Ben Barrett (Page 137)

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Angelo Balanta in his loan spell at Yeovil Town in 2013. Picture courtesy of Mike Kunz.

Yeovil Town are back at Huish Park after three matches away with Dagenham & Redbridge the visitors.

The original fixture was postponed when following Storm WhatsHerFace blowing  half the county of Somerset away.

Not much has changed since then in truth, the Glovers still sit midtable, with plenty of very decent “all guts, no glory” performances and more draws than a large Ikea warehouse and Dagenham still flirt with the play offs.

The Daggers sit 10th, seven points behind Notts County who occupy the all important seventh spot.

In terms of actual form, the visitors have actually only picked up one more point than Yeovil in the last five games, a 3-0 win over Maidenhead last time out and a 1-1 draw vs Woking in that time.

The Glovers of course have been picking up stalemate points for fun; five of the last seven Yeovil games have ended all square.

Goals (or lack, thereof) has been the talking point at Huish Park, Dagenham don’t have that problem, 53 league goals this season, that’s not a million miles off double Yeovil’s tally of 28.

Only one has made double figures though, that is Paul McCallum, who scored when these sides met earlier in the campaign… a 1-0 win for Yeovil… it’s enough to make your brain hurt.

He got a brace when they last played, but that was a week ago, against Maidenhead, he and his team-mates had a Saturday off as the Glovers lugged it up to Nottingham and back to be pegged back at the death by Notts County.

 

FROM THE MANAGER

Daryl McMahon is all too aware of what awaits his side at Huish Park telling the Barking and Dagenham Post:

“Darren (Sarll’s) teams are hard to play against, they always are, they’re always aggressive. Going down to Yeovil is always a tough game, but it’s another game in this division we look forward to.”

Whilst club captain and former Glovers’ loanee Angelo Balanta said:
“Yeovil will be tough. They’re below us in the table but they gave us a good contest and made it tough for us.

“They’re very resilient the way they go about their business and defend their goal really well.

“I think it will be similar but we’ve got to do what we’ve been doing, performing well and hopefully get the result.”

TEAM NEWS

McMahon is hoping to welcome a couple key players back into the fold, including a name Glovers fans will recognise, he should have Angelo Balanta (calf) and Matt Robinson (concussion) back in contention this week.

A FOOT IN BOTH CAMPS

Yeovil Town captain Josh Staunton.
Picture courtesy of Mike Kunz.

Yeovil Town captain Luke Wilkinson and midfielder Josh Staunton seems likely to be the only players with experience of playing for both sides starting this weekend.

The central defender played 65 times for Dagenham following his release by Portsmouth in 2010.

He had a couple of spells on loan at Boreham Wood and one at Dartford during his time at Victoria Road before departing for Luton Town in 2014.

Staunton arrived in Essex following his release by Gillingham in the summer of 2016 and made 37 appearances as they reached the Conference play-offs missing out to eventual winners Forest Green Rovers.

Despite playing in most positions in defence, Staunton was allowed to leave and joined Woking for the following season and then moved to FC Halifax Town from whom he joined Yeovil in summer 2020.

Another in the green-and-white corner is Lawson D’Ath, the playmaker working his way back to fitness after nine months out through injury.

He had a 21-game spell on loan in Essex in the 2013-14 season.

Likely to be missing through injury is the visitors’ talismanic forward Angelo Balanta who was an unused substitute in Yeovil’s 2-1 League One play-off final win over Brentford which secured promotion to the Championship in 2013.

If you’ve not heard it, check out our podcast with former Yeovil Town press officer Jimmy Healey for a great story about Balanta’s celebration – here.

The Colombian had a spell at Bristol Rovers, helping them out of the Football Conference in 2015, before moving to Carlisle United, Boreham Wood and eventually arriving at Dagenham in October 2018.

There is a possibility of seeing ex-Glovers’ midfielder Joey Jones who played the first half against Spennymoor last weekend before being replaced at half-time.

He spent his youth career at Arsenal and Leicester but having signed for Yeovil in 2013 after playing in a behind-closed-doors friendly he failed to make an appearance.

In January 2014, he was loaned out to Woking who he eventually joined permanently at the end of the season and when on to play 162 times for the Cards.

He arrived at Victoria Road, via Eastleigh and Salford City, in November 2020.

Other familiar faces to both sets of supporters include….

  • Rhys Murphy – Dagenham (2013-15), Yeovil Town (2019-21)
  • Mitch Brundle – Yeovil Town (2012-13), Dagenham (2019-21)
  • Jake Howells – Yeovil Town – loan (2015), Dagenham (2017-18)
  • Gavin Tomlin – Yeovil Town (2008-10), Dagenham (2010-12)
  • Matt Harrold – Dagenham – loan (2004-05), Yeovil Town (2005-06)
  • Kirk Jackson – Yeovil Town (2002-04), Dagenham – loan (2004)
  • Paul Terry – Dagenham (1999-2003), Yeovil Town (2003-07)

 

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Luke Wilkinson.

Yeovil Town defender Luke Wilkinson has been given a place in the Non League Paper’s ‘Team of the Day’ following his performance against Notts County.

The Glovers may not have won, but Wilko has been listed along side Barnet’s Ben Richards-Everton and Jesse Debrah of Halifax in the mythical side’s defence.

Well in, Wilko.

The full team is as follows…

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Paul Fairclough has announced his England C squad for the upcoming game against Wales.

As expected it is full of the very best from the National League, but there are no current members of the Yeovil squad that make the cut.

Three former Glovers make the cut, Scott Loach (Cashterfield), Ben Tozer (Wrexham) and Nathan Ralph (Southend) have all been selected for the game on March 30th.

There does appear to be a ‘contingency squad’ with Wealdstone announcing two of their players had been called up, despite not appearing on the list.

If any of the current squad are also named in the back up squad they could be called upon for the game which is scheduled for inbetween the Southend and Barnet fixtures.

The team includes Paul Mullin who was being touted for a full Welsh call up this season and Dagenham’s Matt Robinson who will be in the visitors squad at Yeovil this coming Tuesday.

The full squad is as follows…

 

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Yeovil Town manager Darren Sarll was very positive about the Glovers’ 1-1 draw with Notts County on Saturday.

Speaking to BBC Somerset’s Sheridan Robins, he said whilst the players might be ‘gutted’, he wasn’t and he sang his team’s praises.

“I’m not (gutted), the players are and it’s my job to ensure they understand the fruits of their labour, and that’s a magnificent performance, again.

“This is a process, we’ve got young players that are developing, they are exactly where they should be and this is about their journey long term”

The manager went on to make comparisons to Sutton United, who won the National League in 2020/21, but not before building a young squad who finished mid-table in the curtailed 2019/20 season.

Sarll spoke of his side’s endeavour and spirit – something all Glovers’ fans know is second to none.

“I’ll be surprised if anyone has come here this year and stuck it so boldly to Notts County. I told them, and I mean it, I’m not playing games, I was delighted with them. I can see in our attacking play, that we are getting better.”

There was praise for Alex Bradley whose second start of the season brought his first goal and for Jordan “Gareth Bale” Barnett who found himself as part of a front three citing their athleticism, hard work and determination to play for the team.

“I think the chaps have shown an incredible amount of desire and I think we’ve given something back to the people, to the supporters who have travelled so far and spent so much money and that’s all I can ever ask of them.

“I think if we have longevity with the team, I can start to ask a bit more, but right now they are exactly where they are and exactly where I think they should be, and they’re growing week in, week out.

“It’s very ballsy to come here and play in that manner, we didn’t sit off like 90% of the teams, we went after Notts County, and we went after Notts County with all of the things we know are against us.”

Sarll also confirmed that on loan striker Olufela Olomola, who missed out at Meadow Lane, should be available to make the squad for the visit of Dagenham & Redbridge to Huish Park on Tuesday night, and that there is no long term concern over forward Tom Knowles who limped off at the end against Notts.

Looking ahead to Tuesday, Darren Sarll hoped that the Huish Park faithful would see more of the same, even if he wasn’t overly enamoured with having to play on Tuesday after two long away days… and Dagenham having a weekend off.

“I just hope the home support sees the growth in the team, I hope we show them that there’s growth in the team.

“We need to be very very careful, physically with the team, because it’s a long journey, I didn’t want this game on this Tuesday (vs Dagenham) I thought it was unfair after two long away trips to put another game in, the league voted against us… we always seem to lose those ones… but we’ll go.

“This team can be such a good team, such a good team, and I love working with them and I really do hope people can see their progress, because they are fighting for dear life, bless ’em.

“Once we break the ceiling of those two goals in a game, I think we will unleash a war chest of other attributes we haven’t seen yet. We are pushing, we are really pushing and I’m really proud of them today.”

 

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Tom Knowles in action
Picture courtesy of Mike Kunz.

Yeovil Town forward Tom Knowles spoke to BBC Somerset’s Sheridan Robins after the 1-1 draw with Notts County and despite being on the wrong end of 94th minute equaliser, he said he and squad weren’t too downbeat.

“There’s a lot of positives we can take from that, I think we were the better team for the vast majority of the game, and we’ve been (doing) so well at defending our box all season, so it’s disappointing to concede the goal in that way.

“We’re very positive after that, although it’s disappointing not to get all three points, it’s a great result away at Notts County.”

Knowles echoed the manager’s thoughts that the group is working hard as a unit and that the squad a brilliant to be around, even if the likelihood of a play-off place is getting smaller by the game.

“It’s something that we all buy into, we do it for each other, we run our legs into the ground and we know that when we get taken off, that someone else is going to come on and do exactly the same. We are going to give absolutely everything into every game.”

Knowles was asked about the lack of goals this season and he was sure they would come eventually.

“I think that’s the frustrating part for us boys up top is that, we are all working so hard and the final bit is the final third, the last bit in front of goal, so I’m sure when one comes the floodgates will open, and we will start scoring and flying.”

The former Cambridge United man was taken off towards the end, but the front man confirmed, it was nothing too serious and was already looking forward to playing Dagenham & Redbridge on Tuesday night.

“The fans really get behind us there (Huish Park) and we will definitely want to put on a show for them and the ones that travel – we are so thankful for their support because Nottingham isn’t exactly around the corner from Yeovil, nor is Chesterfield. 

“The support has been brilliant the last couple of games so get back in front of our home fans and put on a show.”

Much like Darren Sarll, he reiterated his enjoyment at playing in this squad and was hoping for more success with this group.

“I love it, I love the dressing room, everyone of us are buying into the exact same thing and we all want the exact same outcome, we all get on on and off the pitch and when the results start coming on the pitch we will fly, I’m sure of it.”

You know what they say… “don’t fall in love with footballers…”

…too late.

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Yeovil Town have been given two charges of misconduct in the latest Football Association disciplinary lists for February 2022.

The first relates to the game v Eastleigh on 12th February.

The official charge is as follows.

MASS CONFRONTATION (FAST TRACK 2) – STANDARD CASE
Yeovil Town FC, National League Premier 

Eastleigh FC v Yeovil Town FC
National League Premier
12 February 2022

Breach of FA Rule E20.1 – It is alleged that in or around the 82nd minute of the fixture, Yeovil Town FC failed to ensure that its players conducted themselves in an orderly fashion.

Charge denied – Paper Hearing requested. 

It’s worth noting thay Eastleigh have also been handed the same charge from that fixture and have accepted the charge resulting in a fine of £500.

Fast forward to February 25th and the game against Maidenhead, another ‘mass confrontation’ and another charge.

“MASS CONFRONTATION (FAST TRACK 2) – NON-STANDARD CASE
Yeovil Town FC, National League Premier

Maidenhead United FC v Yeovil Town FC
National League Premier
22 February 2022

Breach of FA Rule E20.1 – It is alleged that in or around the 94th minute of the fixture, Yeovil Town FC failed to ensure that its players conducted themselves in an orderly fashion.

The Club have until 6:00pm on Wednesday 2 March 2022 to provide a response.”

Much like in the Eastleigh game, Maidenhead have also been charged with the same offence and also have until Wednesday 2 March to respond.

If we get any details of the outcomes we will bring these details to you.

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Albi Skendi celebrates with Charlie Lee.
? Mike Kunz.

Albi Skendi has signed for Orange County Soccer Club in California almost a year since his last appearance for Yeovil Town.

The USL Championship side described Skendi as a defender and a ‘former’ Yeovil Town player with the Glovers confirming his departure on Friday evening.

Skendi had been AWOL from Huish Park since the summer when it appears he had a difference of opinion over whether an option on his Yeovil contract was triggered or not.

Speaking to his new club’s official website, Albi said: “I cannot wait to start the season. I get to play for the best team in the league and now live in the most beautiful county in America.” 

Orange County are managed by Richard Chaplow, a former Southampton and Burnley midfielder, who said: “We are happy to have Albi on board.

“He is the right fit for our locker room and brings with him good leadership skills from his time playing in England.

“Albi is a powerful and mobile player that has the flexibility to play in both the defense and midfield, he will be a big part of what we do this season.“

Also on the roster (as they call it) in Irvine, California is Rob Kiernan, an Irish defender who made three appearances for Yeovil on loan from Watford in the 2010-11 season.

Skendi played 75 times for the Glovers, scoring 9 goals and won the National League Player of the Month award in January 2021.

He was pictured playing club football with Justin Bieber and spoke exclusively to the Gloverscast in September about his decision not to return to Somerset.

All the best in California, Albi.

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UPDATE:  The Gloverscast understands the budget accounts for what MIGHT happen rather than what WILL happen, and that the £2.8m has been put aside should the club reopen the deal.

South Somerset District Council has confirmed it has allocated £2.8m to buy land around Yeovil Town’s Huish Park stadium from owner, club chairman Scott Priestnall.

The authority agreed its annual budget at a meeting on Monday night including almost £118m in investments across the district.

The item of most interest to Glovers’ fans is the proposed purchase of land at the club’s home with the council adding “owner of the land is ready to proceed with the sale.”

The last public statement from owner Scott Priestnall from a video posted on the club’s YouTube channel in July.

All land at Huish Park is held by two companies, Yeovil Athletic & Football Club and Yeovil Town Holdings, both of which list Priestnall and fellow club director Glenn Collis as their only directors.

The statement confirms what we already knew that the authority’s District Authority approved the purchase and leaseback of the land, including the stadium, back in December 2020.

However, that was halted when the Glovers’ Trust activated an Asset of Community Value (ACV) listing it had on the land which gave it six months to raise the cash to match the council’s offer.

It failed to raise the cash and the pause on the Council completing the deal was lifted, but since then discussions over the sale of Yeovil Athletic & Football Club have got underway between Priestnall and Simul Sports, a group led by former Cardiff City commercial director Julian Jenkins.

Since the discussions between Simul and Priestnall began, things have gone quiet on a potential deal with the council, but this latest update would appear to suggest they are moving again.

The statement published following Monday night’s council meeting, includes the following details:

  • Huish Park (£2.8m): Our District Executive at its meeting in December 2020 agreed to purchase the land at Huish Park in Yeovil, including the land occupied by the Yeovil Town Football Club, in order to secure the public amenity provided by the site and the owner of the land is ready to proceed with the sale.”

Also on Monday night, the Glovers’ Trust published an update – effectively a full disclosure of what it knows about Simul Sports – which revealed that financier Greg Baker is the man backing the deal. Baker is the founder of ESE Capital, a London-based finance firm which specialises in property development.

Land owned by Yeovil Town Holdings Limited is bordered in red – except the bit in mint green which is owned by Yeovil Athletic & Football Club Limited.

It confirmed the discussions were focused on buying Yeovil Athletic & Football Club, the property assets of which extend to the Huish Park stadium and a strip of land presently owned by the Council alongside Western Avenue.

All other land at Huish Park, including the car park, top training pitches and 4G surface, are owned by Yeovil Town Holdings Limited.

Keen watchers of records related to Companies House will have noted that Huish Park Stadium Partnership, a company which lists former owners Norman Hayward and ex-chairman John Fry as its directors, filed the paperwork to keep it ticking over for another year.

So, a reminder of what the timeline of the discussions with the Council were:

December 3 2020: The District Executive of South Somerset District Council approved the deal to purchase and lease back land at Huish Park – see here.

January 2 2021 The Glovers’ Trust confirms it is triggering its ACV placing a six-month moratorium on the deal with the Council – see here.

May 24 2021: After its six-month window to raise the cash to match the council’s offer, the Glovers’ Trust said the deal to sell  would put the club’s future in jeopardy and asked the council to review its decision – see here.

May 25 2021: Responding to the Gloverscast’s questions, the Council said the future of Huish Park was “in the hands” of Priestnall – see here.

July 6 2021: The Council responded to Gloverscast questions by saying that it “remains open” – see here.

July 30 2021: Chairman Priestnall said the deal with the Council was still a “viable option” – see here.

Also, if you’ve forgotten what an Asset of Community Value is and what it all means as far as Yeovil Town is concerned (you’re not the only one!) – here’s what we wrote back in September – click here.

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Yeovil Town have annouced a new date for the game agasint Dagenham and Redbridge… and it’s not far away.

The Glovers will host the Daggers on Tuesday March 8th with a 7:45 Kick Off – that’s just a week away!

Tickets purchased for the original fixture remain valid, but fans are asked to contact the ticket office on “info@ytfc.net” for refund options.

When the sides met in November, Yeovil came away with a 1-0 win thanks to a Paul McCallum Own Goal.

 

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Isn’t it amazing how just 90 minutes can define a season?

Yeovil Town had yet another ‘all guts, no glory’ performance against Chesterfield and came out on the losing side, with a first half stoppage time worldie changing the game and being the difference.

These conclusions are starting to feel like a broken record, but here are Ben’s five key takeaways from the Technique Stadium.

Ben Barclay
Pic: YTFC YouTube

Ben Barclay ‘gets it’ – he loves defending, he must be a joy to have in the defensive unit.

He’ll put his head in where it hurts and considering we love Luke Wilkinson and Max Hunt for similar traits, he’s quickly becoming a bit of a find for us.

At the time of writing, I’d like to know what his contract status is at Stockport, because if they go up, or deem him not to be in their plans, I’d certainly be looking to bring him in permanently.

Ben Barclay – he loves defending, and he loves defending for us.

At the other end… sometimes, you can’t do much more to score.

It’s no secret we’ve had our attacking problems this season, but at least yesterday it wasn’t for the want of trying.

Tom Knowles could have had a hat-trick, Luke Wilkinson should have had a least one, Adi Yussuf came close, Josh Staunton had a crack.

But sometimes, the fine margins don’t go your way.

On another day, Scott Loach in the Chesterfield goal doesn’t get his hand up, or Knowles’ wonder strike goes in off the bar rather than bounces out.

If the first half ends 3-1 to us, we go on and win the game. 

Those moments haven’t gone for us all season, but on Saturday evening it looked destined to never fall for us.

Striker Adi Yussuf fires a shot in on goal.
Picture courtesy of Mike Kunz.

… and on that… I’m done with Adi Yussuf.

Sorry, I don’t like calling out individuals, but I’ve gone from giving him the benefit of the doubt to really struggling to understand what he brings to the table.

He gave away free-kicks, he misplaced key passes in attacking areas which would have led to more chances, he managed to somehow not bundle the ball home from a yard out in the second half, he got in the way of others, and he constantly got caught offside.

Reuben Reid needs to be given a run in the side above Yussuf in the pecking order if Olomola isn’t fit. Reid looked brighter in that final 10 minutes.

Sorry Adi, nothing personal.

Lawson D’Ath. Picture courtesy of Mike Kunz

I think, I’m looking forward to a Staunton, Gorman and D’Ath midfield.

Actually, I know I am, I quite excited by it.

Worthington, Barnett, Bradley and Lo-Everton have their place and in a squad environment they’ll all be very very handy, but, Josh Staunton looked he needed his mate, Gorman out there. Like Ant without Dec, Phil without Grant, it just looks a better fit for the team.

And as for D’Ath, he’s genuinely one of the best players in the league. 

He’s that good. It’s all so effortless for him to pick a pass and to have the composure on the ball that so many around him were lacking. 

If we can get those three on the pitch together singing from the same hymn sheet, that’s a bloody good midfield.

Sarll speaks to the media at Chesterfield

And finally, the manager made his clearest statement yet regarding the off-the-field future of Yeovil Town and it needs to be the catalyst for clarity.

Every word he spoke was correct, this is a team worth supporting, getting behind, enhancing, developing and moulding into a squad that can get Yeovil Town promoted.

If, as many now think, this season is over… next season must begin ASAP. That means clarity and plan of how we approach the medium to long term future of the team.

His own position included, either he needs to be told to go and get who he needs because he’s in charge, or told he won’t be allowing a new person to assess the squad. 

That sounds brutal, and harsh and I’m very much ‘Sarll In’ but the time for next season to start is coming… and it’ll be here far sooner than the end of this current campaign.