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.
“In Goes Stewart… THEY’VE ONLY GONE AND DONE IT”
Where do you even begin?
As a Yeovil Town supporter of 21 years, the emotions of that night on the side of the River Trent will live long in the memory.
2-0 down from the first leg in Somerset, how could Yeovil go to the City Ground and over turn that deficit?
The myths and stories are legendary, the Forest players had already had their suits fitted for Wembley, the cars parked around the city were already plastered with adverts asking fans to book their travel and their hotels, but Arron Davies, Chris Cohen and Co had other ideas.
It was magical, something I’ve been lucky enough to write about before, including in Martin McConachie’s excellent book ’10’ documenting the Glovers first 10 years as a football league club.
I’ve tried to write this On This Day a few times, and never felt I’ve done it justice.
So i’ll leave it to Ben Barrett from 2011 with the YouTube highlights (below) still a regular clip on the play list in my house.
1095 fans made their way to the City Ground knowing turning over a 2-0 deficit might be mission impossible.
Being in that away end for the two and a bit hours that I there was remains the most incredible few hours of football I have ever witnessed.
The pattern of play was the same, Yeovil were probably the better side for most of the game, but the way the match flipped and twisted a thousand times and the stories that unfolded on the side of the River Trent couldn’t have been written.
Arron Davies made the tie interesting in the first half, a brilliant solo goal got the atmosphere bubbling nicely, even at 2-1 things were going to be difficult.
“Paul Smith in the Forest goal pulled off a double save worthy of the Champions League final before Marcus Stewart flashed a shot over.
That’s probably everything you need to know about the first half, it was that kind of game.
The second half started with a bang. Scott Dobie wrote his part of the script by scoring to level things up.
An ordinary goal to break an extraordinary barren spell, it was his first goal in 21 months. They say timing is everything.
As far as my memory serves me, nothing happened between the 48th and the 80th minute.
Neither side wanted to make a mistake, everything bounced around in midfield and no-one wanted to cost their side at a crucial time.
The next chapter belongs to Chris Cohen, the man who had masterminded Yeovil’s success by pulling the strings in midfield was injured, he would play at Wembley but as he left the field we knew he was off for good. We didn’t expect him to move to Forest however. Still, the £1million helped.
Anyway, I digress, Cohen was off, but Jean Paul Kalala was on, JP was a tackler rather than a play maker and yet it was he who fired a shot in from 25 yards just as it seemed all hope had gone.
That shot didn’t go in, it struck the post before rebounding to Alan Wright, the Sheffield United defender had been released by the Blades before playing for his loan club that night.
His day went from bad to worse as the rebounded shot hit him square in the face and trickled over the line.
3-2 on aggregate, Yeovil had 8 minutes to find one last goal for extra time.
It has taken me a while to get there, but my play off memory is this.
Andy Lindegaard, a full blown Yeovil legend picks the ball up on the right hand side, he delivered a cross, Paul Smith didn’t come out and Marcus Stewart jumped.
Stewart’s forehead met the ball with perfect timing, the ball hits the net and we in the away end all go ballistic.
My memory is played out to the sound of the Sky Sports commentator saying six magical words…”
“They’ve … only gone and done it”
Of course, that line sticks long in the memory of Glovers fans, but it was by no means the end of the game.
Extra Time loomed, Lee Morris put us ahead after *that* Wes Morgan backpass, Grant Holt tried to throw a spanner in the works, David Prutton was a spanner and got send off and then Davies once more… a drop of the shoulder, a momentary pause… then, well back to past me….
“I was singing yet I was silent, I was happy yet there were tears, I was dancing yet I couldnt move a muscle”
“This wasn’t supposed to happen, we stayed in the away end until the stewards had to go home, we sang in the car park and in the services on the way home”
Yeovil were on their way to Wembley for the first time in their history thanks to a night, no Glover will ever forget.
Rotherham United have announced that former Yeovil Town loanee, Shaun MacDonald will be leaving the club at the end of the season.
The Millers, managed by another former Glover, Paul Warne announced their released and retained list on Monday.
MacDonald spent no fewer than five(!) loan spells at Huish Park from 2009 – 2011.
In total, the Welsh international played 64 times in Green and White, scoring 9 goals including a hat-trick against Leyton Orient in 2011.
We wish Shaun all the best in finding a new club.
Yeovil Town made a management change on this day in 2006.
Steve Thompson, was – for the second time – stood down as the Glovers’ manager.
He and assistant Kevin Hodges were told that the club was going to look elsewhere for a head coach.
At the time, the official statement read;
“Following lengthy discussions, the Board of Directors of Yeovil Town Football Club have now confirmed, that subject to further talks, Steve Thompson has agreed to continue his role as first team coach, but to relinquish his football management duties in the near future.”
Yeovil Town Chairman John Fry gave the following view on the situation to the official site:
“Steve Thompson has made a fantastic contribution towards the success of this club during his eight years of service as a player, coach and manager. He is an essential part of future plans in developing a team for Championship football at Huish Park. It is the right time to make the necessary changes for the challenge of keeping the club in Coca Cola League One next season and the important task of appointing the next manager of Yeovil Town Football Club which will need to be completed by the end of this month. In the meantime negotiations will continue with out of contract players.”
Thompson would go on to confirm his initial displeasure at the decision saying “Myself and Kevin were devastated when we were told the club was looking for a new manager. We feel that given the circumstances this season, we have done a very good job. As for our future circumstances, talks between myself, Kevin and John Fry are on-going.”
Talks would continue and soon the announcement of Russell Slade‘s arrival to work alongside Thompson would follow, but Kevin Hodges would leave the club not long after,
Slade and Thompson would lead the Glovers to the League One Play-Off Final in their first season as Manager and Assistant.
May 15th 2001.
In the summer of 2001, Yeovil were searching for a new manager following the resignation of Colin Addison, and if reports were to be believed, Chairman John Fry had a couple of very well known faces lined up for a spot in the Huish Park dug out.
Local media had been reporting that both Tony Pulis and Harry Redknapp were being lined up for the job.
However, it was on this day in 2001 that Fry put those rumours to bed.
Telling the club’s official website;
“That’s just paper talk. I had a reporter talking to me about Neil Coates’ testimonial against West Ham, and we got talking about Harry Redknapp. Next thing I know, I’m apparently after him for the job! All I can say is that I have not talked to Harry Redknapp or Tony Pulis about the position.”
Rumours were firmly quashed by the Western Daily Press as well, with them saying “it is absolute rubbish”.
Of course, neither Pulis or Redknapp ever did end up joining Yeovil, althought did stop by for a coffee on a couple of occasions after being invited by Darren Way in 2017
The Glovers ended up signing a chap by the name of “Gary Johnson” in June of 2001, and we here at the Gloverscast are told… he ended up doing alright.
Former Yeovil Town Captain Omar Sowunmi will be leaving Colchester United at the end of his current contract.
The U’s detailed their plans for the upcoming season with their released/retained list on Friday, which includes confirmation the central defender will be leaving.
Sowunmi joined the Glovers at the start of the 2015/16 season from Ipswich Town by then Manager, Paul Sturrock.
Despite not playing any league games for the Tractor Boys, he had played regularly with loan spells in the National League Divisions with Braintree and Lowestoft.
He would spend four seasons and Huish Park before joining Colchester for an undisclosed fee in July 2019.
Sowunmi would play 87 times in the Green and White and was named Team Captain in 2018.
We wish Omar all the best in his search for a new club, also, here’s a slightly frightening Gif of him, very happy about something ?
Two former Yeovil Town loanee are on the hunt for a new club this summer after being released by Bristol City.
Goalkeeper Rene Gilmartin played a handful games on loan from Watford in the 2011/12 season before having spells at Plymouth, Crawley Town and Colchester before landing up the road on the red side of Bristol.
But more surprisingly on the released list is Liam Walsh.
A firm fan favourite from his 15-game loan spell from Everton in 2016, he lit up Huish Park with some glittering performances.
Walsh spent time with Birmingham City, before joining Bristol City – signed by former Glovers’ midfielder, Lee Johnson.
Injuries and a loan spell at meant that his time as Ashton Gate has been stop=start, but with undoubted quality, it wont be long before Walsh has an option or two for the forthcoming season, maybe Skivo still has his number?
Yeovil Town Manager Darren Sarll spoke to the media on Thursday ahead of the fixture against King’s Lynn on Saturday but couldn’t help but look further ahead to the following Tuesday’s game with Maidenhead where supporters will be allowed back into Huish Park.
“It is probably the first time I have felt any joy around football in the last eight weeks if not longer, I can’t wait to see and hear them. I can’t wait for them to back our lads, I can’t wait to be proud of our lads, I can’t wait to win a game and do that song at the end of the game.”
Sarll admitted his singing might be a tad rusty though, joking: “I can’t remember the words but I just clap when they clap and sing the bits I can remember.”
Tickets have been selling well, with social media buzzing with Glovers fans who have secured their spot at Huish Park next Tuesday, even our very own Ian Perkins is booked in for a spot in the stand for the midweek fixture!
Props to @YTFC. Ordered tickets for Tuesday’s game for collection and they’ve arrived in the post today. ? #YTFC
— Gloverscast ?⚽️? (@gloverscast) May 13, 2021
Sarll continued to reminisce about the scenes we saw regularly at the end of home matches last season;
“When I look back to at last season, I have bits I absolutely love, it was the best year of my life by a country mile.”
“All of those moments were with the fans at the end of games at Aldershot, Solihull and home games. It energises you, it gives you confidence. What a nice thing to have, what a nice moment to share and energise before we go again next season with a vibrant game of players. When we are attacking that Thatcher’s End, that stand is lifting the whole football club. We have missed it so much.”
Tickets for the game are still available but are subject to strict social distancing protocols, click HERE to secure your seat on Tuesday night.
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.
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?