TT BLOG

Clive Hayward – @Byehorse

Clive discusses the Gulls

TALKING TUFC

SATURDAY

Another blank weekend for the first team, so we were left to make our own entertainment again. My tentative Exmouth plans took a serious knock when the Gulls Eye View batphone rang. Michael Westcott wondered if we fancied doing another live show? Aye, go on then.

Michael didn’t leave us hanging. He volunteered his services as a pundit, and with Paul Mulhern on board we rocked up at Boots and Laces like a really bad Saint and Greavsie tribute act.

The Chairman again had us in the palm of his hand, reliving some of the hairier moments from the takeover and reminding us that they managed to sign an entire squad in the same time it normally takes me to get out of the bath on a Sunday morning.

The roving mike worked well and we must do that again. Paul spoke eloquently as always. Swanny father and son looked after the technical stuff and after giving a sketchy recollection of the Bath game my contribution was mercifully limited mainly to reading out the quiz answers. It might be the first time Harry Kane and Frank Prince have had the same value.

The wonders of modern recording equipment meant that the session was available to download for anyone (that’s almost everyone) who didn’t fancy being there in person.

The next session was very much a live event and as Suzue’s Vibe Tribe did their thing we gave the bar staff a decent workout. John Turner- a high class Plainmoor goalkeeper in the 70’s and 80’s- showed he has lost none of his agility as Rachel and I had a good go at replacing the day’s missing gate receipts.

We were assisted by the Helston branch of the Torquay United Supporters club. Sadie lives and-so to speak- breathes the Gas. She’s a dedicated Bristol Rovers fan with the accent to match, and her fella, although a Cornwall native, has the Gulls in his blood. He had some hair-raising stories to tell from his time dodging bullets trying to keep the peace in Bosnia.

Sam mostly kept out of the way, plotting his path to rock stardom with a new band. Poly Wasps? Randy Hornets? I forget…but watch that space.

SUNDAY

I opted for a little train ride to Cornwall, a bit of a walk and a pub lunch, and Torquay United Women thrived in my absence with what sounds like a dominant second half display to see off Royal Wooton Bassett in the FA Cup. It’s more good news, and I would love to see them at Plainmoor for the next round against Bridgwater Utd.

MONDAY

Wimborne away in the Youth Cup.

In Dorset? It is.
Endorse it? I do.

I remembered the way, after our successful trip there last year, so I thought I’d go and cheer the lads on.

Nigel Tabb had had the same idea, travelling up with his friend and his lad, and the four of us sat in the Social Club at 6.30 bemused to see each other!

But what a great decision. The young Gulls played some lovely football. Jacob Wellington was frequently unplayable on the left and Andrew Ellis popped up from the other flank with 2 crucial goals. Wimborne had some decent players too, and pushed us all the way. But a 4-2 win on the road is never to be sniffed at, and Harry Redknapp (there to support another member of the dynasty) went back to Sandbanks disappointed.

The journey home featured more road closures than the Torbay Airshow or a Hezbollah carnival weekend, but I managed to get to sleep before midnight and at least 60 seconds after parking the car!