FA Trophy weekend is upon us! Maidstone are the visitors to Huish Park tomorrow and there’s some bits to get through. The club confirmed the departures of Jerry Gill and Richard Dryden and announced the signing of Josh Tobin on loan from Bromley. We chat about it all, some other stuff and take your GCQs.
Yeovil Town boss Billy Rowley has set his sights on a run in the FA Trophy as the Glovers prepare to kick off their campaign at home to Maidstone United this weekend.
The manager is looking to build on two wins in his first two National League Premier Division matches when the National League South play-off chasers visit Somerset this weekend.
We have gone out of the competition at the first time of asking in the last three seasons – at the hands of W*ymouth, Torquay United and Dorking Wanderers – and you have to go back to December 2021 to find our last win, a 3-1 home victory over Woking which came before an exit to Needham Market in the following round.
Asked about the significance of the competition by BBC Somerset’s Jack Killah on Thursday, Rowley said: “Six games to Wembley, so that is something we can already dream about! If we can get through this weekend, you never know. I think it is a competition will be throwing a lot in to and this weekend I am definitely going to be trying to win that game.”
They face a Maidstone side which knocked Torquay out in the previous round and have won their last two league fixtures, but will travel without former Yeovil trialist Teo Kurtaran who departed the club this week. He appeared for Tamworth in a Birmingham Senior Cup tie on the same day his exit from Maidstone was announced albeit the National League Premier Division side has not announced his signing, so it is possibly a trial.
Kurtaran, who impressed suppoters but clearly not then-manager Mark Cooper during his pre-season in Somerset, is known to Rowley who signed him at his former club Walton & Hersham after the Glovers turned down the opportunity to sign him up.
Asked about this weekend’s opponents, Rowley said: “I know a fair bit about Maidstone, two lads I know very well have been playing for them, one of them actually just left this week (that’s Kurtaran by the way), so I know how they play, their style. They are a very physical team, they are great on transitions and press hard, so we worked on a few ideas today. They play real rock and roll football, so it will be a good spectacle. I want us to put on a spectacle and I want our fans to see us have a lot of the ball.”
The Glovers will go in to Saturday’s third round tie without defender Morgan Williams whose appeal against a sending off after the final whistle in last weekend’s 2-0 win at Hartlepool United has been rejected. On loan midfielder Max Jolliffe will also be missing having played in the Trophy for Billericay Town earlier this season, but Rowley is expecting to have midfielder Josh Sims available after suffering tendonitis on his Achilles as well as new signing Josh Tobin, who joined on loan from League Two Bromley on Thursday.
The boss said: “The video (of the post-match melee at Hartlepool) does not show what the referee thinks he saw and we did our best to try and appeal that one, but we were not successful. Morgs is a great character and a great player, so it is a blow, but we have some boys who can step in to that role. Finn (Cousin-Dawson) is one who I thought was excellent on Saturday in a midfield role, but he will be available for that position.
“Max (Joliffe) will be missing, cup-tied due to a game he play for Billericay earlier in the competition, but we are expecting a few boys back. Simsy (Josh Sims) has had some good treatment on his Achilles so he will be available, Planty will still be out because we do not want to risk his hamstring, but we will have good options going in to this game.”
Rowley added: “I reminded one of the lads who has not been playing much who has been training really well that every game brings different challenges, so we might play slightly differently for each game and I want to boys to think that there is a clean slate with me. There are boys who have great experience at this level and above, so that will naturally be swaying my opinion to a certain extent, but everyone has an opportunity here and they are definitely showing it in training.”
Congratulations to Yeovil Town youngster Ollie Hughes who made his debut for the England Colleges team this midweek.
He played his part in a 3-1 win over an Independent Schools XI, wearing the number 7 shirt, his side won, 3-1.
He was awarded his cap in a presentation the night before, meaning he follows in the foot steps of Ollie Haste and Corey Koerner to represent the ECFA whilst on the books of Yeovil Town.
Hughes (bottom row, second in from left) with his England Colleges Squad.
Defensive midfielder Josh Tobin has become new Yeovil Town manager Billy Rowley’s first signing having joined on loan from League Two Bromley until the end of the season.
The 21-year-old is known to the Glovers’ boss after the pair worked together during the player’s time in the academy at Premier League giants Chelsea and later during a loan spell at Walton & Hersham during the 2023-24 season.
Speaking ahead of Saturday’s FA Trophy third round tie with Maidstone United, Rowley said: “I have worked with Josh for 18 months or so, he is a lad with a lot of skill and talent and found himself playing for (Walton & Hersham) after he was released by Chelsea and then he got a move to Bromley. Since then he has had a few injuries and not been able to get in there first team, so I thought this was a great opportunity to get him in.
“He is someone who is able to cover three or four different positions, he has a lot of skills in his toolbox, so I think he adds a lot of depth and will be really beneficial to us. He grew up playing as a centre back, so he can play anywhere across the back, he has most recently been playing as a holding midfield player and last year he played higher up the pitch as a number eight or number ten, so we will see. I see him mostly as a midfielder though.”
Tobin made his Bromley debut last month as a second half substitute in an EFL Trophy defeat to AFC Wimbledon, having returned from a lengthy spell on the sidelines through injury.
Having left the youth ranks at Stamford Bridge in the summer of 2022, Tobin has spells at Cray Wanderers and Margate before linking up with Rowley and his assistant Darren Simpson at Walton in January 2024. His form there earned him a move in to the Football League at Bromley and he was awarded a professional contract in May this year.
We assume the new recruit will be available for Saturday’s FA Trophy third round tie with Maidstone United at Huish Park.
Welcome to Huish Park, Josh!
Yeovil Town have confirmed the departure of former manager and assistant manager Richard Dryden and Jerry Gill from Huish Park.
In a short statement posted on social media on Thursday the club said: “We can confirm that agreements have been reached to terminate the contracts of Richard Dryden and Jerry Gill.
“The club would like to formally thank both Richard and Jerry for their service and wish them well in the future.”
The pair’s future have been in limbo since the club appointed new boss Billy Rowley and his assistant Darren Simpson on 25th November and brings to an end an almost six-month association with the club for Dryden.
He joined the coaching staff under then-Glovers’ boss Mark Cooper in June, took over in interim charge following Cooper’s sacking at the end of August, and then did the hokey-cokey during the 11-day reign of Danny Webb as Yeovil manager, stepping in “until the end of the season” which lasted 11 matches. Having won his first three in permanent charge, he was replaced by Rowley following a run of six defeats and two draws including an early exit from the FA Cup at the hands of lower league Hemel Hempstead Town.
Gill joined as number two to Dryden on 24th September rekindling an association with the club he played for in the 1996-97 season, winning promotion back to the then Football Conference.
In a post on his X/Twitter, Gill said: “My time as Interim Assistant Manager @YTFC. A pleasure to have been back at the club so close to my heart. The stadium staff, football staff, superb group of players and wonderful supporters thanks for making work so enjoyable. I wish Billy and you ALL nothing but success.”
From us here at the Gloverscast, we wish both Richard and Jerry well for the future and thank them for stepping in during difficult times at our football club.
Lewis Sandoe has already refereed Yeovil Town vs Maidstone United once in his career, he’ll do it again on Saturday.
That match was back in August of 2023 and actually saw the Glovers draw 1-1 with their opponents, Rhys Murphy salvaging a point late on in the piece.
We have also already seen him this season, a 3-1 home defeat to York City, he gave Ollie Pearce the the chance to tap in another goal from 12 yards which he duly obliged.
James Plant and Aaron Jarvis both saw Yellow on the day.
Overall Mr Sandoe has taken charge of 11 games this season across the National League, the silly National League Cup rubbish, the Premier League U21 league and cups.
He’s given out 36 yellows, just one red (to Brighton U21s Noel Atom) and a couple of penalties have been awarded.
He’ll be assisted by Richard J. Morris and Dean Treleavan with Matt Eva on dugout duty.
Yeovil Town FC (First Team) v Maidstone United FC (First Team)
F.A. Challenge Trophy
Referee: Sandoe, Lewis
Assistant Referee: Morris, Richard J.
Assistant Referee: Treleaven, Dean
Fourth Official: Eva, Matt
The Football Association has confirmed Yeovil Town’s Morgan Williams was sent off for violent conduct at the end of last weekend’s 2-0 win at Hartlepool United.
The dismissal means the defender will now serve a three-match ban starting with Saturday’s FA Trophy tie at home to Maidstone United. He will also be missing for the National League home match with Forest Green Rovers on 20th December and the Boxing Day trip to Truro City.
Williams was red carded for his part in a melee which erupted at the end of the game at Hartlepool and involved every player and member of staff from both sides following the final whistle. The home side’s Jermaine Francis was also red carded for his role.
Two wins on the bounce, two goals in each game and two nominations in the Enterprise National League Team of the Week.
Jake Wannell and Luke McCormick are both included after helping to topple play-off chasing Hartlepool by a 2-0 scoreline.
In the Non League Paper, both were also named with Billy Rowley also named their Boss of the Week too.
Two on the spin and a win at Hartlepool for the first time in ever. Ben and Dave were there and they share their thoughts with Ian and we take your #GCQs.
Thanks to Tim Hubble and Alex ‘Distant Glover’ Russell for the voice notes.
Gloverscast Ben was on BBC Radio duty on Saturday afternoon as Billy Rowley’s Green and White (well, red and black) army won their second game in a row. Here are his five conclusions.
“Luke McCormick, you little dancer”
There was so much to like about the performance on Saturday, but Luke McCormick stood out for me in every single sense.
McCormick is, probably, just a bit too good for this level. These players don’t come around all that often, the ability to look effortless in control of the ball is a joy to watch.
He made the first goal, out on the left did all the hard work for a Jarvis tap-in, hit the post, forced the keeper into the save and right at the death turned a time wasting burst to the corner into a lovely finish into the far corner.
Everything Yeovil do well goes through him and Billy Rowley has clearly given him the freedom to be creative.
Now, about that contract….
We did the ugly stuff
The wonderful play from McCormick and Co going forward will take the headlines and that’s fine, but let’s not take away from the rear guard action at the other end.
Make no mistake, Hartlepool are a good side, lots of very exciting players but Jed Ward in goal, the three in front of him and wing backs dealt with plenty of crosses, passes and waves of attacks and yet at no point did I ever really fear that they’d score.
A word for Finn Cousin-Dawson who did really well keeping Jamie Miley quiet and Alex Reid is, in my mind, one of the smartest forwards in the division and he didn’t have a sniff.
Glimpses of Rowley-ball
It’s still early days of course, but we’re starting to see what Billy Rowley is going to ask of this team.
We’re going to have to have our hearts in our mouths a few times when we play neat little passes in defensive areas, but we’re also going to see the ball move quickly. We’re going to see little neat triangles used to get us through our phases of play and we’re going to play the brave passes forward.
Not all of them will come off, but I cannot knock a team trying something brave, something we haven’t seen, arguably, for years.
I don’t think Yeovil fans want perfection, but they want us to have a go, play the conditions and make brave decisions, we did on Saturday, and that worked wonders.
I really enjoyed it – so did the 98.
That feeling! Those pre match butterflies were in hope rather than fear. I saw us win at Solihull – same outcome, worth the same number of points to the season’s tally – but this FELT different.
Maybe it’s the simple words of confidence from the manager or how other fans feel around us, but it was a genuine joy to watch the game. To see players playing without weight on their shoulders allowed the fans to follow suit. I said that the players ‘need to go first’ in the chicken-and-egg battle between supporters upping their support and players giving them something to support, and they have in these last two games.
I feel it, I’m in, hook, line and sinker! I’m prepared to be patient, prepared for imperfection, but the players have now gone first and given us all something to support, so the least we can do is follow suit.
The scenes at the end were a disgrace.
Morgan Williams and Jermaine Francis both saw red for their part in a post-match melee, just about every player and staff member were involved in the fracas and quite who was or wasn’t in the wrong doesn’t really matter, but what followed from a home-end supporter has left me seething.
Players and supporters have back-and-forth moments at every ground, every weekend and there’s always passion and emotions run high, but one thing remains constant; the barrier between players and fans.
That barrier was breached on Saturday with someone charging out of the crowd towards the crowd of players. Some quick thinking by Finn Cousin-Dawson probably stops the supporter from reaching his intended target at full throttle before others – including home players – usher him away, But the fact he got a far as he did, unchallenged is a disgrace. Players should feel safe on the pitch, as should fans in the stand.
I hope that Hartlepool will engage in a proper investigation, not just into the individual, but into their own practices on match day. Every person I dealt with was brilliant on the day, but one idiot has ruined it for the whole club. The FA charges will surely follow in the new year.
Other than that one idiot, a near perfect away day for the Glovers
