October 2022 (Page 7)

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Venue: Huish Park
Saturday October 15th, 3pm kick-off

Conditions: Dry but blustery wind
Pitch: Heavily watered, but held up okay

Attendance: 3,093 (964 away supporters)

Scorers: None

Bookings: 

Yeovil Town:  None
Taunton Town: Lee Lucas 78, Zac Smith 80

Referee: Daniel Middleton

 

Yeovil Town : (3-5-2)

Grant Smith

Owen Bevan  Josh Staunton Ben Richards-Everton

                                 Morgan Williams                                                          Chiori Johnson

Sam Pearson Sam Perry Matt Worthington

Charlie Wakefield (for Jake Scrimshaw, 79) Malachi Linton (for Alex Fisher, 61)

Substitutes: Will Buse, Max Hunt, Callum Rowe, Ollie Haste, Will Dawes.

Taunton Town: Bycroft, Foulston, Grimes, Ball, Chamberlain, James, Jarvis, McCootie (for Guest, 87), Stearn (for Morgan, 66), Smith, Lucas (for Budd, 87). Substitutes: Warwick, Staley, Sims-Burgess, Staley. 

 

Match Report

Yeovil Town face an FA Cup replay at Somerset rivals Taunton Town on Tuesday night after being held to a stalemate at Huish Park.

The National League South side, who sit 17th in their division as the Glovers do one tier higher up the pyramid, dominated the opening 45 minutes but could not turn their dominance in to a goal.

In the second half, the Glovers at least created a couple of opportunities to test the visiting keeper with Matt Worthington and Charlie Wakefield both going close.

But, the final whistle was met by boos from the Yeovil Town supporters in the biggest crowd of the season at Huish Park and raucous celebrations from the visiting supporters who will welcome their Somerset rivals to Wordsworth Drive in 72 hours time.

First half

It was the visitors who started the stronger with Nat Jarvis heading a Lloyd James free-kick over after just five minutes, but on 16 minutes Taunton’s best chance fell to Ross Stearn. The midfielder was found five yards by  Jarvis’ nod down from an Ollie Chamberlain cross, but inexplicably his effort came off the post and away.

Grant Smith turns a shot over the bar. Picture courtesy of Mike Kunz.

The Peacocks’ bright start was exacerbated by a sluggish one from Yeovil as they grew in to the game a little with Sam Pearson’s ball almost finding Morgan Williams. Not quite though.

Chamberlain’s effort forced a stop out of Grant Smith on 27 minutes, turning the half-volley over the bar and a goal would have been nothing more than the National League South side, separated by 24 league places from the Glovers, deserved having dominated the first half to this point.

As so often has been the case this season, on loan Bristol City winger Sam Pearson was the catalyst for Yeovil’s best chance on 34 minutes when his cross was headed over by captain Josh Staunton, and four minutes later fellow loanee Sam Perry had a great opportunity having been found by a ball from Charlie Wakefield.

But, half chances were as good as it got for the home side whilst Taunton will have gone in the more frustrated to be goalless at the half-time interval.

Half time:  Yeovil Town 0 Taunton Town 0

Second half

Yeovil came out for the second half stronger than the finished the first half and carved out their first meaningful chance when Williams beat his marker to get on to a pass from Matt Worthington to force visiting keeper Jack Bycroft in to action.

Sam Perry had a shot blocked on 52 minutes after impressive play by Pearson and two minutes later a speculative effort by Wakefield tried to catch Bycroft off his lead – speculatively, it is fair to say.

Chiori Johnson tussles for a ball. Picture courtesy of Mike Kunz.

In the middle of the park, there was more impetus from Worthington and just before the hour mark his strike took a deflection and went just wide.

Stearn had another good opportunity on 63 minutes which was palmed wide by Grant Smith who needed Williams to clear for a corner with Zac Smith closing in.

With the wind in their favour in the second half, the visitors had a string of corners which Yeovil had to defend before Wakefield, still looking to get off the mark having had a prolific Cup campaign last season, had a gilt-edged chance. On 67 minutes, Pearson found him within six yards but the frontman’s effort went tamely wide.

Taunton striker Jarvis had a great opportunity with 78 minutes on the clock, but a combination of Ben Richards-Everton and Smith were enough to deny him. Another good opportunity for the visitors.

Worthington headed over with seven minutes remaining and Williams put a tame header wide as the game crept in to injury time.

But, the game finished goalless, deservedly for the visitors who were more than good enough to deserve a replay at Wordsworth Drive on Tuesday night.

The result was a repeat of the last time the two sides met in a competitive fixture back in September 1996 – with a goalless draw at Huish Park followed by a 5-3 win in the county town in that second qualifying round tie.

Full time:  Yeovil Town 0 Taunton Town 0

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Finley Craske has been named on the substitutes’ bench for Plymouth Argyle following his recall from a loan spell at Yeovil Town.

The 19-year-old is in the squad for the Pilgrims’ visit to MK Dons in League One today.

Glovers’ boss Chris Hargreaves told BBC Somerset’s Sheridan Robins that the return to Devon was “a great opportunity” for the versatile youngster, who made two appearances after joining in August.

Craske’s last appearance came as a 65th minute substitute in the 1-0 defeat at Southend United with his previous outing coming on after 67 minutes in the 2-2 home draw with Chesterfield.

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Yeovil Town have made just one change with Morgan Williams replacing Lawson D’Ath as they prepare to take on Taunton Town in the FA Cup fourth qualifying round this afternoon (3pm).

Boss Chris Hargreaves spoke before the match about taking precautions with D’Ath who was replaced by Williams early in the second half of last weekend’s 1-0 home win over Solihull Moors.

That switch saw Williams go to right wing-back in place of Sam Pearson who moved further forward in to midfield, so we’re guessing that is how the Glovers will set-up today.

On the bench, Callum Rowe is back a month after he was ruled out for six weeks for his third appearance in the Glovers’ squad and his first since the goalless draw at Wealdstone on August Bank Holiday Monday.

Goalkeeper Will Buse, who spent last season on loan at Taunton, is also on the bench.

Speak to BBC Somerset’s Sheridan Robins ahead of the match, Hargreaves said: “Lawson was very sore after the last game and I had to bring him off to stop him doing further damage on an Achilles’ problem, so he’s definitely there in spirit and has been working his socks off to get himself fit.

“It would be good to see some of the other lads in the squad, but I have to stay strong and consistent because those lads (who are starting) have put in a real shift in recent weeks.”

Yeovil Town : (3-4-3)

Grant Smith

Owen Bevan  Josh Staunton Ben Richards-Everton

                                 Morgan Williams                                                          Chiori Johnson

Sam Pearson Sam Perry Matt Worthington

Charlie Wakefield Malachi Linton

Substitutes: Will Buse, Max Hunt, Callum Rowe, Ollie Haste, Will Dawes,  Jake Scrimshaw, Alex Fisher.

Taunton Town: Bycroft, Foulston, Grimes, Ball, Chamberlain, James, Jarvis, McCootie, Stearn, Smith, Lucas. Substitutes: Budd, Guest, Warwick, Staley, Sims-Burgess, Staley, Morgan.

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Yeovil Town Under-18s are back on home soil taking on BRS Coaching Youth in the South West Counties Youth League at Alvington on Saturday (10.30am kick-off).

The young Glovers picked up a 3-0 win away at Wimborne Town last weekend to move up to third in the division and will be looking for three more points against an opponent who have suffered a number of heavy defeats this season.

The Ringwood-based outfit lost their first two matches of the season 11-0 at league leaders Bridgwater United and 7-1 against Cirencester Town, but picked up a 3-1 home win over Mangotsfield United last weekend.

The club’s other age group teams, playing as part of the Yeovil Town Community Sports Trust, are also in Junior Premier League action on Saturday.

The Under-13s, Under-14s, Under-15s and Under-16s all take on opposition from the Mid-Somerset Regional Talent Centre. The Under-11s and Under-12s teams do not have a fixture this weekend.

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  • Yeovil Town chairman Scott Priestnall has spoken about the different debts the club has in an update posted this morning.

The owner confirmed the following in his update published on the club’s website on Friday morning – see here:

  • The club still owes Sport England almost £1m from loans it took out to handle the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic – but the chairman is still working with the National League to get these written off.
  • £600,000 in shareholder loans have been written off by Yeovil Town Holdings Limited (YTFC Holdings), one of the two business which operates as part of the club.
  • The £1.35m loan taken out by Priestnall and Errol Pope, the businessman who he bought the club with in 2019, has been paid off.

The writing off of £600,000 in loans appears to be a financial arrangement between YTFC Holdings and Yeovil Football & Athletic Club (YF&AC). We’ll certainly not claim to be financial experts, but any figure of that magnitude being written off certainly sounds like a good thing.

The two companies were set up back in 2010 when then-owners Norman Hayward and John Fry separated the clubs assets with YTFC Holdings taking ownership of the land around Huish Park and YF&AC taking ownership of the stadium and the club’s football operations.

Priestnall is the only director of YTFC Holdings whilst YF&AC counts the chairman and fellow director Stuart Robins among its board members – and, according to another part of the update, soon will include Martyn Starnes, who is returning as the club’s Chief Executive Officer, read more on that – here. Starnes was previously involved in the club for six years up until 2013 when he joined Plymouth Argyle.

In his update, the chairman confirmed that any charges owed to MSP Capital, the Poole-based finance group which lent money to Priestnall and Pope when they bought the club in 2019, had been removed.

We reported back in May that the money had been repaid to MSP Capital following a filing made at the time – see here.

In his Friday statement, Priestnall said: “All MSP Capital charges have been removed from Yeovil Town Holdings Limited and Yeovil Football & Athletic (Club) Limited. Any MSP Capital charges still showing as outstanding at Companies House should show as cleared when their website is updated.”

In summary, nearly £1m still owed to Sport England but discussions to write it off still continuing, £600,000 in shareholder loans written off and money owed to MSP Capital written off as well.

 

The Sport England loans get quite a bit of focus in the update with Priestnall first confirming that the almost £1m (£998,538, to be precise) has not been paid off by money raised from the sale of Huish Park and surrounding land to South Somerset District Council in May.

The chairman has reiterated that at the time the club took the loans the National League “were given assurances that in time these loans would be written off“.

Now, when the Gloverscast contacted the Department for Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS) last month to ask them what the current situation was with regards to the loans they gave out as part of the Sport Survival Package and they told us: “The terms of the loan repayment remain the same as when it was provided in early 2021. We expect every loan recipient to fulfil the terms of their loan.”

However, it seems Priestnall, a member of the National League’s board of directors, is working alongside his counterparts to keep up the fight to get the debts cancelled.

He added: “I will continue to work with The National League, who have regular meetings with DCMS, and other National League System clubs to get these loans written off.

“Like all National League clubs who took loans, a four-year holiday period was granted before repayment begins and I will be pushing the National League to ensure those assurances are upheld.”

‘Gate Money – Inside Non-League Football’s Funding Fiasco’ is a documentary due to air in November.

The chairman’s update also makes reference to a documentary – titled ‘Gate Money: Inside Non-League Football’s Funding Fiasco’ – which he says has “been produced to investigate the distribution of payments to National League clubs to help support them through the recent lockdown due to the Coronavirus pandemic.”

The documentary, produced by SPNJRT Media Productions and Moody Shots Production, is due for broadcast in November and a trailer can be viewed – here.

In his update, Priestnall says he opposed the way the money was distributed despite the club receiving “the highest level of distribution” of funding.

The chairman said: “As board minutes will show, although YTFC were one of the clubs that received the highest level of distribution, I was one director who voted against and regularly opposed the formula and the way the process was dealt with.

“I never believed it directly addressed what the funds were for. While primarily it kept the League operating, it did not replace lost revenues as publicly stated by DCMS and, in my view, was disproportionately distributed to clubs.

“Clubs with higher average attendance in the National League, National League North and National League South lost out, while clubs which had lower average attendances in the National League pyramid benefited dramatically. Additionally, I also endorsed the publishing of the so-called “Bernstein Report” and could not understand why it had not been published in full at its completion.”

The (so-called) Bernstein Report was written by former FA chairman David Bernstein who led an independent panel charged with looking in to the way money was distributed by the League.

There’s been no statement made by the National League in response to the documentary’s trailer which features Bernstein, so we will wait to see what happens when the full version appears next month.

 

The other parts of the update make reference to “recent reports” and “comments on social media” which the chairman is responding to.

Yeovil Town chairman Scott Priestnall has said he has no ambitions to take over Worcester Warriors.

The first relates to Worcester Warriors, the Premiership Rugby side which has been wound-up by administrators after running in to financial difficulty responds to “recent reports.”

Priestnall says: “I have not been involved in any capacity with Worcester Warriors Rugby Club or any consortium looking to acquire the club since taking over at Yeovil Town FC. I have not had any and have no plan for discussions with any parties regarding an involvement in a new ownership or management team.

“I sincerely hope the club finds a new owner soon who can help get them through a traumatic time for everyone involved with the club.”

In October 2018, the rugby club announced the Glovers’ chairman was part of a consortium which had bought it. That consortium included Errol Pope, who would work with Priestnall to take over at Huish Park a little more than a year later, Jed McCrory and David Seymour, a former Premiership Rugby player.

McCrory took a role on the club’s Executive Board, but there was no mention of either Priestnall or Pope after the initial takeover.

In June 2019, it was announced that Colin Goldring and Jason Whittingham had taken over as joint owners at Worcester with McCrory stepping down from his role on the board.

By this point, Priestnall and Pope were completing their takeover of Yeovil Town and it appears no longer involved with Worcester.

 

In the other part of his update, the chairman said that CV Leisure, the company which he used to take over at Huish Park in 2019, had not claimed support through the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, the initiative otherwise known as ‘furlough’ set up by the Government.

The updated said: “There have been comments on social media regarding a Coronavirus job retention scheme claim for CV Leisure Ltd. I can confirm that CV Leisure never made an application to claim support and therefore any information circulating on social media is incorrect.“

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Young midfielder Toby Stephens has joined Plymouth Parkway on a three-month loan deal.

The 19-year-old has joined the Southern League Division One South side ahead of their trip to Harrow Borough this weekend.

Stephens has recently ended a loan spell at Truro City where he struggled to get minutes, but the surroundings will be familiar as Parkway share their Bolitho Park with Truro.

 

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Martyn Starnes will soon be appointed as the club’s new Chief Executive Officer and join the club’s board, according to chairman and owner Scott Priestnall.

Yeovil Town owner and chairman Scott Priestnall and soon-to-be club CEO Martyn Starnes at the recent 1-1 draw with Dorking Wanderers.

In an update posted on the club’s website on Friday, the chairman said that Starnes would “shortly” be appointed in the role which he previously held for a six-year period up until July 2013 when he left to take over at Plymouth Argyle.

He has been a regular feature at Huish Park in recent months with director Stuart Robins telling us on the Gloverscast that Starnes was involved in a “voluntary” capacity which now looks set to become permanent.

Speaking of Starnes in the statement, Priestnall said: “I can confirm that the club’s former CEO has been assisting myself and the club for the last few months and will be shortly appointed as a Director of Yeovil Football & Athletic (Club) Limited and once again take up the role of CEO.

“Martyn has vast experience and expertise in football, and I look forward to Martyn leading the club off the field and working closely with (manager) Chris (Hargreaves) to improve on the field.”

In a wide-ranging statement, the chairman said that discussions were continuing with “potential investors” and added that “the door is open for anyone to approach the club with interest in being involved in the ownership of the club.”

He added: “I will of course take any approach seriously and communicate this to supporters I’m hoping that we will have one or two additional board directors before the end of the year.”

It would appear that Starnes will be joining Robins, who became a director in May when he bought a 20% stake in Yeovil Football & Athletic Club Limited, the business which operates its football operations, and Priestnall on the board – and there’s perhaps another to come.

 

On the pitch, the chairman added that he would continue to support manager Chris Hargreaves to build a team “which can compete” in the National League.

He said he believed that the team was “improving in that department” following last weekend’s 1-0 home win over Solihull Moors and said the manager had “been given additional resources” to strengthen the squad.

The chairman also said there would be a meeting held in November where supporters would be able to “have their voice heard and raise questions.”

Priestnall added: “I don’t think anyone can dispute the quality of our performances this season, and of course we need to turn those performances into wins.

“Chris has been given additional resources to improve the squad as we look to capitalise on a good win Saturday against a very strong Solihull side.

“Whilst I appreciate, I won’t ever win some of you over, I hope that you continue to put your support behind Chris and the team, in the meantime we will be setting up a meeting next month for supporters to have their voice heard and raise questions.”

Speaking in his press conference ahead of tomorrow’s FA Cup tie with Taunton Town, Hargreaves said he believed that any money generated by a run in the competition would be reinvested in to the squad.

He said: “There’s no doubt that the money will come back to the playing squad if it’s right at that point and the management of the club’s (finances) is vital.”

The chairman has confirmed that since selling the land at Huish Park to South Somerset District Council in a deal which cost the local authority £2.8m, the club has been “working with consultancy firms, architects and investment partners to assemble a plan for the development of Huish Park.”

He added: “We have held various discussions with potential partners and have had a planning meeting with the council.

“Over the coming months we will be looking to finalise our plans for both the land and re-development of the stadium. I hope to get those plans and our next steps out to you all later this year.”

To be perfectly clear, the council put £2.8m in its budget to complete the acquisition of the land, but we have been told that this is not the amount the club received in the deal. That figure has not been made available, except that it’s not £2.8m.

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Chris Hargreaves is hoping to be able to harness Yeovil Town’s FA Cup pedigree as the competition gets underway this weekend.

The Glovers face a Somerset derby against Taunton Town in the competition’s fourth qualifying round at Huish Park looking to progress.

Chris Hargreaves in conversation with his assistant Chris Todd. Picture courtesy of Mike Kunz.

Last season, Darren Sarll’s side reached the competition’s third round, putting out Stevenage to take their Football League scalps to 21 and making the club the most successful in the competition’s history.

Speaking to BBC Somerset’s Sheridan Robins ahead of the game, Hargreaves said: “The club has had some very good runs in the FA Cup over the years and we are very aware of that.

“It is still an unbelievable competition, when I look back at my debut which I can’t tell you how many years ago it was, it was a way to make a name for yourself.

“It was the only way to get on to Match of the Day unless you were playing in the top flight and it was a way to generate money for the club.

“That will be the same for both clubs this weekend and we know we have a tough test ahead.”

The record books suggest that Hargreaves’ first FA Cup tie was playing for Hereford United in a 1-1 draw at Colchester United in December 1997, out of interest.

But, as you have already heard, the boss is taking nothing for granted against the National League South side from up the A358 who the Glovers were held to a goalless draw against in a pre-season friendly.

Hargreaves said: “We are up against an opposition that has had fantastic success recently and have done an unbelievable job getting promoted.

“Rob (Dray, the Taunton manager) has done an unbelievable job in galvanising that club and getting them to that level.

“We played them in pre-season and it was a tight game, so I expect them to be as resilient and competitive again but we have to concentrate on ourselves.

“If we do that, we know we are a good side, it’s just a case of finding that consistency.”

The Screwfix Stand will not be open for the tie with away supporters taking the away terrace blocks AA-B in the Main Stand at Huish Park and home fans taking Blocks B-GG and the Thatcher’s Gold Stand.

Tickets are still available to buy – click here to buy.

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Chris Hargreaves has suggested there will be “a few tweaks” to his starting line-up as Yeovil Town start their FA Cup campaign this weekend.

The Glovers’ boss will get seven substitutes to select for the Somerset derby with Taunton Town at Huish Park which will give him the chance to give a few opportunities to those who have not made the squad.

The likes of striker Jake Scrimshaw and on-loan goalkeeper Will Buse, who are both yet to start a game for the club, and young defender Ollie Haste, recently returned from a successful spell at Truro City, will be hoping to get a chance to shine.

Chris Hargreaves. Picture courtesy of Mike Kunz.

Asked by BBC Somerset reporter Sheridan Robins, the manager said: “It’s difficult picking the bench because you see a lot of players working their socks off in training.

“Seven substitutes gives a couple of players an opportunity to get on the pitch and show what they are all about.”

He added: “We have to show consistency. There might be a few tweaks, but consistent teams are usually successful. It’s all about players knowing their jobs and playing week in and week out.”

The manager was asked specifically about Buse, who was part of the Taunton side which won promotion to National League South last season, who is yet to feature since joining on loan from Bristol City in the summer.

He added: “It might seem like he hasn’t been close, but it’s like that as a keeper, it’s not like the outfield positions where there’s rotation.

“With a keeper you will sometimes have long periods where you are not in the squad, but he can’t do any more in training, he has a fantastic attitude and has been brilliant with the players and the staff.”

Hargreaves added he still had to speak to managers from parent clubs about whether they will allow players to feature and be Cup-tied.

As well as Buse, the Glovers’ boss has defender Owen Bevan (AFC Bournemouth), midfielders Sam Perry (Walsall) and Finley Craske (Plymouth Argyle) and forward Sam Pearson (Bristol City) on loan.

Injury victims left wing-back Jamie Reckord and playmaker Lawson D’Ath will both be “touch and go” for the weekend.

Reckord has not featured in the club’s past two matches whilst D’Ath limped off of last weekend’s 1-0 home win over Solihull Moors after 54 minutes.

The boss said he believed that any money raised by the club’s progress through the FA Cup would be able to be reinvested in the playing staff.

However, he pointed out the importance of the incoming citing the examples of rugby union sides Worcester Warriors and Wasps, who have been wound up and placed in to administration respectively after running in to major financial issues.

The winners of the weekend’s tie will receive £9,375 in prize money with the losers picking up £3,125, but reaching the competition’s third round will bring in more than £100,000 in prize money.

Hargreaves said: “There’s no doubt that the money will come back to the playing squad if it’s right at that point and the management of the club’s (finances) is vital.

“I know I am talking about rugby now, but you look at Worcester and Wasps, these are massive clubs which are going under.

“If that money at that time is used for the club to survive on a day to day basis, that is what it should be used for, but if there’s a surplus and that money can be spent on players that is brilliant.

“I am conscious that in football we need to make sure we are sustainable and we are trying to create that model here whilst being hugely competitive.”

Hargreaves revealed he had recently missed out on bringing in players ahead of last weekend’s 1-0 home win over Solihull Moors and again this week.

He said he had no ambitions of having “a huge squad” but said he was “one or two injuries” away from needing to add to his ranks.

Gime Toure. Picture courtesy of Mike Kunz.

The manager said: “We are trying to look at quality. So if you are bringing in players they have to be as good as our current players or better, otherwise you are just making up the numbers.

“The balance is fine between having strength in depth and selection headaches. At the moment we are okay, but we are probably one or two injuries away from needing back up.

“We lost out on two before last weekend and this weekend, who were needed to stay in and around their own squads either playing or being on the bench.

“They were to come and strengthen our squad and anyone who comes here has to fight for their place in training.”

Forward Gime Toure serves the final match of his three-game suspension for a red card at Southend United at the weekend whilst Matt Worthington will be missing for next weekend’s visit to Oldham Athletic after picking up five yellow cards in National League action.

With bookings being competition specific, the midfielder is available to face Taunton this weekend.

Of Worthington, Hargreaves said: “If you are an on the edge player, you are going to run the risk of getting booked, so I have some sympathy but discipline has to be a key factor.

“He will be loss because he wears his heart of his sleeve but it gives someone an opportunity for someone else to show.”