TUST
TUST FAN ZONE
DO YOU REMEMBER THE NIGHT KEVIN KEEGAN BROUGHT HIS FULHAM TO PLAINMOOR?
JIMMY BALL ANSWERS MEMBERS’ QUESTIONS
PRE-SEASON MATCHES CONTINUE OVER 4,000 FOR PILGRIMS AND BLUEBIRDS SENT FLYING
The football family was saddened this week with the announcement of the death of Kevin Keegan. There have been, rightly, many heartfelt tributes to the player and manager who in his era was a real star.
Many United fans, like myself, recall a wet January 5th 1999 when Keegan was manager of Fulham and brought his side to Plainmoor for a Football League Trophy cup tie.
Here’s the match report:
Alan Lee scored an extra time winner as Torquay United knocked big-spending Fulham out of the Football League Trophy at Plainmoor this evening.
With the Whites going for promotion from the Second Division and an FA Cup replay against Premiership Southampton to prepare, this defeat was not as demoralising as when Fulham, then 91st in the Football League, slumped to defeat in the south west against the only professional side worse than them in 1996. Kevin Keegan has placed this competition at the bottom of his priority list as evidenced by a line- up that showed ten changes from the side that battled so bravely at the Dell on Saturday.
All the alterations didn’t seem to matter much when Paul Trollope atoned for his mistake at the weekend with a tap-in two minutes into the second half. But Torquay, who included former Fulham full-back Robbie Herrera in their side, were tenacious and kept searching for an equaliser, which arrived two minutes from time. Scott Partridge fired a right-footed finish past Andre Arendse to force an extra half-hour and two minutes into the second half of extra-time Lee headed home to send Plainmoor potty.
Torquay (5-3-2): Southall; Tully (Hapgood 75), Herrera, Thomas, Watson, Robinson; McGorry (Bedeau 63), Hill (Leadbitter 63), Healy; Partridge, Lee.
Fulham (4-5-1): Arendse; Finnan, Brazier, Uhlenbeek, Neilson; Keller, W. Collins, Trollope, Betsy (Brooker 98), Salako; Lehmann.
Attendance: 2,596.
My recollection of the night was getting Kevin ‘I’d love it’ Keegan’s autograph on the front of my programme and don’t forget that the very next month, February, Keegan was appointed England manager!
Readers of this column will be aware that at our monthly TUST board meeting on Monday our guest was Jimmy Ball who spent an hour and a half with us underlining how he’s fully committed to all aspects of Torquay United whether that be the men’s side, the women’s side or the academy.
It is clear that he cares for all aspects of the club on and off the pitch.
He is determined to bring success to Torquay United.
Co-incidentally, members Tony McHale and Phil Upton asked similar questions about set pieces. Jimmy takes set pieces seriously so much so that he is the set piece coach.
Without giving away too many ‘secrets’ when a corner is taken, from the moment the taker puts his arm up then down the ball will be delivered into the 6- yard area inside 4 and a half seconds.
And to answer David’s question, Jimmy is living in Torbay with his wife due to join him once her notice at her work is completed.
Pre-season continues to do what the manager wants: fitness and no injuries. What is evident is the genuine competition for every position with no player guaranteed a starting place for August 8th.
Against League 1 Plymouth on Tuesday, in front of 4,045 inside a warm Plainmoor, United gave as good as they got with all the new signings impressing.
We have a squad of players many of whom I would describe as ‘grown-ups’ – been there and done it.
And with five players who have previously captained teams in Leagues 1 & 2 there is now leadership all over the pitch.
Whilst Tuesday’s result is meaningless, the consensus after the game was that a draw would have been a fair result.
Back in the day Forces sweetheart Vera Lynn sang ‘there’ll be bluebirds over the white cliffs of Dover’ but closer to home the Bluebirds of Cardiff – Under-21s – suffered a 5-0 drubbing on Saturday as United made the most of their last but one pre-season friendly.
Jimmy Ball used the game as an opportunity to try out two different formations as he is definitely the kind of manager who wants to have not only a Plan A but a Plan B in the same match in case things aren’t going our way.
As I’ve written before, his planning is meticulous in every detail from who he signs to the history of the referee for the next fixture.
So, who do you think are title contenders?
Dagenham, Dorking and Ebbsfleet plus possibly Chelmsford would appear in most fans’ lists.
But for me there’s always a surprise side who figure in the mix.
Sticking my neck out what about Farnham Town? Or even Farnborough.
What are your thoughts? Send me your view to fanszone.tu@gmail.com.
Wow, what’s going on at Woking and York City?
Woking parted company with Jermaine Defoe in mid- week and on Sunday York dismissed Stuart Maynard and, of course, the new seasons are about to start.
United’s Women had another good pre-season workout against Exeter City going down 3-1 with Mollie Taylor on the score sheet against her former club.
With physical Plainmoor Passes ready for collection which allow entrance to all the men’s and women’s home games, fixture cards, sponsored by TUST, will be available soon.
And finally, the 60th anniversary of England winning the World Cup is this Thursday, July 30th.
Some of you may listen to Boom Radio and on Thursday they have a special pop-up station, Boom 66, playing all the music of the day.
COYY
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COYY – NICK
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