First things first, I am a lifelong Chelsea supporter (I'm 42), and have been through lots of ups and downs over the years. In lots of ways the last 15 years or so made following CFC through relegations, promotions, selling our best players etc in previous years worth all the pain and misery. My problem with it all now is top level football has been ruined by money and greed. SKY started it all as far as I'm concerned and the Premier League really has become a circus, full of clowns, a fair few animals and a fair number of one trick ponies. Chelsea, while I still love them and always will, are not the club I started supporting and I feel a little bit removed from them in some way. Too many badge kissers earning far too much wonga. Ridiculous though it may sound, I sometimes long for the days of Nevin, Speedie and Dixon and the unpredictability of it all but that's me. I'm more interested in the entertainment and the feeling that the club is still mine. It's not. It's Russian. It's not the same.
So where do Torquay fit into all this? I was on holidays there in around 76 with my brother and the folks and there was a pre-season friendly on in Plainmoor while we were there so off we went. I could look it up somewhere but from memory it was a 1-1 draw against Norwich. I think Colin Lee played in that game (later to join CFC). And that was the start of it. We were back there on hols in 85 (ish) and got to see another friendly. Again memory tells me it was a 3-0 win against Bristol City but someone may tell me otherwise. I've always kept on eye on the teams results down the years but myself and my brother really picked up our interest again when they were relegated in 03/04 back to League 2 and thereafter out of the league altogether. I thought the team would really struggle to get back in but happily I was proved wrong. Myself and my mate went to the Trophy final at Wembley against Ebbsfleet a few years ago. Fantastic experience despite the result. The game didn't go our way but I can honestly say we were hoarse from the singing by the end of it. That doesn't happen at Chelsea anymore. It gets too quiet at times. The fans have had it so good over the last while that they've become complacent and I can guarantee you that if it all went pear shaped tomorrow, most of those fans won't be seen for dust.
So I can safely say that Torquay are close to my heart. It's real football with real supporters and it reminds me of what top flight football has ceased to be. A game for the people, played by fellas the man on the terrace can identify with. It might sound a bit patronising but that's how it is to me.
I'm coming to the Accrington game on Saturday for my third visit, 27 years after the last, and I can't wait. There'll be 10 of us travelling from Dublin and I'll have my old away shirt on. The brother will have his 70s TU shirt on. We plan to be on the Popside (and in the pub beforehand) so please say hello if you see us. We're a friendly bunch!
COYY!
Gary
