August 2025 (Page 11)

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Yeovil Town manager Mark Cooper said his summer recruitment has been intended to add goals and creativity to his squad.

The Glovers get their National League Premier Division campaign underway with a home game against Hartlepool United on Saturday as they look to better their scoring record of 51 goals in 46 league matches last season.

In the past week, the manager added striker Junior Morias and trialist midfielder Luke McCormick to the permanent ranks and brought in young Birmingham City striker Ben Wodskou on a season-long loan deal.

They followed the arrivals of permanent signings defender Kyle Ferguson, winger James Daly and striker Tahvon Campbell and loanees defender Byron Pendleton and goalkeeper Jed Ward.

Speaking to BBC Somerset’s Jack Killah on Thursday, Cooper said: “Because it was a protracted takeover which took some time (completing at the end of May), we did not know what we were doing until the middle of June which put us behind quite a long way so we had a late set-up in terms of recruitment, but we are there now and it has been a long summer.

“We spoke a lot about whether we scored enough goals or created enough chances (last season) compared to the year before and the answer was ‘probably not’, so we have tried to address that and stack the forward areas with players gives us the best chance and create more goals with the money we have available.”

Striker Junior Morias talks to camera.
Striker Junior Morias has joined Yeovil Town this week.

Morias, 30, was the final addition announced on Tuesday following his release by League Two side at the end of last season. He arrives with a record of scoring 30 goals in 96 appearances at National League level and having played at League level with Peterborough United, Northampton Town and Notts County.

Last season he had two loan spells at this level at Dagenham & Redbridge (6 goals in 19 appearances) and Woking (2 goals in seven appearances).

Speaking about the striker, Cooper said: “We needed somebody with a decent goal-scoring record in the National League. He became available a couple of weeks ago, he has had some issues with his wife being pregnant, so he did not join (pre-season training) until this week. He has a history of scoring goals at the level and hopefully we can get him fit and give him those chances (to score), I am sure he will take plenty of them.”

Goalkeeper Ward, who has joined from League Two Bristol Rovers on a season long-loan, was brought in following the mutual decision to end Aidan Stone’s contract at Huish Park. The keeper, who joined  in February, has subsequently signed for National League Premier Division newcomers Truro City.

Cooper said: “Aidan was a good professional and had been a good goalkeeper, but we felt we needed a fresh outlook on that, we needed someone who was going to make some saves and we had a chance to get Jed. Once we knew we had a chance, we had to go and do it. Pre-season is pre-season, it means nothing, but I have seen a general calmness to his play and his general demeanour and I think that is important for a goalkeeper. We will see how he goes at the start of the season, but I have been impressed so far.”

Trialist Byron Pendleton takes on a Bristol Rovers player.
Byron Pendleton in action against Bristol Rovers. Picture courtesy of Gary Brown

One of the new arrivals who has excited Glovers’ fans is former Birmingham Under-21s captain, Pendleton. The 18-year-old wing-back has impressed with his attacking player in the pre-season friendlies against Bristol Rovers and Weston-super-Mare.

The manager added: “When I spoke to the fans after the takeover, we said that our recruitment was going to be late and we wanted to use the money we had available to get as much quality in as we could and try and bulk the squad out with two or three loans. We had our eye on Byron and we were not convinced we would get him, I have a decent relationship with Birmingham and they asked if he could come down so we could have a look at him in one of the (pre-season friendly) games. So he came down and played really well (in the 2-1 defeat against Bristol Rovers) and we signed him as quick as we could on a season-long loan. He has got terrific pace, he is very good going forward, he is a young lad and he is going to make mistakes, but we just have to encourage him to get forward and get balls in the box which is his forte.”

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Referee, Rob Massey-Ellis,

The 2025/26 Enterprise National League campaign gets underway at Huish Park on Saturday and Yeovil vs. Hartlepool will be refereed by Rob Massey-Ellis.

Massey-Ellis is part of an officiating marriage with his wife, Sian also an official – now mainly in the VAR room, but formerly at international and Premier League level.

The Glovers don’t have a great record when Mr Massey-Ellis takes charge; four games, zero wins. But as an odd quirk, also zero losses.

Every time he’s managed our game, it’s ended in a draw!

That included two games last season, a 1-1 draw against Aldershot at Huish Park and a 1-1 draw away at Ebbsfleet.

He sent off ‘Fleet defender, Mustapha Olagunju on the hour, but the hosts held out to take a point.

He’s also in our system for a stalemate against Dover back in 2021, when Tom Knowles was KO’d by the goal mouth and he saw no reason to act.

James Hooper and Richard J Morris are his assistants, Ryan Saward is on dugout patrol.

Rob Massey-Ellis explains to Alex Bradley why he’s not going to send off Hulk Hogan for his body slam on Tom Knowles.

Yeovil Town FC (First Team) v Hartlepool United FC (First Team)
National League – Premier    
Referee: Massey-Ellis, Robert
Assistant Referee: Hooper, James
Assistant Referee: Morris, Richard J.
Fourth Official: Saward, Ryan

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Yeovil Town will make their debut in the U19 National League Alliance League with a local derby against Dorchester Town.

The fixtures for Group E have been announced today and the Glovers will still take in plenty of travelling with games against sides in the South West, as well as fixtures further east with away games against Eastleigh (March 25th), Havant & Waterlooville (October 1st) also in the diary.

Those Eastleigh clashes could well represent the Glovers toughest task, they finished second in the equivalent division last year scoring 83 goals in 18 games, losing just twice.

Due to a bit of restructuring, and teams having multiple entries in multiple divisions, it’s hard to draw too many comparisons to last year.

Home games take place on a Wednesday with Glovers hosting opponents at the newly renamed Yeovil Town Community Sports Trust Centre and Alvington. 

The standard kick off time for the league is 2pm, but this is flexible on agreement of both sides. – Please note, there is also an FA Youth Cup fixture to fit in somewhere in September, so there may be some movement in those early fixtures too.

We will endeavour to keep the below table updated as the details become available.

As with the coverage of the women’s side, if anyone does take in an Under 19s game as is willing to share details and imagery from the fixture, we at the Gloverscast will be incredibly grateful.

DateOppositionKick OffH/ACompetitionScoreLocationScorers
SEPTEMBER
03.09.2025Dorchester14:00ANational League U19 Alliance LeagueP-PThe Avenue Stadium
10.09.2025Eastleigh14:00HNational League U19 Alliance League6-1YTCST Centre at AlvingtonGeraghty x3, Hughes, Thomas, Rodber
17.09.2025Weston-super-Mare14:00ANational League U19 Alliance LeagueThe Optima Stadium
24.09.2025Basingstoke Town14:00HNational League U19 Alliance LeagueYTCST Centre at Alvington
OCTOBER
01.10.2025Havant & Waterlooville14:00ANational League U19 Alliance LeagueWestleigh Park
15.10.2025Winchester City14:00HNational League U19 Alliance LeagueYTCST Centre at Alvington
NOVEMBER
12.11.2025Wimborne Town14:00HNational League U19 Alliance LeagueYTCST Centre at Alvington
DECEMBER
03.12.2025Metropolitan Police14:00ANational League U19 Alliance LeagueImber Court Sports Ground
JANUARY
14.01.2026AFC Porchester14:00ANational League U19 Alliance LeagueCranleigh Road
21.01.2026Dorchester Town14:00HNational League U19 Alliance LeagueYTCST Centre at Alvington
FEBRUARY
14.02.2026Weston-super-Mare14:00HNational League U19 Alliance LeagueYTCST Centre at Alvington
11.02.2026Basingstoke Town14:00ANational League U19 Alliance LeagueHampshire FA - Winklebury Football Complex
MARCH
04.03.2026Winchester City14:00ANational League U19 Alliance LeagueCharters Community Stadium
11.03.2026Havant & Waterlooville14:00HNational League U19 Alliance LeagueYTCST Centre at Alvington
25.03.2026Eastleigh14:00ANational League U19 Alliance LeagueStoneham Lane complex
APRIL
22.04.2026AFC Portchester14:00HNational League U19 Alliance LeagueYTCST Centre at Alvington
29.04.2026Metropolitan Police14:00HNational League U19 Alliance LeagueYTCST Centre at Alvington
MAY
06.05.2026Wimborne Town14:00ANational League U19 Alliance LeagueWimborne Town FC

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Yeovil Town’s home game against Woking on Saturday, 13th September will now kick off 12:30 with DAZN picking the game for live coverage.

This means the match will not be governed by any black out rules meaning it will be available to purchase for online streaming.

It is currently NOT listed for “enhanced coverage” on that day – Halifax vs Eastleigh gets that treatment at 5:30pm – suggesting it may not be anything additional on offer to the usual one-camera streaming service.

DAZN have declared their fixtures of interest up until the 25th of October and this game against Woking is the only YTFC game to be affected. 

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Having taken the summer off, we are back with another of our trips down green-and-white memory lane and our guest for this episode only spent at single season at Huish Park but is still remembered fondly by Yeovil Town supporters. Having joined in the club at the start of its first season in the Football League, Jake Edwards was a key part of Gary Johnson’s side which had a good tilt at the League Two play-offs and made the FA Cup third round to boot. We caught up with him during the closed season to ask him about his time with the club.

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Striker Junior Morias talks to camera.

Experienced striker Junior Morias is the latest forward to join Yeovil Town’s frontline ahead of the start of the new season.

The 30-year-old, who was released by League Two Notts County at the end of last season, has signed a one-year contract and follows hot on the heels of the confirmation trialists midfielder Luke McCormick and on loan striker Ben Wodskou on Monday.

In a statement on Tuesday, Glovers’ boss Mark Cooper said: “Junior is a strong, aggressive striker who gives us a real presence up front. He’s got the experience and character we need, and we’re really pleased to add him to the group.”

Last season, Morias managed nine goals in 30 appearances across two loan spells at Dagenham & Redbridge and Woking whilst a Notts County player. The previous campaign saw him managed just two goals in 14 appearances for Notts when he was never really afforded a run of games in the side, starting just once in seven league appearances.

His previous spell at Dagenham was his most prolific, managing double digit league goals in 2021-22 (11 goals) and 2022-23 (10), earning him a move in to the Football League with Notts.
 

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Yeovil Town women have been drawn away at Wells City in the Adobe Women’s FA Cup 1st Qualifying Round.

Wells are also the Glovers’ first League game of the new campaign too.

In an even odder, quirk, the FA release suggests that “All ties must be played on Sunday 7 September 2025. Kick-off 2.00pm, unless otherwise mutually agreed”…

Which means that Yeovil Women’s league game against… Wells City will have to be postponed.

Either way, on September 7th, Yeovil will play Wells away with either (or both) league points or a place in the 2nd Qualifying round on the line.

DATES OF ROUNDS
Second Round Qualifying – Sunday 21 September 2025
Third Round Qualifying – Sunday 5 October 2025
First Round Proper – Sunday 26 October 2025
Second Round Proper – Sunday 23 November 2025
Third Round Proper – Sunday 14 December 2025
Fourth Round Proper – Sunday 18 January 2026
Fifth Round Proper – Sunday 22 February 2026
Quarter Final – Sunday 5 April 2026
Semi Final – Sunday 10 May 2026
Final – Sunday 31 May 2026

PRIZE FUND PAYMENTS 
Preliminary Round – Winner £600 Loser £150
First Round Qualifying  – Winner £1,800 Loser £450
Second Round Qualifying – Winner£3,000 Loser £750
Third Round Qualifying – Winner £4,000 Loser £1,000
First Round Proper – Winner £6,000 Loser £1,500
Second Round Proper – Winner £8,000 Loser £2,000
Third Round Proper – Winner £35,000 Loser £9,000
Fourth Round Proper – Winner £54,000 Loser £13,000
Fifth Round Proper – Winner £80,000 Loser £20,000
Quarter Final – Winner £90,000 Loser £22,500
Semi Final – Winner £160,000 Loser £40,000
Final – Winner £430,000 Loser £108,000

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Trialist Luke McCormick runs past a Bristol Rovers player in a pre-season friendly match.

Midfielder Luke McCormick has become Yeovil Town’s second signing of the day as Yeovil Town following the arrival of on-loan striker Ben Wodskou.

The former Bristol Rovers’ man, who was released by The Gas at the end of last season, is not a new face to Glovers fans have been a regular appearance as ‘trialist’ during the pre-season campaign.

An hour after the Wodskou announcement on Monday morning, the Glovers confirmed the 26-year-old has signed a one-year contract to be at Huish Park for the upcoming National League Premier Division season.

In a statement, manager Mark Cooper said: “Luke is a really intelligent footballer who brings a lot of quality in possession. He’s got great energy and a good understanding of the game at this level. We’re delighted to have him on board.”

McCormick played 25 times, scoring three times, for Bristol Rovers in the 2024-25 before being loaned out to National League promotion chasers Forest Green Rovers in January where he made five appearances and just one start before being recalled by Rovers.

He arrived at The Memorial Ground in August 2022 from AFC Wimbledon having had a loan spell with The Gas in the 2020-21 season whilst in the academy at Premier League giants Chelsea. 

McCormick’s signing leaves only fellow former Rovers’ striker Jevani Brown‘s future uncertain. The 30-year-old has been another regular face named ‘Trialist’ on the Yeovil team-sheets during pre-season, but no announcement has been made about him.

The absence of fellow trialist Teo Kurtaran in the final two friendlies of the campaign, against Bath City and Weston-super-Mare, suggest he is no longer in Cooper’s plans.

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Birmingham City striker Ben Wodskou being interviewed by the Blues' social media team.

Young Birmingham City striker Ben Wodskou has been the latest product of the Championship side’s academy to join Yeovil Town on a season-long loan.

The 18-year-old, who was a trialist in the 1-0 pre-season friendly defeat at Weston-super-Mare last Saturday, joins fellow Blues’ Under-21s team-mate, defender Byron Pendleton, at Huish Park for the upcoming campaign.

He came off the bench on the hour mark in north Somerset at the weekend, replacing Josh Sims.

Wodskou spent the second half of last season on loan at Rushall Olympic in National League North, scoring twice in six appearances as the Midlands side were relegated to the Northern League.

In a statement on Monday morning, Yeovil manager Mark Cooper said:“Ben is a young striker with huge potential. He’s already shown he can handle the physicality of men’s football and has the hunger to make an impact. We’re excited to work with him this season.”

Wodskou signed a two-year professional contract at St Andrews in the summer of 2024. He joins a Yeovil forward line which includes Aaron Jarvis and Tavhon Campbell as recognised strikers with Harvey Greenslade another contender for the forward line, albeit often played in a wide position.

Speaking after the defeat at Weston, Cooper said he hoped to bring more “ammunition” in to his attack before the opening game of the National League season against Hartlepool United on Saturday. The Glovers were finished last season as the joint third lowest scorers in the Premier Division with 51 goals in their 46 matches.

The manager said: “We always said we were going to be late in our recruitment, we were not able to start recruiting until the middle of June (following the takeover). We have recruited a few (in Tahvon Campbell, James Daly and Kyle Ferguson) and hopefully next week we will have some more ammunition coming in and some players at the top of the pitch which can really effect the goal.”

In pre-season, Greenslade has two goals to his name, a brace in the 3-2 win at Chippenham Town, whilst Jarvis and Campbell have one goal each.