A Torquay United fan says he has been left appalled at what some Dover Athletic fans allegedly did to his Pride flag at Saturday’s fixture.
Thomas Kelly, who was watching the National League South opener, couldn’t believe it when he saw his banner get binned.
He took to social media around the half time mark, saying in a tweet: “Hey @DoverAthletic , some classy fans you’ve got there. Chucking my pride flag in the bin. Stewards couldn’t give a crap either. Shocking behaviour #tufc”
FootballvHomophobia tweeted in reply: @We’re really sad to learn that this happened, Thomas. Please do report to @kickitout when you are able; you can also contact us about the incident via our website or a DM. CC @TheVanaramaNL @WeAreTheFSA”
Hey @DoverAthletic , some classy fans you’ve got there. Chucking my pride flag in the bin. Stewards couldn’t give a crap either. Shocking behaviour #tufc
— Thomas K (@Tommyktufc) August 5, 2023
Yellow Army! #tufc pic.twitter.com/BtrYqmOmON
— Thomas K (@Tommyktufc) August 5, 2023
It came in a game that saw Dover go from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 in a comeback that many didn’t see coming at the Crabble Ground.
Having only avoided relegation on the last day of last season, the Whites were up against one of the league’s title favourites, with Torquay quickly going 2-0 up within 20 minutes as Chevron McLean scored an own goal and Asa Hall doublef the Gulls lead.
But Dover kicked into gear, with Zidan Sutherland getting one back in the first half and then Roman Charles-Cook made it 2-2 on 68 minutes.
Dover Athletic: Terrell, Charles-Cook, Olarewaju, Dunne, Anifowose, Sutherland (Dembele 74mins), Nikaj (Baptiste 82mins), Allen (Bello 38mins), McLean, Naylor, Oyenuga. Subs not used: Young, Ojemen.
Torquay United: Halstead, Lapslie, Hall, Jarvis, Collins (De Silva 66mins), Ash, McGavin (Martin 55mins), Craske, Donnellan, Davies (Moxey 86mins), Tomlinson. Subs not used: Hanson, Lovett.
Referee: Charles Martland.
Easy as you like. Gulls with a dream start to the game! #tufc pic.twitter.com/355R37SkQX
— TORQUAYTALK (@TORQUAYTALK) August 5, 2023
Ahh United should kill the game right at the end but its blocked away. It ends 2-2 #tufc pic.twitter.com/HtgFtOYCkD
— TORQUAYTALK (@TORQUAYTALK) August 5, 2023
“That’s the lowest standard that we should be at for the rest of the season,” Johnson told BBC Radio Devon.
“We can’t be that low in our performance, we’ve got much higher hopes for this group than the game today.
“But football’s football, and that’s what happens sometimes.
“If you can get a couple of good results in your home games and show the supporters what we’ve shown them in the pre-season home games then they’ll get back and be a bit more confident in us.
“Some of our lads are learning about the National League South, it’s not a mug league, we’ve got some young lads who are a little bit inexperienced but it wasn’t only them,” added Johnson.
“Not one person in the team played their best game and we’ve had a chat about that already in the dressing room, and we’ll hopefully they’ll find their form for the two home games like our home supporters have seen.
“It feels like a bit of a defeat for all of us, if we were 2-0 down and drew 2-2 it wouldn’t have been so bad, but we were well in the ascendency and then they scored and it just gave them oxygen.”
“It’s a fantastic start to the season,” said Dover boss Mitch Brundle, as per KentOnline. “But we don’t want to get too carried away.
“We had a game-plan.
“When they’re 2-0 up, you sort of think ‘Ooh, what’s going on?’ But we went in at half-time and saw we were creating problems, but it was just sloppy errors for the goals.
“The way we changed at half-time, we showed real bouncebackability. I know I’ve got that in the dressing room now.
“It’s hard to see if we have got that in pre-season because the games don’t mean anything. But to come from 2-0 down against a top side in this league and draw 2-2, that’s a fantastic result.
“It’s brilliant for the football club. There’s lots of things being said around the football club at the minute.
“I’m just glad that we’ve managed to put a little positive on people going home – you see them all smiling, applauding us off, because they saw the work-rate that we put in from start to finish.”
“The way we changed at half-time, we showed real bouncebackability. I know I’ve got that in the dressing room now.”
Mitch Brundle praised his new-look @DoverAthletic squad’s “bouncebackability” as they fought back for an opening-day point against Torquayhttps://t.co/xN1M3myiD3
— KentOnline Sport (@KentOnlineSport) August 6, 2023
🗣️| Gaffer reaction…
Mitch gives his thoughts on today’s performance!#OneTownOneTeamOneDover ⚪⚫️ pic.twitter.com/rSOPATNN9b
— Dover Athletic FC (@DoverAthletic) August 5, 2023
Here’s how Twitter users reacted as a Torquay fan left appalled at what Dover fans allegedly did to his Pride flag…
@RachelVillavox: sorry to hear this Tom. utter cavemen. pity we were so rubbish today to add to the disappointment. keep being beautiful mate 💪🏳️🌈💛🤍💙
@daverees1983: Something things will never change, @DoverAthletic sort this out, @kickitout @FvHtweets
@RainbOs_1881: So sorry to hear this
@jimmybuk: This is horrendous! The whole of the football community should be outraged by this behaviour. It has taken so long for communities to feel welcome and diversity celebrated & someone does this ☹️🌈
@Rainbow_Reds: Standing with you 🏳️🌈
@TUFCtravelclub: Completely unacceptable . Poor from @DoverAthletic yet again!
@JimSummersNews: Sorry to hear this, Tom. 🏳️🌈
@donttakethepeas: Dover… this isn’t acceptable
@Rainbow_Saints: Solidarity with you all. Disgraceful behaviour ❤️🏳️🌈❤️🏳️⚧️❤️
@SaintsDanSFC: @TheVanaramaNL @Vanarama sort it out not a good look for your leagues.
@chrislintott: Solidarity. Appealing from the club….but if they’re angry then it shows how important it is the flag is there.
@LloyderNumber5: Sorry to hear that happened
@jane_kelly21: That’s disgusting, bloody homophobes, should be ashamed 🤬
@jay_warda: Really crappy behaviour! Solidarity to you my friend @PrideinFootball @CPFC @ProudandPalace
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