David Coates (Page 189)

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Yeovil Town manager Darren Sarll has handed league debuts to four summer signings  against King’s Lynn Town at Huish Park (3pm kick-off).

Goalkeeper Grant Smith, full-back Jordan Barnett and midfielders Dale Gorman and Charlie Wakefield are all named in the starting eleven for the opening National League fixture.

Fellow new arrivals striker Adi Yussuf and loanees Sonny Blu Lo-Everton and Dan Moss start on the bench.

Ex-Glovers’ striker Gold Omotayo starts for the visitors who are looking for their first points of the season after an opening day defeat to Southend United last weekend.

Yeovil Town: Smith, Wilkinson, Williams, Hunt, Barnett, Worthington, Staunton, Gorman, Wakefield, Knowles, Quigley. Subs: Evans (GK), Stephens, Lo-Everton, Moss, Yussuf.

King’s Lynn: Jones, Denton, Fernandez, Callan-McFadden, Bird, Barrows, Clunan, Coleman, Omotayo, Linton, Rowley. Subs: Bowry, Sundrie, Gyasi, McGavin, Gascoigne.

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Having admitted last season was a “free hit” for his King’s Lynn side, Ian Culverhouse knows they need to start fast in an ultra-competitive National League this season.

The Linnets’ boss saw his side go down 1-0 at home to Southend United last weekend, thanks in no small part to a fine performance from goalkeeper Paul Jones, who pulled off a string of saves in their opening fixture.

Conceding just once against a side expected to be in the promotion mix come the end of the season will have pleased Culverhouse whose side conceded 98 goals last season, more than any other team in the division.

They finished the campaign in 21st place which would have been enough to send them down if relegation had not been cancelled.

It has been a summer of change on and off the pitch at King’s Lynn, with the club going full-time despite the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and bringing in a number of new signings.

They had six players, including former Exeter City keeper Jones, making their senior debut against Southend and will be looking to build on a positive performance against Yeovil.

One familiar face in the visitors’ squad is striker Gold Omotayo, who made 16 appearances in for the Glovers in the 2019-20 season. He finished last season at Wrexham before being released and arriving in Norfolk.

FROM THE MEDIA 

Normally, we would try to find you the views of the opposition manager in this pre-match previews, but there’s nothing we can find from Ian Culverhouse about his side’s trip to South Somerset.

So, here is what Greg Plummer, reporter for the Lynn News had to say: “Whatever side manager Ian Culverhouse chooses to put out, the Lynn boss will not budge from his philosophy of getting the ball down and trying to play football out from the back.

“Despite going full-time in the summer, Lynn’s ambitions this season have to be to survive in the league and build from there. That in itself will be seen as a great achievement.

“In terms of squads and budgets, Lynn have perhaps the smallest in the National League.

“With a squad of just 19, any absentees will leave the Norfolk side down to the bare bones in terms of players available for selection.“

 

TEAM NEWS

Ian Culverhouse is known as a master tactician but even he will struggle to find a formation from a squad which is even more paper-thin than Yeovil Town’s.

And his job is made even harder by the loss of striker Junior Morias who was red carded in the 1-0 defeat to Southend United on the opening day.

Morias’ place alongside Gold Omotayo means Malachi Linton, a 20-year-old forward signed on loan from Wycombe Wanderers, is likely to get a start.

The Linnets’ attacking options have been dented by the loss of Adam Marriott, whose last minute (offside) goal earned them a 2-2 draw against Yeovil in the opening game of last season, and Michael Gash.

Marriott departed to Eastleigh last season as the club looked to cut its wage bill during the pandemic and Gash was a ‘victim’ of the decision to go full-time, preferring to stay semi-professional by joining Southern League side Peterborough Sports in the summer.

In midfield, the Linnets have been boosted by the signing of Ipswich Town midfielder Brett McGavin in the week.

The 21-year-old is described as a ball winning midfielder equipped with precise passing and seems likely to make his debut at Huish Park.

Joe Rowley, who has joined on loan from Chesterfield, was a bright spark in midfield against Southend with Irish centre half Kyle Callan-McFadden the mainstay in defence.

 

A FOOT IN BOTH CAMPS

Gold Omotayo – the obvious link man between the two sides having been part of Darren Sarll’s first squad as Yeovil Town manager in the 2019-20 season.

He made 16 appearances that season before departing to rivals Halifax Town and then Conference South big spenders Gloucester City before turning up at Wrexham, where he played in the Welsh side’s 3-0 win over Yeovil towards the end of last season.

Presumably the part-time kick-boxer was too proud to take the Hollywood cash offered by the Red Dragons and instead opted for a move to the familiar rural setting of Norfolk.

Ominously, the last time Gold played against Yeovil in the Glovers’ opening game of the season, he scored an 89th-minute winner for Bury in the 2018-19 season.


Kwesi Appiah – spent a month on loan with Yeovil from Crystal Palace during the 2012-2013 – which turned out alright for us, as I recall.

He made five appearances for Gary Johnson’s men, coming off the bench for four of them which the Glovers won, and starting one – a 2-0 defeat at Colchester United on a cold February night.

Earlier in his career, whilst with Peterborough United, Appiah had a prolific spell with King’s Lynn FC scoring nine in 10 games for the Northern League Premier side before his loan spell was cut short when the club went bust. I’m not saying he’s unlucky, but….

King’s Lynn FC were eventually wound up in November 2009 with debts of £77,000 and  reformed as today’s King’s Lynn Town in January 2010.

 

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Defender Luke Wilkinson has said he hopes to have put the injury problems which kept him out for large parts of last season behind him.

The centre-half said that using custom-made insoles in his boots and a regime of gym work has helped him overcome problems with his soleus muscle, part of the lower leg.

He only played 20 times last season as a result of injuries and suspensions and is hoping to get in much more game time this season.

Yeovil Town defender Luke Wilkinson.
Picture courtesy of Mike Kunz.

Wilkinson said: “It has been a really frustrating two years, I have had soleus problems on both legs twice, so it has been frustrating.

“But we seem to have gotten to the bottom of it with orthotics and strength work, so I am hoping I can be out there for 50-plus games and help take this team to where we want to be.”

The 30-year-old said the team had been working hard in pre-season to rid themselves of the errors which cost them 68 goals in the National League last season.

Manager Darren Sarll has spoken in pre-season about how supporters can expect to be a more “controlled” style from his side this year.

Wilkinson said: “There has been a lot of work on the defensive side of it and you can see from our pre-season games that we were solid as a team and our attacking play comes from our defensive work.

“We defend as a team and we then we build from there, if we can wear teams down that way and get a couple of goals that way we will take it every week.

“It’s not about scoring four and conceding three, I don’t think any football fan want to see you concede three every week and then you have to score four every week.

“So hopefully we can keep games tight but get the wins that we need.“

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Yeovil Town manager Darren Sarll has said he is still looking to bring in more players to his squad which has been hit by injury and illness.

Yeovil Town manager Darren Sarll.

Speaking ahead of the National League opener against King’s Lynn at the weekend, the boss said he had been speaking with club chairman Scott Priestnall about new targets.

He said: “I would still like to bring in a couple more, we have a couple of options at the moment that Scott and I are discussing.
“If they come off before the weekend then great, but if they don’t we will do what we can and put out what is available to us.”

The boss has confirmed that striker Reuben Reid and defender Mark Little will both be out until Christmas and defender Alex Bradley and on loan midfielder Lewis Simper will be missing for the opening game.

 

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Lawson D’Ath is undergoing  treatment at Huish Park as he bids to return to fitness after suffering a knee injury.

Manager Darren Sarll has confirmed the 28-year-old has had surgery over the summer on the injury sustained in the final game of last season against Stockport County.

He said he hoped to have the former Northampton Town man available for selection in January when he is also hoping that injured striker Reuben Reid and defender Mark Little will be available again.

Darren Sarll has his head in his hands as Lawson D’ath is attended to

Sarll said: “I have this lovely vision that in January I will have a fit Mark Little, a fit Reuben Reid and a fit Lawson D’Ath.

“Lawson is at the club now, having treatment on a daily basis, he is still living in Yeovil and we are taking care of his accommodation and his treatment.

“I am desperate for Lawson to get back in our shirt and play because at the end of last year I saw a different Lawson, there was a maturity to him.

“He is a very good player, so Scott (Priestnall, the club chairman) if you are listening, I want Lawson for January!”

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Striker Reuben Reid and defender Mark Little will both be out of contention for Yeovil Town until Christmas, according to manager Darren Sarll.

Speaking ahead of the opening National League fixture at home to King’s Lynn on Saturday, the boss confirmed Little had undergone surgery on his foot after picking up an injury in the pre-season friendly against Forest Green Rovers.

Reid suffered a hamstring tear in the friendly against Weston-super-Mare will be missing for up to four months.

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

 

Sarll said: “Both of them (Reid and Little) we should expect them around Christmas, if anyone was going to come back sooner it would Reuben but Mark had to undergo an operation.

“I have never seen anything like it in 20 years, put your foot down and rotate it the wrong way and a ligament ruptured on top of his metatarsal that keeps the metatarsal in position. – that is a new one on me!”

He also confirmed that defender Alex Bradley and loan midfielder Lewis Simper are also likely to miss the opening game.

Both appear to have been among a group of players who have been affected by the outbreak of COVID-19 which led to the postponement of the club’s final two pre-season friendlies and last weekend’s trip to Wrexham.

Speaking about new striker Adi Yussuf, the manager said the former Wrexham and Solihull Moors player still needed to work on his fitness before he could be a regular.

He said: “(Luke) Wilkinson said when he played against Yussuf (in training) he gave him a hard time and all those things are important when new players walk in to the dressing room.

“It would have been ideal if they had a bit longer, Adi needs to spike his fitness levels a bit before we see him playing week in, week out but he will be a really good signing.

“He has got that hunger back and sometimes players just need a home and to feel wanted and (Joe) Quigley was in that category and I am looking forward to working with Adi.”

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Tributes have been paid to former Yeovil Town player, coach and backroom staff member Stuart Housley who has sadly died.

The family of the 72-year-old, who played nearly 400 times for the club in two spells between 1969 and 1980, confirmed his passing on social media.

In a touching post on Facebook, they wrote: “The family wanted to let you know that our hero, dad, grandad, brother and loyal husband of Christina has made his final transfer in to heaven with his wife by his side, peacefully last night to join other football legends. See you on the far post.”

The former youth team manager who held various backroom roles under a succession of managers had been in hospital since the end of July.

He was a major part of the club’s most successful period which saw them win the the FA Trophy, promotion to the Football League in Gary Johnson’s first spell at Huish Park and then promotion to the Championship under Johnson again in 2013.

The news led to a outpouring of tributes for the popular former winger from the club, supporters and players past and present at Huish Park.

In a statement, the club said it was “deeply saddened” to hear the news of Stuart’s passing, adding: “Stuart was an excellent servant to the club.”

Former midfielder Ed Upson posted: “Rest in peace Stu, a real legend” with former Glovers’ captain Joe Edwards adding: “One of the best! Rest in peace Stuey! What a great man he was.”

Ex-Glovers’ goalkeeper, Chris Weale, who came through the club’s youth academy at the same time, said: “Thanks for all the advice and coaching over the years, from Green Machine as a kid to first team success you were there all the way.”

Everyone at the Gloverscast  sends our deepest condolences to Stuart’s family and friends at this difficult time. He will always be remembered as a true legend of the club.

 

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The east stand at Huish Park will continue to be named The Screwfix Community Stand after the local employer extended its partnership for an eleventh consecutive season.

The club  confirmed the extension of the sponsorship with the business which is based on the Houndstone Business Park alongside the stadium.

Commercial manager Mark Robinson said: “We are delighted Screwfix have extended their support of Yeovil Town Football Club with the continued naming rights of The Screwfix Community Stand.

“We are extremely grateful to everyone involved at Screwfix for their continued loyalty and commitment to our football club and supporters.”

 

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Friends and colleagues of former Yeovil Town captain Lee Collins have called for “an extensive review” of support given to players.

An open letter sent to Maheta Molango, the recently-appointed chairman of the Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA), claims the players’ union has failed to respond to the rise in mental health issues caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

It calls for the PFA to fund wellbeing officers at all member clubs, improve aftercare for retiring players and to provide death-in-service benefits to all members, regardless of which league they play in, according to a report by Sky Sports.

Former Yeovil Town captain Lee Collins in action.
Picture courtesy of Mike Kunz.

Lee, who made nearly 40 appearances in two years at Huish Park, was found dead in his hotel room in March and last month a coroner ruled the Glovers’ club captain had tragically taken his own life. He was 32 years old.

Today, a memorial match is being played between Congleton Town and an All-Stars team of one of Lee’s former clubs, Port Vale, at the North West Counties’ League side to celebrate his life and raise awareness of the issues of mental illness.

In the open letter, Lee’s friends and former colleagues call on the PFA to improve its support for players feeling the sport who “are being left to sink or swim in a world they do not have the qualifications or life experiences to survive in”  and appoint well-being officers at every League club.

It also said the surviving spouse of chosen beneficiary of any PFA member should  “receive 100% of their total PFA contributions and the death in service benefits will remain in place, irrelevant of which division they are competing in at the time of death.”

https://twitter.com/joedavis6/status/1429480374552469506?s=21

Sky Sports has spoken with Lee’s partner, Rachel Gibbons, who said: “They’re not these big fancy superstars that earn mega bucks, these are just regular guys.

“They could live next door to you. More needs to be done with those in particular. For Lee, he lived within his wage packet, so he didn’t have a big nest egg of savings to fall back on.

“Football in general needs to be more proactive in helping those footballers, rather than what they are at the moment which is reactive.

“What happened to Lee is the worst possible scenario and obviously everything has been reactive to that. If there’s things in place beforehand, be proactive – that’s what these footballers, these men need.”

In response to the open letter and the interview with Rachel, the PFA issued a statement saying: “Our thoughts remain with Lee’s family, friends and team-mates and we will continue to offer our support to all those affected by Lee’s passing.

“Professional football can be a challenging career and we have identified a wide range of football-specific areas that can adversely impact a player’s mental health. Career transition – whether through retirement, injury or release – is a particularly difficult time for players and their families.

“We are committed to continually improving our education and wellbeing support, which also includes evaluating the way football as a whole supports players.

“Any members who need support with their mental health, including issues both inside and outside of football, can contact us on our 24/7 helpline on 07500 000777 or at wellbeing@thepfa.com.”

The proceeds of today’s match will go to Lee’s family and you can donate to the cause via a Crowdfunder page – here.

If you need to speak with someone, Somerset Mind has a 24/7 telephone hotline – call 01823 276 892.

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Notts County were the big winners on the opening day of the National League season with a 5-0 win over Harry Kewell’s Barnet.

The Bees trailed to a Reuben Rodrigues brace when keeper Josh Doherty was sent off midway through the second half before Cal Roberts, Kyle Wootton and Jim O’Brien completed the scoring.

A 93rd-minute equaliser by Solihull Moors‘ midfielder Joe Sbarra saw the Hollywood Galacticos of Wrexham draw 2-2 having gone ahead through a penalty from big money summer signing Paul Mullin and ex-Manchester United and Derby County midfielder David Jones.

Stockport County went down to a surprise 3-1 home defeat to Dagenham & Redbridge having taken a ninth-minute lead through John Rooney, and ex-Yeovil Town striker Kabongo Tshimanga opened his account for Chesterfield in a 2-0 win at Aldershot Town.

Gary Johnson’s Torquay United lost 3-1 at home to Altrincham with Cristiano Ronaldo…..sorry, Gabby Rogers playing 82 minutes at Plainmoor.

Former Glovers Rhys Murphy and Nathan Ralph both played in Southend United‘s 1-0 win at King’s Lynn Town, who had striker Junior Morias shown a straight red card meaning he will miss the Linnets’ trip to Huish Park next weekend.

In other fixtures, W*ymouth went down 2-0 at home to Boreham Wood, Woking won 2-1 at Wealdstone and a last minute winner earned Maidenhead United a 2-1 win at FC Halifax Town.

The results put Yeovil Town in 14th place, up eight spots from the second-from-bottom position they started the day.