Co-Chairmen give their views ahead of EASTBOURNE clash
Good afternoon and a warm welcome back to Plainmoor for today’s game against Eastbourne Borough.
Before we talk about the football, we want to address events off the pitch. As set out in this week’s club statement on the recent incident and resulting disciplinary action, this has been one of the most difficult weeks since we became custodians of your club.
We feel let down by conduct that did not meet the standards we expect of anyone representing Torquay United – there is anger and hurt felt right across the club and indeed across the supporter base, and understandably so.
Professionalism, integrity and respect are core to the values of this football club, and to the way we reflect the community we serve. Those standards are non-negotiable. No individual is bigger than Torquay United, and we owe it to you – and to everyone who wears the shirt in the right way – to deal with matters like this properly and fairly. That is what we have done. What matters now is that we learn the lessons, protect the culture of the club and focus on moving Torquay United forward.
The rest of the squad has felt this as keenly as anyone. We met together yesterday, and they are disappointed too, but they – and Paul Wotton and his staff – are united, focused and determined to show in their performances what this club stands for. We know we are custodians of something that belongs to the whole area, and we are determined to build a club culture that everyone here can be proud of. With that said, the best way we can all respond now is together – by backing the players out there in yellow and concentrating on what we can still achieve this season.
After a busy spell of cup football, today is about turning our full attention back to the league. Last Saturday’s FA Trophy exit against Maidstone was disappointing for all of us, and we share your frustration. At the same time, recent performances at Farnborough and Maidenhead have shown what this group is capable of when it hits the standards we all expect. The aim now is to build on those displays and put together a consistent run in the league, starting this afternoon.
We all know how tight this division is and how quickly things can change. A couple of good results can shift both the mood and the league table, and that is what everyone is working towards – on the pitch, in the dugout and behind the scenes. Small margins matter, and your backing at key moments can help tip those margins in our favour.
At the time of writing, Paul has been working hard to plug some gaps in the squad. This is a tough time to recruit the type and quality of players who can seamlessly come into this group, but we will leave no stone unturned in trying to strengthen where we can and where budget allows. A relentless run of injuries has tested our resources, and again today we are without some key players. Every club faces spells like this, but we are all hoping that our luck turns soon. Our medical and rehab team have never been busier, or more committed to getting players off the treatment table and back available to Paul as quickly and safely as possible.
With the squad stretched, Paul and the players need your support more than ever as we head towards the festive period. If we can find some momentum now, it can set us up well to achieve our goal this season. It has rarely been an easy road for Torquay United; meeting challenges head-on feels embedded in our DNA. Time and again this club has had to dig in and show character. We believe this period can be another example of that resilience, with players and supporters standing together and turning adversity into something positive.
Finally, we want to congratulate our Women’s team on their excellent 6–0 Devon Cup win over Plympton last weekend – a result that reflects the hard work going in across the club and gives all of us something to be proud of. We are determined to keep building the women’s and girls’ side of Torquay United in the months and years ahead.
Thank you, as always, for your support. Enjoy the game.
Come on you Yellows !
Mark Bowes-Cavanagh, Michael Westcott & The Board
