Torquay United Supporters' Trust is run by a board, who have a mandate from their members to make decisions on their behalf with regard to initialising projects, planning, identifying the necessary skills base and relevant funding. They use the money generated by membership fees and that generated by fundraising and other sources to finance the projects they embark upon.

They always strive to ensure that the members of the trust are kept as fully informed as possible, given the obvious limitations.

All board members are volunteers and give their time freely in order to act on behalf of the members for the good of the supporters and Torquay United AFC.

If you have any questions or enquiries, then please feel free to contact any of our board members using the contact details provided.

Your current board members are:

Hayden is a born-and-bred Torquinian who runs his own business dealing with publishing, copy writing, sub-editing and design. He has worked in publishing via magazines and newspapers for the past 20-years and brings this experience to bear at TUST.

After first coming to Plainmoor as a seven-year-old in 1974, it wasn't until the mid-80s that he began to attend on a regular basis, but he has rarely missed a game since. He is possibly best known by Torquay United supporters for his production of the currently-in-mothballs fanzine, 'Bamber's Right Foot'. Hayden still maintains an irreverent sense of humour which can often bring a bit of light relief during the darker moments of the trust.

Hayden took over the role as chairman of TUST after former chairman, Chris Fleet, stepped down in October 2007, and he is passionate about continuing the excellent work that the trust has done so far. Hayden wants to see the trust grow into an effective organisation that will have a direct impact on the club, the supporters and the wider community of Torbay and South Devon.

» E-mail Hayden
» Call Hayden on 07776 105886 (Mobile) or 01803 315512 (Office)

Chris began following the Gulls in the mid 1980’s while living in London. He eventually moved to Torquay in 1988, buying a house which was just a stone’s throw from the ground and became an avid fan, attending both home and away before marrying and moving to Hereford.

While in Hereford, Chris travelled down regularly for matches before moving back to Plainmoor in 2001, when he became involved in what was the old supporters club, and during this time, he set up and ran a successful 11-A-Side supporters’ club team, which went on to become cup finalists and runners up in the league two years consecutively.

However, despite putting in a lot of hard work, it quickly became apparent at the time that as far as the club was concerned, the supporters’ club didn’t really have any say in what the fans felt.

When TUST evolved there was a need for someone to take the helm which Chris did on the understanding it was an interim post. Since the birth of his daughter, time has become increasingly tight for him and he has stepped down to role of vice chair.

» E-mail Chris
» Call Chris on 07841 595960.

John Mowl is a retired Chartered Engineer now living in Torquay, whose working life was spent in the gas industry, principally in engineering.

Before becoming a Torquay supporter, John was involved in non-league football for many years, which included him being chairman of Moor Green Football Club - now Solihull Moors - for seven years.

John has already done a considerable amount of work on the trust's proposed project to improve the provision for disabled supporters at Plainmoor, and it was he who researched the subject extensively and produced the report which the trust presented to the club.

John’s aims for Torquay United Supporters’ Trust is to be involved in a partnership between the club, its supporters and the community, implementing such initiatives as improvements to the facilities for our disabled supporters and football community schemes so as the supporters' trust can be seen to make a difference.

» E-mail John
» Call John on 07831 528326 or 01803 607866.

Andrew was born in Torquay and first watched United in the late fifties. During the sixties, while he was still at Torquay Boys’ Grammar School, he started on the gates, first clipping the old card season tickets.

Studies at Sheffield University then facilitated visits to see Torquay play at such places as Bradford, Barnsley, Blackburn, Aston Villa and even Southport!

Andrew is married to Kathy and his profession is in accountancy. He has worked in Local Government, for British Gas and currently, he is Head of Finance at City College Plymouth. On matchdays however, his gate duties continue unbroken and he is the club’s longest serving “employee”, and both of his daughters, Rachel and Kasia, are avid fans and TUST members as well as being experienced gate staff.

Having joined TUST in the dark days of 2006-07, Andrew volunteered to help and found his way onto the board where he has already given advice practical help with a number of initiatives. His priorities for TUST are the establishment and maintenance of sound financial practices, boosting the membership, continuing solid and fruitful relationships with the club as well as practical and financial support for the many trust initiatives and projects. In short, TUST has become a natural outlet for Andrew’s love of Torquay United.

» Call Andrew on 01803 400975.

Laurie, who was born in Ellacombe, but bred in Andover in Hampshire, has a lifetime interest in sport, especially non-league football and county cricket, and his leisure time has always been dominated by the lure of the round ball.

Married with four children and six grandchildren, Laurie moved the family back to his native roots in 1988, and his professional career was spent as a qualified financial consultant until he retired in 2000. He then spent a number of years working for Torquay and Paignton tourist information offices, promoting all aspects of the bay, including Torquay United.

Laurie has spent time on the committee at Exmouth Town FC and in 2003, he was instrumental in saving Andover FC from extinction when he served as vice chairman, while the club stabilised in the Wessex League, before gaining promotion to the British Gas Business Southern League (South & West).

Upon full retirement in 2006, Laurie purchased a Torquay United season ticket, and despite the fact that even in retirement, time is limited as he tends to the rolling acres of his Babbacombe estate and his other interests he has thrown himself wholeheartedly into assisting the trust.

» E-mail Laurie
» Call Laurie on 01803 295272.

A Plymouthian born in the middle of the last century, Phil was recruited as a junior scientist by an Atomic Energy Authority (later MoD) establishment at Reading in 1972. He gained an OU degree in Physics some 22-years later and progressed to the roll of Scientific Project Manager, before he happily accepted voluntary redundancy and returned to Devon in 2000.

While living away from Devon, he gave committed support to the ‘Royals’ for 15 years and finally exchanged a seat at the Madejski Stadium for a Plainmoor season ticket - which has included an unforgettable rollercoaster ride as a Gulls fan.

Concerned with major adverse issues at TUFC, Phil believed that TUST had the potential and an ability to “make a significant difference” to both the club and community. Hence with no volunteer for the treasurer’s post he took up the challenge - initially for the short term.

Phil has enjoyed being an active member and participated in many of initiatives to date, which has included cheerfully taking a variety of photos for the TUST website, magazine as well as posterity.

» E-mail Phil
» Call Phil on 07870 642999.

Former serving members are: Steven Breed, Maria Lunn, Simon Cavanna, Jon Lear and Jon Gibbes. We would like to take the opportunity here to thank them for their efforts on behalf of the members of TUST.