Loan right-back Byron Pendleton has spoken of his excitement at his first taste of men’s football having joined Yeovil Town from the Under-21s’ set-up at Championship Birmingham City.
The 19-year-old joined on a season-long loan this week having impressed on trial in the pre-season friendly with Bristol Rovers last weekend and played the full 90 minutes of yesterday’s 3-1 win at Bath City, wearing the number two shirt vacated by Jordan Thomas.
He has been a regular in the Under-21s side at St Andrews for the past two seasons, captaining the team in the Professional Development League last season, and is contracted to Blues until the summer of 2027.
Speaking to Yeovil’s social media following the Bath win, he said: “It is a very exciting time for me, my first loan. I want to play for Yeovil because they have given me the opportunity to come and perform and show what I am about.
“The first game (against Bristol Rovers at Huish Park) was a great feeling with the noise levels and the fans all cheering. For me playing in men’s football, the whole adrenaline rush was just great.
“It is a big difference for me, I have been in the Under-21s at Birmingham for four or five years so I was getting too used to it and comfortable. Making the step up to men’s football is a lot more physical, the game is a lot faster and the game is a lot more tactical and there is a lot more on the games we are playing.”
The athleticism, speed and crossing ability of the right-back has been notable in his 180 minutes of friendly action and he came close to scoring during his outing as ‘Trialist B’ against Rovers.
He added: “I prefer playing in higher areas of the pitch because that allows me to make room in behind because I am quite quick, so that allows me to get higher up the pitch and put crosses in the box and contribute to goals and assists.
“The lads have been very welcoming, they are a good bunch of players and made me feel at home. I am really excited for the first game of the league season (at home to Hartlepool United on 9th August), I am looking to get out there and show what I am about, hopefully pick up some wins and get us as high up the table as we can.”
In his post-match comments at Twerton Park, manager Mark Cooper said Pendleton was an example of the type of loan signing he is hoping to bring to Huish Park to give strength in depth. The Glovers could only name 15 players at Bath with defender Jake Wannell, midfielder Brett McGavin and summer signing striker Tahvon Campbell all absent.
Cooper said: “I have been asked why there are so many loan players, but I have been consistent, the loan players are going to give us that depth to our squad. When you bring in loan players like Byron, who looks a really good acquisition for us, it helps us with our budget and he did really well.”