TT BLOG
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Clive Hayward – @Byehorse
It’s the close season. At this time of year my thoughts normally turn to cricket and Torquay United is something I don’t want to have to think too much about until pre-season, at the earliest.
2024 is a bit different. It has been a very interesting week and, because he’s clearly struggling for content, the Ed has asked me to write about it!
Wednesday
Fanhub is an app that encourages supporters to record how many games they see and where they travel. I believe our very own Jules Nixon is an aficionado. They also make videos asking fans to explain what their club means to them.
Torquay United is, of course, enjoying a higher profile than for many years and Fan Hub decided they wanted to do a bit on us. Torquay Talk’s very own media guru Sam Swann was a simple choice for them, but they needed a second voice. I can think of dozens of more articulate people but I’m local, available and cheap (free). So it was that I ended up sitting in Bristow’s Bench answering questions from a young Yeovil fan- also Sam.
I must have bored the pants off him talking about my recollections of Saturday night games nearly 50 years ago, but he nodded politely and teed me up with a couple of questions about Clarke Osborne.
I really enjoyed the experience although of course I cannot guarantee that you will, should you decide to watch the video when it comes out in the next week or so!
As an added bonus, I got to have a chat and indeed a hug with John Gibbes whilst Swanny was doing his stuff. John has recently been appointed Club Secretary and knows the club and football finance inside out. He has very much been a canary in the mine at times when we have had questionable owners and his recruitment by the Bryn Consortium speaks volumes for the depth of his knowledge, his commitment to Torquay United and their clear commitment to work with fellow supporters. John shared his joy at the recent takeover and his fears that the administration process might easily have ended very differently.
Friday
Gulls Eye View is a burgeoning YouTube phenomenon. The Ed said I had to put that in.
It does have a respectable 500-plus subscribers now and, for the uninitiated, it’s basically Torquay Talk contributors chatting all things Gulls online. The normal cast is Swanny, Dom Roman, Tom Kelly and Chris Wade and it’s a good watch. If I’m honest I’ve been fancying having a go myself for a while, and they finally relented and gave me the Zoom log in.
We recorded a couple of episodes- the first ones of “Season 4”. Through the magic of the internet, they were released in reverse order.
In the first, we talked about the retained list and the first new signings. I gave viewers the benefit of my extensive research (watching the “Incoming” videos and asking the Whats App group questions like “Which one’s he again?” and “Is that the lad from Donny?”) and Tom & Sam watched on in horror.
Luckily, episode two featured someone who really knew what he was talking about: former Chair Alex Rowe. Basically he talked and we listened, and over about an hour and a quarter Alex gave us some brilliant insights into his time at the helm. He thoroughly and entertainingly covered the stresses and responsibilities of running a football club; “thanks for coming, Leroy”; the recruitment of Paul Buckle; winning with 10 men and no keeper at Forest Green; playoff heartbreak; FA Cup triumphs and of course the return to Wembley for that redemptive 90 minutes we will never forget.
Alex’s recall of individual matches and goals was excellent, and the overall story was of a consortium determined to push Torquay back into the Football League. It was also lovely to hear that they clearly had a lot of fun doing it!
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Saturday
With Gulls Eye View having scraped the bottom of the barrel with their new presenter on Friday, the following day it was me who did some scraping.
Torquay United has been on its knees in recent times, but on Saturday it was me & several other bucketeers who found ourselves in that position. Back in Bristow’s we scrubbed and swabbed staircases getting them ready for their first paint-job in 12 years.
Once my colleague Rich had got me organised, it was a worthwhile couple of hours. We swapped our Plainmoor histories and when it came time for a water break we chatted to Nick, Michel and Ali from the Supporters Trust. These are exciting times and the aspiration to get a second Trust seat on the Board is very much alive. Nick ribbed me about my possibly over-the-top critique of Ross Marshall’s career. He also kept a straight face despite having to look at my practical-but-ridiculous John McEnroe headband for several minutes.
“One Club United” was a glib phrase that alienated us last season, but things have moved rapidly in a better direction and it is really starting to feel that way now.
Sunday
A day dominated by gardening, back pain and paracetamol, but there was more excitement in the evening. Michael Westcott had said he had enjoyed our Gulls Eye View chat with Alex Rowe and we decided to chance our arm. He has accepted our invite to join us on a future episode and that promises to be another fascinating conversation (thank-you again Michael!!).
And Season Tickets…
My Torquay United season ticket price has been frozen & works out at less than £15 per game. It’s neither ridiculously cheap nor hugely expensive. To me, it’s perfectly acceptable and will surely be money better spent this time! If we want a proper football club it doesn’t come for free.
COYY – CLIVE
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