Away Days

[AustrianAndyGull]

Some are special, some are regrettable. Some are just down the road for many whilst some require meticulous planning and time. Some are more appealing then others whilst some are just in the right place at the right time. What are the away day habits of Gulls fans when they leave home?

Is it simply a case of getting out of bed, grabbing some breakfast and getting there to knock back a few beers near the ground beforehand or do you like to get there early and perhaps stop off and visit somewhere nearby like the town we are playing in itself or a tourist attraction or country pub?

Do you make regular weekends of certain games and stay over?

It would be interesting to find out the routines of travelling Gulls on an away match day and I have added another questionnaire too because i'm starting to like them! It's not surveillance honestly!

Me personally, if I travel alone I like to get to the ground pretty early usually around 2 hours or so before kick off so I can get a parking spot and also take a trip into the town we are at if I feel like it. For example at Morecambe I took a stroll down to the seafront but wish I hadn't. At York I usually pop into the city for a few hours prior and at Accrington I sit in my car to hide and always avoid eye contact! :-o

I also like to have a wander right around the ground itself, have a look in the club shop, buy a programme and take some photos. Then I go back to the car and chill for half an hour before getting changed into full TUFC paraphernalia (shirt and scarf weather and number of layers being a restrictive factor permitting) and heading into the ground. Sometimes I meet up with a few people inside the bars at grounds but I never have a drink generally as I don't drink alcohol in the daytime. It makes me feel like sh*t and also makes me want more! :devil: I then go and meet up with everyone I have got to know on the back step and sing!

I only make a weekend of it if I go to Plainmoor or if there is a game I can coincide with a family weekend away like I shall be doing at Dagenham just before Christmas.

On the odd occasion due to childcare it can be a mad dash to get to a ground too.

Also, has anyone ever missed a game or large parts of it due to traffic or any other external factors?

Cheers all

Hey look, I know it's another 'get involved' thread but I am genuinely interested in what fans choose to do on away days. I've often thought that most people would just rock up and head for the boozers but I know it's not the case. At Hereford for example I bumped into quite a few TUFC fans who were meandering their way through the lovely streets of that particular medieaval city. I myself visited the Cathedral once and the Mappa Mundi.

[hector]

I rarely get to away games now. Work, children and finances mean it is something I hardly ever do and it is only really the local away games I get to now. So for them e.g. Plymouth/Exeter, because of the sort of game it is, I don't go into their pubs, mainly because I drive and can't have a drink.

But for games further afield, if I say got the train or coach or did not drive, quite often my friends and I, would seek a pub near the ground. Rarely would I spend time looking around the town but I usually always buy a programme. I don't know why, I do at home games as well, but I rarely even read them fully. But I like to have the programme of games I attend and have done so since being a child, so it is a habit I find hard to break.

As my children grow older, they might be keen to come but to be honest, persuading any child/or anyone for that matter, that Plainmoor is the place to go and Torquay the team to follow, is increasingly challenging, especially with Exeter Chiefs on the doorstep and nearer to home for them.

[Dave]

It all depends on whether I've been to the ground before and what time I get there, for example arrived at Hereford couple of seasons ago at 11.30, town wasn't far away, so me and lad went for a wonder.

If I haven't been to a ground before tend to have walk around and a nosy in their club shop, wouldn't buy anything though, on the flip side done Cheltenham a few times now, so head straight for the little social club behind the ground.

However like Hector, don't get the chance very often to go away these days mainly for the same reasons, will do the 2 local games, will do Cheltenham again this season, hoping to do Portsmouth subject to getting time off, and that will be it for me.

[AustrianAndyGull]

Thanks Hector.

I am aware that we have a number of exiled Gulls including our American based fans as well as Portugull and a few others and obviously you cannot get to games so if you DO wish to participate then please go on what you USED to do when you were over here or what you do when you come back over briefly. I don't want to exclude anyone even though the thread may not get many responses. I don't mind in this case because it is purely personal choice and not really relevant to Torquay, it is just out of interest.

At least Hector has seen the tumbleweed blow away early doors anyway!

Cheers Hector!

[frenchgull]

Miss the away games now that I can't get to any but before I moved to France used to go to Hereford,Bournemouth,Bristol Rovers Yeovil and can even remember going to Newport plus of course our two Devonian chums.To get away with going me and my pal had to take our better halves so it was always a trip in to town and a lunch then leave them in the shops as we went off and took in the game,great times dispute I can't recall us winning much but really enjoyed our cup win at Bristol City,due to my pals connections we were in the directors box and it was very difficult to contain the jumping up as we scored,loved our centre forward that day,fiesty little Scotsman who's name escapes me but he ran the city defence ragged,so much nicer when you win.

[stefano]

Miss the away games now that I can't get to any but before I moved to France used to go to Hereford,Bournemouth,Bristol Rovers Yeovil and can even remember going to Newport plus of course our two Devonian chums.To get away with going me and my pal had to take our better halves so it was always a trip in to town and a lunch then leave them in the shops as we went off and took in the game,great times dispute I can't recall us winning much but really enjoyed our cup win at Bristol City,due to my pals connections we were in the directors box and it was very difficult to contain the jumping up as we scored,loved our centre forward that day,fiesty little Scotsman who's name escapes me but he ran the city defence ragged,so much nicer when you win.

Dave Caldwell, signed from Chesterfield. He ran the FA Cup holders Coventry City ragged at their place in the next round as well, although in the end we undeservedly went down 2-0 to two late goals, the first after a blatant hand ball and the second a penalty.

[tomogull]

Not allowed out on my own beyond Torbay these days !! Over the years, besides Exeter and Plymouth, I have been to Somerton Park, Newport (for a match where it was more exciting watching the trains passing by on the nearby railway line), Darlington, Hereford, Yeovil, Leyton Orient, Bristol Rovers, Barnet, Old Trafford (ill fated play off final against Stevenage), Birmingham (for a League Cup match - we lost), Coventry (for an F.A. Cup match - we lost), Hillsborough (for an F.A. Cup match - we lost, despite Dean Edwards giving us the lead within five minutes). Wembley FOUR times (two wins, two defeats).

Now here's a question for Stefano - something I was trying to remember recently. When we lost to Colchester in a Play Off final (we was robbed - the ref that day gave us absolutely nothing and gave Colchester a penalty which won the game for a handball by John Gittens when he was literally just a couple of metres away from the forward who crossed the ball - i.e. definitely ball to hand) where was that match played? I think it was during the time Wembley was being re-built.

[NA Gull]

tomogull - it was definitely at Wembley in 1998. Wembley reconstruction started in 2003. Although the penalty the ref gave was dubious, don't forget the one he did not give when Gibbs (I think) nailed one of their guys in the area. Clear penalty.

Used to go to many away games but now with 2 kids under 4 and wife who works saturday's it is virtually impossible to go. I loved going places like Forest Green (before the redevelopment) in the FA Cup - Hill, Brandon, Donaldson, Worcester in the FA Cup 1 - 0 Partridge. Yeovil when we won 2-0 Graham and Kuffour with a cheeky backheel. So many memories!

[AustrianAndyGull]

It will be interesting to find out how many of us buy programmes at away games. I know some fans that don't. I am like Hector, I get one each time regardless and keep them religiously now as it has become a habit. I suppose it's like a tangible record that you were at that particular match and I do like to dig them out now and again and reminisce when there is crap on the telly. They're out every night!

It's good to look back at the squads too and players you have forgotten about.

[HeavenAndHele]

I've been to a grand total of 2 away games, both at Plymouth. Was going to Exeter last season until it got switched to the Monday night and I was on nights that night, but hope to make it this season. Might miss the Plymouth game this season but am planning to go to Portsmouth on the 1st of Feb as it's just down the coast from my folks so I can combine it with a visit!

[berkshire yellow]

get to more away games than home, to be honest though that's not that many either, got to Plymouth and Aldershot last season, done Swindon and Wycombe this year, having a trip down to Portsmouth with a paid weekend down there as it's just before my birthday, hotel with a few mates will be good!
Usually get a programme and find a pub but usually drink on the way anyway, at Swindon my mate wanted to go in early and we were the first in the ground, waited at the back for an hour and a half and us four and one other person stood up at the back, don't know who that other person was but me and him attempted to get others to stand as we started songs but didn't have much luck

[AustrianAndyGull]

I've been to Morecambe, Fleetwood, Northampton, Wycombe and Burton so far this season and shall be at Bury on Saturday. I get to most away games now but only a couple at home due to the distance of a 500 mile round trip and family commitments. It's a stat i'm trying to improve but it hasn't yet materialised!

I know I definitely won't be at Plymouth or Wimbledon but expect to make the rest with a bit of luck.

[ferrarilover]

I've been to hundreds of away games and the only one of those I haven't done is the 50/50 draw. I've never seen an away fan win it at Plainmoor, nor anywhere else.

Matt.

[happytorq]

I've been to hundreds of away games and the only one of those I haven't done is the 50/50 draw. I've never seen an away fan win it at Plainmoor, nor anywhere else.

Matt.

I quite clearly remember an away fan winning it at Plainmoor. Was a few years ago, mind - probably in about 2004 or 2005. Trying to remember what team it was. I want to say it was Sheffield Wednesday in the League 1 season, but could be wrong.

most annoying was I'd been badgering a work colleague to come up (Derby fan) for about a year, and the one time he did, he bloody won the 50/50

[hector]

I quite clearly remember an away fan winning it at Plainmoor. Was a few years ago, mind - probably in about 2004 or 2005. Trying to remember what team it was. I want to say it was Sheffield Wednesday in the League 1 season, but could be wrong.

most annoying was I'd been badgering a work colleague to come up (Derby fan) for about a year, and the one time he did, he bloody won the 50/50

I think you may be right. I was thinking the same thing.