Torquay Trust help blind supporters

The home game against Kidderminster Harriers on Saturday, February 9, is being slated as the long-awaited upgrade of match commentary facilities for blind Gulls fans at Plainmoor.

Torquay United Supporters' Trust has donated £1,250, an amount matched by the Lottery-funded Football Federation, to replace equipment which has been showing its years recently.Retired businessman Derek Brad from Marldon - anyone who has listened to him will not be surprised that he nearly won a BBC national competition to commentate on the 1970 World Cup Finals - has been the 'eyes' of blind fans and, at one time, Torbay Hospital patients for more than 50 years.

"In the old days we used to get up to 20 fans listening in at Plainmoor, plus many more on the hospital radio, but I'm afraid the equipment has been showing its age, and the numbers have dwindled," said Derek.

"Once or twice I've had to sit with the blind people themselves so they could hear me!

"We're looking forward to having the new equipment, and I hope the numbers of customers picks up. The more, the merrier."

A representative of the RNIB will meet Trust and club officials at Plainmoor next Thursday to hand over the new equipment.