Torquay United Fans Forum

Good evening gentlemen, can I first assure you I do come in peace, but equally do so to hopefully counter and offer an alternative perspective on some of the comments contained within these pages, written I am guessing at a time when passion and yesterdays circumstances took over from rationale.

If I may, let's deal first with the tackle which putting injury aside just for a minute wasn't good, and on another day I would concede a red could have easily been given and no could have argued. But to suggest as one of your posters did that Payne purposely set out to harm your lad, or as another insisted even more emotively and melodramatically that he intentionally tried to "do him" is surely an utterly ridiculous thing to say and more over the top than the tackle ever was.

Why on earth would anyone, never mind one who has previously been sent of twice want to even consider such a pre-meditated act of thuggery and against someone he doesn't even know, and more so in risking a red which would of meant him picking up a minimum of a five game ban.

I was twenty yards from it, most of your fans weren't, and yes unarguably it was a bad tackle, yes, but not an horrific one.

What was horrific obviously, was the subsequent diagnosis of Durrells injury and as like minded football supporters and I assure you caring and compassionate people to boot, does anyone on here honestly believe that anyone at Dover, from the back room staff, the supporters, players, and probably even more so now Payne himself is not as horrified and equally mortified as you guys now the full horror of the injury is known?

We are not Neanderthals, we're not thugs. Yes of course we wanted to win, like you, we always want to win, but not at any cost, and whilst we are delighted with the result, to suggest there were sections of the crowd specifically laughing at Durrells pain, even without knowing at that time the extent of his injuries is as ludicrous as it is totally subjective, and personally speaking my heart and thoughts quickly go out to him and his family.

But again, when warming down do you honestly think Payne was really laughing at Durrells misfortune, what, an hour later especially as no-one in the ground had even an inkling of the horrid severity of the incident.

Though anything is possible I suppose, and whilst not claiming to know what he found so good natured, so I won't guess, it could have been literally anything (including the simple possibility that we were 4-0 up at the time) and I would personally be mortified (and disgusted) if your assumptions were any more than that, Payney is just not that kind of person. As for warming down where he did, all our players, as indeed is the case at most clubs warm down at the side appropriate to their own dug out.

Yes he could have gone to the other end, but if he did that, you could equally argue I suppose had he done so and in doing so crossed right across your dugout where all your players and management were sitting that too actually could have been more contentious, one of those damned if you or damned if you don't moments I feel.

The only important thing is that Durell now fully recovers from this tragic misfortune and horrible injury, and can I assure you that everyone at Dover that I have spoken to is of the every same opinion and we all genuinely wish the lad the speediest of recoveries, not least that's because that's part of what being a football supporter even at arrogant, tin pot clubs like ours.

Look seriously, we know Dover itself is shit hole, we accept that (thankfully I don't live in the town) and we equally know that we are a small club, compared to some, Grimsby, Tranmere, Wrexham and yes why not even yourselves we are a very small club. Christ we have that thrown at us every time we beat a so called bigger team, it's almost as though we've committed a footballing felony and the shit we then take from their supporters who subsequently seem quite insulted about it, is relentless and surely that's arrogance>

Do Dover supporters want to see Torquay dive into the Conf South, frankly a lot wouldn't be bothered one way or another, but that had nothing to do with yesterday by the way, all we want to see is out team do well. Personally considering your recent problems, I actually would hate to see you relegated , not least because it's such a hard place to get out of, as indeed is this bloody league, so I wish you the best of luck in your last eight matches I really do.

Someone above suggested it might just be one good season for us, well actually after an appalling start, we had a great season last year as well. So yes we have done brilliantly already for to years. We don't have a great team full of great individuals, but do have a great, almost never say die spirit within the team and look what its doing for us, but next year who knows?

Deverdiks our centre mid who has been superb for us this season could be off, Payne, dare I mention him again equally so and it would be a huge loss as like him (or in your case ) or not is a great centre forward, and worse of all we fear bids coming in over the summer for Miller who has been exceptional take them out of the team (and nearly 50 goals) we could easily be at the other end of the table, which is why the last thing we would ever be is arrogant.

Again, best wishes to you for the rest of the campaign, and especially for Durrell and his speedy recovery, I promise you, no-one is laughing