TT GROUNDHOPPING

Dan Elliott – @dan_torquay_man

Dan discusses his August away trips

FARNBOROUGH (A)

You couldn’t ask for a more perfect way to start the away days for this season. An absolutely gorgeous summers day, a lovely ground, great people, stones throw from the M3, optional Aviation detour pre or post game, new owners, Neil Warnock, the Yellow Army and loads of Basil Fawlty debit flags on display! Typical in Torquay fashion we lose 1-0. However we should not let that detract from what was a memorable day. The people of Farnborough were fantastic, the ground was lovely and that pitch was like a bowling green. It was that hot though that the away end kiosk ran out of bottle water and one of the cooks was sat outside on a retro 80’s fold up metal picnic chair that my grandparents would use on days out on Dartmoor! It was fantastic. Lovely ground, lovely people!

BATH (A)

For a while in the afternoon walking around the city centre and heading into Wetherspoons I actually thought there was going to be more Torquay fans than home fans at the game. It wasn’t until you got inside the ground and saw there was a great attendance from both sets of fans. What a beautiful evening, on and off the pitch. Firstly the Bryn Consortium up with the fans on the terrace, Michael and Simon coming to say hello to everyone pre kick-off. Lovely touch, wouldn’t expect anything less. Class acts. Jim Proudfoot in the stand, joined by Charlie and then apparently Adrian Durham sat down with the away fans. It was like the TalkSport Team Jolly Part Deux after Borehamwood a few years back.

First thing that I loved about the game, no drum, got to keep the noise down for the neighbours. That’s probably why there was no announcement after each Torquay goal, but when Bath scored there was an announcement, neighbours must not mind when Bath score….. ha ha! Even though I had eaten the feedback from The Yellow Army around me was the pop up gazebo that was banging out the burgers and cheese and chips were doing a proper job!! Highlight apart for them goals and the win was the Super Moon rising above the home end. Bravo to however got the image of the moon right on top of the tree, lovely work! All jokes aside, BRAVO to the Bath team that bang out the highlights package. Extremely professional, love the graphics and a full 22 mins also is fantastic! Great work guys.

CHESHAM (A)

What a day and what a ground. Have to start by apologising to all Chesham fans, we didn’t deserve that win at all. I have to applaud the people at Chesham. A beautiful ground, place and people. The Tea Bar X account gave us all a shout out to come and see them before the game, so we all quite happily obliged. And it was worth it. Homemade cake, £1.20 for a coffee, lovely people, amazing service and 5 mins after opening frames warm oven baked cookies delivered, go for the football stay for the cookies. A dog friendly crowd meant the legend that is Alan Wills could bring his beautiful little boy with him with his TUFC scarf on. Chesham as a ground, people and location is right up there for places you would quote happily go back. I have a feeling they will be fine and I hope they have a great season!