Latest Yeovil Town News (Page 323)

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There are three changes to the Yeovil Town starting line-up for today’s match with Solihull Moors at Huish Park (3pm kick-off).

Ben Richards-Everton returns in defence in place of Max Hunt, Charlie Wakefield is in for Morgan Williams and Sam Perry presumably replaces Will Dawes, with all those missing out named on the substitutes’ bench.

The formation may require kick-off to figure out exactly what it is, but we’re going to have a guess that manager Chris Hargreaves is sticking with his favoured three-man defence with wing-backs as follows…..

Yeovil Town : (3-4-3)

Grant Smith

Owen Bevan  Josh Staunton Ben Richards-Everton

                                 Charlie Wakefield                                                             Chiori Johnson

Lawson D’Ath Sam Perry Matt Worthington

Sam Pearson Malachi Linton

Substitutes: Max Hunt, Morgan Williams, Jake Scrimshaw, Alex Fisher, Will Dawes.

 

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York City have said they are “disappointed” that an investigation in to racial abuse directed at its striker Lennell John-Lewis has not been able to identify an offender.

On Thursday, Yeovil Town confirmed it had been unable to identify the person responsible for the abuse caught on camera in a fixture at Huish Park on 3rd September despite a month-long enquiry supported by Avon & Somerset Police and Kick It Out, the anti-discrimination campaign.

In a statement published by the York Press, York City said: “We are disappointed that Yeovil have not been able to identify the culprit.

“There must be somebody who would be able to identify who was involved, but have chosen not to come forward.

“Society needs to work together to stand up to racism in all its forms, allowing perpetrators of racist acts to stay anonymous is to be complicit in their wrongdoing.”

Avon & Somereset Police has said the investigation had “exhausted all reasonable lines of enquiry”, adding that it would always look in to an new information which comes forward about the incident.

In its response, Yeovil Town said: “As a football club, Yeovil Town finds all forms of discriminatory behaviour totally abhorrent and unacceptable. It is completely against the values of our club, and we believe it has no place at Huish Park or anywhere else within our communities.

“We continue to stand against all forms of racist, sexist, or homophobic discrimination and we reiterate that we will always seek to take the strongest action against anyone identified committing these acts.”

Both the club and the Police urged anyone who knows anything about the individual responsible for this disgusting act to contact them calling 101 and giving crime reference number 5222215076. Alternatively, call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111 or contact them through their online form.

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Yeovil Town have been drawn at home to Taunton Town again!

This time in the Somerset FA Men’s Premier Cup as Yeovil begin the defence of their trophy.

The Peacocks are aready due to visit Huish Park in the FA Cup fourth qualifying round next weekend and no doubt we will probably draw them in the FA Trophy too.

The National League South side beat Bath-based Odd Down 7-0 in the first round of the competition, the Glovers got a bye through to the second round.

Ties will he played week commencing 7th November.

The full draw is below.

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Ollie Hulbert ? Pic Courtesy of Sam Collard – YTFC.net

Yeovil Town striker Ollie Hulbert has returned to the Glovers after his one-month stint at Gloucester City came to an end.

He made three appearances for the National League North side, scoring once on his debut against AFC Telford United last month..

During his spell, the Tigers played two FA Cup ties which the Yeovil man was not given permission to play in restricting his opportunity for more minutes.

Hulbert now returns to fight for his place at Huish Park and will be available for selection for this Saturday’s game home game against Solihull Moors.

It leaves just Toby Stephens out on loan at Truro City at the moment, with Ollie Haste recalled from his spell at the Cornish club in the week and goalkeeper Max Evans’ stint at Larkhall Athletic ended by injury.

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Yeovil Town Under-18s travel to Wimborne Town in search of their first win of the South West Counties Youth League win this weekend.

The young Glovers’ opponents have only played once this season, picking up a 2-1 win against Ringwood-based BRS Coaching Youth, who lost their other fixtures 7-1 and 11-0.

The match takes place at Blandford School in Blandford Forum at 10.30am on Saturday 8th October.

In the week, there were wins for Elite Player Development Programme (EPDP), run by Yeovil College in partnership with the club, with the first team running out 4-1 winners against Exeter College 2nd XI.

Charlie Bateson scored twice with Josh Sutton and Aiden Skiverton also on target. The EPDP 2nd XI won 5-0 at home to against Bridgwater and Taunton College’s 3rd XI.

The age group teams representing the Yeovil Town Community Sports Trust are also in action this weekend with the Under-11s and Under-12s facing their opponents from Paulton Rovers, whilst the Under-13s, Under-15s and Under-16s play Saints South West in the Junior Premier League.

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Yeovil Town manager Chris Hargreaves has called for patience from the club’s supporters as they go in search of their second win of the season against fifth-placed Solihull Moors this weekend.

Chris Hargreaves. Picture courtesy of Mike Kunz.

The Glovers’ 1-1 draw at Dorking Wanderers on Tuesday night was their seventh stalemate in the opening 12 matches of the National League season and saw them slide in to the relegation places.

Speaking to BBC Somerset’s Sheridan Robins on Thursday, the boss said the team “can’t hide” from the reality of their predicament, but again pointed to the inexperience in his squad following injuries to defenders Jamie Reckord and Ben Richards-Everton.

He said: “I get it, we are not where we want to be, no-one knows that more than me because my life revolves around it 24/7 with no let up. That’s how I want it because it means a lot of me.

“We stopped the coach on the corner outside Dorking’s ground where there was a pub and I said ‘these fans have paid good money and they want to see you do well.’ The players were aware of it.

“Fans have every right to say things after a game if things haven’t gone well because they give us support when we have done well – so you can’t have it both ways.”

He added: “We focus on the fact we have been competitive in every game and if you get a run together and a couple of wins it looks very different.

“If we had been battered in every game and not have massive periods of possession or being on top in games I would be worried, but what I have seen isn’t that.

“We can’t hide from where we are but we have to have patience with the players because it’s not easy for them, certainly for some players who are fresh in to this league or haven’t been in it long.”

Hargreaves was asked by the BBC reporter about whether angry chants directed at club chairman Scott Priestnall by a section of supporters at Dorking was impacting the squad.

Yeovil Town owner and chairman Scott Priestnall in the stands at Dorking Wanderers.

The owner and the club’s only executive director was sat alongside Martyn Starnes, a former Glovers’ Chief Executive who is helping the club “on a voluntary basis“, at Meadowbank in midweek.

Following a prolonged period of chanting of “We want Priestnall out“, a group of supporters moved closer to the main stand where the owner was located and continued to chant “Where’s the money gone?” in reference to the £2.8m the club received from the sale of its Huish Park home and surrounding land to South Somerset District Council in May.

Asked about the hostility towards the owner, Hargreaves said: “I can’t affect all the things around me, all I can affect is the team.

“The team do play for the fans, it’s just we have suffered at times from a lack of experience where we have let leads go too easily. I can’t accept that and the players know that.”

Looking ahead to the weekend, the manager said that injured defenders Jamie Reckord and Ben Richards-Everton would be “touch and go” for the visit of Solihull Moors.

Jamie Reckord. Picture courtesy of Mike Kunz.

Reckord, who spent two seasons at the Midlands club, missed the 1-0 defeat at Southend United last weekend and the midweek draw with a knee infection, whilst Richards-Everton was also absent at Dorking.

The boss also said he had taken precautions with play-maker Lawson D’Ath and defender Chiori Johnson after they were both withdrawn in the second half on Tuesday where they played on an artificial surface.

Hargreaves said: “All the players put a lot of effort in and with those two and their injury history, we have to be very careful especially with Lawson to ensure he doesn’t go over that balance of how much he wants to play and how much he can play.

“Chiori came back quickly from an injury which may have kept him out longer because he is so desperate to play. Both of them will be in contention again for the weekend.”

He added that he is continuing to look to bring new faces in after in midweek that he was looking to add to his ranks ahead of the visit of Solihull.

Speaking on Tuesday, the boss said: “Conversations are still ongoing, so we will be continuing that this afternoon and tomorrow.”

The manager has come in for criticism following the poor start to the season with some calling for his dismissal just 12 matches in to his tenure at the club.

The Gloverscast understands there is no threat to Hargreaves’ position with the boss still being backed by its board of directors.

Asked by Three Valleys’ Radio’s Adi Hopper whether he had been surprised at the scale of the challenge at Huish Park since taking over in the summer, Hargreaves said: “I knew it was going to be a tough job, but I’m lucky to be in this position. It’s a privilege and I remind myself that every day.

“It’s a good challenge and we are capable of excelling it and if we hadn’t been as close as we have been, I might not have that attitude.

“The players are giving everything, but on those critical occasions in both boxes we have to be 100% concentrated and on a couple of occasions on we have not done that.”

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The Screwfix Stand at Huish Park will not be open to home supporters for the Somerset derby against Taunton Town next weekend, the club has confirmed.

Announcing ticketing arrangements, the club said that it will only be opening the Main Stand and Thatcher’s Gold Stand for the fourth qualifying round tie and would not be able to guarantee season ticket holders their nornmal seats.

The club said: “For this fixture, we will only be opening the Hellier Group Main Stand & the Thatcher’s Gold Stand. Home fans will be seated in Hellier Group Main Stand blocks B – GG and standing on Terrace.

“As the full stadium wont be open, we unfortunately wont be able to reserve season ticket spaces for this particular cup fixture. We apologise for any inconvenience caused.”

Slightly confusingly, the club’s ticketing portal highlights that away fans can buy a ticket in the Screwfix Stand, but instead will be seated in the Main Stand, Block AA-B.

Speaking about the tie on Thursday, Yeovil manager Chris Hargreaves said he expected there to be a large following from the Peacocks who sit mid-table in 14th place in the National League South with ten games gone.

He said: “It’s a brilliant draw for the fans. I am guessing Taunton will bring 1,200 or 1,500 fans which would be excellent. Our supporters will look forward to and its great for the area.“

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Yeovil Town has closed an investigation in to “alleged racial chanting” at the home match with York City last month – but Avon & Somerset Police has said it will investigate any fresh evidence which it receives.

In a statement on Thursday, the club said it had been working with Avon & Somerset Police, Kick It Out, the campaign against discrimination in football, and supporter groups since the incident on 3rd September.

However, it said the investigation had been unable to identify the supporter behind the abuse which was directed at York striker Lennell John-Lewis as he prepared to take a second half penalty in a game the Glovers lost 1-0.

Supporters have reported receiving calls from the club asking whether they had heard the abuse which was captured on the highlights packages of both Yeovil Town and York City suggesting efforts were being made to investigate the matter.

In a statement, the club said: “Upon reviewing CCTV footage and speaking to many supporters who sit within the Screwfix Community Stand, we have been unable to identify the supporter who is heard chanting within the highlights package.

“Due to this, Yeovil Town has closed our investigation into the matter. We would like to place on record our thanks to all the groups that assisted with our investigation.”

Both the club and the Police urged anyone who knows anything about the individual responsible for this disgusting act to contact them calling 101 and giving crime reference number 5222215076. Alternatively, call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111 or contact them through their online form.

When contacted by the Gloverscast, Avon & Somerset Police added: “Although we may have exhausted all reasonable lines of enquiry we never ‘close’ an investigation because if someone comes forward with information then that will always be looked into and any further enquiries carried out.”

PC Mark Neal, the force’s football unit, added: “There can be no place for racism in our society. It is disgusting and inexcusable. We want anyone who hears or suffers from such abuse to report it.

“The York City FC player who was racially abused has been offered support and kept updated of our enquiries since this happened.

“We are grateful to both clubs and Kick It Out for helping us with our enquiries but unfortunately despite exploring all possible lines of enquiry and appealing for information, the offender hasn’t been identified.

In its staement, the club added: “As a football club, Yeovil Town finds all forms of discriminatory behaviour totally abhorrent and unacceptable. It is completely against the values of our club, and we believe it has no place at Huish Park or anywhere else within our communities.

“We continue to stand against all forms of racist, sexist, or homophobic discrimination and we reiterate that we will always seek to take the strongest action against anyone identified committing these acts.

“If you hear any form of discrimination inside or around Huish Park, we urge all supporters to report it on the day to our stewards or report anonymously on our designated matchday hotline – 07724 152 534.“