Passion and pride provide the cornerstone for Plainmoor revival

Seven days after a 2-0 lead evaporated in the closing stages at mid-table Chelmsford City, the same thing happened against promotion-chasing rivals Boreham Wood on Saturday (writes Dave Thomas).

Ahead of last night’s trip to Chippenham Town, some Torquay United supporters were questioning whether the current Gulls side has what it takes to cap arguably the most extraordinary revival in the club’s history by winning promotion less than a year after hovering on the brink of oblivion.

Manager Paul Wotton was quick to admit that it’s happened too often and it’s got to stop.

The mood in a near-3,800 crowd at Plainmoor at the weekend was a mixture of disappointment, dismay, exasperation and, yes, anger.

But remarkably – and it’s well worth stressing it – many fans (maybe even the majority) applauded Wotton and his crestfallen players as they headed for the dressing rooms after Wood’s 97th minute equaliser.

Sure, there were some who were quick to voice their frustrations in no uncertain manner.

Wotton often says that he doesn’t read social media posts. But plenty of people close to him do, and he knows very well what’s been said.

He’s a football man, he’s desperate to take United up and, almost as important, not let everyone around the club down.

But wait a minute.

There was actually much to admire and embrace about the reaction to Saturday’s 2-2 draw.

Would everyone rather the whole crowd had simply shrugged its shoulders, cleared off and stayed away for the next few weeks?

No.

The reason why United was worth saving in the first place is the size, depth and passion of its support.

The passion that had taken 800 fans to Weston-super-Mare a few days earlier.

The passion that sent several hundred more to Chippenham last night.

The passion that has every other club in the National League South rubbing their hands whenever United head their way.

And, let’s not forget, the passion that kept them going when all seemed lost in the desperate final weeks of last season.

So nobody should get too down about a few angry remarks at Plainmoor or on social media, however vitriolic.

As much we all want to get back in the National League and hopefully beyond ASAP, United have had to pick themselves up and dust themselves down from a lot worse situations than this over the years.

And it’s only right to remind everyone, yet again, that only nine months ago Wotton had one contracted player and a matter of weeks to sign an entire squad with a budget that doesn’t even approach the one that helped Boreham Wood snatch that point.

By the way, Wood’s players (all full-time of course), staff and officials left Plainmoor on Saturday evening for three days and nights at Cornwall’s pretty swish Carlyon Bay Hotel, ahead of their next midweek game at Truro City.

Onwards and upwards...