Trio of former Glovers in Welsh Euro 2020 squad
Focus turns from domestic to international football this summer with Euro 2020 on the horizon after being postponed last year.
Three former Glovers are heading to the tournament as part of Rob Page’s Welsh squad.
Goalkeeper, Wayne Hennessey, defender Connor Roberts and forward Kieffer Moore are all included as the Dragons prepare for group games against Switzerland, Turkey and Italy.
Everyone here at the Gloverscast would like to give the trio a huge Llongyfarchiadau and pob lwc as they head into the tournament.
CARFAN CYMRU #EURO2020
??????????????????????????????????????????#DreigiauCymru | #TogetherStronger pic.twitter.com/oplzDxWKkg
— Wales ??????? (@Cymru) May 30, 2021
Murphy “set to sign for Southend”
The Southend Echo are reporting that Yeovil Town striker Rhys Murphy is set to agree terms on a move to Southend United following the conclusion of his contract.
Murphy joined the Glovers from Chelmsford City two seasons ago and contributed 30 league goals, plus plenty more in the cup competitions during his time at Huish Park.
Murphy was absent from the final day celebrations against Stockport and appears to have signed on the dotted line at Roots Hall following rumours of his impending departure.
Southend will play in the National League next season after being relegated from League Two.
Thanks for the goals, Rhys.
Loan spell helped Neufville regain his belief
Josh Neufville has thanked Yeovil Town for helping him to regain his belief in his own ability as his loan spell at the club ended.
The 20-year-old underwent surgery on an ankle injury suffering last weekend’s 4-3 defeat at Altrincham and took to Twitter to thank people who had sent their best wishes.
This week, the youngster was offered a new contract with his parent club, Championship side Luton Town, and seems destined to have a bright future.
I’d like to say a big Thankyou to all the fans who have shown me love and support throughout social media and for those who were there at my last game, I’d like to thank the players and staff who have regained the belief in my ability I always knew I had. Farewell @YTFC pic.twitter.com/BU7PgKquuh
— joshua neufville (@JoshuaNeufvill1) May 30, 2021
National League Play-Off fixtures confirmed
The 2020/21 Vanarama National League has come to a conclusion, a topsy turvy season with Covid Stops, No Fans in the grounds and not one but two sides not completing the season (of course, one of them, Macclesfield, never started).
But after 42 games, the table has been finalised and we now know the end of season play of schedule.
Four sides, Notts County, Hartlepool, Bromley and Chesterfield will play off in eliminators to set up semi-finals vs either Torquay or Stockport.
The final will take place at (checks notes) Ashton Gate, home of Bristol City on June 20th.
Best of luck to all those taking part, apart from Chesterfield.
There’s always play-off drama in the Vanarama! ?7️⃣⚽️
The schedule ? pic.twitter.com/aQp9PH9F6L
— The National League (@TheVanaramaNL) May 29, 2021
Billy Sass-Davies thanks Yeovil Town
Yeovil Town’s on loan defender Billy Sass-Davies took to social media to thank the Glovers for a brilliant spell during the back end of the 2020/21 season.
Sass-Davies, who has international duty on the horizon with Wales Under 21s tweeted that he ‘wants to wish everyone associated with the club the very best in the future’.
The Crewe loanee has played 22 times for the Glovers, scoring once, against Barnet.
All the best back at Crewe and for Wales, Billy, from everyone at the Gloverscast
I can’t thank everybody at @YTFC enough, I’ve loved it. The coaches, the lads and all the fans have been brilliant with me since I arrived. I want to wish everyone associated with the club the very best in the future?
— Billy Sass Davies (@billysass17) May 29, 2021
Charlie Lee: “I’ve loved every minute”
Yeovil Town midfielder Charlie Lee played his last game in the green and white of Yeovil Town on Saturday, he spoke to BBC Somerset’s Tom Seymour after the game and reiterated his gratitude and delight at his time in Somerset, even if it didn’t end up in the ultimate goal of getting the Glovers promoted.
“Loved it, amazing place, really beautiful part of the country, we came down last season and we had a really good season, loved every minute”.
Whilst the first season of Lee’s time ended in a shorter than scheduled league campaign and an even shorter crack at the play-offs, this season has been very different, one which Lee suggests has been a major factor in deciding it’s time to move on
“This season, no words – it’s been an emotional season, I’m immensely proud of everyone at the club; fans, players, the manager, Terry, all the staff… when we look back at the season we will realise what a learning curve it was for everyone”.
Lee, joined Yeovil as part of a new core of players who changed the culture and brought the fans back closer to the playing staff, included in that group was Lee Collins, tributes were paid to Collins before and during the match after his sad passing in March and Lee admitted he’d found the day emotional.
“Most people who know me, know I’m always able to find a word – I’m always quite loud, in the huddle before the game, I had literally no words, having the girls (Lee Collins‘ daughters) meant so much, the family was immense, and I’m just really happy that it happened.”
Focus turned to the final game of the season, a 1-0 defeat to Stockport, but Lee was adamant that the scoreline didn’t reflect the performance.
“Yeah, I thought we deserved something out of the game, it’s been the story of our last couple of months. They’re (Stockport) a very good team, good luck to them, they’re a great group of lads, who were more than respectful and played an amazing tribute to the skipper too”
Attention then turned onto what was next for the former Stevenage man, who confirmed retirement wasn’t on his mind and that he intended to continue playing.
“I’m still going to play, I feel like I’ve got more time in me… but the last two years, with everything that has happened, living away from them (his family) has been tough, in an ideal world they would have followed me down to Somerset, but the way our lives are at the minute, they couldn’t”
“They’ve loved me being at Yeovil, but it was just time to go back. I’m really gutted, I would have loved to have stayed, but circumstances meant that I just couldn’t”
“I would love to have got Yeovil back into the league, that was my aim, that was the only reason I came to Yeovil to be honest… I’m gutted, I know with the Manager and staff and everyone here and the players that are staying, they’ll have a real good go – I wish them nothing but success”
Charlie Lee played 66 times across the two seasons, scoring five goals. – Thank you Charlie, for everything.
Sarll: “I am determined to do the right thing.”
Picture courtesy of Mike Kunz.
Manager Darren Sarll has said he is “determined to do the right thing” by Yeovil Town as he prepares to rebuild a squad ready for next season.
Speaking after a 1-0 defeat to $tockport County on the final game of the National League season, which saw his side finish in 16th place, the boss said he will “shut down” and return a week on Monday to look towards the next campaign.
He told BBC Somerset: “For the first time, I am looking for a break, I am going to shut down for a week and then we will start talking to the players a week on Monday.
“Them we need to rebuild around a completely different budget, against a different thought process.
“We need to use the resilience we have built this year because things like we have all been through this year give you such a strong bond and we need too go again.
“I am determined to do the right thing by the supporters, by the club and by the big man up there (club captain, Lee Collins).”
He said the club now needed to remove a “dark, grey cloud” which has been over the club this season when they have suffered the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, an extended run of poor form, an injury crisis and the death of Lee Collins, which shook the club in March.
The manager added: “We need time off to break up that dark, grey cloud over us and start again. We need to rebuild the enthusiasm and energy of the team, and reinvigorate those lads.
“No-one knows what it is like to be in our shoes, no-one except us and that is what connects us so tightly.
“I loved that at the end there, I thank every supporter from the bottom of my heart, because that is like fuel for me to try and do them justice next year.”
Sarll was joined for his post-match chat with the media by Amelia, the daughter of the late Lee Collins, who was in attendance at the game with her sisters and Lee’s partner, Rachel Gibbons.
The boss thanked supporters for the warm reception they gave the family, himself and his team at the end of the game when supporters on the Thatcher’s End terrace serenaded them with the now famous ‘Allez, Allez, Allez’ chant.
Sarll said: “It was tough at the end, but I think we did everything we had to do in the right way and conducted ourselves in a really graceful manner and did the right thing.
“We know the season has been really poor, we can all talk about availability and COVID and no fans, but the fact of the matter is we have dipped below expectation and I am sorry for that.
“It was unbelievable and the girls which is what it is all about, they need to experience the connection and what it was like and why it was so important. and they got that feel of that connection between the players and the supporters.”
D’ath Injured Against Stockport
In a season where injury has been one of the main concerns at Huish Park, Lawson D’ath had to be stretchered off the pitch in the final game.
D’ath who was only recently back from a long term injury had to be carried off the pitch and was replaced by Jimmy Smith.
YTFC Live commentator Marcus Duncomb suggested that there was concern over the right knee which had kept the former Reading and Northampton man out of large parts of the season.
Darren Sarll looked visibly distressed as his midfielder was taken off.
We will bring you news and quotes from the manager as soon as they become available, but we can only wish D’ath well as his season ended on crutches.
Thanks for putting your body on the line when we needed you most Lawson.
Match report: Stockport County (home)
A season to forget for so many reasons came to an end for Yeovil Town with a defeat against play-off hopefuls $tockport County at Huish Park.
It was a 23rd minute own goal from Michael Kelly that sealed it. The defender’s outstretched leg turned a shot from the visitors’ midfield talisman John Rooney past a helpless Adam Smith in the Yeovil goal.
But, the story here was not the scoreline or even the performance in many ways, it was an opportunity to celebrate the life of club captain Lee Collins whose family were present to join his team-mates.
On top of this, we said farewell to defender Carl Dickinson and midfielders Charlie Lee and Jimmy Smith, who were all playing their final matches for the club before going on to pastures new.
It felt like the end of an era with the exit of some of the key players who have symbolised the side Darren Sarll has put together since the club’s relegation out of the League – but perhaps the most welcome thing it symbolised was the end of a long, difficult campaign.
Perhaps even more sadly, there was no sign of out-of-contract top scorer Rhys Murphy whose future appears to be away from Huish Park.
Here’s how I saw it…..
FIRST HALF
The only change from the previous weekend’s defeat at Altrincham, saw Alex Bradley return to the side after a three-match suspension to replace the injured Josh Neufville.
There was no place in the $tockport starting line-up for former Glovers’ hero Paddy Madden, missing with an ankle injury, but the big-spending visitors did field a strong side as they sought three points to secure third place in the National League.
Before the match, there was an emotional minute’s applause in memory of club captain Lee Collins, who tragically died in March, with the Yeovil team joined by Lee’s family who were among the mascots for the game.
✨ Unity. #YTFC ? pic.twitter.com/TklgezwzD2
— Yeovil Town F.C. (@YTFC) May 29, 2021
In the fourth minute, there was a further mark of respect for Lee as applause rang around the ground in memory of our number 4.
It took until the 12th minute of a competitive opening for either side to muster a chance. Lawson D’Ath‘s long ball found Joe Quigley down the right and he unleashed a thunderous shot which $tockport keeper Ben Hinchcliffe did well to turn aside for a corner.
Reuben Reid found himself on the ball inside the box soon after but could not pull the trigger quickly enough to test Hinchcliffe.
On 22 minutes a corner floated to the back post looked to be destined for the head of Charlie Lee, only for Quigley to try and get his head on it and take it away from his team-mate. To put it mildly, Lee was not happy his the striker and less than a minute later, $tockport went ahead.
On 23 minutes, John Rooney, the brother of former England captain, Wayne, picked up the ball on the edge of the box and jinked his way forward before getting off a shot which deflected off the outstretched leg of Glovers’ defender Michael KELLY and flew in to the net.
On 32 minutes, a neat piece of play by Yeovil found Reid at the far post but his header was not powerful enough, but despite a decent number of chances for the home side, the visitors bossed possession and looked imperious on the ball.
For Yeovil, it was a frustrating first half from Reid and Quigley up front with neither managing to strike up a partnership with each other. We really cannot underestimate the importance of getting a replacement for Rhys Murphy this summer.
A minute from half-time, D’Ath pulled up with an injury which physios very quickly applied ice to his knee, before he was led off the pitch on a stretcher.
Soon after Quigley was left with an obvious head wound after a collision with Ash Palmer. Referee Scott Tallis, who grip on the game had been slowly unraveling throughout the half, was happy to let the incident go until Yeovil keeper Adam Smith ‘informed him otherwise’, to put it one way. Palmer ended up in the book for the foul and Smith for dissent.
Then in an apparent effort to one-up himself, the referee gave a foul against Lee for a coming together inside the box which looked more like a foul against the midfielder – and then booked it.
Ref has not got a clue here, lost control completely #YTFC
— Jacob Westlake (@JacobHarry_17) May 29, 2021
Half time: Yeovil Town 0 $tockport County 1 (Kelly o.g.)
SECOND HALF
It could have been the perfect start to the second half when, just a minute after the restart when Jimmy Smith‘s ball in to the box was met by a header from Quigley whose effort came back from the underside of the bar and away. In the words of Ben Barrett on the Gloverscast WhatsApp group – how’s your luck?
Rooney put a half-volley just over on the hour mark with $tockport still looking in control, and it was not long until Rooney was in the thick of it again working an opening for Ryan Croasdale who steered a shot wide.
As clear-cut chances go, that effort on the 67th minute was probably about as much as either side saw.
Alex Reid had put a half-chance well over at one end whilst for Yeovil there was plenty of possession midfield, some huff, some puff, but nothing that worked Hinchcliffe in the visitors’ goal.
Emmanuel Sonupe replaced Chris Dagnall and youngster Toby Stephens came on for the frustrating Reid, but despite refusing to stop pressing Yeovil could not create a threatening opportunity.
And that was that. The National League season we have been hoping could over for weeks is finally over. Enjoy your summer, folks.
Full time: Yeovil Town 0 $tockport County 1 (Kelly o.g.)
Yeovil Town: A.Smith, Kelly, Sass-Davies, Dickinson, Bradley, Lee, Knowles, D’Ath (for J.Smith, 44), Dagnall (for Sonupe, 74), Quigley, Reid.
Substitues (not used): Evans (GK), Stephens, Heaton.
Bookings: A. Smith, Lee
$tockport County: Hinchcliffe, J.Jennings, Hogan, Palmer, Rooney, Keane, Southam-Hales, Croasdale, Reid, Walker, Cardwell (for Bennett, 80).
Substitutes (not used): Fitzsimons (GK), Minihan, Bennett, Williams, Newby.
Bookings: Palmer, Southam-Hales.