Neal wrote:Chasing glory is NOT a true loyal football supporter.
Yes we are all of those things, but you stick by your club / friends / family when the going gets tough. That's what determines if you are a true supporter of any club. And when, because it will be "when" Exeter" have a bad season you can go and support one of the Bristol clubs, what ever one is doing well at the time. ENJOY!
Just for the record and not that it matters to any of you but it does to me. Two things drew me away from Torquay United.
1. The people that hà ve been running the club (except Thea) for the past 4 years have treated me like a simpleton. A cash cow that keeps on giving whilst at the same time laughing at me and treating me with contempt. This same thing applies to the management (Knill / Hargreaves) and pretty much each and every footballer that has represented TUFC for the past 2 seasons at least. That had to stop. I couldn't make them reflect and take a long hard look around at those faces of resignation displayed by the fans in most games to give them a catalyst to wake up and smell the coffee. They just were either unwilling or unable to listen. They didn't know how how to talk either. To talk to us - the fans - to give us something to work with or someone who could lead us. Thea did this on her own and I also cannot be a part of an organization that has men behind the scenes who were more than comfortable to let an old woman pay for pretty much everything AND face the music when it all collapsed. It sickens me and these are not the values I have been taught.
2. With this in the back of mind I understandably became really disillusioned and it makes you look inside yourself. Although Nina has pointed out, and I'm flattered by the recognition, that I was a terrace regular mainly at away games singing and shouting as much I could. My highlight being when I took a drum to Accy and 5 minutes in my drumstick snapped in half and hit someone but I digress. The fact is that I gave as much as I could for your club but as Dave SG mentioned somewhere else. A club, or at least a certain place or area is in your heart, usually where you grew up and you cannot change this. I had to go over old ground and accept this. Wisdom and Southampton Dave eh? Not sure if the two should go together actually. Bit weird. (Joke Dave! Don't come and smash my face in next season when I come down with the York lads). No, actually Dave and one or two others made it a no brainer and I'm grateful for that.
These are my reasons for 'changing teams' and I've probably gone over old ground but unlike Brucie my circumstances for doing this for me personally are totally different.
I don't know if Brucie supported Exeter before Torquay but I followed York before Torquay so in a sense I am not changing teams, just going back to the old one. This is because I grew up around there and spent time there and know the area. Not because it is quicker to get to than Plainmoor which is one of Brucies reasons. Also, I have always stated that the level and standard of football doesn't decide whether I support a team and go to games or not. If I support a team then I go to games and I give my all regardless of if the club is bottom of the table and getting gubbed every week. You cannot support a team then not go when things are shit. It doesn't work like that. You either go or stop going full stop IMO.
Anyway, I do care what people think otherwise I wouldn't be posting this but I won't be letting anybody's childish comments make any difference for I feel I've done the right thing.
I've always tried to give praise and wish you good luck even now I should no longer care and there will always be the odd miserable, cantankerous, know it all but don't provide any evidence, obnoxious, poisonous person lurking in the shadows and to be fair to Richinns he has a point. Torquay appear to have many more than one but for all the fans I've met prrsonally this has been far from the case. They've all been amazing individuals and i've been priveleged to meet you all and for you I just have hope that some good times are but a summer away.
Like I said, York will no doubt be visiting Plainmoor next season and I would like to buy some of you drinks if this is the case.
Like my bets, only I could go from supporting a team relegated to non league to another.
No bother. That's life.
Take care all, just don't claim there are any similarities between Brucie and I. There are none thank the Good Lord.