Ben Barrett (Page 167)

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Yeovil Town manager Darren Sarll has admitted he needs a break after “easily the worst” year of his life.

Speaking  ahead of his side’s final game against $tockport County this weekend, the boss said he believed criticism of his side was “harsh” given the impact of the tragic death of Lee Collins, injuries and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

He said: “I need a rest, I am worn within an inch of my life and after this weekend I am going to have a little break.
“It has been easily the worst year of my life. I know people are critical of me and the team’s performances, but they have to understand it has been one thing after another for us. I think the criticism has been harsh because we have seen how even teams like Liverpool have struggled without their central defenders. We had three 10-day periods of isolation because of COVID, a real turnover of players because of injury, it has been incredible.”

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

The club has invited the family of Lee Collins to join them for the final game and Sarll said that the skipper’s daughters would be mascots for the day with Lee’s partner, Rachel Gibbons, joining them on the pitch.

He manager said: “Rachel and I have spoken regularly this week and they are special, special people and we want to show them how much Lee meant to us and how much they mean to us.”

In his pre-match press conference, he also spoke about a Crowdfunder the club has launched to raise funds for Lee’s family and Young Minds, a mental health charity which works with young people.

The club is aiming to raise £10,000 through the initiative and you donate to the fund – by clicking here.

Sarll spoke openly that he had been speaking with a psychologist from the League Managers’ Association (LMA) since the passing of his captain in March.

He said: “Mental health is like any illness, we never expect it to happen to us. That experience teaches you to respect the work that goes on and the treatments that can be applied. I have seen a psychologist since Lee passed and I have never seen one before or spoken to one before, Dr Alan Johnston from the LMA has been wonderful for me. You think you are never going to need it, but when it does happen you realise the quality of people out there that can help.”

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Yeovil Town midfielder Jimmy Smith will join the coaching set-up at Premier League side Chelsea after announcing his retirement from playing.

The 34-year-old, who began his career at Stamford Bridge back in 2005, confirmed that he will hang up his boots following the final match of the National League season against $tockport County at Huish Park on Saturday.

Speaking to the club’s official website, Smith said “I’ve had two very different seasons in my time at Yeovil. The first one was unbelievable, to play for this club I’ve always thought so highly of throughout my career was special.

Jimmy Smith in action for Yeovil Town.
Picture courtesy of Mike Kunz.

“I have a good relationship with the gaffer (Darren Sarll) and (assistant manager) Terry (Skiverton) and have learnt so much from them.

“What we created as a team, staff, and fans together was amazing, playing home and away, the fans are truly the 12th man, which is something we have missed this season.

“Sharing the moment with our fans is something will always stick with me, especially when we sing our song all together. I was gutted we couldn’t achieve promotion in the play offs.”

Asked about the player’s retirement in his pre-match press conference on Thursday, Sarll said that both Smith and full-back Carl Dickinson, who plays his final game this weekend before taking over as manager at Hanley Town, will be “sorely missed.”

He said: “Jimmy came to us in a winning period which always helps and then helped kick us on, but this year his contribution off the pitch has been fantastic. He is going to go in to a full-time coaching environment now and he is going to be a fabulous coach, he just needs to take his time and develop his practices and everything he wants to be known as as a coach. He is someone like Carl who wanted to be here. It is hard to attract those people who want to be here because we are not making anyone a millionaire. We are either on the back nine for some or just starting out, but Carl and Jimmy will be sorely missed because they are great pros.”

Yeovil Town will be the final club in Smith’s playing career which spans 15 years and includes loan spells at QPR, Norwich City and Sheffield Wednesday whilst on the books at Chelsea and long stints with Crawley Town and Leyton Orient.

He will now join another ex-Glover Anthony Barry among the coaching set-up at Chelsea. Barry, part of the Glovers’ side that reached the League One play-off final in 2007, is a first-team coach at the Champions League finalists.

He has played 51 times scoring seven goals for Darren Sarll’s side and everyone at the Gloverscast wishes him all the best in his next adventure – and would like to ask him to send the cream of the Chelsea academy crop to Huish Park!

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After the jubilations of a play-off semi final victory over Nottingham Forest, Yeovil Town went on to face Blackpool at Wembley in the League One show piece, on this day in 2007.

In truth, the game was one step too far for Russell Slade‘s side, who despite their best efforts simply came up short.

Chris Cohen shook off the injury that forced him off in the 2nd leg at Forest, he, along side Arron Davies would play their final games in Green and White before heading back to the City Ground in a combined £1.25 Million deal.

Robbie Williams (not that one) opened the scoring for the Tangerines direct from a free kick, before Keegan Parker scored an audacious lob from well outside the area to double their lead.

Yeovil huffed and puffed, but created fairly little until Marcus Stewart spurned a glorious chance late on, somehow nodding and effort into the ground and over the bar from six yards out.

Blackpool, who brought on future Glovers midfielder, Simon Gillett late on, were promoted to the Championship, but Yeovil would get another chance a few years later.

It wasn’t to be.

Yeovil: Mildenhall, Lindegaard (Lynch 77), Forbes, Guyett, Jones, Gray, Barry, Cohen (Kalala 40), Davies, Stewart, Morris (Knights 72).
Subs Not Used: Skiverton, Rose.

 

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Former Yeovil Town goalkeeper Sam Johnstone has been called up into England’s preliminary Euro 2020 squad by Gareth Southgate.

Johnstone is one of a number of players to have played for Yeovil, but not at Huish Park, making his one sole appearance away at Burnley in the Championship.

Despite signing initially on loan for a 3-month period, it was confirmed that he had broken a finger in the warm up at Turf Moor and would have to return to Manchester United for treatment.

Nevertheless, he’s a former Glover and that’s enough for us here at the Gloverscast – go well, Sam!

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One of Yeovil Town’s class of 2013 is on the hunt for a new club this summer, Motherwell have told Sam Foley he will be leaving at the end of his contract.

Foley, who joined Motherwell from St Mirren in January will become a free agent as the Scottish side look to restructure following the 2020/21 season.

A firm fan favourite from his time in Somerset, Foley played nearly 100 times for the Glovers scoring seven goals .

You’re more than welcome back at Huish Park any time you like, Sam!

 

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As Euro 2020 edges ever closer, international managers are picking their squad and Wales Manager Robert Page has picked plenty of former Yeovil Town players in his travelling party for a training camp in Portugal.

Wayne Hennessey (Crystal Palace), Kieffer Moore (Cardiff), Tom Lawrence (Derby)and George Thomas (QPR) are all involved, whilst the official statement also notes that two other ex-YTFC Players are going to be considered once their domestic Play-Off campaigns have concluded; Connor Roberts (Swansea) and Josh Sheehan  have a date with Wembley to get through first.

 

Best of luck to all the Ex-Yeovil Town players on their hunt for squad places at the Euros.

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May 24th 2003

International honours are rarely bestowed upon those at Yeovil Town, let alone winning international tournaments, yet, on this day in 2003 no fewer than five Glovers stars got their hands on the prestigeous… (checks notes)… Four Nations Cup.

The England National Game XI – which would later become rebranded as ‘England C’ – was the international side where players were picked exclusively from Non-League sides.

Yeovil had just been promoted from the Conference and would go on and take their first crack at the Football League later that year, so this tournament represented the last chance for many of these stars to pull on the ‘three lions’.

In total, six Glovers were called up by Paul Fairclough; Chris Weale, Terry Skiverton, Lee Johnson, Darren Way, Kirk Jackson and Nick Crittenden.

Critts would sadly have to pull out of the squad, but the other five all played in a key role in lifting international silverware for their country.

A 1-1 draw vs Scotland, on May 24th 2003, was enough to secure the medals.

Ealier in the tournament, Jackson had scored a Hat Trick vs the Republic of Ireland whilst Way notched vs Wales a few days later.

The squad also contained a few familiar names alongside the Glovers quintet.

Scott Guyett (who we were sure was Australian) was called up from Chester City, Michael Rose represented Hereford whilst Lee Elam and Paul Terry both played their parts in the squad too.

 

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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.