Ben Barrett (Page 137)

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The 2020/21 Vanarama National League has come to a conclusion, a topsy turvy season with Covid Stops, No Fans in the grounds and not one but two sides not completing the season (of course, one of them, Macclesfield, never started).

But after 42 games, the table has been finalised and we now know the end of season play of schedule.

Four sides, Notts County, Hartlepool, Bromley and Chesterfield will play off in eliminators to set up semi-finals vs either Torquay or Stockport.

The final will take place at (checks notes) Ashton Gate, home of Bristol City on June 20th.

Best of luck to all those taking part, apart from Chesterfield.

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Yeovil Town’s on loan defender Billy Sass-Davies took to social media to thank the Glovers for a brilliant spell during the back end of the 2020/21 season.

Sass-Davies, who has international duty on the horizon with Wales Under 21s tweeted that he ‘wants to wish everyone associated with the club the very best in the future’.

The Crewe loanee has played 22 times for the Glovers, scoring once, against Barnet.

All the best back at Crewe and for Wales, Billy, from everyone at the Gloverscast

 

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Yeovil Town midfielder Charlie Lee played his last game in the green and white of Yeovil Town on Saturday, he spoke to BBC Somerset’s Tom Seymour after the game and reiterated his gratitude and delight at his time in Somerset, even if it didn’t end up in the ultimate goal of getting the Glovers promoted.

“Loved it, amazing place, really beautiful part of the country, we came down last season and we had a really good season, loved every minute”.

Whilst the first season of Lee’s time ended in a shorter than scheduled league campaign and an even shorter crack at the play-offs, this season has been very different, one which Lee suggests has been a major factor in deciding it’s time to move on

“This season, no words – it’s been an emotional season, I’m immensely proud of everyone at the club; fans, players, the manager, Terry, all the staff… when we look back at the season we will realise what a learning curve it was for everyone”.

Lee, joined Yeovil as part of a new core of players who changed the culture and brought the fans back closer to the playing staff, included in that group was Lee Collins, tributes were paid to Collins before and during the match after his sad passing in March and Lee admitted he’d found the day emotional.

“Most people who know me, know I’m always able to find a word – I’m always quite loud, in the huddle before the game, I had literally no words, having the girls (Lee Collins‘ daughters) meant so much, the family was immense, and I’m just really happy that it happened.”

Focus turned to the final game of the season, a 1-0 defeat to Stockport, but Lee was adamant that the scoreline didn’t reflect the performance.

“Yeah, I thought we deserved something out of the game, it’s been the story of our last couple of months. They’re (Stockport) a very good team, good luck to them, they’re a great group of lads, who were more than respectful and played an amazing tribute to the skipper too”

Attention then turned onto what was next for the former Stevenage man, who confirmed retirement wasn’t on his mind and that he intended to continue playing.

“I’m still going to play, I feel like I’ve got more time in me… but the last two years, with everything that has happened, living away from them (his family) has been tough, in an ideal world they would have followed me down to Somerset, but the way our lives are at the minute, they couldn’t”

“They’ve loved me being at Yeovil, but it was just time to go back. I’m really gutted, I would have loved to have stayed, but circumstances meant that I just couldn’t”

“I would love to have got Yeovil back into the league, that was my aim, that was the only reason I came to Yeovil to be honest… I’m gutted, I know with the Manager and staff and everyone here and the players that are staying, they’ll have a real good go – I wish them nothing but success”

Charlie Lee played 66 times across the two seasons, scoring five goals. – Thank you Charlie, for everything.

 

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Sarll and Skiverton
Yeovil Town manager Darren Sarll, left, with assistant, Terry Skiverton.
Picture courtesy of Mike Kunz.

Manager Darren Sarll has said he is “determined to do the right thing” by Yeovil Town as he prepares to rebuild a squad ready for next season.

Speaking after a 1-0 defeat to $tockport County on the final game of the National League season, which saw his side finish in 16th place, the boss said he will “shut down”  and return a week on Monday to look towards the next campaign.

He told BBC Somerset: “For the first time, I am looking for a break, I am going to shut down for a week and then we will start talking to the players a week on Monday.
“Them we need to rebuild around a completely different budget, against a different thought process.
“We need to use the resilience we have built this year because things like we have all been through this year give you such a strong bond and we need too go again.
“I am determined to do the right thing by the supporters, by the club and by the big man up there (club captain, Lee Collins).”

He said the club now needed to remove a “dark, grey cloud” which has been over the club this season when they have suffered the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, an extended run of poor form, an injury crisis and the death of Lee Collins, which shook the club in March.

The manager added: “We need time off to break up that dark, grey cloud over us and start again. We need to rebuild the enthusiasm and energy of the team, and reinvigorate those lads.
“No-one knows what it is like to be in our shoes, no-one except us and that is what connects us so tightly.
“I loved that at the end there, I thank every supporter from the bottom of my heart, because that is like fuel for me to try and do them justice next year.”

Sarll was joined for his post-match chat with the media by Amelia, the daughter of the late Lee Collins, who was in attendance at the game with her sisters and Lee’s partner, Rachel Gibbons.

The boss thanked supporters for the warm reception they gave the family, himself and his team at the end of the game when supporters on the Thatcher’s End terrace serenaded them with the now famous ‘Allez, Allez, Allez’ chant.

Sarll said: “It was tough at the end, but I think we did everything we had to do in the right way and conducted ourselves in a really graceful manner and did the right thing.
“We know the season has been really poor, we can all talk about availability and COVID and no fans, but the fact of the matter is we have dipped below expectation and I am sorry for that.
“It was unbelievable and the girls which is what it is all about, they need to experience the connection and what it was like and why it was so important. and they got that feel of that connection between the players and the supporters.”

 

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In a season where injury has been one of the main concerns at Huish Park, Lawson D’ath had to be stretchered off the pitch in the final game.

Darren Sarll has his head in his hands as Lawson D’ath is attended to. Picture from YTFC Live

D’ath who was only recently back from a long term injury had to be carried off the pitch and was replaced by Jimmy Smith.

YTFC Live commentator Marcus Duncomb suggested that there was concern over the right knee which had kept the former Reading and Northampton man out of large parts of the season.

Darren Sarll looked visibly distressed as his midfielder was taken off.

We will bring you news and quotes from the manager as soon as they become available, but we can only wish D’ath well as his season ended on crutches.

Thanks for putting your body on the line when we needed you most Lawson.

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The Final Day of the regular season was a busy one with every one of the 22 remaining sides kicking off together at 12:30.

With plenty in the play-off spots still to be decided there was a lot on the line up and down the country,

In the end all important 3rd place spot went the way of Stockport who’s narrow victory over the Glovers was enough to secure themselves a spot in the semi finals at the expense of Hartlepool.

‘Pool did all they could by beating W*ymouth 4-0, but they are now planning for an eliminator fixture in the end of season shake up.

There was still plenty to be decided in the race for 7th place too, Wrexham couldnt beat Dagenham (1-1) meaning that Bromley, Chesterfield and Notts County will all join Hartlepool in the first stage of the play-offs.

Eastleigh and Halifax also stood a chance of getting in the play-offs, but they couldnt get wins on the final day, losing to Solihull and Chsterfield respectivley.

The shock of the day was Champions Sutton losing to Barnet 2-0.

Wins for Wealdstone (4-2 over Woking) and Maidenhead (4-1 over Boreham Wood) were joined by an eight-goal thriller between King’s Lynn and Aldershot with the points shared to finish off the season.

All the best to all those involved in the play-offs.

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Yeovil Town’s final game against Stockport on Saturday was already a landmark moment with the final games of Carl Dickinson and Jimmy Smith’s career, but now, midfielder Charlie Lee has also announced he will be leaving the club at the end of the current campaign.

Taking to Twitter, Lee simply stated;

Lee joined the club at the start of the Darren Sarll era and has been one of the stand out stars for the past couple of seasons.

The Stockport game will be his 69th in the green and white, Lee has score five goals.

It goes without saying, but Lee, much like Dicko and Smith leaves with nothing but our best wishes for the future.

 

Much like with Dickinson and Smith, supporters and teammates alike have taken to social media to sing the praises of Charlie;

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Max Hunt Praises Jimmy Smith on Instagram
Josh Neufville on Jimmy Smith

Not one, but two Yeovil town stars hang up their boots following the conclusion of the 2020/21 season, the final game against Stockport will be the final professional game for both Jimmy Smith and Carl Dickinson.

We’ve waxed lyrical about both on Gloverscast.co.uk and on our Podcast (Search ‘Gloverscast’ wherever you get your audio on demand), but it’s their teammates who have taken to social media to praise the duo who depart for coching roles next season.

Carl Dickinson will be Player/Manager at Hanley Town whilst Jimmy Smith is heading into the coaching set up at Chelsea.

We’ve complied some of the comments Glovers stars past and present have made on Twitter and Instagram

that show, just how much, they will both be missed.

Go well, gents – thanks for all you’ve done at Yeovil.

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Former Yeovil Town winger Josh Neufville has been offered a new contract by Luton Town boss (and former Glover…) Nathan Jones.

Neufville is recovering after surgery following a broken ankle in his final appearance for the Glovers but has been offered new terms to remain at Kenilworth Road.

Also announced was that the Hatters will trigger an option on Gabriel Osho who has spent time on loan at both Yeovil and Rochdale, finally, we rewind the clock to the 2006/07 season to remember Martin Cranie.

A versatile defender who was actually born in Yeovil joined the Glovers on loan from Southampton – he too has been offered a new deal by Nathan Jones.

Congratulations to the trio of former Glovers on getting their offers.

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Two former Glovers stars on the hunt for new clubs after being released at the end of their current contracts.

Lee Peltier and Jon Obika of West Brom and St Mirren respectively have been told that their current deals will not be renewed.

Peltier, a versatile defender initially joined on loan from Liverpool in 2007 before spending 18 months as a permanent member of the squad.

He would go on and spend time at Leeds, Huddersfield and Cardiff including a spell in the Premier League with the Bluebirds.

As for Obika, he was part of a cohort of players signed from Tottenham alongside Andros Townsend, Ryan Mason and Steven Caulker over the spell of two seasons.

Obika spent four spells with the Glovers scoring 17 league goals in the  green and white.

We wish them both the very best in the hunt for a new club.