Torquay United FC would like to provide supporters with the latest update on the current situation at Plainmoor.
Although the announcement of the Club’s intention to enter administration on Thursday 22nd February came as a shock to players, staff and supporters alike, the unity shown by all that hold Torquay United FC close to their hearts has shone through, and has only gone to strengthen the determination of everyone at Plainmoor to ensure that the future will herald a brighter, more sustainable, future for this very special Football Club.
Thank You
Ever since TUFC was put up for sale, we have been inundated with support from our beloved Yellow Army. When YOUR club needed you most, you answered the call, and everyone here at Plainmoor is truly grateful.
The significant number of goodwill messages and size of the donations received continues to astound us all, and with every single Club employee directly affected by the recent events off the field, we cannot thank you all enough for all the support you have given us all.
Every single donation – whatever the value – is hugely appreciated, but we feel it is only right to pay tribute to Marilyn Windley, who this week made her way up to the stadium with the sole purpose of making an astonishing donation to the Club. Upon her arrival, Marilyn stressed how much the Club means to her and her son, and how she wants to help ensure the Club continues to survive for years to come.
Thank you Marilyn, for this extremely kind gesture, and we can assure you we will continue to keep working hard to ensure professional football continues to thrive at Plainmoor.
Thanks to the continued support of the Yellow Army – and our friends from all across the local community and footballing world – the total donations received as of Wednesday 27th March has now reached an astonishing £26,719.18, which contributed greatly to ensure that ALL player and staff wages were paid for the month of March.
This is obviously a huge relief for all the Club’s employees – playing and backroom staff – and every single penny raised by the Club helps to ensure TUFC continues to function and fulfil its fixtures.
Thank you all.
Bank Holiday v Weston-super-Mare
At present, the Club continues to function on a week-by-week basis whilst new ownership is sought, and until this process is completed, the Yellow Army’s continued support remains absolutely vital. We really can’t get through this without you.
With this in mind, we can’t emphasise enough that every match ticket booked, Club Shop item purchased, or even pint in Boots & Laces drank, directly benefits TUFC, and helps keep the Club afloat. In addition to our designated PayPal Donations account, the Club will continue to run a number of fundraising promotions, which we hope supporters will continue to support, whilst gaining the opportunity of getting something back in return.
A number of raffles and auctions have already captured the Yellow Army’s imagination, and there will more new ideas to come over the coming weeks!
With increasing attendances at Plainmoor the most obvious and beneficial weapon the Club has in the fight for survival, our remaining fixtures will also feature initiatives to encourage more fans into our stadium, with our penultimate home game of the season taking place on Bank Holiday Monday against Weston-super-Mare (01/04/24 3pm KO).
Easter fixtures are always a great occasion for families to come and experience live football here at Torquay United, so why not bring everyone along, and get behind The Gulls on Monday!
With the battle for survival is now being played out on two fronts – ON and OFF the field as a result of this, and with just two home games remaining, we cannot emphasise enough how important your backing at Plainmoor will be during the closing weeks of the campaign, and it would be a huge boost for the players, management, staff and fellow supporters to see the stadium packed out for our matches against Weston-super-Mare and Havant & Waterlooville.
Your continued support, home and away, continues to astound us all, and we are truly privileged to be able to call upon what we will always consider to be the best fans in the country.
How are things progressing?
Supporters are understandably eager to know how things are progressing behind the scenes, however whilst Non-Disclosure Agreements in place during this vital stage of the potential sale process, the Club is clearly restricted in the amount of information that can be made public. We hope supporters can understand this, and we assure you that the discussions taking place are with a view to securing the long-term future of Torquay United.
What we can confirm though, is that there is more than one interested party in discussions with the Club and its advisors. Discussions with these alternative parties continue to progress, and we hope to be in a position to provide more information in the near future.
Following Torquay United being officially put up for sale on Friday 23rd February, the Club extended its interim moratorium period for a third time last week, thereby extending its notice period of appointing an administrator. Everyone at Plainmoor remains determined to secure a future for Torquay United, and the Club and its representatives are in constant dialogue with the National League, and prospective new owners regarding a feasible deal structure.
How can I help, and where is the money going?
With donations now passing the £26,000 mark, all funds received continue to assist Torquay United continue to stay afloat. Should you wish to help us by making a kind donation towards our survival bid please follow the link HERE.
Supporters can be assured that all money being paid into the Club – be it via tickets, purchases or donations will ONLY be used to ensure the Club’s essential operating costs are met – in effect, to help Torquay United continue functioning as a professional Football Club, and fulfilling its fixtures. Your money will NOT be used in any other way.
With so much goodwill being shown by so many people, the Club wishes to clarify that only by paying donations directly into our designated PayPal account, can supporters be guaranteed that these funds will be used to ensure Torquay United continues to function during this uncertain period.
In the meantime, supporters with any queries can continue to email [email protected], meanwhile our Frequently Asked Questions page with questions raised by supporters will continue to be frequently updated, the FAQ page can be found HERE.
Thank you for continuing to stick with us, Yellow Army.