Spot on Dave, I too was a fan for many years. I now live in Exeter but until the beginning of last season I supported the gulls by buying a season ticket and constantly drove down the A380 in support of ‘my team’. But unfortunately I became totally disappointed and disillusioned by the way the club was being run and I am now a season ticket holder at SJP where the fans are treated as such and the match day experience is so much more enjoyable. I know it helps to have a fairly successful team to support but that starts from the top down and I just can’t see that at Torquay. I am the same age as Gary Johnson and listening to his post match comments is the same old every time. I do think that they need to recruit a younger, energetic forward thinking coach and until that happens it will be de ja vue.Dave wrote: 01 Jul 2023, 13:49 Well, when I referred to my friend withdrawing his player sponsorship, thought that might give a clue, other personal reasons are not for me to say, maybe the fact that a fan since the 1970s is feeling that way should be alarming in its self.
Christ do you have put me through the pain of posting you a list, information these days, is sent straight to us, unsolicited on social media.
They have regular live streamed fans forum from SJP, we have an owner who doesn't do statements, we have local board of which one will blank you, if you dare ask a vaguely critical question, the other will be rude, see it in person.
They have party in the park, free event to all, with music, supported by Crealy on a Sunday , we'll have a season ticket holder event only during the week where most can't attend.
They have a fan zone at the ground, we have cashless turnstiles, but hey can pay a £2 surcharge on match days if you que up by the swimming pool.
Their social media is full of content such as life's a pitch, cooking demonstrations, ours is contains well gaffer if we hadn't given away that penalty, we might have got point today.
Their squad did a park run, sure ours were doing
something.
Their doing stadium tours, we're doing? I don't know.
They did a kit out cliff campaign, to help raise money for state art training equipment, we're doing? I don't know.
Their winning new fans, we're doing? I don't know
Much as I can't stand that club, their getting everything right, now light years ahead of us.
While little or no information comes out of our club, little or no fan engagement, and half our fanbase have closed eyes. Never mind, we've already won the league, so all will be OK.
It pains me to have to post this but this is how I see it. Yes Torquay may well win the NLS or get promoted next season but that will only be covering over the cracks.
Sorry guys but this is how I see it!
P.S before people start saying “how on earth could you” I am a supporter of the football club of a place I now call home.
