Fond farewell to stadium folly

The biggest stick with which to beat the Clarke Osborne and Gaming International regime at Torquay United was the long-awaited dream of building a 15,000-seater stadium in Torbay, it is being claimed.
It was a proposal that never seemed realistic and able to get off the ground despite continuing talks with landlords Torbay Council.
Few were surprised that Gaming International were unable to deliver the shiny new arena for Torquay United.
Meetings were held, possible sites explored and draft drawings made up, but there was never any real substance or conviction behind the plans and Nick Brodrick, chair of TUST (Torquay United Supporters’ Trust) echoed the thoughts of many on the stadium situation.
“It was someone’s pipe dream to have a brand new stadium somewhere within Torbay but the facts are that there is little or no suitable land to house a football stadium and all the infrastructure that goes with it,” said Brodrick.
“For it to be a viable project, a new stadium would need a hotel, shops, parking and everything else required to be a 24/7 operation.
“Clarke Osborne, before he left, said he wanted a 15,000-seater stadium but the appetite isn’t there for a stadium of that size for a club in the National League South.
“If we return to the EFL, bring it back on the agenda, but that is a long way off right now and there is nothing wrong with Plainmoor, it is a great stadium and has been for many years.”
When announcing the withdrawal of his financial support for TUFC, Osborne himself conceded the stadium venture was a deal-breaker.
“The prospect of creating a new stadium and commercial facility was the driver for the investment, the excitement to deliver something truly transformative for the Club and Torbay,” he said.
“I would reiterate what I have said many times, that Torquay United is blessed with fantastic, passionate support and I am sorry that we have not been able to reach our goal for the Club and fans, despite significant effort and investment.”
A new stadium is not a bad idea but it is also not a priority, and won’t be for a long time.