A Fond Farewell

[brucie]

My last ever posting so alot of you will be delighted. After 52 years of supporting Torquay United enough is enough and I am calling it a day.
In the worst League 2 in the history of the universe we are cut adrift,ruddeless,clueless and havn't got a prayer.
Fair play to all of you - we are after all supporters of the same team. I have never lived in Torbay in my entire adult life and have travelled thousands of miles supporting the team.
I don't get to quite as many games these days as I used to, mainly due to an illness to my partner. That said I was at Morecambe and Northampton at the end of last season and I have been to quite a few home games this year.
I can take being a small club, I can take that we are never going to do anything.
BUT I cannot take this - we have a board of directors being headed by a woman who probably doesn't even want to be there.
We have a team of players who quite frankly should be ashamed of themselves.
And we have a manager who is completely and utterly devoid of the first clue of how to run a football team.
The manager continually picks (or employs) his mates even though they are not up to western league standard.
Noone knows what team he is going to pick from one game to the next - it is shambolic.
Even in the dark days of Roberts and Webb things were no worse than this.
I wish you all well but thats me finished.

[A Realist]

Dude never say its your last post cos people will laugh when you make your next one. Its sh*t being a football fan and most of the points you make are fair. But dont turn your back when you're needed most

[hector]

My last ever posting so alot of you will be delighted. After 52 years of supporting Torquay United enough is enough and I am calling it a day.
In the worst League 2 in the history of the universe we are cut adrift,ruddeless,clueless and havn't got a prayer.
Fair play to all of you - we are after all supporters of the same team. I have never lived in Torbay in my entire adult life and have travelled thousands of miles supporting the team.
I don't get to quite as many games these days as I used to, mainly due to an illness to my partner. That said I was at Morecambe and Northampton at the end of last season and I have been to quite a few home games this year.
I can take being a small club, I can take that we are never going to do anything.
BUT I cannot take this - we have a board of directors being headed by a woman who probably doesn't even want to be there.
We have a team of players who quite frankly should be ashamed of themselves.
And we have a manager who is completely and utterly devoid of the first clue of how to run a football team.
The manager continually picks (or employs) his mates even though they are not up to western league standard.
Noone knows what team he is going to pick from one game to the next - it is shambolic.
Even in the dark days of Roberts and Webb things were no worse than this.
I wish you all well but thats me finished.

Unless, you change your username, I cannot imagine you will be able to resist popping up at some point...

[taunton_gull]

I'm very sorry to read this brucie and to hear about your partner. I've always looked out for your posts as more often than not they are worth reading! I can also completely understand about the way you and others must feel. I don't live down there either so every game is a commitment with regards to finance and time. I would love to compare the salary of Lee Mansell to the average wage in Torbay. As I mentioned on another thread - I won't feel comfortable at all coming next season knowing the gate money is being used to pay those jokers who allegedly hold the position of 'footballer.' However - I will more than likely make every effort to get to the first game against Braintree or whoever it may be and I'll tell you why - forget managers, players, chairmen, chief executives or directors - they are only ever the custodians of the club. Important as they are, as fans WE are the lifeblood of Torquay United. We are needed more than ever before, we can choose to abandon the club and let it die or we can be there for it in its darkest hour of need. If we can stick with it we can still fight for long term survival, I think there's a chance the club might not make a league return in my lifetime (I'm only in my twenties!) but I still want to support the club and see it play at the highest level possible. Who knows, someone might come along with the insight and professionalism we need but true supporters will always be the heart and soul regardless. As I said if people feel enough is enough that's completely understandable, however we need passionate and committed supporters like yourself so I hope you will be back next season.

[PlainmoorRoar]

True supporters are there in the good times and the bad

So long Brucie you won't be missed

[Burnhamgull]

Unfortunately, any supporters who choose not to throw their money at the club next season WILL be missed because it will be a blow to the finances. The club are already seeing sub 2k crowds attend games. Some supporters have had enough and who can blame them for not spending the money anymore?

I've said similar on other threads. If we go down, I'll stop going. I'll still follow the club but I won't buy the shirt, ST and other merchandise that I "treat" myself to during the season.

It's sad that so many forum members have been vocal about their intention to not attend next season but it's the reality of how bad the club has become in recent years.

[SuperNickyWroe]

True supporters are there in the good times and the bad

So long Brucie you won't be missed

if you actually bothered to read his post, it says hes leaving the forum - not that hes going to stop supporting TUFC.

[Scott Brehaut]

if you actually bothered to read his post, it says hes leaving the forum - not that hes going to stop supporting TUFC.

This - After 52 years of supporting Torquay United enough is enough and I am calling it a day. - would suggest otherwise supes....

[DevonYellow]

This - After 52 years of supporting Torquay United enough is enough and I am calling it a day. - would suggest otherwise supes....

Yeah I must admit I read it the same way. He doesn't actually say it's just the forum he's jacking in at all.

A real shame and indicative of the damage this season has done. I'm not sure the club realise how disconnected and disillusioned the fans feel at the moment.

I find it really scary to see the club I've supported my entire life some how deteriorating into this mess.

Be a shame to.lose you Brucie but respect your decision.

[tomogull]

Don't give up on us Brucie ! I feel as sick and fed up as you do and I agree with 99% of your post. The 1% I disagree with is deserting your club when they're in need, although in your case you have a good reason as you don't live in South Devon and your partner is unwell (very sorry to hear that). For me, if we become another Lincoln or Wrexham - i.e. in the Conference for donkeys years - the likelihood of me seeing a league match at Plainmoor again after the Wycombe match is pretty slim. In other words, will we get back in the league before the grim reaper comes looking. But clubs have their ups and downs and although we are rock bottom at the moment, I shall keep supporting and hoping for better days ahead. Anyway, Brucie - thanks for your postings. I haven't always agreed with you but you've given us lots of laughs along the way.

[gullintwoplaces]

Very sad to read this, both because of Brucie's personal circumstances and because of the finality of his frustration with the club. Times are grim at Torquay now, breaks my heart. I hope we survive this, but I fear we might not. I long for a white knight with some money and some sound judgment to get rid of the dead wood (on the Board, in the team and elsewhere) but this is a vain hope.

[Neal]

Hi Brucie. Dissapointed to read this. There are a few posters I look out for and you are one. I don't always agree with you but that's what makes it interesting. Sometimes these forums get sterile and then boring. We need posters who post different views, have a debate, disagree etc. In fact its more entertaining when there is a passionate exchange of views.

I also live far away but have lived in south Devon for many years.

The main issue I have is with the wages and contracts being given to either untried or crap players.

I have been thinking about this myself recently actually as well but will support club when I can. when I can is the key statement here, next season tufc will be lower in my priority list.

Re think Bruce, your posts are entertaining. Dont want this forum to end up as sterile as the football

[Dave]

Firstly Brucie, I wish you and partner well, never nice to hear of anyone suffering an illness. Don't make this your last posting ever, we've clashed on this forum, rarely do we agree, but I've always respected your right to post your opinion, and certainly respect the amount of miles you travel in support of your club, every forum needs characters, Matt , Andy, yourself, forums would be a dull place with out you.

As for how your feeling about the club right now, trust me, your far from alone, and that saddens me, a good friend of mine been a season ticket holder for longer than the 8 years I have, in fact he was the one that talked me into to buying my first, has pretty much said the same thing as you, whilst I'll never give up on the club, I will not be renewing my season ticket, will pick and choose some games to go to.

Your right, the club needs a shake up, trouble is from the conference taking into account lost income cant see that happening with out some one new turning up, will always think the club has got it's priorities wrong, yes, we are a small club working off limited budgets, we all know and accept that, there are other small clubs working off equally limited budgets doing a heck of lot better than us.

Hanging up an old piece of netting probably brought from e-bay for £1.50 with some holes in it at half time doesn't bring in fans, nor does the much better idea of the crossbar challenge. What puts bums on seats is VFM and you get that through playing good attractive football (within your level) and winning more games than you lose, and for 18 months we've been treated to some unforgivable dross, don't fully blame our recent managers, none of them were given the backing they should have had, not even AK, our club just can't spend money it doesn't have, but looking at the training ground disaster, and monies paid out to sacked managers, did it have the money?

Hope to see you back posting soon.

[Sunnysideup]

The club are already seeing sub 2k crowds attend games. Some supporters have had enough and who can blame them for not spending the money anymore?

Its unusual if we HAVNT had several sub 2000 crowds in a season over the last 30 odd years. Been to enough games where its been around the 1500 mark so it's nothing new...
I will still be there next season no doubt, mind you it's not exactly far to travel for me...

[MH91]

Reading Brucie's comments since I joined the forum, I always got the impression that even though some people accuse him of being way too negative, you could always feel that he is one of the people who deeply loves the club. And yes, every forum need characters like him.