November 2022 (Page 6)

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Striker Louis Britton will be available for Yeovil Town’s bottom-of-the-table clash with Gateshead this weekend after his international clearance came through.

The 21-year-old has signed a contract until the end of the season following his release by League of Ireland side Cork City, where he played nine times without scoring as they finished Division One champions in the 2022 season which ended in October.

Louis Britton celebrates with Cork City
? @LouisBritton14

The Bristol-born frontman has been training with his new team-mates and was in attendance at the midweek goalless draw with Maidenhead United.

Speaking to the club’s official website, he said: “I’m delighted to finally have got it done so hopefully I can be involved Saturday and I can’t wait to get going now.

“I was disappointed not to be involved on Tuesday, but hopefully I can be on Saturday and play in front of all the fans and hopefully we can get a result. 

“I’ve had a good conversation with the manager and he just wants me to come in and just score goals.

“I would describe myself as an old fashioned centre forward, I hold the ball up well and work hard for the team, but most of all I would say I am a goalscorer.

“If I get the chances, I would back myself to score here.”

At 6’4″ tall, we can assume he will provide a physical presence alongside the club’s other forwards Alex Fisher, Malachi Linton and Gime Toure, who have all scored just twice each in the club’s first 18 league matches, and Jake Scrimshaw, who is yet to start a match since joining at the end of August.

Speaking about the incoming forward on Thursday, Glovers’ boss Mark Cooper said: “Louis Britton has a record of scoring goals, he’s scored in the Championship, whether it’s in training or on the pitch, he will score goals.”

That goal for City came in the 87th minute of a 3-1 home defeat to Brentford in May 2021, a season when Britton also had loans at Torquay United and Stockport County at National League level.

He was snapped up by City in 2019 having been prolific in local football at Brislington, scoring 12 times in 25 games, and Mangotsfield United, scoring 15 in 23.

But, his goal-scoring appearance was his only one for the Robins and spent much of his time out on loan with spells at Yate Town, Bath City and Woking.

He had a prolific season on loan at Cork’s League of Ireland rivals Waterford, scoring ten times in 18 appearances, before moving to the eventual 2022 champions.

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Yeovil Town Under-18s are in cup action this weekend as they take on BRS Coaching Youth Under-18s at Alvington on Saturday (10.30am kick-off).

The young Glovers will be in action in the Gary Else Cup, the cup competition of the South West Counties Youth League, looking to secure another win over the Ringwood-based opponents they beat 6-0 in the league last month.

The club’s younger age group teams, playing under the Yeovil Town Community Sports Trust, are also in action this weekend.

The Under-11s take on FC Wiltshire with the Under-12s facing Cheltenham Town in the Junior Premier League.

The Under-13s, Under-14s and Under-15s teams are all in action against Taunton Town, whilst the Under-16s are without a fixture this weekend.

Good luck to all the teams playing in green and white this weekend.

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Striker Louis Britton does not yet have the international clearance required to make his Yeovil Town debut against bottom club Gateshead this weekend.

But, boss Mark Cooper has said he is hopeful the permission will come through in time for the crunch fixture.

Louis Britton celebrates with Cork City
? @LouisBritton14

The 21-year-old former Bristol City player was at Huish Park to see his soon-to-be new team-mates labour in front of goal during a 0-0 draw with Maidenhead United on Tuesday night.

Britton spent three months on loan from City at League of Ireland side Waterford at the end of last season, scoring ten goals in 17 matches. But after his contract at Ashton Gate expired in the summer, he joined Cork City, but is yet to find the net for the Rebel Army having had limited game time.

Asked about whether his clearance was close by BBC Somerset’s Sheridan Robins, the boss said: “We still have not got it which is disappointing, but we are hopeful (of getting it) before Saturday. It will be a week (by Saturday), so there’s no excuse for it taking any longer, so we are trying to push and get that through for the weekend.”

Strikers Alex Fisher, Malachi Linton and Gime Toure all have two goals each from the opening 18 National League games, and Cooper praised Fisher’s performances in his three matches in charge but said his side need to create more chances.

He brought in wingers Anthony Georgiou and Andrew Oluwaborie on loan from Leyton Orient and Peterborough United respectively ahead of the midweek match and he believes the pair and Britton can make a difference.

He said: “When you are midway through a season and in the position, people are not going to let you have Ronaldo and Messi! So we have to be particular, we have to find the best players we can for the positions we need.

“The players you bring in have to improve what you’ve got and push the players we have in.

“Louis Britton has a record of scoring goals, he’s scored in the Championship, whether it’s in training or on the pitch, he will score goals.

“Anthony Georgiou has a pedigree as an international and once he settles he will be good a good addition for us.

“Andrew (Oluwaborie), the right winger, is pacey and has no fear and he helps get us up the pitch and Jamie Andrews got man of the match the other night. He looks a good stylish midfield player who is 6’0″, 6’1″.”

 

 

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It was another frustrating night in front of goal for Yeovil Town as they lived up to their billing as the division’s lowest goalscorers with an eighth blank of the season in the 0-0 draw with Maidenhead United at Huish Park last night.

But, as Ian concludes, there were some reasons to be cheerful about at least some parts of the performance, here’s how he saw it……

Confidence is key. The first half performance showed a real lack of confidence and belief. Mark Cooper’s team played safe, we’re reluctant to take risks and barely threatened the Maidenhead United goal. Midway through the second half things started to click though. There was energy, attacking intent and the Glovers looked more likely to get something from a game that often ends goalless. After the match Mark Cooper said it was all about rebuilding the Confidence in his players and I think the last 20 minutes was a good platform to build off.

Cooper’s signings look the part. We expected changes in the squad and Mark Cooper has wasted little time. Jamie Andrews has come straight into the midfield and put in a man of the match performance last night. Anthony Georgiou was forward thinking and once settled looks like he can make a good contribution and the lift that Andrew Oluwabori gave the team and crowd was the highlight. His dribbling and speed got supporters on their feet and Yeovil improved with him on the pitch.

Goals are still a problem. Despite a couple of positives (and boy do we need some of those) the lack of goals is a huge problem. There was no shots in target on the first half and just two all game. That comes from a lack of confidence but we’re crying out for a striker to put anything in the goal. After the match the manager revealed Louis Britton, a former Bristol City striker, hadn’t got international clearance yet but is incoming. He was optimistic he would add the goals we so desperately need, hopefully in time for Gateshead. We’re the lowest scorers in the league and if we don’t rectify that we’re in for a long hard slog.

It’s going to take time for things to click. Given our position in the league, it’s difficult to remain patient but we need to be patient again. There was criticism on social media of the performance but two weeks ago most of this team were at their lowest with anger directed at them and Chris Hargreaves. As confidence builds, hopefully the adjustments will click, the patterns of play will develop and results will turn. We kept a clean sheet, looked comfortable defensively for the majority of the game and the attacking intent got the supporters behind the team and we need to harness that.

It’s groundhog day off the pitch. As performances dwindled, the crowds have too. It was a grim night in Yeovil last night and you can forgive those for not deciding to venture out in those conditions, but the reality is 21st vs 16th in a match notorious for a lack of goals isn’t going to draw the punters in. Yet again we find ourselves in the midst of takeover saga that needs a speedy conclusion so that we don’t go through months of uncertainty for the second season in a row.

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A survivor of the Hillsborough disaster will speak about his battle with mental health at a webinar organised by the Yeovil Town Community Sports Trust (YTCST) next week.

Martin Roberts was a teenager in April 1989 when the disaster happened at an FA Cup semi-final between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest leading to the death of 97 supporters.

He now delivers a talk, A Walk in My Shoes, which focuses on the importance of prioritising mental health and how leaders, players, staff, coaches, and parents/carers within the football community can take key steps to support themselves and those in their care.

The free webinar takes place next Monday 14th November between 6.30pm – 7.30pm. To register visit www.thefmha.com/events.

Martin said: “I am absolutely thrilled to have been invited by Yeovil Town Community Sports Trust and The Football Mental Health Alliance to share my personal story. As many will know it was a football match on the 15th of April 1989 that nearly cost me my life and did so tragically for 97 other fellow football supporters.

“Some 30 years later it totally defined my personal and professional life. A purpose in life is a life with purpose and I certainly have found mine. I commend both organisations for taking the lead on mental health in football and can’t wait to share how all those interested in football can take key steps to support themselves and those around them.”

YTCST Manager Sara Bradley said: “Here at Yeovil Town Community Sports Trust, the mental wellbeing of all those in our community is a huge priority for us. We are only too aware of the significant impact the events of the last couple of years and beyond have had and continue to have on the mental health of society.

“This webinar will allow people across the whole of our community to learn and implement key tips around mental health from a recognised expert.”

Danny Matharu, founder of The Football Mental Health Alliance and a grassroots football coach, said: “We are delighted to be working with Yeovil Town Community Sports Trust – an organisation that is truly committed not only to providing excellent educational opportunities but also to supporting the welfare of all those in their community holistically. It is widely recognised that early intervention is key when it comes to maintaining good mental health, so we hope this webinar can help in educating and supporting the mental health of all those who register.

“The plan is for this webinar to be the first in a series across a whole year, offered alongside a full suite of mental health support products for all those who interact with and are interested in football.”

 

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Mark Cooper has challenged his Yeovil Town players to tap in to “the power of Huish Park” after an improved second half performance in the goalless draw with Maidenhead United.

The Glovers’ boss was pleased with the reaction of the crowd of under 2,000 when he introduced substitute Andrew Oluwaborie after a hour, a move which sparked more positive forward play from the National League’s lowest scorers.

Mark Cooper speaking after the goalless draw with Maidenhead United.

Speaking to BBC Somerset’s Sheridan Robins after the match, the boss said he saw enough from his side to believe they will “be alright” despite having picked up their ninth draw of the campaign and failed to add to their two wins so far this season.

He said: “If we had started like we would have won the game, but you can see the problems. There is a real lack of confidence and a fear which is not good but the second half was good.

“I think once we get to grips with how I want to play, which is how we played in the second half, in terms of how we want to pass the ball and get our flair players on the ball one-v-one I think we’ll be alright.”

He added: “You saw the power of Huish Park in the second half, that is not going to happen by us just turning up, I said to the boys they have to give (the fans) something.

“In the second half, we gave them something and they got really behind the boys and they appreciated that and they enjoyed the second half. I think Andrew can be a crowd favourite.

“If we can play like we did in the second half for 70 minutes, the fans will be right behind us.”

The boss threw on Oluwaborie, who joined just hours before kick-off on loan from Peterborough United, and Gime Toure in the second half, but the hosts managed just two shots on target in the entire 90 minutes.

They have managed just 13 goals in their 18 National League matches, making them the division’s lowest scorers by two clear goals.

Cooper revealed after the match he is hoping to get international clearance to bring former Bristol City youngster Louis Britton in, but added that confidence was the issue with the club’s other forwards.

He said: “You have to believe that ball is going to come and land on your head. You have to be an optimist when you’re a striker, you have to believe you are going to get on the end of it and not hope. At the minute we are hoping.

“As a defender you have to be a pessimist and believe everything is going to go wrong and clear it, but in the other box we have to be optimistic and confident because we are hoping not expecting to score at the minute.

“We gambled in the second half, but if we can get more control in the middle of the pitch with the ball and get those exciting wide players that we have got and get Louis Britton’s clearance, who scores goals for fun, we will be alright.”

The boss concluded: “We have to take the positives which is (the point) we go away with and the second half (performance). I understand the first half where the players are down with a lack of confidence and a lack of belief, so you have to build that up.

“We’ll take a point, it takes us out of the bottom four and we go on to (Gateshead at home) on Saturday.”

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Matt Worthington. Picture courtesy of Mike Kunz.

Matt Worthington is sure that Yeovil will start getting wins soon after the Glovers were held to a 0-0 draw against Maidenhead.

Speaking to BBC Somerset’s Sheridan Robins he said that a new manager with new ideas would start paying off soon.

“Hopefully everyone can see it was a big improvement from recent weeks, yeah, we are disappointed not to get the three points, but it’s an improved performance”

“Clean sheets always help, unfortunately we didn’t get one at the other end, but I’m sure that’ll come.”

Yeovil welcomed two new faces into the squad and Worthington was pleased with how Anthony Georgiou and Andrew Oluwabori got going on debut.

“I think the new additions, the wingers looked good coking on, (they) gave us some more attacking threat”

“I think they’re very direct, like to get balls in the box and it’s only a matter of time before we start scoring goals”

“…we know what the problem is, we need to score more goals, midfielders need to score more goals, strikers need to score more goals, but like I said, today was a much improved performance and hopefully going forward, we will get them”

Worthy also spoke about Mark Cooper, a manager he has worked with before, has begun his tenure as Glovers boss and he’s looking forward to seeing the improvements come.

“He’s got a very good footballing brain, you could see that from the first day he came in, the training sessions have been very good, very structured and we know what he wants and what he demands… performances will get better under him”

“Training has been really enjoyable, he wants us to start playing football, I think today you saw glimpses of us in possession but now we can just work on the final third”

 

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Sam Perry. Picture courtesy of Mike Kunz.

Yeovil Town Manager Mark Cooper confirmed that Walsall’s Sam Perry has returned to his parent club.

The midfielder didn’t feature in Tuesday night’s draw and post match Cooper confirmed he was no longer in his plans.

Louis Britton celebrates with Cork City
? @LouisBritton14

Furthermore, he confirmed he was waiting on the clearance to sign former Bristol City front man Louis Britton.

Britton, who has been in Ireland with Cork City and Waterford, has plenty of experience in the South West with loans at Torquay, Bath City and Yate Town.

He scored 10 goals in 17 for Waterford before joining Cork City where he lifted silverware.

Cooper said; “if we can get Louis Britton’s clearance, who scores goals for fun, we will be alright.”

Britton needs international clearance from the Irish FA as his registration crosses international borders.