December 2024

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It’s New Year’s Day and we hope you enjoyed as much turkey and pigs in blankets as you could because non-League’s favourite (only?) vegans, Forest Green Rovers, are our opponents.

Form Guide…

On the face of it, Forest Green Rovers are a formidable foe to be kicking off 2025 against. They are unbeaten at home in the league and have only lost twice all season with the most recent defeat coming on the 24th September at Oldham Athletic.

Their other defeat was at the hands of the current league leaders, Barnet, back in the third game of the season, and they sit in third in the National League Premier Division table going in to this fixture.

But, there’s always a but, they have dropped points in their last two league matches with a 1-1 draw at Tamworth on Boxing Day albeit courtesy of a 90+2 minute equaliser from the home side, and were held by the same scoreline by Aldershot Town on their last outing at the New Lawn. 

Tamworth celebrate their Boxing Day equaliser against Forest Green – somewhere.

They have managed six points from their last four matches whilst Yeovil Town have managed one more than that. 

The Glovers make the trip to Gloucestershire having fallen foul to their own late equaliser – the 90+3 goal from Eastleigh in the 2-2 draw at Huish Park on Boxing Day. Prior to that there was a 2-1 loss at Hartlepool on December 20th which followed back-to-back league wins at home to Braintree Town and away at Woking.

Despite being unbeaten on home soil, Forest Green ‘only’ have the fourth-best home record in the league (P10 W7 D3) mainly virtue of the fact they have played fewer home games than those above them. Yeovil have the fourth-best away record in the division (P12, W6, D2, L4). Who has the best away record, you ask? Why, it’s Forest Green (P13, W6, D5, L2).

 

Key Players…

Yeovil – Sean McGurk

Can a player who has only played 70 minutes be described as a key player? Well, why not, eh? Sean McGurk, who arrived on a one-month loan deal from Swindon Town on Christmas Eve, showed plenty of promise in the 2-2 home draw with Eastleigh on Boxing Day.

He will probably not score an easier goal than the tap in which saw him open his account in front of the Thatcher’s End five days ago, but he displayed enough quality on the ball and energy to suggest that he will only get better as his match fitness and sharpness grows.

Sean McGurk

 

Forest Green Rovers – Kyle McAllister

There is no shortage of players to score goals in an expensively-assembled Forest Green forward line, but Kyle McAllister will be one of the biggest danger men.

The Scotsman, signed from St Mirren in 2022, is described on the club’s own website as “a Swiss Army Knife” of a player having played out wide, as a number ten and a false nine – oh, and a wing-back as well – this season.

What we can tell you is he has seven goals to his name – including one against Tamworth on Boxing Day – which makes him joint second-highest scorer this season alongside Charlie McCann and behind Christian Doidge who has nine. 

That’s what he said…

There are few more experienced managers at this level than Forest Green Rovers’ boss Steve Cotterill. He was winning this division with his current club’s biggest rivals, Cheltenham Town, back in 1999, clinching it with a ‘play until Cheltenham score’ win over Yeovil at Whaddon Road.

Since then he’s been in charge with differing levels of success at Stoke City, Burnley, Bristol City, Birmingham City, and arrived at the New Lawn around this time last year but could not save the club from relegation back to the non-League. Anyway, you want to know what he said about Yeovil, don’t you?

Speaking to the club’s YouTube channel, Cotterill said: “I have looked at (Yeovil) in a couple of game this week and they have mixed it up a bit, so I think that is the art of it, you have to be able to mix your game up. If you only play one way, you are easy to play against, so I am not a big fan of ‘we have to do it a certain way’, you have to do a bit of everything.

“It is about how we do and how we can impose ourselves on the game. In one of the first interviews I had when I came here, I said ‘there are many ways to win a football match’, it can be possession, it can be a counter attack, a set piece, many, many things. Your team needs to have a clear idea more than a clear identity.”

Forest Green Rovers’ manager Steve Cotterill.

Asked what he would like from the Forest Green home support on Boxing Day, he added: “We have been to plenty of hostile grounds this season and that atmosphere can influence (refereeing) decisions. I do not think we have been on the good side of too many decisions this year and that is probably down to the surroundings. I would say to our supporters, get behind the lads, no matter what. I think the players earned it.”

Glovers’ boss Mark Cooper was not asked about New Year’s Day following the home draw with Eastleigh back on Boxing Day, but we will assume he knows plenty about his opponents, not least because he played for them for a season and managed them for five years. 

He will forever have a place in the club’s history having guided them to the Football League for the first time in their history via the National League play-offs back in 2017. If he had been asked, he’d probably have mentioned that.

 

We’ve met before…

Many times. Our record – if you include friendlies – against Forest Green Rovers goes back to 1981, but our last two outings saw us come out on the wrong side of the result.

The last meeting was in February 2019 as we were tumbling towards the exit door out of the Football League when a Forest Green side managed by Mark Cooper beat us 3-0 in Gloucestershire. That same season they also ran out 2-1 winners at Huish Park in early December 2018 with Rhys Browne the scorer for Yeovil that day.

You have to go back to Boxing Day 2000 to find a competitive victory for the Glovers at the New Lawn when a Barrington Belgrave goal sealed a 1-0 win. There was a friendly win there back in July 2013 when even Michael Ngoo (remember him?) got on the scoresheet in a 5-3 thriller.

Don’t I know you?…

If you are like our Ian, please look away now. There’s a fair few familiar faces in the Forest Green Rovers line-up and one of the most painful is Mr #DFILWF himself, Tom Knowles. 

The 26-year-old was a bright spark during some very dark times at Huish Park between November 2020 and August 2022 when he was flogged to League Two Walsall on the eve of the new season by <NAME REDACTED>. He was one of a number of big money signings made by Forest Green in the summer and has been a fairly regular starter for Steve Cotterill, scoring twice already this season.

We’re not crying, you’re crying! *sobs* Picture courtesy of Mike Kunz.

In the attacking positions, striker Joe Quigley – another one flogged by <NAME REDACTED> whilst at Huish Park – has been appearing mostly from the substitutes’ bench since joining the Vegan Legion from Chesterfield in September. He is yet to score for his new club. Don’t even think it!

In defence there are more familiar faces, Ryan Inniss had a six-game loan spell at Huish Park in 2014-15 and Ben Tozer, he of the long throws, played the 2015-16 season in green-and-white.

Who’s been naughty then?…

There are no suspensions for either side.

 

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We’ve got a New Year’s Day clash at Forest Green Rovers to look forward to and with it, a Yeovil Town debut (of sorts).

Referee James Oldham has never refereed Yeovil Town, but will make his first appearances in the middle for one of our games on this occasion.

He’s officiated 13 games so far this season, dishing out 58 yellow cards and five red ones.

Two of those red cards came in a feisty game between Altrincham and Woking, Alty reduced to 10 fairly early on, before our old mate Dale Gorman thought it might be fairer to even the numbers up later on.

He has officiated FGR games five times, but not for a while. The last time he did, he gave Corey O’Keefe of Rovers two yellow cards in the 89th and 92nd minute!

He’ll be assisted by his assistants; Scott Chalkley and Harley McKittrick and Ash Clarke has fourth official duties.

Referee James Oldham dishes the cards

Forest Green Rovers (First Team) v Yeovil Town FC (First Team)
National League – Premier    
Referee: Oldham, James
Assistant Referee: Chalkley, Scott
Assistant Referee: McKittrick, Harley
Fourth Official: Clarke, Ashley

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Yeovil Town have, tentatively, been linked with Boston United defender Cameron Green.

Sports Journalist Pete O’Rourke has said that an ‘offer’ for the full back has been made with a view to a move in January.

Of course, Transfer Windows don’t actually apply to us, so there’s no reason why things can’t progress before the calendar flips to 2025.

As with the Ed James/West Ham thing… we take all these things with the required pinch of salt.

Cam Green was in the Boston side that lost 3-1 to the Glovers earlier in the summer.

 

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Ok, now we’re getting ahead of ourselves, but it’s good to get the details down nice and early.

Tickets for Yeovil fans heading to Barnet on Tuesday 4th March 2025 can secure their place.

CLICK HERE FOR TICKETS

Away tickets are available to purchase in Stand 66.
For wheelchair disabled and carer tickets please call 020 8381 3800 and they will assist with the purchase.

This is another fairly easy process, click on your required stand block (Stand Sixty-Six A or B) as you see below…

Then, select your individual seat and then, you get the screen shot below, the blue prices are also selection buttons, so click on your appropriate price band (You are advised that failure to provide ID proof of concession at the turnstile may result in entry being refused.)

Then, as with a number of other teams, you will need to sign in or register for an account.

 

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Tickets for Yeovil Town’s trip to Maidenhead United are now on sale to away fans.

The game is scheduled to take place on Saturday 22nd February with a 3pm kick-off.

CLICK HERE TO BUY TICKETS

It’s a fairly simple process for fans looking to get ahead.

Once you’ve selected which ticket you want and how many you require, it’s a fairly simple and obvious journey to complete your journey.

You can sign up for an account for their ticketing service, or just “log in” using your Google/Gmail details and pay the good people.

Let’s take a deep dive into the terms, the conditions and the match-day details, shall we?

U16 children and young people attending first team games at York Road must be accompanied by an adult (18 and above). To assist with the implementation of this policy, unaccompanied supporters aged 16 to 18 may be asked to for ID. 

CARERS TICKETS

We offer complimentary carer tickets upon direct request. Once you have booked your match ticket, please email social@maidenheadunitedfc.org with your booking reference number to request your carers ticket.

MATCH PROGRAMMES & TEAM SHEETS 
Match programmes are NOT available to purchase on the day. A digital edition will be published prior to kick off, which can be found HERE. Physical editions can be purchased in advance of fixtures up to three days before online. This applies to both home and away supporters with all physical copies posted to supporters. 
 
Team sheets are not available to supporters on the day at the ground, however, a PDF downloadable version can be sent via email from secretary@maidenheadunitedfc.org. 
 
Maidenhead provide a rather handy guide for just about everything else…. which can be found here 👇
 

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After a festive break, the roundups are back, and having missed the week of Yeovil’s 2-1 defeat at Hartlepool United, I’m going to mash them into a mega-roundup for your festive reading! Following Yeovil’s 2-2 Boxing Day draw with Eastleigh, let’s see what else went on around the rest of the country!

We’ll start with Hartlepool United, who followed their win against us with an entertaining 4-3 defeat away at Gateshead, despite the best efforts of Gary Madine who scored a double following his winner against us. It’s a game of doubles it seems, as Tyrelle Newton grabbed a double for the hosts in their win, and in their pre-Christmas game, it was another four goals for the Heed, as they won 4-1 away at Ebbsfleet United, with Owen Oseni grabbing a double that day.

The basement side were thumped pre-Christmas, and they were thumped post-Christmas too as yet another double was struck, Aribim Pepple scoring two of Southend United‘s four goals in their 4-0 win. The Shrimpers’ Boxing Day win was a stark contrast to their 3-0 defeat at York City. The Minstermen couldn’t follow up on their emphatic victory as on Boxing Day, their evening clash with Oldham Athletic was postponed due to poor visibility.

On their travels before Christmas, Oldham defeated Braintree Town in a 2-0 win, leaving them six points off the top with THREE games in hand, ones to watch in the title race perhaps… the Essex hosts bounced back from defeat against the title hopefuls with a big 4-2 win away at Dagenham & Redbridge, a brace of braces from Kyrell Lisbie and Chay Cooper handing a vital three points to the visitors, while it spelled the end of Ben Strevens’ time in charge of the Daggers. His final two matches were the defeat against Braintree, and a heavy 3-0 defeat away at another relegation battler in Wealdstone.

The Stones couldn’t capitalise on the big win against Dagenham & Redbridge, as on Boxing Day they were defeated by fellow relegation contenders Maidenhead United, with Shawn McCoulsky contributing a double in a 3-1 result. Their pre-Christmas fortunes were no better, as they lost narrowly to our Boxing Day visitors Eastleigh in a 1-0 defeat, with Eastleigh’s other result of course being the 2-2 draw with ourselves.

The new league leaders Barnet registered a pair of score draws over the festive period, as they were held at home by FC Halifax Town in a 1-1 draw, before a dramatic 99th minute equaliser on Boxing Day shared the points with Sutton United in a 3-3 draw. Halifax registered a 0-0 Boxing Day draw against Altrincham, while Sutton were defeated by Tamworth before Christmas. Altrincham travelled to Woking before Christmas and lost in Neal Ardley’s first game as boss of the home side, while Tamworth’s Boxing Day clash with our New Years’ hosts Forest Green Rovers ended in a 1-1 draw.

Woking’s post-Christmas action ended similarly to ours in a 2-2 draw against Aldershot Town, who also drew pre-Christmas to Forest Green Rovers. Rochdale‘s game against Boston United was postponed before Christmas due to a waterlogged pitch, so Boxing Day was a welcome return to football for them, at least it was for Rochdale in a 3-1 win away at AFC Fylde; Boston were defeated at home by Solihull Moors, and these two sides faced off pre-Christmas in a 4-1 win for Solihull.

 

National League results (21/12/24) – in full

Barnet 1-1 FC Halifax Town
Braintree Town 0-2 Oldham Athletic
Eastleigh 1-0 Maidenhead United
Ebbsfleet United 1-4 Gateshead
Forest Green Rovers 1-1 Aldershot Town
Hartlepool United 2-1 Yeovil Town
Rochdale P-P Boston United
Solihull Moors 4-1 AFC Fylde
Sutton United 1-2 Tamworth
Wealdstone 3-0 Dagenham & Redbridge
Woking 2-1 Altrincham
York City 3-0 Southend United

National League results (26/12/24) – in full

AFC Fylde 1-3 Rochdale
Aldershot Town 2-2 Woking
Altrincham 0-0 FC Halifax Town
Barnet 3-3 Sutton United
Boston United 0-1 Solihull Moors
Dagenham & Redbridge 2-4 Braintree Town
Gateshead 4-3 Hartlepool United
Maidenhead United 3-1 Wealdstone
Southend United 4-0 Ebbsfleet United
Tamworth 1-1 Forest Green Rovers
Yeovil Town 2-2 Eastleigh
Oldham Athletic P-P York City

National League table

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It was late, late heartbreak for Yeovil Town as a 90+3 minute goal saw Eastleigh share the spoils in what turned out to be a Boxing Day goal bonanza at Huish Park yesterday.

Dave was in the Thatcher’s Stand to watch it all and here are his conclusions on it all….

Two sloppy mistakes cost us: At the time of writing, I have not seen the highlights of this one, but on first viewing that is such a frustrating result. Eastleigh are a side only one point below us in the National League Premier table and yet at times we looked far the better team and the biggest annoyance is that it is our own defensive sloppiness that cost us three points we deserved. How a player who is the same height as me (5’7″ish) wins a header against our defence for the first is annoying and the second equaliser looked like it might be offside on first viewing which would be irritating, but not as irritating as I suspect it will be on the highlights.

Two goals, but it should have been more: The statistics (courtesy of a well-known gambling firm which Gloverscast Ben works for) show we had seven shots on target and three off target and yet only managed two goals. The story of our season, I know, we’ve heard it all before, I get it. It’s not a revolutionary thought to say we are desperately crying out for a partner for Aaron Jarvis……but, my goodness, we are crying out for a partner for Aaron Jarvis.

Kofi Shaw. Picture courtesy of Gary Brown.

Chip in for a cup of Kofi?: Kofi Shaw again looked unplayable at times. You could tell Eastleigh knew who he was by the way they had three defenders on him from the off and it is a massive compliment to him that he did not let that put him off. Never afraid to try something, never afraid to have a shot, I love that about it. The biggest concern is that his initial loan spell, advertised as “until January” when he joined in October, from Bristol Rovers may be about to come to an end. There’s a new manager in charge at the Memorial Ground, ex-Brighton & Hove Albion coach Indigo Calderon, and he might want to have a look at this teenage talisman. 

The (not so) green, green grass of home: The one group of people I felt the most for on Boxing Day was the Huish Park ground staff, at half-time they could only do the most minor of running repairs to a heavily-sanded surface. They are the victims of some horrendous bad weather in recent weeks (months?) and it is impossible to think when it was not rainy and lacking in sun in Somerset. That team are doing their best to do what they can, all they (and we) can do is pray for more merciful conditions in 2025.

2024 – you’ve been a blast: Boxing Day 2023 was a great day with a 4-1 home win over Taunton Town and if you had told me the 12 months which followed would have panned out like it did, there’s not much would change. Maybe this season’s FA Cup and FA Trophy results, but if we’re honest, who would not have taken tenth in the National League Premier at this stage? It’s the start of a long road back to where we should be and there will be more ups and downs along the way – but 2024, you’ve been great. 2025? Let’s see what you’ve got!

Champions, every one of you
📸 Gary Brown

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It was late heartbreak for the Glovers on Boxing Day, with a late Eastleigh equaliser, there’s was late goals in some of our loanee’s games too.

Harvey Greenslade was back in the Weston-super-Mare starting line up for their clash away at Truro, all was well for the Seagulls as the clock ticked beyond 90 minutes, a Reuben Reid goal (assisted by Greenslade) was all that separated the sides, but a late Truro goal snatched a point.

 

It was a battle of the Glovers loanees as Jordan Thomas’ Torquay took on Will Buse’s W*ymouth.

The game ended 2-2 with both of our players in their respective starting line ups.

Into the regional divisions and Tavistock found a 95th minute equaliser against Cribbs FC, unfortunately Jacob Shore was an unused sub, Sol Padmore started for Bridport as they made light work of Axminster Town 4-0.

That, is pretty much that with Sherborne not playing until Saturday.

  

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New signing Sean McGurk has pleased to get 70 minutes under his belt as he made a goal-scoring start to life as a Yeovil Town player.

The Swindon Town winger, who arrived at Huish Park on a one-month loan deal on Christmas Eve, opened the scoring with a close range finish after 49 minutes of the 2-2 draw with Eastleigh on Boxing Day.

He started alongside fellow loanee Kofi Shaw in behind lone striker Aaron Jarvis and impressed with some good touches before being replaced by substitute Frank Nouble on 71 minutes.

Speaking to BBC Somerset’s Mark Stillman after the game, he said: “The point of me coming here was to play games and get minutes under my belt. It has been a couple of weeks since I have had, but it was good to be out there. The result is not what we wanted and we should have come away with the win but personally to get minutes was good.

“I got told on Christmas Eve to come down and I trained and then played today, but you always have to be ready and today I hopefully showed I was ready.

“In the first half I thought I was sloppy on the ball which may be because I have not played for a few minutes. My quality on the ball is a lot better than that and I know that, but the goal showed what I know can bring to the team. Kofi played it across the box and I was just trying not to focus on the bobble too much and just passed it in.”

The action was the 21-year-old’s first action since he appeared as a 76th-minute substitute in Swindon’s Vertu Trophy win at Wycombe Wanderers on December 10th. He will be in contention as Yeovil travel to third-placed Forest Green Rovers on New Year’s Day.

He added: “I spoke to the manager  (Mark Cooper) and the fitness staff and told them I have not played much, so to come in and play 90 minutes would be unrealistic especially with the game on New Year’s Day.”