Ben Barrett (Page 135)

Yeovil Town may well be waiting a little longer before they know the exact fixture list for the upcoming season with schedules released at 1pm on Wednesday 7th July but two dates can be pencilled in nice and early.

The Football Association have confirmed that the Glovers will enter the FA Cup at the 4th qualifying stage – scheduled for the weekend of October 16th.

Whilst the FA Trophy details also being released it is expected that Yeovil will join at the 3rd round stage currently pencilled in for the weekend of December 18th.

There will be no replays in the FA Trophy, instead opting for extra-time and penalties, but drawn ties in the FA Cup up to and including the 4th Round Proper will see a second fixture played if teams cannot be split after 90-minutes.

Last season, Yeovil made the 2nd Round of the FA Cup before losing to Stockport after extra time and were forced to withdraw entirely from the FA Trophy after an enforced Covid Isolation break meant the match with Boreham Wood could not be played in time.

Parkinson celebrates with his Colchester side at Huish Park in 2006

National League side Wrexham have made something of a statement signing today in the dugout announcing that former Bolton and Sunderland manager Phil Parkinson as their new head coach.

Parkinson who has also had spells in charge of Colchester, Charlton, Bradford and Hull put pen to paper on a 12-month rolling contract at the Hollywood-backed Welsh side.

Lancashire-born Parkinson has achieved promotions with Bradford and Colchester in the past as a manager, including securing promotion to the Championship with a 0-0 draw at Huish Park in the 2005/06 season.

In total, the Glovers have faced Parkinson seven times in the opposition dug out, winning two, drawing two and losing three.

Yeovil Town have announced that former Bristol Rovers defender Mark Little is the latest signing to join the Glovers this summer.

The experienced campaigner has signed a deal at Huish Park for the upcoming season.

Little, 32 has spent time with both Bristol clubs as well as clocking up well over 100 appearances at Championship level with both Bolton Wanderers and Wolves where he started his career.

Predominantly a right-back, Little has well over 350 career games on his CV and has won the League One Play-Offs with Peterborough as well as being a two-time winner of the Football League Trophy with the Posh and then with Bristol City – in back to back seasons, no less – lifting silverware at Wembley in both 2013 and 2014.

Mark joins a now very competitive defensive line with Morgan Williams joining a back line with Alex Bradley, Max Hunt, Luke Wilkinson already secured, with Grant Smith signed up as the number 1 ‘keeper for the season the squad is starting to take shape.

Speaking to YTFC.net, Little said; “I feel the club is in a bit of a false position.”

Making no secret of his desire to help Yeovil back up the divisions he added: “From playing against the club previously it’s always been in the Championship or League one, to find the club out of the Football League, it’s not right so I’m here to correct that.”

Welcome to Huish Park, Mark.

Yeovil Town have announce the signing of former Chesterfield goalkeeper Grant Smith on a one-year contract.

The former Brighton stopper has spent time at a number of non-league clubs including Hayes and Yeading, Bognor Regis and Boreham Wood before spending the back end of the most recent season with the Spireites.

 

He played – and kept a clean sheet in Chesterfield’s 3-0 win over Yeovil in March, goals from Akwasi Asante, Tom Whelan and Jack McCourt sealed the three points.

We will bring you reaction on his signing here on the Gloverscast when we hear from our new ‘keeper.

Welcome to Huish Park, Grant!

Yeovil Town are being linked to former Harrogate Town defender Jay Williams.

The72.co.uk is reporting that the Glovers are leading the way in the hunt for the former Northampton Town defender’s signature since his name appeared on Harrogate’s released list at the end of the League Two season.

The website’s reporter Luke Phelps simply cites “sources” with regards to the where his information has come from, so at the time of writing this is nothing more than speculation and rumour… but who doesn’t love a bit of that during the off season?

Williams begun his career for the Cobblers (no, it’s true, he did) and has spent time with both Kettering Town and for the back end of the 2020/21 season Harrogate Town.

Predominantly a central defender, Williams has been used in as a midfielder in the past.

We will bring you news on where Williams ends up – whether it’s Huish Park or somewhere else!

Former Glovers favourite Kieffer Moore has been in the news recently for his exploits at Euro 2020 with Wales, and his former coach, Darren Way has been speaking to BBC Radio Wales about the strikers journey, including a stint playing for the Glovers at centre-back.

Gary Johnson was manager, we were in the dizzy heights of us in the Championship at the time, we signed him from Dorchester and he came in to a level which was a few jumps up,” said Way.

“For me, personally, to work with him, to play 50 games was excellent for his experience”

Way was asked about how Moore adapted from part-time Non League football to Tier 2 of the football pyramid after swapping Dorchester Town for Yeovil Town in the Championship.

“Gary Johnson has to take huge credit for giving Kieffer that opportunity… it was a huge jump and I think it took him time to adjust to that level”

The former Swansea midfielder was quick to praise Moore’s attitude and talked about how much he learned in a short period of time, whilst also having to adapt to some slightly unusual situations when asked to play in defence.

“One thing I can witness is that his perseverance, the number of clubs [he’s played for], dealing with team selections, coming in, coming out, it’s helped him massively”

“He’s very brave, he had a number of bandages playing for us, in fact he had a number of appearances playing as a central defender, to put someone at centre half, you’d got to be willing… show a huge willingness to be brave”

“I think that was one of his strengths, his willingness to run, you can see his athleticism… there was always going to come a time where someone was going to bear those fruits”

“The experience of playing in all of those positions, I think, has helped his understanding of the game”

Moore scored nine goals in 57 appearances for the Glovers.

Former Yeovil Town player, coach and manager Darren Way has been speaking to BBC Radio Wales about a couple of the nation’s Euro 2020 stars and their time at Yeovil.

On Connor Roberts, who spent a season on loan at Huish Park in 2015, played 50 times for the Glovers something which Way says says wasn’t a surprise given his attitude.

Way said: “(He’s) probably the hardest working player that I’ve ever coached, I feel quite honoured to still speak to Connor regularly, he would probably be the only player that I’ve seen complete a full training session and then do 10 ‘box to boxes’ off his own back”

“It doesn’t surprise me that Connor Roberts would be defending in the last five minutes and end up in the six-yard box in the last five minutes all in one run”

“He’s got an incredible drive”

Darren would go on to draw comparisons with another former Glover who has gone on to better things in higher divisions, Luke Ayling:

“It wouldn’t surprise me if he did get a big move, because he’s gone under the radar for the quality that he’s got…”

“He reminds me of Luke Ayling in terms of that journey (to the top) completing 50-odd games in a loan spell…  I had huge belief that Connor’s perseverance, his hard work, his commitment, his energy around the training ground, he inspires others… I feel very proud to just be a very small part of Connor’s journey, because you want to work with the best players.”

“He was up there as being one of the best that I’ve worked with”

Huge congratulations from everyone at the Gloverscast to Connor on his performances with Wales, and his goal vs Turkey.

 

Former Cambridge United  and W*ymouth striker Andrew Dallas has been linked with a move to Yeovil Town this summer

Nottingham Post reporter Leigh Curtis has claimed that the Glovers are one of a ‘number of clubs’ monitoring the front man.

Notts County are also named as touting the forward who scored a dozen goals for the terracotta and blue seasiders.

Dallas would have played alongside Tom Knowles at Cambridge and would know the area well from his time by the beach.

Yeovil have announced two signings so far with Charlie Wakefield and Morgan Williams already secured for the upcoming season.

Dallas was mentioned in the Gloversblog based on nothing but rumour and speculation of replacements for Rhys Murphy: 

Yeovil Town have released their full pre-season schedule with games against Southampton and Bournemouth XIs added to the six-game schedule.

Previous games against Taunton Town and Weston Super Mare had already been confirmed, but now we also have dates set in stone for games against Forest Green Rovers, Stratford Town and the Under 23s from both Southampton and Bournemouth.

The full schedule is below.
Tickets for the away game at Weston Super Mare are already on sale, with further ticketing details to follow for the other five pre-season fixtures.

Yeovil Town Full Pre-Season Schedule.

  • Sat 24thJuly – Stratford Town (A) – 3pm
  • Sat 31stJuly – Forest Green Rovers (H) – 3pm
  • Tues 3rdAug – Taunton Town (A) – 7:30pm
  • Sat 7thAug – Weston-Super-Mare (A) – 3pm
  • Tues 10thAug –Southampton B (H) – 7pm –
  • Sat 14thAug – AFC Bournemouth XI (H) – 3pm