April 2024 (Page 3)

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So once again we put our trust in a group of people who don’t even appear to know what days of the week the weekend falls on to maintain the soul of the world’s greatest cup competition.

The Football Association and the Premier League have cooked up a deal which stops the likes of Jurgen Klopp whinging that he’s down to his last 75 highly-talented players, and denied generations of football fans yet to come the true magic of the FA Cup.

If you are wondering what I am going on (whinging?) about, it is the decision to cut replays from the FA Cup First Round onwards seemingly without consulting anyone but themselves.

Oh no wait, apparently they did. But presumably the thousands of clubs who reacted in disgust in the 24 hours which followed the latest calamitous decision to come out of the cigar smoke-filled boardrooms these people reside in just did not realise it.

Yeovil Town – like almost everyone else – said they heard about it on Thursday, the same as the rest of us. I know who I believe on that one, and they’re not based at St George’s Park or Wembley.

It’s not about the money, apparently, which is easy to say when you have loads of it, but let’s look beyond even the money. As we spoke about on our latest podcast, what about the memories?

Just think if we hadn’t had the night at Hereford in which literally saved Yeovil Town from financial extinction in 1992? What if we never saw Matty Hayfield’s goal take Cardiff City to the death at Huish Park in 1999? What if Tom Knowles never got a chance to smash that W*ymouth steward in the head with his penalty kick or Grant Smith’s shagger hips in 2021?

Yes, there’s money involved in it the outrage which has followed the decision, but surely the dream of a replay at a Premier League club or taking a higher division club back to your place is what the FA Cup is all about. No doubt the FA will refer to “the magic of the Cup” in the years to come, but this decision proves they would not know that magic is if it punched them in the face.

As Ben said on the pod, who turns on Wolves-Brighton (unless you support either of those clubs, of course) and immediately feels they are in the presence of magic? Give me pampered prima donnas mixing it on a ploughed field of a pitch where they can feel the breath of a supporter when they take a throw-in over that sterile dross any day.

Thankfully it looks like clubs – including Yeovil Town – are ready to take a stand to get a better deal. Can they get replays reinstated? Unlikely, but money may be the only language which the people who have made this decision understand. So take them for every penny you can!

Agree? Then put your name to a petition calling for change: https://t.co/Vwyzjs5vQe

#SaveTheFACup

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Yeovil Town have confirmed they are ready to act against a decision to axe replays from the FA Cup from the competition’s decision.

The Football Association and the collection of world football’s richest clubs, also known as the Premier League, announced on Thursday they were making sweeping changes to the sport’s most famous cup competition.

In the 24 hours which have followed, clubs up and down the country have hit out at the lack of consultation about the moves – except for with the rich ones, of course. On Friday, the FA issued a statement insisting they did consult and thousands of other clubs and associations just missed it. 

The Glovers confirmed they only learned of the decision on Thursday.

In a statement issued on Friday, the club said: “On 18th April 2024, the Club first learned of the decision to remove the provision of replayed fixtures in the FA Cup.

“Yeovil Town Football Club is renowned for its giant-killings in the FA Cup and has a rich history in the competition. Part of the magic of the competition comes from these replays.

“FA Cup replays are also of vital financial importance to non-league clubs. The decision appears to have been taken without any consideration for non-league clubs and without consultation, based on the further statement made on April 19.

“We are considering what steps to take and will liaise with other clubs as to the appropriate way forward.”

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Captain Matt Worthington has said his Yeovil Town team-mates will be looking to maintain their winning mentality when they finish their National League South campaign this weekend.

The champions travel to already relegated Dover Athletic on Saturday knowing that victory will see them reach 95 points and 29 wins for the campaign and, despite the game not having any influence on either side’s season, the skipper is still looking for the win.

Speaking on Thursday, he said: “We have built a winning mentality all season and that is not just something you turn on and off and that has helped us win the league.

“So we will be looking to win another game of football. As players you always want to win, it does not matter if you safe, not playing for anything or you are promoted, you still want to win a game of football. That leads on to next season, if you finish on a high, we can all go and enjoy our summer.

He added: “It starts from the training ground and then leads to on a Saturday. A winning mentality has been built up all season and we will be looking to take that in to next season.”

Worthy began last weekend’s win over Dartford on the bench.
📸 Gary Brown

Worthington, who started last weekend’s 3-1 home win over Dartford which ended with him lifting the championship trophy on the substitutes’ bench, completed a full training session on Thursday and said he will be available for selection.

Asked about next season back in the National League Premier, the 26-year-old said he believes that the team is capable of pushing towards the top of the league.

He said: “With the team we have got we are capable and if anyone comes in, it strengthens it more. We have got a really good core signed on for next season and there is no reason we cannot be pushing for play-offs and to go again, that is the target for everyone. We have winners in the changing rooms and that will carry on next season.

“Looking at the league, it is anyone’s league, there will be lots of teams pushing for those top places and it will hopefully be an exciting season.”

He admitted he was looking forward to taking a well-earned break over the summer and said he would begin his personal preparations for the next campaign from the middle of May.

Worthington was speaking on Thursday, a year to the day since Yeovil were relegated out of the National League Premier with a 3-0 defeat at Wrexham, and reflected on the changes at Huish Park since the past year.

He said: “It is crazy how much this club has come on over that year. It has been a fun day back in training today and preparing for Saturday and everyone has been in high spirits. The club has come so far in that year, it is complete change and something everyone is really enjoying.”

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Yeovil Town boss Mark Cooper has said his National League South title-winning squad must evolve if it is going to be competitive next season.

The Glovers finish their campaign with a long trip to already relegated Dover Athletic this weekend with the boss saying it will be “a big jump” back in to the National League Premier next season.

Ebbsfleet United, the team who Cooper’s men replaced as champions, are still not quite safe and could do with something from their final game at fellow strugglers Boreham Wood this weekend, whilst last season’s play-off winners Oxford City finished bottom with 33 points from their 45 matches to date.

Speaking to Three Valleys’ Radio’s Si Thyer on Thursday ahead of the trip to Kent, Cooper said: “This is the first step. All we have done this year is do what we should have done. We celebrated over the weekend and it’s now about next season for me and wanting to go again.

“When you taste success you want every season to be like that, so as a group we want to put things in place which means we have a chance to do that next year.

“But, we need to give the owner (Martin Hellier) a chance to get the finances in line as to what money we have to use to try and help this really good squad we have got.

“I do not think we would have got relegated, but looking at the teams who came up from the South last year, Ebbsfleet are just about safe, and Oxford City are relegated.

“You have to strengthen because there is a big jump. We have to be ruthless and make sure we improve and, even more importantly, bring in the right characters.”

Super Cooper’s Greens are gunna blind you…
📸 Gary Brown

He suggested that there will be exits as well as (hopefully) arrivals at Huish Park in the summer, but praised the spirit which has been forged between his players this season.

The boss added: “You can’t win a league without the squad without the team spirit being really tight. Even when we have had a couple of little blips along the way, they have remained tight and navigated it without too much trouble.

“There has to be evolution and as will happen at every club, some will move on, some will stay, but the ones that move on leave with a promotion on their CV. That gives them a better opportunity to get a better club next year.”

One of Cooper’s former clubs, Forest Green Rovers, who he led to promotion to the Football League via the play-offs in 2017, were relegated back to non-League this week, and the Glovers’ boss expects the Gloucestershire side to be among those challenging at the top next season.

He said: “It is sad that Forest Green fought so hard to get out of non-League. I think they were the longest-serving members of the National League when they got promoted. It looks like they have spent a massive amount in the last two years and got relegated twice.

“There will be a lot of frustration and anger and they will be looking to bounce back, so I expect them to have a top budget for the level. Straight away they will be favourites and it looks like Sutton and Colchester for the other team coming down.

“What we have been looking at is the logistics because it is a heavily southern-based feel to the league next year which is good for us. Looks like there could be 16-17 southern-based teams which is great for us.”

It was a brace from on loan Exeter City striker Sonny Cox which sealed a 2-0 win over Dover at Huish Park in November.

The trip to Dover appears the most dead rubber of any dead rubber match with the visitors already having their hands on the league title and the home side consigned to relegation three weeks ago.

But you’ll not be surprised to hear Cooper is looking for three points which would see Yeovil finish the season with 95 points and 29 wins – which would be one more than Gary Johnson’s Conference-winning side managed in the 2002-03 campaign.

The manager said: “I will be picking a team to win the game. I will not be handing out minutes for the sake of it, it will be players that I think can win us the game.

“I want to go out with a win, the players want to go out with a win. In my first press conference this season I said ‘whether we are playing in the car park, on top of a mountain, on whatever surface, whether it’s three-a-side, five-a-side, Tiddlywinks – we want to win every competitive battle we go in to and Saturday will be no different.”

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We’ve jumped a few matchdays since our last roundup, and a lot has happened since then… one game was abandoned entirely, with Yeovil being “defeated” by W*ymouth, and something else happened… what was it? Oh yes, Yeovil won the damn league with their 2-0 win away at Truro (Gloucester)! Following the crowning of the champions on Saturday, after Yeovil relegated visitors Dartford with a 3-1 win, let’s see what else went down on a day to remember for the Glovers.

In what feels like a frequent feature with these round ups, we begin with Worthing as they ticked over to 100 goals scored in this league campaign. They sunk St Albans City at their own ground in a 4-2 cracker as they continued their hunt for a top 3 finish. Following Thursday’s defeat, Truro City bounced back with a 3-1 win at home to playoff side Maidstone to all but confirm their safety. There were two 3-0 wins in the east, as Chelmsford City hammered Tonbridge Angels, while Eastbourne Borough secured a vital three points at home to Chippenham Town.

Slough Town sunk Hemel Hempstead closer to the drop zone, as they secured the victory in a 3-2 thriller; Aveley kept their playoff hopes alive with a 2-1 win away at Weston-super-mare, while a Shaquile Coulthirst double gave Braintree Town the three points on their travels to already-relegated Havant & Waterlooville in a 2-1 win. Torquay United’s relegation fears deepened in an uninspiring 1-0 defeat at Bath City, while 10-man Taunton Town claimed a huge three points with their 1-0 win away at Farnborough.

Hampton & Richmond continued their playoff charge with a 1-0 win over bottom side Dover Athletic, and in the final game of the weekend, Welling United and W*ymouth played out the only draw of the weekend in a drab 0-0 affair.

 

National League South results – in full

Bath City 1-0 Torquay United
Chelmsford City 3-0 Slough Town
Eastbourne Borough 3-0 Chippenham Town
Farnborough 0-1 Taunton Town
Hampton & Richmond Borough 1-0 Dover Athletic
Havant & Waterlooville 1-2 Braintree Town
Hemel Hempstead Town 2-3 Slough Town
St Albans City 2-4 Worthing
Truro City 3-1 Maidstone United
Welling United 0-0 W*ymouth
Weston-super-mare 1-2 Aveley

National League South table (look at that gold!)

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National League South Champion Sam Pearson has been named in the official Vanarama team of the week.

He scored for the Glovers in their 3-1 win over Dartford which came before the wonderful title lifting scenes.

Good work, Sam!

 

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What an amazing few days. Yeovil Town are National League South Champions and return to the National League at the first time of asking. Ian, Dave, Ben and Sheridan chat through that night in Gloucester and the party at Huish Park on Saturday!

If you have an idea for the website, want to contribute or just want to send us a message, feel free to email ian@gloverscast.co.uk.

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The Glovers were picking up silverware at Huish Park, but a few other employees were out and about doing their thing too, here’s how they got on this week out on loan.

Barnet first and they confirmed a home Play Off semi final in the National League Premier with a 2-0 over Halifax (in Accrington), Jordan Maguire Drew was an unused sub.

Will Buse is making post season plans too with Bath – technically they’re not mathematically confirmed with a top seven finish, a point will do that on the final day – but they did beat Torquay 1-0 on Saturday… that’s a cleano!

Down at Dorchester, Ollie Haste helped his side come from behind to beat Hanwell 2-1 and in the process confirm their league status for next season too. 

Melksham had a big week picking up six points from two games, Benjani Jr was involved in both match day squads, both occasions on the bench, but details are fairly limited as to whether or not he played much.

It was also a six point week for Shepton Mallet, Charlie Bateson starting both games but couldn’t add to his impressive goal tally

Charlie Bateson in action for Shepton Mallet

If you want goals, you want Gillingham matches.

Four young Glovers; Harrison Foster, Jack Bareham, Harry Lock and Josh Haskett started both games for the Gills this week, Haskett scored a couple and Foster got one in a 5-3 defeat to Wells in midweek, on Saturday, Haskett bagged again, but a second half Hallen FC turnaround saw them win 7-2.

Welton Rovers have had a busy week;

On Tuesday they drew 0-0 with Nailsea and Tickenham, on Thursday they drew 3-3 with Oldland and on Saturday they lost 3-2 to Buckland.

Plenty of minutes for all of Jacob Shore, Max Dyer and Mason Alden.

 

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The wait is finally over. Ian was at Huish Park to see Yeovil Town lift a league trophy for the first time since 2005. Here are his conclusions from a memorable afternoon in the sun…

Sam Pearson put his body on the line to equalise. 📸 Gary Brown

We needed a jolt to spark us into life. The party was in full flow at Huish Park but Luke Coulson’s early header was the wake up call that there was a game of football in the way of the trophy lift. Coulson’s free header silenced the bouncing Huish Park momentarily, but two minutes later Sam Pearson put his body on the line to get the equaliser and Yeovil never looked back.

Yeovil were dominant. Mark Cooper’s side, pressure free, controlled possession and played some excellent football. Short, sharp passing led to some good chances in both halves and Yeovil should have done more with the chances they had. After 45 games of high pressure, the Glovers enjoyed the occasion and put on the kind of performance we saw during The Run.

Alex Fisher scores. 📸 Gary Brown

Feed the Fish! A year ago Alex Fisher suffered an horrific injury in front of the Thatchers Stand and yesterday it went full circle as he scored Yeovil’s third and got to celebrate in front of those supporters. Say what you want about Alex Fisher, but he is a phenomenal representative of Yeovil Town and it was great to see him get that goal on the spot where his career almost came to an end. He’s scored some huge goals this season after returning from injury and played an important part in getting Yeovil back into the National League.

Pearson and Morgan took their chances. Pearson’s early miss last weekend was forgotten about with his goal yesterday and he and Brooklyn Genesini struck up an exciting, pacey partnership on the right hand side. Dylan Morgan’s appearances have been sporadic lately, but I thought he had a great game. He was all over the pitch, showed some brilliant bits of skill and his goal was well struck – albeit with a Dartford deflection.

Champions! 📸 Gary Brown

This title feels so sweet. There is a massive cohort of Glovers who’ve never seen a League win, who are probably sick of hearing about 1997, 2002, 2003, 2005 and 2013. They’ve finally witnessed it themselves and know what its like. The celebrations at Huish Park were fantastic to see after the last decade of disappointment. This club has been through the ringer since that historic Championship season. Four relegations, negligent ownership, three failed takeovers and nearly entering administration 12 months ago before Martin Hellier completed his takeover. All of that (and plenty more) has made this win feels so much sweeter. Congratulations to everyone at Huish Park who’s made this happen, let’s do it again next year…