Torquay United Fans Forum

Interesting to hear Gary say that at the meeting last week George Edwards reported that early September was being mooted as a possible start date with possibly a reduced attendance limit. Guess they could just use the seats and every other seat ! unless family members.What would that give us - 2000 Bristows 1400 Family Stand - 1700 capacity?
Difficult to say what the interest would be , some like me would be desperate to see some live football from our beloved team though some may be wary about being in an even socially distant crowd.

The youngest was in the u10s during the 2018/19 season and he left last summer. The oldest is 2 years older and he left a couple of years ago.

What age groups were your lads in willowgull?

I'm afraid I can't yet see or predict a time when we will take to the field again as long as the social distancing rules stay in place. I do get why the football/premier league is restarting to take care of unfinished business and with fans being able to watch on TV. I don't see the point of football at our level being played behind closed doors which will be financially unsustainable anyway. With the government furlough scheme expecting employers to contribute to the wages(in August I believe) I think that is going to cause a whole load of pain for thousands of businesses with little or no income including small clubs like us. How you get over access in and out of the ground, toilet facilities with social distancing in place will be impossible.

I couldn't agree more Grockle. Exeter have a very good youth set up. They get boys through their system, into the 1st team and later sell for decent money.
The problem Torquay have is that there is no funding out of the EFL. However, parents wouldn't mind paying if there were a decent product. Lots of lads are still drifting over to Saints.

I am sorry to hear the youth system is in such disarray. Surely, in this day and age, this is a priority for any football club, in order to nurture players of the future. You've only got to look at Exeter, to see what can happen, if you have a decent youth set up.

[quote=DWB post_id=248642 time=1591454876 user_id=24127]
I have just listened to the latest ‘Inside Plainmoor’ interview with Gary Johnson and I can’t help but start to feel a little more optimistic about the future of our club. Okay maybe it is the lack of football that is playing with my emotions and senses! BUT there is talk of youth systems now being put in place (quite often a life blood of clubs like ourselves), with the links to the college.
More work being done to the pitch, which let’s be honest apart from the one part by the dugout was pretty good last season already. The signing up of the bones of last season’s squad (apart from Reidy) and G.J sounding optimistic about signing others, whist other clubs are releasing a lot of players.
This does need commitment and money from the owners. Surely this would not be happening if they didn’t intend to stick around for a while. I know some will say they still have a self interest in doing this BUT surely we can dream a little that some good times are ahead once we overcome this dreadful pandemic!!?
Maybe I will now have another glass of red! Cheers
[/quote]

I have recent experience of the TUFC youth system with both of my son's having being involved (both now at Saints south west). I have to say that it is currently very poor, there is a lack of quality coaches, poor organisation and no communication between club and parents. The club promised on numerous occasions to make changes but nothing ever happened.
I really hope that GJ delivers the changes that he is talking about because the current system really isn't fit for purpose. Neither of my son's wanted to leave TUFC but I was no longer prepared to pay good money for such a poor service.
The link up with South Devon College is a positive step under Toddy's guidance but that I believe is for 17 and 18 year olds. The club really need to sort out the younger age groups. However, this is the first time that I have heard a Torquay manager speak up about the youth system so that is encouraging.

The season can’t come soon enough for me. Hoping for some new players soon. Appreciate all clubs are facing uncertain times and then layers too. So let’s get started as soon as is safe.

I have just listened to the latest ‘Inside Plainmoor’ interview with Gary Johnson and I can’t help but start to feel a little more optimistic about the future of our club. Okay maybe it is the lack of football that is playing with my emotions and senses! BUT there is talk of youth systems now being put in place (quite often a life blood of clubs like ourselves), with the links to the college.
More work being done to the pitch, which let’s be honest apart from the one part by the dugout was pretty good last season already. The signing up of the bones of last season’s squad (apart from Reidy) and G.J sounding optimistic about signing others, whist other clubs are releasing a lot of players.
This does need commitment and money from the owners. Surely this would not be happening if they didn’t intend to stick around for a while. I know some will say they still have a self interest in doing this BUT surely we can dream a little that some good times are ahead once we overcome this dreadful pandemic!!?
Maybe I will now have another glass of red! Cheers