August 2023 (Page 9)

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Midfielder Scott Pollock has told Yeovil Town he is unavailable for the next four months, according to Glovers’ boss Mark Cooper.

The 22-year-old arrived at Huish Park in March when the club was under the ‘stewardship’ of SU Glovers, the group led by now-York City owner Matt Uggla, suffering with a knee injury which limited him to just seven appearances.

Speaking to our man Ian Perkins at his press conference ahead of this weekend’s home match with St Albans City, Cooper said: “Scott Pollock is injured for four months I believe. He has had a consultation.

“He said his knee was sore in pre-season and now he has had a consultation and said he is going to be out for four months. He signed with the same injury and he is out for four months.”

The manager also confirmed that Pollock was under contract for a further two years at Huish Park although he has not been given a squad number for the National League South season and his image has disappeared off the club’s official website.

His last appearance saw him play the full 90 minutes in the 1-0 defeat at Boreham Wood on the final day of last season.

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Yeovil Town boss Mark Cooper has said his players need to go and put right what went wrong on the opening day of the National League South season as they prepare for their first home match this weekend.

The Glovers take on St Albans City at Huish Park having gone down to a 1-0 defeat at Hemel Hempstead Town seven days before and Cooper said he knew that the performance was “miles away” from where it needed to be.

He confirmed that striker Jake Hyde and captain Josh Staunton will both be available again this weekend having missed out due to the artificial surface at Hemel, but midfielder Jordan Stevens has returned to training this week but is not expected to be available until next weekend’s home game against Maidstone United.

Speaking on Thursday, Cooper said:  “The players were very frustrated on Monday but once we got Monday out of the way, there were no long faces, but that is gone. We have got to hit back now and show what we are really about.

“We were miles away from where we need to be and I know that and the work this week has been trying to refocus and get the boys in to a place where they can have a platform to showcase their ability.

“The process is the same, we want to attack, get balls in the box and score goals because of the attacking threats we have got. We picked so many wrong selections of passes and crosses last week that it was always going to be difficult for us to score.”

Jake Hyde will be available against St Albans City on Saturday.

The boss said he wanted to see more attacking intent from his team and made several references to the fact that Hyde would be available for selection against St Al bans, who reached the division’s play-off final last season.

Against Hemel, Cooper started with Rhys Murphy,Frank Nouble and Jordan Maguire-Drew in the forward line with on loan Bristol City youngster Olly Thomas and Jordan Young coming off the bench.

The manager added: “We have some real attacking intent available. Jake Hyde is available and we need to find a way to get all of them in the team because I want to attack and score goals. I would rather get beat 4-3 than try and win 1-0.

“I have to try and get as many of them as I can on the pitch, so whatever we do we will be organised and ready to go.”

He told our man Ian Perkins: “In pre-season we have been really powerful at set pieces and the (Hemel) goalkeeper caught eight under his crossbar, so someone is not doing their job and we are not attacking the ball.

“Some of the deliveries were really good and that is something we have been working on and something we will continue to work on.”

Will Buse.
Picture courtesy of Iain Morland.

Cooper insisted he had no concerns about goalkeeper Will Buse after his error gifted Hemel Hempstead striker Joe Iaciofano the winning goal last weekend.

The young keeper was involved in a mix-up with wing-back Zac Bell and his clearance hit the forward and rebounded in to the net.

The manager said: “Busey just has to clear it out of the ground, he’s not really under pressure, but he’s a young goalkeeper.

“We’re at home (on Saturday), he’s a local boy, he has to thrive off that. We back him and we will look after him but we are confident that he will be fine and there will be no issues and no repercussions. I have confidence that he will be fine.”

Chairman Martin Hellier arrives in the away end at Hemel Hempstead.

Cooper admitted that the ability of supporters to drink inside stadiums at National League South level brought an additional pressure to his players.

The game at Hemel Hempstead was marred by off-the-field incidents among Yeovil supporters with chairman Martin Hellier having to apologise for “embarrassing” himself after antics following “hurtful” comments directed at him by some fans.

The boss said: “If you are going to win anything, you need a good home record and the fans can help with that.

“The added issue is that fans can drink in the stadium which can add a different pressure because if they are not happy and they have had too many, they will definitely let you know. That is another bit we have to deal with.”

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One thing that appears to have slipped under the radar this past week is that one of the young Glovers, Jacob Shore, has joined Tiverton on loan.

The defender was announced as part of the substitutes for Tivvy’s game at the weekend but – according to the home side’s social media at least – was not brought on during their 2-2 draw v Basingstoke.

Shore was one of a number of young YTFC players to train with the first team and was involved in a couple of first team fixtures through pre season.

We’ll add him to our Loan Watch articles and track his progress during his stint at Tiverton.

Go well, Jacob.

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With four home games in a row coming up for the Glovers, the next away day is to Havant and Waterloovile on Bank Holiday Monday (15:00 Kick Off)

The hosts have said in a statement that away fans will be segregated and tickets must be purchased in advance.

The statement in full reads:

“Following discussions held with Hampshire Police and the Safety Advisory Group, the club can confirm that our match at home to Yeovil Town on Monday 28th August will be segregated.

Yeovil Town supporters will be required to purchase their tickets ahead of the game by clicking here. Home supporters are also able to purchase their tickets in advance.

Tickets for Yeovil Town supporters are on sale now, and remain on sale until the allocation sold out or 5pm on Sunday 27th August 2023, whichever occurs first. Please ensure that you have purchased an ‘Away Ticket’ via the link below. The away section is a Terraced Only section.

With the game being segregated it will mean entry into the ground will change for Away Supporters. Entrance for Yeovil Town supporters will be via the Main Car Park.

Turnstiles will open 60 minutes before the scheduled kick-off time. All supporters are advised to arrive as early as possible to reduce queuing times.

Tickets are priced at £15 for Adults, and £10 for Concessions and Students.

Any supporters of either club found to be in the wrong segregation area of the ground will be asked to leave Westleigh Park, under those circumstances no refunds will be issued.

We look forward to welcoming both sets of supporters to Westleigh Park this August Bank Holiday.”

Whilst the exact number of tickets hasn’t been confirmed, it is believed to be just under 1000.

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Yeovil Town Supporters, riled by constant nonsense have clubbed together to launch ‘Nonsense Free Day’ to take place on 9th of August every year.

With the club making worldwide headlines 24 hours of the day, 7 days-a-week for things that probably haven’t even happened, a group Glovers had had enough.

Following an opening day defeat, which was marred by nonsense of the highest order, the NFD organisation felt need to act. Speaking to exclusively Planet365 Express at their London Eye HQ Defin Itley-Arealname, NFD Executive Vice-Co Chairhuman said: “I’m just bored of it. We support a football club and its never about the football. Why on earth people feel the need to create drama from nothing, or put themselves in the spotlight is bewildering. We hope fellow Glovers join this day and pray for a quiet day where we can get on with our lives in peace.”

Peter Choppington, a pig farmer from Ninesprings Country Park has supported Yeovil Town for 89 years. “I fully support a nonsense free day. We’ve been through the ringer these last few years and quite frankly I’m sick of the lot of them. Hopefully this weekend will just be about the bloody bladder being kicked around on an actual field.”

Not everyone is on board though. We spoke to Stefan Knight, who claims to be a YTFC Supporter. Talking from his Albert Square base he said: “These bloody snow flakes can’t handle a bit of libel and fake news. [Burp] Rubbish. In my day we used scrap over a tin of corned beef on the terrace every weekend and we all laughed it off. [burps] All they want is their own way all the time and when they don’t they throw their toys out of the pram on social media, sharing private conversations. Snowflakes.”

“When I made my millions on the go-karts I very nearly bought Merriott FC and promised them hundreds of pounds, but you know…[he tailed off here] I know everything about everything,” he added.

While there’s no guarantee of a Nonsense Free Day, all we can do is hope that Wednesday 9th of August passes without anything globally newsworthy occuring in South Somerset.

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Yeovil Town owner and chairman Martin Hellier has apologised for “embarrassing” himself and the club during “hurtful” incidents at the weekend’s opening day defeat at Hemel Hempstead Town.

Posting early on Monday morning on social media account X (formerly known as Twitter), he responded to videos and posts circulating on social media which show him having to be dragged away from a confrontation at Vauxhall Road.

He describes how he was approached by a supporter, denies suggestions “berated” manager Mark Cooper following the loss and said he will delete his social media account within the next 24 hours, having re-opened it to respond to supporter posts.

The post in full reads:

“I felt I must post this message in light of the endless abuse I am receiving from a person I will not name. Yesterday I did indeed embarrass myself and let myself down and the club I have put so much into.

Upon arriving at the ground, and so taken back the amazing Yeovil fan base that had made a long difficult journey to Hemel, I felt compelled to visit the fans and show my gratitude.

With moments of arriving, a fan came up to me and said ‘Remember me from Twitter? I was the one that said I will bottle you and your fat son’.
I think any father or parent, will only imagine the feelings that would stir inside you, and the incredibly difficult situation to remain composed in that moment. I did not strike one fan. I was ushered away by well meaning friends only to be harassed my another fan.

“I literally have no understanding of why a select few, for whom there would be no club but for the tireless efforts of my family, staff, team and volunteers, would choose to abuse us in this way.

“I wholeheartedly apologise for embarrassing myself and the club / fans of #YTFC but the circumstances were so hurtful, I was placed in an incredibly hurtful situation with very little time to process my thoughts.

“On the suggestion that I “berated” Mark Cooper following our team’s performance, this is an entirely baseless lie. I spoke quite pleasantly with Mark afterwards, surrounded by my colleagues and all the Hemel officials.

“My honest opinion is that this campaign is designed to mentally destablise me, perhaps designed to make me quit the club, so that this person who claims to represent Simul Sport, can attempt to buy the club after my family, staff and volunteers efforts.

“I am honestly and humbly so sorry that we live in an era where literally anything can be said, without accountability, and be assumed to be correct.

“In the right environment / investigation, I will gladly give the names of colleagues, witnesses, match official and Hemel staff who will testify to what I have written.

“I ask all fans to continue to support and believe the intentions of my family, having shown our commitment so much, that you allow us to continue to work on transforming our beloved club, and continue to enjoy the journey we are on.

Your support is overwhelming and we are truly humbled.

Best regards always
Martin, family, and staff

(I will remove my account in 24 hours, I’m sorry, I had to respond to these awful accusations)”
Responding to the comments around Simul Sports, the group led by former Cardiff City commercial director Julian Jenkins, posted on his X account that the company, Simul Sports Group Limited, had been dissolved in September 2022.
He posted: “I want to officially state that Simul Sports was dissolved after the unsuccessful bid to acquire Yeovil Town Football Club. As such, there are no longer any active representatives of the organisation.“
The group were involved in protracted discussions with the club’s former owner <NAME REDACTED> and included Damian Singh, Chief Finance Officer of Canva, the online graphic tool, and former Glovers’ midfielder Marc Bircham.
That appears to put that one to bed.

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Well, that wasn’t supposed to happen! Ian, Dave and Ben talk about the opening day loss at Hemel Hempstead. Here we go again…

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With football returning up and down the country yesterday, let’s take a look at the results in the National League South, following the Glovers 1-0 defeat to Hemel Hempstead.

There were goals in every single game in the division on matchday 1, and it was newly-promoted Truro City that scored the most, winning 5-2 against Welling United. There was a goalfest east of London, with Dartford having to settle for a 3-3 draw with 10-man Bath City, courtesy of a 95th minute equaliser from Jordan Thomas.

Torquay United kicked off their return to the 6th tier with a 2-2 draw against Dover Athletic, whilst Maidstone United made a winning return to the division, defeating Slough Town by a score of 2-1.

There were more 2-1 results for sides local to Yeovil, with Taunton defeating Braintree Town and Weymouth falling to next week’s visitors, St Albans.

Plenty of tight games throughout the division, with Chelmsford beating Farnborough 1-0, and Chippenham Town beating NLS debutants Aveley 1-0. Eastbourne Borough made a winning start as a professional outfit, beating Hampton & Richmond 1-0, while Weston-super-mare and Worthing also ran out 1-0 winners, against Havant & Waterlooville and Tonbridge Angels respectively.

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Yeovil vs Hemel Hempstead - Image Courtesy of Dan Finill

The National League South season has begun, and fr*stratingly it was more of the same from Yeovil Town as the Glovers shot themselves in the foot to lose 1-0. Here are Ian’s conclusions from the press box at Hemel Hempstead…

That was a bump back to reality. We know this already, but all the optimism, hope and goodwill in the world will not win football matches. We came into kick off riding the crest of a wave but by the time we final whistle was blown, we’d suffered a wipeout. This isn’t going to be an easy season and we aren’t going to steamroll teams. We were told Hemel were well organised and had a good team spirit and they showed that in spades, and got a bit of luck for their winner after a mix up between Zac Bell and Will Buse.

We really struggled to maintain meaningful possession. It was a really bitty game. Most of our chances came from set pieces, or the aftermath of set pieces. Rhys Murphy had a couple of efforts that he should have done better with in the first half. Hemel Hempstead executed a brilliant game plan, disrupting the flow of the game and taking their time on the restarts. Their narrow midfield really crowded the centre of the pitch and I felt we struggled to get the ball through Matt Worthing and Charlie Cooper because of that.

Jake Wannell
Jake Wannell – Image courtesy of Dan Finill

Jake Wannell had a solid game. The left-sided centre back had a dominant display, winning his defensive headers and tackling aggressively. He was composed on the ball and I thought his partnership with Alex Whittle on the left looked promising. I think our defensive unit looked pretty steady, but for a couple of slips on the surface. As regular readers will know, I did not enjoy wingbacks last season, but we seem to have more suitable players this season.

“We’re going to have to find a way to adapt to and get results when we travel to clubs with them.”

I’m not sure if that was a good artificial pitch or not, but I didn’t like it. It didn’t seem like a very even surface and the way Hemel played in that second half was as if they were shooting downhill. The familiarity the Hemel players had with the pitch compared to ours was plain to see, our passing wasn’t quite there and I didn’t think we looked comfortable on it. We’re going to have to find a way to adapt to it though and get results when we travel to clubs with them.

We need to keep calm. The expectation following a rejuvenating summer has, perhaps, given us an over-expectancy. Don’t get me wrong, we should be putting teams like Hemel away given the quality of our squad, but there was 45 more matches in this season and 135 points to play for. The goal came from a sloppy error at the back rather than Yeovil’s goal coming under regular heavy pressure. Mark Cooper described the result as a ‘slap round the face’, Frank Nouble said it as a ‘wake up call’. Our big day out was spoiled by a team and manager who knows how to get a result in National League South. Next weekend St Albans City (off the back of a 2-1 win over W*ymouth) come to Huish Park and we’ll need to lay down a marker of how good we are with our home performance.