Latest Yeovil Town News (Page 286)

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On the night SU Glovers Ltd announced they’d taken over the ‘stewardship’ of Yeovil Football and Athletic Club Ltd, the Glovers played a game of football. Here are Ian’s Five Conclusions on the 1-1 draw with Altrincham.

I think this was a good point. I’d have snapped your hand off for a point going into the game given our form and Altrincham’s. With 11 goals in three matches prior to the visit to Huish Park and our run of five without a win, the mood was not hopeful. Altrincham worked hard in the opening spells of the game and Tyrese Sinclair was their out ball every time. Yeovil were evidently low on confidence and it wasn’t until the second half that Mark Cooper’s team started to take the game to Alty. We had decent control of possession, looked mostly comfortable and deserved an equaliser. It’s fair to argue that with 10 men we should have gone on to win the game, but a good point gives us something to build on.

Jordan Maguire-Drew converts his penalty. Image courtesy of Mike Kunz

We didn’t fall apart without Josh Staunton and Matt Worthington. Aside from Grant Smith, Staunton and Worthington have been absolutely pivotal this season, but with a pile up of fixtures, there was always going to be a point where they needed a rest. Josh Staunton has played every minute of every League game up until Tuesday and has been sporting the black knee tape in recent fixtures. I can’t be the only one wincing every time he goes to ground to make a tackle. Matt Worthington has been the engine room all season and has somehow upped it since Mark Cooper’s arrival. They were surprise exclusions and we successfully navigated a tricky fixture without them, maybe we do have a bit of depth?

A game of two D’Aths. In the first half the way Altrincham harassed Lawson D’Ath when he was on the ball and managed to dispossess him had me worried. On more than one occasion he got caught with the ball and allowed Altrincham to break. In the second half he, like others, really stepped up. Carrying the ball and driving forward with a real purpose. We’re managing his minutes, and whisper it, he’s keeping injury free…(apologies in advance.)

Alex Fisher – Image courtesy of Mike Kunz

I’d love another striker. I’m sure I’m not the only one who would. Alex Fisher’s early effort was a huge chance to put Yeovil ahead and he had a couple of chances in the second half, his unorthodox header brought a good save from Byrne in the Altrincham goal. Seb Palmer-Houlden looks to have something about him and has a good physicality but we just don’t have time to wait for things to click. Jordan Young looked bright when he came on, but we’re still missing something. Malachi Linton (hopefully inconvenienced enough to be fired up for the weekend) didn’t make it off the bench and struggled to make an impact against Notts County. Afterwards Mark Cooper said: “At this stage of the season it is difficult for people to let you have really good players, because they would not be coming here at this stage of the season. If we are going to do that we have to be really picky or it is going to cost an awful lot of money.”

We’ve entered into a new era. The announcement prior to kick off was met with a muted reaction. Obviously we’re still awaiting plenty of detail but we’ve seen snippets from Matt Uggla on social media today and he won’t need anyone else to tell him what needs doing at Huish Park. With media activity on the cards tomorrow, hopefully some further detail, a 40 goal a season striker, we could actually make a bit of day of it on Saturday and spoil Darren Sarll’s return.

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Julian Jenkins, the former Cardiff City director who led a group seeking to buy Yeovil Town, has revealed his Simul Sports consortium had three attempts at buying the club.

He hit back at “untrue and unfounded accusations” by chairman (we assume he still is anyway) Scott Priestnall and director Stuart Robins who have publicly stated that Simul did not have the finances to complete the deal.

In a statement congratulating SU Glovers, a business led by Matt Uggla and his mother Julie Anne, on the acquisition, posted on his social media, Jenkins called on “all fan groups to unite behind the new owners.”

He said: “I want to be clear and on the record that as a group we made three genuine attempts at a fully funded acquisition, with the most recent taking place in late December of last year.

“Although we were ultimately unsuccessful, we recognised that it would have been counterproductive for the club’s long-term stability and our ownership aspirations to make public comments due to the sensitivity and seriousness of the club’s future at the time of the attempted takeovers, even in the face of untrue and unfounded accusations about all three bids.

“I want to assure everyone that we acted in the best interests of the club and with the utmost integrity throughout the process.”

The most public attempt made by Simul, backed by Damien Sinngh, the Chief Finance Office for online graphic design tool, Canva, along with former Yeovil midfielder Marc Bircham, collapsed in May and Jenkins’ statement suggests they were back in the running in the race ultimately won by the Ugglas.

In his statement, he expressed his gratitude to the Glovers’ Trust which supported his bid to buy the club, adding: “It’s now time for all fans groups to unite behind the new owners and support their vision for propelling this great club forward. Achieving great things is only possible when everyone works together towards a common goal, and I urge everyone to embrace the spirit of achive by unity.

“I hope the club will soar to new heights and achieve incredible success on and off the pitch under the stewardship [there’s that word again!] of SU Glovers, which I believe the supporters and its community truly deserve.”

In April 2022, Priestnall told supporters that he had agreed a deal with Simul but said the group “never put any money on the table.”

He said: “I did not negotiate a deal, I did not hold out, they never put any money on the table and that is the truth. So there has never been a deal in place to sign, it’s just been ongoing discussions and that goes for any takeover (offer) you have heard about. Nobody has put any money on the table to buy the football club.”

In September, Robins told Three Valleys’ Radio‘s ‘In Conversation With….’ programme, that he had it “on pretty good authority” that no other group had put money on the table to complete the deal.

He said: “The difference with me was I did and when the time was to sign the cheque, I did it, as you would with any transaction of this nature.

“There was never any danger of working with the other parties you have mentioned, because they simply did not put the money where it should have been to conclude that transaction.

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Whilst Yeovil Town were salvaging a point against Altrincham and ‘stewardships’ were a changin’ at Huish Park, let’s not forget our loanees were out and about doing their thing.

We start at the bottom of the National League with Scunthorpe United, Ben Richards-Everton played the full 90 minutes as the Iron drew 1-1 with fellow strugglers Maidstone.

Elsewhere, Ollie Hulbert was in the starting eleven for Leamington, they drew 2-2 with Banbury.

Ollie Haste was part of the Truro side that came from behind to best Chesham United, the Glovers’ loanee played 78 minutes.

To Sherbone we go, Benjani Jnr and Jake Graziano both started for the Zebras, but Barnstaple Town came through to pick up the win.

Plymouth Parkway played, but Toby Stephens didn’t. Gillingham didn’t have a game so Rob Hollard and Sam Hodges will wait for another day, whilst Tiverton’s game against North Leigh had six goals, three red cards but no Charlie Bateson.

 

 

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Yeovil Town’s battle against relegation got an unexpected boost on Wednesday as Gateshead were deducted a point after being found guilty of fielding an ineligible player.

In a statement, the National League said;

“Gateshead
The Independent Panel ruled Gateshead were deemed guilty of one breach of Rule 6.9 for failing to ensure all players were not under suspension prior to participating in a match – therefore fielding an ineligible player.

The Panel concluded that one point gained should be deducted from the Club’s record from playing season 2022/23 and a fine of £750 has additionally been issued.”

Gateshead sat level on points with the Glovers prior to this announcement, but sat one place below Yeovil on goal difference.

This decision drops them to 32 points and down to 21st in the table.

 

 

 

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On this episode of the Glovers Past, Ben speaks to former Yeovil Town hero, Andy Lindegaard.

Enjoy!

 

Thank you for your continued support of the Gloverscast. Remember to add Gloverscast.co.uk to your favourites and check the website daily for the latest news and views from Huish Park.

Follow us on Twitter and Facebook. Leave us a review and share the pod with a pal.

We’d love to welcome some local businesses into the Gloverscast family through advertising. If you’re a business that would like to speak to a dedicated audience of more than 1000 monthly listeners, please get in touch. Find out more about advertising with us here.

If you have an idea for the website, want to contribute or just want to send us a message, feel free to email ian@gloverscast.co.uk.

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Manager Mark Cooper has said the club’s new owners have to get Yeovil Town “back on its feet” after a deal to “taken on the stewardship” of the club was completed.

Speaking after the 1-1 draw with Altrincham on the day a deal with SU Glovers, a company run by Matt Uggla and his mother, Julie Anne, was announced, the boss admitted that it would be difficult to bring in new players as the season reaches its business end.

Substitute Jordan Maguire-Drew converted a second half penalty to cancel out an early goal from James Jones for the in-form visitors, who had won four of their previous five minutes. The result lifted Yeovil out of the National League relegation zone on goal difference.

Asked about the priorities of the new owners, Cooper said: “First and foremost the most important thing is to get this club back on its feet and to give it a bit of love and care it deserves. It has been run down for a long time and then it is to recapture the enthusiasm of the fans because this place can be a fortress.

“As regards to players, at this stage of the season it is difficult for people to let you have really good players, because they would not be coming here at this stage of the season. If we are going to do that we have to be really picky or it is going to cost an awful lot of money.”

Asked whether he felt he had the support to strengthen his squad, he added: “I am confident in the boys we have in the squad would dig us out of whatever hole we need to get out of at the moment.

“Of course we are looking in case this happened and there will be a lot of similar clubs in our position looking to try and improve their squad with this many games to go. It is so difficult because who is going to let you have a really good player at this stage of the season?”

Cooper confirmed for England rugby union player Paul Sackey was involved in the new set up, adding: “He understands the foundation that needs to be set. It is no good signing loads of really good players if you can’t prepare them, get them fit, show them analysis and treat them when they are injured. We have to put that in place first and coming from a rugby background I know he will want to sort that out.”

He admitted that getting a physio would be a major priority in the coming days with player Will Dawes presently providing rub downs for the club’s injured players following the departure of previous physio Kai Hepworth at the end of last year.

Asked if he hoped to get that situation sorted, Cooper said: “It is not as easy as you think to come and be full-time in lower league football because they can earn a lot of money in private practice, but I am sure we will.”

The draw moved Yeovil out of the National League relegation places on goal difference with Dorking Wanderers and Torquay United both losing and the other members of the bottom for, Maidstone United and Scunthorpe United, holding each other to a 1-1 draw.

On the performance, Cooper said: “Our performance in the second half was really good, their keeper has made a couple of great saves. First half performance, low on confidence because we had lost the past three games and two of those games we had been brilliant and got nothing for it.

“There was no atmosphere in the stadium in the first half which was understandable with what has been going on but it makes it a really difficult place to play especially attacking the away end.

“It was a soft goal, a free header from a corner, but once we got in at half-time I thought we were really good in the second half, the commitment and effort was great and we had some goal mouth action.”

On goal-scorer Maguire-Drew, he added: “He’s not been in great form and there are reasons for that, but he’s a fantastic player and I never had any doubts he would score. Everyone needs confidence, but he will prove his worth to the football club, I am sure.“

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Venue: Huish Park
Tuesday 28th February, 7.45pm kick-off

Attendance: 2,106 (39 away supporters)

Scorers: James Jones 22 (0-1), Jordan Maguire-Drew pen 78 (1-1)

Bookings: 

Yeovil Town: Lawson D’Ath 32, Edwin Agbaje 90
Altrincham:Max Oyedele 50,

Sendings off:

Altrincham: James Jones 77

Referee: Matthew Russell

Yeovil Town (5-3-2)

 

Substitutes: Jordan Maguire-Drew (for Josh Owers, 63), Jordan Young (for Seb Palmer-Houlden, 79), Chiori Johnson (for Charlie Cooper, 79), Matt Worthington (not used), Malachi Linton (not used).

Altrincham: Byrne, Jones, Marriott, Osborne, Lundstram, Baines, Hulme, Jones, Oyedele, Linney (for Cashman, 84), Sinclair (for Pringle, 80). Substitutes (not used): Roxburgh, Gould, Bennett.

Match Report

A second half penalty from substitute Jordan Maguire-Drew was enough to halt Yeovil Town’s run of three National League defeats and pull them out of the division’s relegation zone at home to in-form Altrincham.

The visitors, who had won their past three matches, took the lead when centre backi James Jones was gifted an unmarked header inside the box after 22 minutes to give the visitors the lead, but he turned villain on 77 minutes when he handled on the line to give the Glovers a penalty.

Here’s how the game of two halves played out….

First half

Five minutes before team news was announced, the club announced that SU Glovers, a business owned by Matt and Julie-Anne Uggla, had “taken on the stewardship” of Yeovil Football & Athletic Club, which runs the football operations of the club – you can read more about that – here.

The team news saw the Glovers without captain Josh Staunton, who had been playing through the pain barrier for weeks, whilst Matt Worthington and the two Jordans (Maguire-Drew and Young, who both started last weekend against York City) were on the substitutes bench. Edwin Agbaje, Lawson D’Ath and Alex Fisher were all brought in.

It quickly became apparent why the visitors had won four of their previous five league games as they looked the more calm and composed. For the visitors Linney looked dangerous weaving his way past defenders before Sinclair put one over the bar, and at the other end there were half-chances for first Alex Fisher and then Morgan Williams.

The first meaningful effort came on 12 minutes when Linney turned smartly and his effort from the edge of the box was superbly turned around the post by Grant Smith, but on 21 minutes Yeovil fell behind. A corner from James Jones was met by ROBINS who was completely unmarked inside the box to put a free header past Smith. The more things change, the more they stay the same.

Linney had an effort cleared off the line by Owen Bevan around the half-hour mark and then put an effort over with six minutes of the half remaining, whereas less clear cut chances from Seb Palmer-Houlden and Charlie Cooper at the other end were the best the home side could muster.

More ‘Ugggh’ than ‘Uggla’ that first half.

Half time: Yeovil Town 0 Altrincham 1

Second half

W

On 53 minutes, Edwin Agbaje was found by a ball from Ryan Law but the defender could not trouble Ollie Byrne, but the keeper was in action three minutes later when Bevan won a header from Law’s corner to force a fine stop from the visiting keeper.

As Yeovil began to grew in to the game (why does it always take us a half to do that?!), Agbaje and Fisher combined but the striker could not get his effort on target. On 63 minutes, Fisher met a cross from Jamie Reckord to force another stop out of the keeper.

This was better from Yeovil who were looking as composed in the second half as they had looked all at sea in the first.

On 64 minutes, Jordan Maguire-Drew replaced Josh Owers and within three minutes of his arrival the play-maker almost got on the end of an Agbaje cross.

But, on 78 minutes Yeovil drew level. Two minutes earlier, James Jones handled a goal-bound effort on the goal line and, despite his protest, he was quite correctly shown the red card. It took a good while before MAGUIRE-DREW stepped up to coolly put the ball past Byrne to draw his side level.

Sensing the visitors were there for the taking, Glovers’ boss Mark Cooper brought on Jordan Young and Chiori Johnson in place of Palmer-Houlden and Cooper.

Young put one over the bar with six minutes remaining before D’Ath followed suit on 88 minutes and the game rather petered out into a draw.

Given the poor first half and the form the visitors arrived in, a point and pulling out of the bottom four will be considered success.

Full time:  Yeovil Town 1 Altrincham 1

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SU Glovers, a business set up by the son of a multi-millionaire and his mother, has confirmed they have “taken on the stewardship” of Yeovil Town.

In a statement made an hour before the National League home match with Altrincham on Tuesday night, a statement was issued confirming what we believe to be the acquisition of a majority shareholding in Yeovil Town Football & Athletic Club, the company which has historically run the club’s football operations.

The company, SU Glovers Limited, has two directors, Matt Uggla and his mother Julie-Anne Uggla, the son and ex-wife of Lance Uggla, a businessman who is understood to have made in excess of £300m when his business IHS Markit was sold in 2020.

The statement makes no reference to any of these parties or former England rugby union star Paul Sackey who is understood to be involved in the takeover as well.

In the statement, the company said: “SU Glovers are thrilled to announce that we have taken on the stewardship of Yeovil Town Football & Athletic Club Ltd and we are committed to working with the community to build a successful and thriving club. We recognise that there have been historical tensions and issues, and we aim to work together with the community to address and fix those issues.

“Our vision for Yeovil Town is to create a club that is not only successful on the field, but also plays an integral role in the community. We believe that football has the power to bring people together and create positive change, and we are committed to making a positive impact in the Yeovil community.

“We understand that building trust and positive relationships takes time, and we are committed to being patient and persistent in our efforts. We are looking forward to working with the community and our fans to achieve our shared goals. We hope that you will join us on this journey.

“Thank you for your support and we can’t wait to see what we can achieve together.”

The use of language “taken on the stewardship” is bizarrely ambiguous; only definition of the word stewardship is: ‘the job of supervising or taking care of something, such as an organisation or property’. It does sound like a takeover, but does the absence of the actual word ‘takeover’ mean anything or not? Thoughts?

Notably there is no reference chairman Scott Priestnall who previously held the majority shareholding in Yeovil Football & Athletic Club – we can only hope (assume?) further details will emerge in due course.

However, the fact the acquisition is of Yeovil Football & Athletic Club tells its own story. That business was previously owned by Yeovil Town Holdings Limited, the company which has exclusive rights to develop Huish Park and the land surrounding it, which has one director – you guessed it, Scott Priestnall.

The last time we heard from the Chairman – or at least the person listed as Chairman at the time of writing – was New Year’s Eve 2022 when he confirmed he had “entered in to a period of exclusivity with a preferred party to become a majority shareholder.”

One assumes (and what else can we do other than assume right now?) that the preferred party that statement reference was indeed SU Glovers.

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Ugh! Ian speaks to Ben and Dave about their trip to York this weekend and we take your #GCQS.

Thank you for your continued support of the Gloverscast. Remember to add Gloverscast.co.uk to your favourites and check the website daily for the latest news and views from Huish Park.

Follow us on Twitter and Facebook. Leave us a review and share the pod with a pal.

We’d love to welcome some local businesses into the Gloverscast family through advertising. If you’re a business that would like to speak to a dedicated audience of more than 1000 monthly listeners, please get in touch. Find out more about advertising with us here.

If you have an idea for the website, want to contribute or just want to send us a message, feel free to email ian@gloverscast.co.uk.

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A double strike from Mason Alden could not save Yeovil Town Under-18s from a 3-2 defeat at the hands of Mangotsfield United at Alvington on Saturday morning.

The young Glovers, who were missing key players including top scorer Charlie Bateson who has gone out on loan at Tiverton Town, remain in second place in the South West Counties Youth League, five points behind leaders Bridgwater United.

Next weekend, they travel to third-placed Torquay United who picked up a 7-0 win over bottom club Bath City this weekend. The Gulls are managed by former Yeovil defender Ryan Dickson.

Under-18s team: Hamblin, Dyer, Lock, Sutton, Skiverton, Foster, Hunter, Bareham, Stevens, Alden, Haskett. Substitutes: Witcombe, Evans, Westlake, O’Sullivan, Nowak.

In the Junior Premier League, there were wins for the club’s Under-12s over Taunton Town and the Under-14s and Under-16s against Exeter City Regional Talent Centre.

The Under-11s were beaten by FC Wiltshire whilst the Under-13s and Under-15s both drew with Exeter RTC. The other younger age group sides all play as part of the Yeovil Town Community Sports Trust.