 1am, you can’t get more local than that.
Throughout the week I ask my mates whether they would like to join me on this jaunt to Cheltenham. Being Manchester United fans they turn their nose up and look at me like I am pleading insanity, probably wondering why it isn’t being shown on the TV tonight. I am genuinely shocked by their reactions-who on earth wouldn’t want to witness a passionate battle between the 89th and 90th ranked teams in the English Football League.
We 3 brave souls set off in the Torbay Monsoon at 3.30pm amid hushed rumours that the match might be called off, a fate we have all suffered on previous away trips. As it happens on the same night the match at Bristol Rovers is called off due to a waterlogged pitch, and the match at the Bescott stadium, Walsall, is played out in setting snow. So our fears were founded. However a couple of phone calls to Cheltenham assure us the match will go ahead and conversation turns to how many we will win/lose by (delete as applicable) and what words of inspiration/ delusion (delete as applicable) will be uttered from proverbial crowd splitting manager Paul Buckle.
My two previous visits to Whaddon Road have both resulted in Torquay United victories, however as we haven’t won in the last 9 league matches maybe asking for 3 in a row is pushing my luck. But if there was ever a place and occasion to end our dreadful run then tonight would surely be it. A relegation 6 pointer against one of 3 teams who we can proudly boast we are currently better than (on league position at least.) It is also a consideration that we had already comfortably beaten Cheltenham 3 times this season, but then it is also worth considering that these wins were all before the manager merrily decided to dismantle the team who had developed a winning mentality over the past 2 years. Ripping out the spine and heart of the side, sending 4 experienced players hurtling out of the starting XI. No matter what has gone on before, I am under no illusions that this is the only game against Cheltenham that matters this season.
2 stewards greet us at the gates, dressed for a South Pole expedition. Knowing smiles are etched on their faces as they welcome each shivering fan with an ironic “another warm one eh boys“ I regret leaving the sunscreen and shades in the car. Once inside each fan is given a voucher by members of the TUFC board allowing us to claim back £5 of the £20 admission. This is an incentive initiated by TUFC aiming to not only increase the away following but to protest against Cheltenham’s policy of charging away fans the maximum possible. This ticket can be traded in for money back at Plainmoor at any time in the next month. This is a decent and human gesture by the club in a football world dominated by wealth and greed. Maybe teams higher up the seemingly feudal like system could take a note out of our family orientated club’s book of morals.
The match starts off exactly how you would expect a relegation 6 pointer to start. Its scrappy, direct, nervous, and devoid of any quality. Torquay struggle to create any decent chances spare a few tame pop shots from distance. There is little to get excited about. It’s not any better at the other end, the ‘dynamic’ front duo of Barry Hayles (37) and Julian Alsop (36- and brought back after 6 seasons in local and non-league football wilderness) fail to dominate the long balls continually being propelled at them. More passes end up in the stand than at the feet of the intended recipient. I was gutted there was no wet paint to stare at.
Cheltenham take the lead when an over hit cross from Hayles floats over the outstretched hand of Torquay Keeper Scott Bevan and nestles snugly in the back of the onion bag, and on the balance of play being down by a goal is exactly what we deserve. As the half time whistle blows the punters don’t hold their feelings back:. “Sort it out Buckle” “F**king useless” “What a waste of money” “shower of s**t” all spat out with vitriol. The talk on the terraces turns to comparisons between former players who incredulously could be considered worse than those we are currently watching, and what the score might be at full time. ‘3-0’ is the most optimistic score a fellow fan predicts with a nihilistic smile on his face.
The Torquay players are sent back out into the cold 5 minutes before the restart hopefully with ‘dried hair’ after a harsh word or 2 from the man in charge. Second half still lacks any obvious quality. United slowly gain more confidence going forward and clearer openings start to be created, and then wasted in equal measure. The crowd are by now furiously chanting for some impact subs to be made and our wishes are granted when fresh legged wingers are introduced on the 70th and 82nd minute marks respectively. In fairness the changes make the difference as Cheltenham retreat deeper and deeper until the late sub latches onto a defensive error, cuts inside the defender and lashes the ball home through the legs of the hapless keeper. Something to warm the 344 devoted away fans up.
The final whistle blows a couple of minutes later and 1-1 is on the face of it a fair result. A reflection on neither side’s ability to score more than one, nor the belief that they could do so by taking a few more risks. Both teams are still stuck at the wrong end of the table. Torquay will view this as a better result, especially considering the circumstance of a last minute equaliser and a run of favourable fixtures to come. The players come over to thank the away contingent, the fans generously applaud the endeavour of the players. Had the equaliser not gone in, I fancy the fan’s reaction would have been somewhat frostier, and I use that term ironically given the Siberian climate.
Trudging regimentally out of the ground the general consensus is that any away point is a good point, and what we thought before the match was a ‘must win match’ had turned into a ‘must not lose’ match by half time. A point means that our situation hasn’t worsened which as we are coming towards the crunch time of the season is crucial. There is still time to get ourselves out of the brown stuff. We have re-found the blind faith which was evidently lacking at half time. Sense of humour diminishing however when remembering 3 hour drive back to not so local Torbay awaits.
The momentary jubilation of scoring a last minute equaliser is not evident on the faces of the fans as they swarm Gordanos. Presumably because they have since remembered that the other 89 minutes of football actually existed. However this close group of likeminded friends and relatives are resolute people with their local football clubs tattooed on their hearts. Many already planning the not so local trip to Darlington in a fortnight. What is it about football that keeps us coming back for more pain and turmoil? How an uninspiring performance on a cold Tuesday night can give you enough enthusiasm and belief that we can get out of the trouble we are in. That we will spend more of our hard earned money following the club that we spend all week moaning about up and down the country, trading continual disappointments with rare triumphs. As I say ‘we don’t know what we’re doing.’
Firstly I’m sorry I have not been on the forum as much lately, it’s not really been a choice as such but rather a necessity and not just for me but also for the good of the TFF. I wish I could put my finger on what it is that has brought me down to such a low point as everything is fine in my life and I can only think that its more to do with some things that have happened recently that has now all hit me at once.
Mind you the bloody football team is not helping much and one thing I have learned since setting out the TFF is that when I’m not as I should be, its best for me to keep off the forum to prevent me doing or saying something that would harm the very thing I love and have put so much work into.
Looking back on the last week I have been very pleased with how you have all just got on and used the forum and its been a week without any problems or major fallouts which is remarkable in itself when you think how divided we are about our current situation and also Paul Buckle.
There have been some cracking posts made this week and Timbo never lets us down with yet more great programmes and you never know what gems Leigh is going to come up with and I do know he has a real treat to share with us all next week.
I have discovered that a forum is an ever revolving door; we see posters come and go and thankfully we always maintain a good number of regular posters who really are in my view the backbone of the TFF. I’m always pleased when new members join in and contribute on the TFF, or those who have just been readers make their first post, the more who do post and share their views, the richer the TFF will be and the better it will be then for everyone on here.
It has been said to me so many times that part of the magic of the TFF is you can come on here and so often find a great post to read or something that is really special and that is something I hope never changes as that is what makes the TFF just that bit different.
I don’t think we have ever had a new member make such a wonderful entrance on the forum as we have this week and we have never had anyone win the poster of the week with such a high score recorded and when you think that the post was only made yesterday and the poster got 21 votes that beats the record set by Barton Downs that I believe was 16 votes, then it shows just how good you all thought the post was.
This week’s winner is bencurrie, a bit well done Ben and I hope you will make many more great posts on the TFF.
Ben’s winning post
The well versed football chant ‘you don’t know what you’re doing’ is running through my head. It is 22.45 on a bitterly cold Tuesday night in February and I am sitting down in the annex of Gordano Service station watching a stream of fellow Torquay United fans trundle in disconsolately eager to thaw out and escape the winter’s grasp. Barely a word is exchanged from fan to fan, a knowing nod, or a limp handshake is all the enthusiasm that is mustered. “Well that was another epic!” announces a loyal stalwart, unable to hide the sarcasm in his voice. The atmosphere strikes me as bizarre.
KFC and other food outlets have long since closed so a sizeable queue develops beside the coffee machine: a coruscating source of warmth on what has been an otherwise testing and uninspiring night as a travelling football fan. Name your cliché, a scene from the sci-fi programme ’Survivors’, perhaps the latest sketch from a comedy series, maybe the auditions for the latest incarnation of reality TV idiot magnet ’Big Brother’ or the end scene in the latest Hollywood Zombie Movie which usually ends in a gory mess, this situation could easily fit them all. As the troops trudge back outside into the rain, spirits no brightened by the well rehearsed service stop, I look at us as a group and can’t help but chant to myself ‘we don’t know what we’re doing’
It takes many personality traits to be a follower of a lower league team. Pride in abundance, eternal optimism, blind faith, sheer bloody mindedness in the face of adversity and a f**king good sense of humour. Back in the league after a 2 year stint in the uncompromising Blue Square Premier these are the nights we dreamed of last season. Massive local derbies; occasions to savour. A quick check of the dictionary tells me that ‘local’ reads as ‘close proximity’ which is perhaps why I am scratching my head at the prospect of a 5 hour round journey. Match over at 9.45pm,back in the car by 10pm, home by 1am, you can’t get more local than that.
Throughout the week I ask my mates whether they would like to join me on this jaunt to Cheltenham. Being Manchester United fans they turn their nose up and look at me like I am pleading insanity, probably wondering why it isn’t being shown on the TV tonight. I am genuinely shocked by their reactions-who on earth wouldn’t want to witness a passionate battle between the 89th and 90th ranked teams in the English Football League.
We 3 brave souls set off in the Torbay Monsoon at 3.30pm amid hushed rumours that the match might be called off, a fate we have all suffered on previous away trips. As it happens on the same night the match at Bristol Rovers is called off due to a waterlogged pitch, and the match at the Bescott stadium, Walsall, is played out in setting snow. So our fears were founded. However a couple of phone calls to Cheltenham assure us the match will go ahead and conversation turns to how many we will win/lose by (delete as applicable) and what words of inspiration/ delusion (delete as applicable) will be uttered from proverbial crowd splitting manager Paul Buckle.
My two previous visits to Whaddon Road have both resulted in Torquay United victories, however as we haven’t won in the last 9 league matches maybe asking for 3 in a row is pushing my luck. But if there was ever a place and occasion to end our dreadful run then tonight would surely be it. A relegation 6 pointer against one of 3 teams who we can proudly boast we are currently better than (on league position at least.) It is also a consideration that we had already comfortably beaten Cheltenham 3 times this season, but then it is also worth considering that these wins were all before the manager merrily decided to dismantle the team who had developed a winning mentality over the past 2 years. Ripping out the spine and heart of the side, sending 4 experienced players hurtling out of the starting XI. No matter what has gone on before, I am under no illusions that this is the only game against Cheltenham that matters this season.
2 stewards greet us at the gates, dressed for a South Pole expedition. Knowing smiles are etched on their faces as they welcome each shivering fan with an ironic “another warm one eh boys“ I regret leaving the sunscreen and shades in the car. Once inside each fan is given a voucher by members of the TUFC board allowing us to claim back £5 of the £20 admission. This is an incentive initiated by TUFC aiming to not only increase the away following but to protest against Cheltenham’s policy of charging away fans the maximum possible. This ticket can be traded in for money back at Plainmoor at any time in the next month. This is a decent and human gesture by the club in a football world dominated by wealth and greed. Maybe teams higher up the seemingly feudal like system could take a note out of our family orientated club’s book of morals.
The match starts off exactly how you would expect a relegation 6 pointer to start. Its scrappy, direct, nervous, and devoid of any quality. Torquay struggle to create any decent chances spare a few tame pop shots from distance. There is little to get excited about. It’s not any better at the other end, the ‘dynamic’ front duo of Barry Hayles (37) and Julian Alsop (36- and brought back after 6 seasons in local and non-league football wilderness) fail to dominate the long balls continually being propelled at them. More passes end up in the stand than at the feet of the intended recipient. I was gutted there was no wet paint to stare at.
Cheltenham take the lead when an over hit cross from Hayles floats over the outstretched hand of Torquay Keeper Scott Bevan and nestles snugly in the back of the onion bag, and on the balance of play being down by a goal is exactly what we deserve. As the half time whistle blows the punters don’t hold their feelings back:. “Sort it out Buckle” “F**king useless” “What a waste of money” “shower of s**t” all spat out with vitriol. The talk on the terraces turns to comparisons between former players who incredulously could be considered worse than those we are currently watching, and what the score might be at full time. ‘3-0’ is the most optimistic score a fellow fan predicts with a nihilistic smile on his face.
The Torquay players are sent back out into the cold 5 minutes before the restart hopefully with ‘dried hair’ after a harsh word or 2 from the man in charge. Second half still lacks any obvious quality. United slowly gain more confidence going forward and clearer openings start to be created, and then wasted in equal measure. The crowd are by now furiously chanting for some impact subs to be made and our wishes are granted when fresh legged wingers are introduced on the 70th and 82nd minute marks respectively. In fairness the changes make the difference as Cheltenham retreat deeper and deeper until the late sub latches onto a defensive error, cuts inside the defender and lashes the ball home through the legs of the hapless keeper. Something to warm the 344 devoted away fans up.
The final whistle blows a couple of minutes later and 1-1 is on the face of it a fair result. A reflection on neither side’s ability to score more than one, nor the belief that they could do so by taking a few more risks. Both teams are still stuck at the wrong end of the table. Torquay will view this as a better result, especially considering the circumstance of a last minute equaliser and a run of favourable fixtures to come. The players come over to thank the away contingent, the fans generously applaud the endeavour of the players. Had the equaliser not gone in, I fancy the fan’s reaction would have been somewhat frostier, and I use that term ironically given the Siberian climate.
Trudging regimentally out of the ground the general consensus is that any away point is a good point, and what we thought before the match was a ‘must win match’ had turned into a ‘must not lose’ match by half time. A point means that our situation hasn’t worsened which as we are coming towards the crunch time of the season is crucial. There is still time to get ourselves out of the brown stuff. We have re-found the blind faith which was evidently lacking at half time. Sense of humour diminishing however when remembering 3 hour drive back to not so local Torbay awaits.
The momentary jubilation of scoring a last minute equaliser is not evident on the faces of the fans as they swarm Gordanos. Presumably because they have since remembered that the other 89 minutes of football actually existed. However this close group of likeminded friends and relatives are resolute people with their local football clubs tattooed on their hearts. Many already planning the not so local trip to Darlington in a fortnight. What is it about football that keeps us coming back for more pain and turmoil? How an uninspiring performance on a cold Tuesday night can give you enough enthusiasm and belief that we can get out of the trouble we are in. That we will spend more of our hard earned money following the club that we spend all week moaning about up and down the country, trading continual disappointments with rare triumphs. As I say ‘we don’t know what we’re doing.’