Ben Barrett (Page 168)

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Former Yeovil Town midfielder, Marc Bircham has taken on his first full-time managerial role with League of Ireland side Waterford Town.

Bircham arrived in Ireland on Thursday and will undertake a period of self isolation before joining his new side.

The Canadian international joined the Glovers in 2007, and played a little over a dozen times before ankle injuries ended his career in 2009.

Bircham has spent time coaching in America as well as taking on the QPR job in a caretaker capacity and had been on the coaching staff at Millwall.

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May 13th 2010

As we start to see clubs up and down the EFL and in the National League begin to announce their released and retained lists, today’s On This Day highlights just how much player turnover occurs in a single summer of contract discussions.

In the summer of 2010, Terry Skiverton had just guided the Glovers to another mid-table finish in League One.
We finished in 15th, had a wonderful FA Cup moment when we faced off against Southampton at St Mary’s and got to enjoy players like Alex McCarthy (on loan from Reading), Steven Caulker and Ryan Mason (on loan from Tottenham).

But as with any summer, came the contract negotiations.

Skivo and the Glovers had no fewer than 11 players who were in need of having their future sorting, and it was on this day that decisions were made.

The Glovers released; former Bristol City man Scott Murray, Aidan Downs, Andre McCollin and ‘keeper Richard Martin were all told their future’s lied elsewhere.

Former Spurs defender Danny Hutchins was placed on the transfer list, whilst contract discussions were held with a number of other key players.

Dean Bowditch, top scorer from the previous campaign, as well as Nathan Smith would sign their new contracts, but others, namly Terrell Forbes and Gavin Tomlin would opt against an extended stay in Somerset and returned to clubs nearer to their home in Somerset.

Jean Paul Kalala chose to stay whilst Keiran Murtagh headed for Wycombe.

This was the summer we signed Ed Upson, Luke Ayling permanently and Paul Huntington – so what do you think, did Skivo do decent business in the summer of 2010?

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Former Yeovil Town loan defender Morgan Williams has been released by his parent club, Coventry City.

Williams, 21, has spent two loans spells at Huish Park, playing three times last season before returning in October 2020 for another short stint.

Speaking to YTFC.net upon resigning Williams, Manager Darren Sarll said at the time;

“I immediately requested (when needing a defender) Morgan because of his playing traits. He is very different to what we have, and he made a huge impression on us all the last time he was on loan.

“He knows the group, to some extent, and understands what it is to play for Yeovil, the expectations that are placed on the players and the need to win games on a weekly basis.

“It’s great to have him back and I hope he has a great experience with us again.”

Everyone at the Gloverscast wishes Morgan Williams all the best in his search for a new club.

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More EFL clubs are starting to formluate their plans for the upcoming season and Exeter City are the latest to release details of who will be staying and who will be leaving this summer.

Striker Alex Fisher during his time at Yeovil Town.
Picture courtesy of Mike Kunz.

There are a couple of interesting names to Yeovil Town fans including former defender Tom Parkes who played a couple of times on loan from Leicester in 2011, but also former striker Alex Fisher.

Fisher, joined Yeovil just hours before the 2018 meeting with Manchester United, having driven down from Motherwell to Somerset to sign the deal in time to be included in the glamour cup tie.

The front man would go on to score 14 goals in 62 games for a Yeovil side struggling at the wrong end of League Two, he,  like many others at the time, found himself released from Huish Park at the end of the 2018/19 season when relegation was confirmed.

We wish Alex and Tom all the best in finding a new club.

 

 

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Yeovil Town defender Alex Bradley has had his suspension confirmed by the Football Association today.

Bradley was sent off during the Glovers’ 2-0 loss to Aldershot on Tuesday night in the 55th minute.

The FA Suspensions Website has been updated to show that the defender is scheduled to miss three games for breach of Law 12 S1.

However, manager Darren Sarll confirmed the club’s intention to appeal the decision saying;

“I just don’t get it, I don’t understand it… it’s on the half line, it’s a professional foul to stop the attack, he’s clipped his heel… there’s no danger to the individual, how many of them do you see every week?”

“We’d like to think with an appeal and a clear mind the referee might do the right thing, becasue I found it very strange”

We will bring you news of the outcome of any suspension here on the Gloverscast, but as it stands Alex Bradley will missing for games against King’s Lynn, Maidenhead and Altrincham before being available again on the final day of the season against Stockport County.

 

 

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Trophy Success At Villa Park

To many Yeovil Town fans, May 12th 2002 is the start of over a decade of near permanent success, as goals from Carl Alford and Adam Stansfield secure a 2-0 win over Stevenage in the FA Trophy Final at Villa Park.

The weather was glorious, the football from Yeovil equally so, as thousands of supporters filled the Holte End at Villa Park after travelling up from Somerset.

Carl Alford’s overhead kick early on set the Glovers on their way on 12 minutes, but it was Chris Weale‘s 1st minute save from Kirk Jackson which really set the tone for the afternoon.

Gary Johnson‘s men really took control after half time, Terry Skiverton forcing a goal-line clearance from Matt Fisher, but the second goal came not long after, a fine finish from Man of the Match, Adam Stansfield.

After the game, Gary Johnson told reporters: “The club and the fans have been waiting more than thirty years to win this and now we have won it for them, I’m delighted”

Yeovil: Weale, Lockwood, Tonkin, Skiverton, Pluck, Way, Stansfield, Johnson, Alford, Crittenden, McIndoe.

Subs: White, Sheffield, O’Brien, Giles, Lindegaard.

 

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Yeovil Town midfielder Charlie Lee said he was “frustrated” to not come away with anything from the trip to Aldershot Town on Tuesday night.

The 34-year-old, who played as a makeshift central defender in the 2-0 defeat, said he had not seen an injury record like that being suffered by his team-mates in his career.

“In 20 years of football, I have never seen the luck we have had with injuries (this season) and it’s been the story of our season…We have not coped well with it. Lots of people played out of position today and gave everything and up until the sending off I thought we were really in the game, we looked solid and we are frustrated we have come away with no points.”

The 55th minute red card of Alex Bradley was a key turning point in the game. Darren Sarll confirmed the club intend to appeal the decision, but Lee was pleased with how the side responded.

“When you go a man down…..to be proper, they were excellent, sometimes a team can be negative when they have got 11 men against 10, but they really pressed and threw numbers forward….But, we were 1-0 down and we were going for the same, so we knew we would concede chances and we were left a little bit exposed at the back. That was all part of trying to get a result, we got a lot of set pieces and everyone gave 100% but at the end of the day we have come away with no points so we are really frustrated.”

Injuries seems to be the main talking point at the moment at Huish Park with upwards of ten players missing from availability, but things don’t seem to have got any better with not only a potential suspension but also more knocks to patch up.

“Poor Bill’s (Sass Davies) nose is all over the place, Dags (Chris Dagnall) has got a gash on his head, Bradders will be suspended, but no-one is going to complain, Especially the younger players are going to learn a lot from these next four games, you’re going to learn to be a winner in your career. You’ve got to step up and do what’s needed and everyone will give everything they’ve got, every game and fingers crossed we can get people available for the weekend.”

Focus turned to the remaining games of the season, whilst Lee confirmed that any feint hopes of a play off run were over, he was still insistent that everyone will be giving their all to the cause, especially when fans return to Huish Park next week.

“Any chance of getting to the play-offs is long gone, so now you just have to get results for pride. Everyone is going to keep going and I will make sure and the staff will make sure that everyone is on it in training and we’ll give it everything. It’s been a major thing this season, (the fans) were a massive part of what we did last year and we were all immensely proud of what we did last year with a new team. We are all really disappointed this year. We had unbelievable support home and away for every game, and I am really excited about seeing the fans back in.”

Yeovil Town have back to back home games coming up vs King’s Lynn on Saturday and then Maidenhead on Tuesday night.

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Despite succuming to a third successive loss, Yeovil Manager Darren Sarll was in fairly chipper mood about how his patched up side handled themselves in the 2-0 defeat to Aldershot on Tuesday night.

Speaking to BBC Somerset’s Tom Seymour, Sarll said: “I thought their application was magnificent, all night… I thought their commitment was excellent, they tried, Charlie (Lee) at centre half, (Josh) Neufville at right back, anyone that played out of position were very, very good.”

Lawson D’ath was a surprise inclusion on the bench returning after three months out and the Gaffer took time to praise his winger for his attitude.

“Lawson put himself into a position of availabilty after one day’s training and three months injured. I never asked him, he came to me, he said I want to help, we’re short, get me involved”

Injuries have meant that options at Sarll’s disposal have been thin on the ground with three outfield members of the Under-18s making the substitutes bench and Toby Stephens making his second professional appearance in the second half.

Sarll confirmed that there are concerns over the fitness of both Billy Sass Davies (Broken nose) and Chris Dagnall who had to have stitches in his ear at half time.

One pre-match positive was the return of Alex Bradley who was missing from Saturday’s squad with the flu, however, Bradley – who was being played in a central role – was sent off early in the second half for a professional foul.

Darren Sarll confirmed the club intend to appeal the decision. “I just don’t get it, I don’t understand it… it’s on the half line, it’s a professional foul to stop the attack, he’s clipped his heel… there’s no danger to the individual, how many of them do you see every week?”

“We’d like to think with an appeal and a clear mind the referee might do the right thing, becasue I found it very strange”

With half an eye on a return to Huish Park this Saturday for the visit of King’s Lynn, Sarll was cautiously optimistic that he might have a few more options, despite joking that picking a team would be easy, because he has no players available.

“We are still trying, we are still hoping on some of the injured players, (Luke) Wilkinson is trying really hard to be back and fit, he’ll be a huge player for us”

“If we can get Charlie back out there, Wilkinson back out there, Reid and I thought Quigley was great tonight… Dagnall, Sonupe, D’Ath will be another week further on, he might have to step in early”

Finally, Sarll was positive that seeing Yeovil fans back in Huish Park will bring out something more from his side.

“We’ve been better at home than away… and having supporters back at Maidenhead will give us all a lift, I’ve not looked forward to a game so much for a while. The only thing we’re really holding onto is supporters against Maidenhead, they don’t really realise how important they are, not only do they give us a lift, but they terrify the life out of the opposition, and we’re gunna need that”

Yeovil host King’s Lynn on Saturday before welcoming supporters back through the turnstiles the following Tuesday when Maidenhead are the visitors.

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Yeovil Town’s injury hit squad has meant Darren Sarll has been forced to look to some of his younger players to fill recent squads.

We’ve taken a look at what we might expect from some of the Young Glovers if they are going to be in and around the side for the rest of the season.

Firstly, Toby Stephens. Toby made his debut in the loss against Wrexham coming off the bench late on in the game. Despite the result, Sarll made sure to praise the 17-year old for his work ethic in his cameo role saying: “I really like Toby, I have to remind of his midfield duties, but he took the ball, tried to win it back. For someone at 17 years-old, I think he’s got a really great opportunity,”

Another name that will have been spotted on plenty of team sheets this season is that of young ‘keeper Max Evans. He’s not yet had the chance to make his debut, instead deputising for Adam Smith, but the young stopper has regularly been included on Darren Sarll’s bench.

Joining from the Oxford United system at the start of the season, Evans has played this season whilst on loan at Frome Town

Jiah Medrano in action for Yeovil’s Under 18s

That leaves us a couple of new names to have a look at, Jiah Medrano and Adam Heaton.

Medrano is described as a defender, born in September 2002 (!) who actually started in academy set ups in the midlands with experience in the Stoke City Regional Talent Centre.

Back in October, Glovers fans were asked to vote for Medrano is a ‘League Football Education’ Goal Of The Month award for a blinding free kick, suggesting he might be on the set pieces should he be given a chance in the team.

Finally, Adam Heaton (born in November 2002!!) is listed among the midfielders on the Under 18s section of the official site, he has tasted a bit of first team experience during pre-season coming off the bench in a friendly against Bournemouth U23s.

Both Medrano and Heaton are 2nd year scholars at the club having signed forms alongside a certain Alfie Lloyd who this week signed for QPR for an undisclosed fee.

Both have been playing regularly for the Under 18s with recent wins over Swindon and Forest Green Rovers in the bag.

Best of luck to all the young Glovers between now and the end of the season.

Jiah Medrano’s Goal Of The Month contender

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Former Yeovil Town goalkeeper Marek Stech has been told he is being made available for transfer following the end of the 2020/21 season.

Stech, who has been in and out of the side at Mansfield Town this season, made 24 appearances for the Stags as they finished in 16th in League Two.

The Czech ‘keeper made 90 appearances for the Glovers across three spells and was most famously, named Man Of The Match in the 2013 League One Play-Off final success vs Brentford.

As it stands, Yeovil Town will need to reinforce their goalkeeping options for next season as current Number 1, Adam Smith is on loan from Forest Green Rovers…

You’re always welcome at Huish Park, Marek…