Torquay United Fans Forum

What are the pre-match (family friendly) drink options?

Tickets purchased.

Hard fought win for the Gulls today

Legendary cinematographer Roger Deakins was born in Torquay, does he have any interest in football?

Here are a few other quick fire ideas

- Save Our Club Crowdfunding campaign with local and national appeal. Use social media, local media, and club website to highlight the situation and encourage donations.

- Charity matches (think former players and ex-pros who support grassroots football)

- Sponsored walking football (with ex pros) - this caught my attention at AFC Bournemouth where we now live https://www.afcb.co.uk/news/club-news/c ... all-match/

- Auctions; memorabilia, gifted items from local businesses

- Exclusive / Retro merch - see above. Other desirable items could be created, including re-runs of classic kits.

- Sell naming rights to the stadium (controversial perhaps!)

- Business Partnerships - for example borrowing ideas like ‘Eat Out to Help Out’ in partnership with local restaurants who create special menus with a portion of proceeds donated to the club,

- Online 50/50 draw - go BIG! Perhaps make it an 80/20 draw in favour of the club

- NLS Fantasy Football league - get fans from across the country involved. Pay to play, % process to TUFC.

- Digital match day programme - expand reach beyond the game with a digital programme that includes wider sponsorship opportunities, purchase programme via fixed price or minimum donation. It means fans who can’t get to the game can still contribute

- Boots and Laces Mega Quiz Night - pay to play, nominal prizes for winners. Proceeds to club.

- Community fundraisers - involve the local community, schools etc to host fun fundraising activities.

- Sell out concert @ Plainmoor - put on a fundraising concert with major bands, perhaps Muse would pay homeage to their wider roots? Think Live 8 for local football!

- Run a ‘Soccer 7s’ tournament and festival - this is another HUGE one from Bournemouth based on the rugby 7s which attracts 30,000 people each year. https://www.bournemouth7s.com/

- Sell Player NFTs (current and historic) - NFTs (Non-fungible tokens) are unique digital assets and artwork and could include collectible things like player cards. Funds could go to player wages

- Collectible player cards - same idea as above using the old school method. Think those World Cup stick books that come round every 4 years. I’ve still got piles of cards from when we had 4 divisions!

- Matchday bundle - create various ticket options for example 1) ticket and a pint, 2) ticket, pint and chips 3) ticket and home shirt - ideally include items where there is already a high profit margin on the items so that discounts can still be offered to purchasers.

I literally sent this to Sharon Musker, Commercial Director, 10 minutes ago:

“A difficult day for all involved I’m sure.

I had a simple idea to raise funds - I, like many others, missed out on the limited edition black 1899 shirt.

Given the circumstances, could the club release a new batch of the limited edition kit to help raise funds for the club?

This is a spur of the moment idea because I was looking at tickets for the weekend and saw the club shirts pop up below the ticket options, however I have built my career in business strategy, driving revenue growth and helping to transform business performance so I will apportion some time this weekend to develop further ideas with more depth of thought.”

midtable wrote: ↑22 Feb 2024, 22:33 The louder fans have been demanding Gary out and the owners should leave the club. Their dreams have come true.

The tricky part is not having a plan for such an eventuality.

I’m not sure fans were anticipating going into administration as the mode of ownership transfer, which has put more than a sour note on the debacle.

Who could be potential buyers for the club?

Is anyone aware of any loyal fans with sizeable wealth or strong commercial interests?

Does anyone have contact with Joe Woods, founder of WKD Drinks which started in Torquay? Could he be a possible fit.

Could a fan based consortium work? How would this work in practice?

Any other suggestions?

poppynathan888 wrote: ↑22 Feb 2024, 18:57 Hi

my group of companies tried to offer Torquay FC a lucrative sponsorship 10 years ago, but they turned us down, now we will try and buy the club.

Any more info or background? On what grounds did they turn you down?

Surely this is a given? I really know nothing about the work he’s put in at the club so find it difficult to pass comment other than upon his poor communication record with fans, though I’m genuinely curious to know what his day to day involvement has been!

I can see today’s announcements being a catalyst for a resurgence in performance- a classic paradoxical situation where all involved; club management, players and supporters rise to the occasion.

It’s a uniting moment.

COYY

Guildford Gull wrote: ↑20 Feb 2024, 19:08 That is a very defensive line up. A team picked not to lose? Dawson starting after playing 20 minutes on Saturday is a huge gamble.

Spot on. 0-0 FT

If breaking the run of defeats is a necessary step before winning again then so be it, but we REALLY should be beating Farnborough! Nonetheless, after 5 losses in a row I’ll take a point over a 6th consecutive defeat.

Having been heavily involved in protest movements over the past few years it’s important to define the intended goal of the campaign and demands that the protest is making.

For example, a goal could be to rally 1000 fans to call for the resignation of Gary Johnson or for the current owners to agree to sell the club, using the yellow card method to raise awareness and send a powerful message

Where are we in the discipline table? I wouldn’t be surprised after yet another red we’re near the bottom of that one too

knightmaregull wrote: ↑17 Feb 2024, 20:08 The club is not taking action because it suits their purposes. Gary is the perfect fodder to distract the fans whilst Clarke & co evolve their grand plan in the background. Anger directed at the manager or the players really is wasted energy. This all sits with those at the top.

It’s can sometimes be difficult to assess whether something can be attributed to incompetence or a malevolent plan

However, the same people were in charge when we were at Ashton Gate in the playoff finals, so I struggle to square the idea of a grand plan to destroy the club with how much money has been put in. Let’s say it’s all about the real estate, having spent close to £7m on the club (albeit some of it repayable), how much would the land and its subsequent use really be worth?

There is definitely something strange going on, as I’m sure Clarke Osborne wouldn’t tolerate the same level of under performance in his other businesses, or maybe he does and lacks the conviction to let people close to him go.

It’s indicative that the board are at least discussing performance issues, they clearly are very loyal to Gary but ultimately the line has already been crossed and we’re in the red zone and I’m sure they have their own limits, even if they are much wider than our own