Ben Barrett (Page 139)

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Congratulations to Sutton United who were today crowned National League Champions for the 2020/21 season.

A 3-0 win over Hartlepool United was enough to put the table toppers five points clear of second place Torquay with just one game remaining.

There are not too many links between the champions and Yeovil Town except winger Rhys Browne, who spent two years at Huish Park, and joined them from Port Vale at the start of the year.

Congratulations to everyone at Sutton United… we’re not jealous at all, one bit… not in the slightest. Nope.

It’s fine, we’re fine.

 

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BBC Somerset’s Yeovil Town commentator Tom Seymour is reporting Yeovil Town have options built in to contracts for utility player Albi Skendi and midfielder Matt Worthington.

Yeovil Town midfielder Matthew Worthington.
Picture courtesy of Mike Kunz.

Both players are out of contract this summer, but this information would suggest manager Darren Sarll could opt to keep them both for the 2021/22 campaign.

Skendi has been used in near enough every position this season with Sarll praising the fomer Stratford Town man for his flexibility and ability in multiple tactical set-ups.

Worthington took longer to get into the side but was a key part in the 2nd half of the season turnaround and has also helped out in defence when needed.

During the latter stages of the season, striker Joe Quigley has signed a new deal, with confirmation of fellow frontman Reuben Reid‘s extended stay at Huish Park beyond next Saturday also expected.

 

 

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There were ten games across the National League this Saturday, no fewer than 41 goals, two red cards, only two sides failed to score (Boreham Wood and W*ymouth) and there’s still plenty to play for.

Top of the table Sutton face Hartlepool on Sunday lunchtime, so Torquay had the chance to close the gap on the leaders, a chance they squandered letting a 2 goal lead slip at home to Barnet.

3rd place Stockport, who face the Glovers on the final day, drew as well, 1-1 vs Woking.

Notts County won 3-0 against them lot in Claret and Blue, to give them a guaranteed top seven finish, Wrexham and King’s Lynn played an eight-goal thriller, the Welsh side coming out on top 5-3.

Wins for Chesterfield (2-1 v Dagenham) and Bromley (2-3 v Aldershot) mean the play off picture looks very tight, especially with Eastleigh beating Boreham Wood 1-0.

Eastleigh have a game in hand on the sides above them and could jump into the play-off spots before the final day fixtures.

In midtable, Halifax beat Maidenhead 2-1, Solihull gave Wealdstone a thrashing, winning 4-1 and of course, Yeovil and Altrincham shared 5 goals, with the Glovers coming out on the wrong side of the 3-2 score line.

There are three games this coming Tuesday before the final round of fixtures next sunday where all 11 matches will kick off at 12:30pm.

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May 22nd 2001

The summer of 2001 was a bit of a crazy one to support Yeovil Town.

A short crawl through the Ciderspace archives reveal that we lost Colin Addison as Manager with the relationship between him and Chairman John Fry… how can we say, politely?… strained.

We apparently tried to get Harry Redknapp and Tony Pulis as manager – but those rumours were quickly rebuffed, whilst Steve Claridge was also on the radar for the Huish Park hotseat(can you imagine!?).

Warren Patmore left, so did a whole host of others, presumbaly unhappy at the situation of the club, but the most shocking revalation came on this day in that most fascinating of summers.

Terry Skiverton handed in a transfer request.

Yes, really… the greatest captain Yeovil Town had seen in many a generation was on the verge of leaving Huish Park after just a short stint in Somerset.

Ciderspace captured his words from the Clarion publication;

“I’m 25 years old now and I would like to see if any league club’s think I’m good enough to do a job for them. I’ve asked the club to circulate my name but they have told me they want me to stay to lead Yeovil into the third division next season. The trouble is that if Yeovil fail again then that will be another year gone by. I’m also not that happy with my contract, after all I’m the club skipper and an England international but I don’t feel my contract reflects this.”

It was reported that the club had asked Skivo to wait for the appointment of a new manager before deciding his future.

Skivo never did leave (thank god!), instead he would team up with new manager, Gary Johnson to win the FA Trophy… and the Conference title… and League Two… and then play a major part in his backroom staff as the Glovers would get promoted to the Championship. Not a bad combo really.

 

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Picture Courtesy Of Mike Kunz

The FA Suspension’s Website is a less than reliable source of information at the best of times, but it has now finally been updated to show that Yeovil Town defender Luke Wilkinson will miss the rest of the season with a two-game ban to serve.

Wilko was sent off for two bookings in the 0-0 draw with Maidenhead.

Normally, this would carry just a one match ban, but as it is his second red card of the season, it is extended to two.

Wilko was also sent off in a 0-0 with Dagenham back in October – maybe he just really dislikes 0-0 draws!

This will leave the Glovers very short in defensive options with Alex Bradley still to serve the final match of his ban as well as injury concerns over Albi Skendi, Max Hunt and Josh Staunton who have all played in the heart of the back four this season.

We expect loanee Billy Sass Davies to be partnered by midfielder Charlie Lee for the game against Altrincham –
… unless the gaffer has a trick up his sleeve!

 

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Alfie Lloyd was a regular for Yeovil Under 18s

Planning for the 2021/22 season is well underway for many clubs and it seems that Yeovil Town Under 18s have got at least one date set in their diaries for pre-season.

The Under 18s are confirmed as one of Wincanton Town‘s opponents in July as the Wasps prefer for their campaign in the Toolstation Western League.

Yeovil are listed as the hosts for the friendly which will take place on Tuesday July 20th with a 7pm Kick Off.

As you might expect, no details on supporter attendance or venue has yet been confirmed.

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If the excitement of the Semi-Final comeback against Sheffield United wasn’t enough to tip you  over the edge of footballing emotion, there’s a fair chance, what can only be described as 90 minutes of HELL would have done the trick.

Coming into the final, there were fears, much like in 2007, that the final might be one step too far following a rollercoaster route to the the Wembley show piece.

But, unlike in 2007, we saw the game through.

Yeovil got off to the best possible start – and who else could it be, but Paddy Madden?

The ball fell kindly to the Irishman and with the outside of the right boot, he found the top corner.

1-0. Crikey.

I’m convinced that this is the perfect time to bring out the old cliche, but if Messi or Ronaldo had scored that goal in a big final, they’d replay it forever, it’s that good of a finish.

The horrible truth is, that throughout this game – Yeovil were on the backfoot – defending stoutly throughout, there’s a reason Marek Stech got Man Of The Match,

You, me, any of the near 20,000 Glovers in the stadium would have taken a 1-0 lead into half time, but it would actually get better.

Dan Burn with a header, probably intended to just give something for someone else to latch onto made it through everyone, including a wild swoosh from James Hayter, to go in, clearly in – miles over the line.

2-0. Bloody Hell.

I was so  nervous, this wasn’t meant to happen, Yeovil weren’t meant to make it to the Championship – Brentford were one penalty kick away from making it automatically, of course they’d win the play offs.

Harlee Dean thought so anyway.

Probably the only moment of defensive sloppiness came when Dean skipped past his marker and headed home to half the deficit.

The Bees continued to huff, to puff and to force save after save from Marek Stech.

As time went by, the nerves barely held on.

But Yeovil did.

There are many elements of that day never to be forgotten aside from the headlines created, by Madde, Burn and Stech; Jamie McAlister broke his nose, Gavin Williams got booked as a sub, cameo roles for Matty Dolan and Vitaljs Maksimenko too.

But, after taking 108 years to get to the Football League, it took just ten to reach the second tier, whatever happened after is for another story, on another day.

But this was magical. – My words won’t do it justice, very few ever will, but they can never take away the time OUR club won at Wembley.

 

 

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Yeovil Town manager Darren Sarll.
Picture courtesy of Mike Kunz.

On what was an emotionally charged night at Huish Park, Darren Sarll spoke to BBC Somerset’s Sheridan Robins following Yeovil Town’s 0-0 draw with Maidenhead.

The Glovers struck the woodwork twice through Josh Neufville and Charlie Lee and had plenty of near misses in a game with the Glovers dominated.

Before speaking about the 90 minutes, Sarll took time to recognise the significance of having supporters back inside Huish Park for the first time in over 400 days;

“It was so emotional, when we all came out and they all clapped – I was proper… cor, that got me! That was amazing, really amazing, listen they’re the winner tonight, I can’t believe how good it was to have them back. There are some unbelievable supporters at Yeovil, brilliant, really sort of, like, heartfelt people.”

The whole stadium took a moment as the clock struck four minutes to applaud as a mark of rememberace for club captain, Lee Collins who sadly passed away.

Sarll, who joined in, praised the fans for their gesture as well as some of the players who joined in.

“On four minutes, when everyone clapped, the Adam’s apple started coming up and forward. It was an emotional night, I’m not the emotional sort of cuddly teddy bear, but that got me.”

“I saw (Chris) Dagnall with his hands in the air clapping whilst defending a corner and we have to pay tribute to Lee over the long term, it won’t be a fly by feeling, we’ve got pictures up of him, we don’t want to forget Lee… it was a wonderful thing for the supporters to do, and I love that the players were clapping even though they were running around.”

Focus turned to the fixture itself and the Gaffer tried to sum up a game full of twists and turns saying;

“It’s amazing, that’s the best we’ve played all season, no doubt in my mind. The passing, the techical ability improved, our awareness improved.”

“It was a good point, especially when Luke (Wilkinson) got sent off.”

Picture Courtesy Of Mike Kunz

Wilkinson was shown his marching orders for a second bookable offence in the 2nd half after appearing to handle the ball in an attempt to score from a corner, but the Manager was still left scratching his head.

“I don’t understand, the ref’s just said to me and I quote “If that’s anywhere else on the pitch, I can’t book him for handball” – now I don’t understand that.”

Sarll didn’t go as far as to break the Gloverscast Rule 1 of moaning about the officials at this level (they’re all rubbish, deal with it), but he admitted the situation was confusing and that his side will be worse off for Wilko’s absence through suspension

“Luke was a bit silly, he’s had a slapped wrist, we’ve got to be better than that.. the only people who suffer are his team mates and his manager.”

Focus returned to far more positive aspects of the performance with Lawson D’Ath once again singled out for praise with Chris Dagnall also described as two members of the squad who “defy all logic” with their work rate, endeavour and ability to put in constant performances despite their fitness concerns.

Yeovil Town have two games left, Altrincham  away on Saturday before welcoming supporters for one final time when Stockport visit on the final day.


 

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The National League took another step closer to completion this evening with five more games on the schedule – but only four took place.

Solihull Moors clash with lowly Barnet was postponed due a waterlogged pitch, it leaves Solihull still having to squeeze four games in to finish off their campaign.

Of the games that did take place, in addition to the 0-0 draw between Yeovil and Maidenhead, there were wins for Notts County, Eastleigh and Boreham Wood – all away from home.

County won 1-0 at Wrexham in a game that could prove pivotal in the race for play-off spots, Jake Reeves with the only goal.

Eastleigh went to Aldershot and won 3-1, and Boreham Wood were winners against W*ymouth by the same margin.

It leaves the vast majority of sides with just two left to play, with some sides still having only played 39 or 38 games.

 

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Picture: Courtesy of Mike Kunz

Former Yeovil Town Goalkeeper Stuart Nelson is on the hunt for a new club after Crawley Town opted not to enter negotations on a new contract.

Nelson, who will turn 40 in September, played at Huish Park for two seasons with his final game being the defeat to Barnet in the National League Play-Offs last season.

All the best to Stuart as he looks for his next club – with over 500 professional games on his CV, he shouldn’t short of options.