Latest Yeovil Town News (Page 360)

By:
On:
In: Latest Yeovil Town News

Yeovil Town midfielder Matt Worthington has been named in the Vanarama National League Team of the Week for his performance in Saturday’s 2-2 draw with Boreham Wood at Huish Park.

The 24-year-old played 89 minutes of the game which saw the Glovers come back from 2-0 down at half-time to earn a point.

He is joined in midfield by Notts County play-maker Callum Roberts, Daniel Powell of Barnet and Maidenhead United wideman Sam Barratt.

Well done, Worthy!

 

https://twitter.com/Vanarama/status/1523694637088575488?s=20&t=EJvUtOz9Ec0eTWd2mCGC_A

By:
On:
In: Latest Yeovil Town News

South Somerset District Council has confirmed that “legal and due diligence work” to complete the purchase of Huish Park and surrounding land is underway.

The council has also told the Gloverscast that the owner of the land, Yeovil Town owner and chairman Scott Priestnall, has confirmed that “the land is now ready to proceed to sale.”

Today, the club said that the legal and due diligence work had been underway since November 2020, when the deal was first discussed, and that it was happy for the matter to be public knowledge.

It has £2.8m set aside in its budget to complete the purchase of land and, as we revealed last month, the process is now proceeding and following last week’s local elections, we contacted them for an update and any details of when

They said: “South Somerset District Council’s potential £2.8m purchase of the land at Huish Park in Yeovil was agreed in December 2020 and its inclusion in the 2022/23 budget was confirmed at a public meeting by Full Council earlier this year.

“The conditions precedent set by SSDC continue to be met and the we have had confirmation that owner of the land is now ready to proceed with the sale. Legal and due diligence work is being undertaken. It is not possible to provide a confirmed date when the sale will be completed but we will provide confirmation as soon as it is available.

“The proposal continues to provide Yeovil Town Football Club with the option to buy back the land the club occupies in the future when its financial outlook has improved.”

The council deal would see the ‘core’ (red) and non-core (blue) land bought by SSDC.

The Gloverscast has contacted Scott Priestnall today (Monday 9 May) to provide an update and we were informed he was travelling, but confirmed the club was happy for information around the deal to be made public.

In a response, the club said: “We are happy for this information to be public knowledge. 

“However, we can confirm that the club’s position on this matter has not changed since November 2020, ‘legal and due diligence work’ has been undertaken by SSDC throughout that period. 

“Once Scott is able to do so, Gloverscast will be the first provided with a full update on the matter, once again, we are happy for this to be of public knowledge.”

As a refresh on what the club’s position was in November 2020, you can read the statement issued ahead of the decision by the council.

In summary, it said the sale of its stadium and assets would allow it to “raise funds to steer the club out of the current distressed financial position caused by the COVID-19 pandemic whilst retaining control of its assets.” In the statement, the chairman added: “I am confident that this is the most prudent deal for the club and it’s longevity.”

In his most recent public comments on the deal, Priestnall said the sale of the stadium and surrounding lands “remains an option for the club“, which feels a step back from a deal well progressed in due diligence and legal process. You can read more about this – here.

What do we know about the deal with SSDC?

  • SSDC has budgeted £2.8m to purchase the entire freehold and leasehold property and land interests held by Yeovil Town Football Club in the Huish Park ground. Part of the purchase price would be applied to securing the release of restrictive covenants that affect the title to the property. (This does not include Sport England’s restriction of development on the top training pitches)
  • The current 999-year lease from SSDC to YTFC (on land currently owned by SDDC) would be extinguished and a new 30-year lease of the whole property would be simultaneously granted back to the club. The deal includes a one-year rent break.
  • The investment will see the council make a 7% profit through renting it back to the club, which is line with the approved target level of commercial returns on investment property assets purchased by the Council.
  • The deal splits Huish Park into ‘core’ and ‘non-core’ land with separate leases for both. Presently the stadium is owned by one business Yeovil Football & Athletic Club Ltd whilst everything that surrounds the stadium is owned by another, Yeovil Town Holdings Limited. Chairman Priestnall and former director Glenn Collis are both still listed as directors of both companies on Companies House, although one assumes that Collis’ resignation last month means he will not be within the fullness of time.

Last Friday, the results of elections for the new unitary authority which will control Somerset from April 1 next year were announced.

Of the District Executive which voted on the acquisition in December 2020, SSDC leader Val Keitch, deputy leader Peter Seib, Jason Baker, Mike Best, Adam Dance, Sarah Dyke, Henry Hobhouse, and Tony Lock were all re-elected to be part of the new authority.

By:
On:
In: Latest Yeovil Town News, Gloversblog

Here at the Gloverscast we write a weekly column for the Western Gazette and if you haven’t had chance to pick up the paper yet, you can read this week’s ramblings below.

Ben takes a look at this Tuesday’s Somerset Premier Cup final and thinks it should be taken seriously…

Tickets for the final on Tuesday night at Huish Park are still available – click HERE to buy one.

The Somerset Premier Cup was probably not the silverware Yeovil Town set out to get this season.

A play off final win would have been ideal. The FA Trophy would have been one for the romantics, 20 years on from when Terry Skiverton hoisted it aloft at Villa Park and kicked off a decade of success for the Glovers.

But here we are, sat in mid table mediocrity and looking at a final few games that are nothing more than dead rubbers.

With the exception of that Somerset Premier Cup final. 

It might only be the county Cup, but, surprisingly, we haven’t won it since 2005.

This past week, we heard ambitions of making Huish Park and Yeovil the number one sporting venue in the county…and as the only professional football club in Somerset, we should probably be winning the County Cup more than once every generation.

For some players, it might be the best chance they get to put on a show for those handing out contracts for next season.

Max Evans. Picture courtesy of Mike Kunz.

It has the only source of first team football for young keeper Max Evans, Toby Stephens and a number of the Under-18s who will want to try and bridge the gap to mens’ football in the coming years.

And what of Bath City, managed by former Glover Jerry Gill. The’re the second biggest side in the competition and 16th in the National League South probably wasn’t what they were hoping for. They’ll take this game seriously and will fancy something of an upset against their old rivals from the league above.

The team selections throughout have been very respectful and as strong as reasonably could be, but as legs begin to tire and motivation begins to wane, I hope Charlie Lee can get his players up for one more go at winning something.

And who knows, maybe it’ll be a bit of a catalyst for success too. 

 

By:
On:
In: Latest Yeovil Town News

Yeovil Town will field a strong side for the Somerset Premier Cup final with Bath City on Tuesday night, interim boss Charlie Lee has promised.

It is 12 years since the Glovers last won the competition and, together with their opponents, have won the trophy 24 times, more than any other club.

Speaking after the 2-2 draw with Boreham Wood in the last National League home fixture, Lee said he may make some changes but expected to field a strong side.

He told BBC Somerset’s Sheridan Robins: “I’m very excited for Tuesday, we are planning that to be a first-team game.

“The players will have to get ready for that because it is going to be a full strength team and then Sunday (the final league match at Altrincham) we want to finish strongly.

“It will be the team I would have picked in a league game, there may be rotations depending on how players recover.

“I would say Tuesday night will be a great night for the fans, the whole squad will be here and we’ll be ready to mingle with the players.”

Speaking following his side’s 3-3 draw on the final day of the National League South season on Saturday, Bath manager Jerry Gill said he expects there to be a good following from the Romans’ supporters.

He is one player with a foot in both camps having moved from Twerton Park to Huish Park in 1996 to become part of the Yeovil side which won the ICIS League Premier Division (now National League South) under Graham Roberts.

Gill recalled: “Back in the day, this was a huge rivalry when I was playing here and I know I got my move from here to Yeovil and a lot of people don’t thank me for that.

“It’s a wonderful club down there as well, so I am going to enjoy it first and foremost, but we are going down there to win.

“I have spoken to a lot of fans here and a lot of people are going down to watch the game, and we’ll be competitive, it’s no good going to a cup final if you don’t go and win it.

“So we’ll give it everything we have got to go and win that game and hopefully get some good backing.”

Bath finished this season fourth from bottom of the National League South and last won the Somerset Premier Cup in 2008, beating Paulton Rovers after a replay.

By:
On:
In: Gloversblog, Five Conclusions, Latest Yeovil Town News

Yeovil wrapped up their home campaign with a 2-2 draw against Boreham Wood at Huish Park yesterday. Here are Ian’s Five Conclusions…

We stuck with the plan and deserved the point, if not more. At half time, I expected to see Charlie Lee make changes, given how early he made them against Wealdstone. At 2-0 down, it felt to me like we struggled to find our rhythm in the 5-3-2. But, no changes were forthcoming from Charlie Lee and his team battled back when it all looked pretty bleak at half time. Fair play to Charlie, he stuck with the system that they’d been working on through the week and his team performed for him.

Luke Wilkinson fires home the equaliser. Picture courtesy of Mike Kunz.

It was a relief to finally get something from set pieces. Our poor return from set pieces is no secret this season, but we finally managed to convert not one, but two. It feels like we’ve been waiting for a long throw to pay off since Charlie Lee was hauling them into the box in 2019. Finally, Morgan Williams (or was it Mendy?) put one in the net. And not long after that, Luke Wilkinson got his first of the season with an excellent freekick, aided by Ashmore taking a huge step to his right and leaving the left side of his goal open.

Dale Gorman had a game to forget. I think Gorman has had a decent first season at Huish Park. When he plays well, we play well. He keeps the ball ticking over and he has an eye for pass – just look at his assist for Josh Neufville against Southend. Yesterday, though, was one of his bad days. Having missed a penalty, which would have brought us level, he then got caught in possession and tried to claim a freekick as Dennon Lewis raced away to double Wood’s lead. Gorman’s frustration boiled over 10 minutes later he was booked for dissent. He improved in the second half, but he has had his moments this season.

 

I’d love Charlie Lee to still be with us next season. Considering he was brought in as Darren Sarll’s assistant until the end of the season at Skivo’s departure, Charlie Lee has had to make a hell of a step up in his short time back at the club. I think he’s been a breathe of fresh air as manager. We’ve played more adventurously since he’s taken the reins and I think the team look more relaxed – albeit with considerably less pressure. While I’m not sure he’s the right man to get us out of the National League, he’s a ready-made assistant whose relationship with the current crop (should a few remain) will be crucial to any incoming manager.

Huish Park hasn’t been a happy place this season, but yesterday had a different feel to it. The return of the Get Pedalling ride was a moment I won’t forget in a hurry. This group, who’ve shared their story of the week on our podcast feed, have been an inspiration with their efforts. To see them arrive at Huish Park led by Lee Collins’ partner Rachel, including club legend Terry Skiverton and cheered on by supporters, players and staff set a positive tone for the afternoon. Add to that, the more than 300 kids which the Yeovil Town Community Sports Trust brought to Huish Park yesterday and there was a nice feel about the place. Let’s have more of those moments next season, with the community at the heart of their football club.

By:
On:
In: Latest Yeovil Town News, Podcasts

It was a truly special moment to see the riders of the the Get Pedalling 22 challenge return to Huish Park this afternoon.

After following their journey this week, we’re delighted to bring you a conversation with Elliot and Lee Collins’ partner, Rachel.

Congratulations to everyone who took part this week, you’ve been truly inspirational.

Donate to Jess & Elliot’s JustGiving page here.

By:
On:
In: Latest Yeovil Town News

Josh Neufville has described his time as a Yeovil Town player as “pivotal” in his footballing development.

The Luton Town loanee returned for his second spell at the club in March having played more than 30 games last season before suffering a horrific broken leg in the penultimate match of the campaign.

Josh Neufville. Picture courtesy of Mike Kunz.

The 21-year-old made his 11th appearance since returning in the 2-2 draw with Boreham Wood in the final home league match of the season.

Speaking to BBC Somerset’s Sheridan Robins after the game, he said: “It’s been a pivotal part of my professional career coming here, getting my first professional goals, assists, it’s been great.

“(Former manager) Darren Sarll helped me a lot and (interim boss) Charlie (Lee) and Jody (Brown, assistant manager) have come in and they have worked to help me on and off the pitch, even coming off the pitch helped me a lot.

“Any time I put a Yeovil shirt on it is a good experience, especially playing at home in front of the Thatcher’s End, I just can’t get enough of it.”

He echoed the sentiments of his manager Charlie Lee insisting that even at 2-0 down against a Boreham Wood side who were still in with a shout of a play-off place ahead of the game, the team believed they could get something.

Neufville said: “Even in the first 15 minutes we showed we had the ability to get in behind them and me, Knowlesy and a few of the other lads had some chances and gave the home fans something to get behind.

“The boys had the belief throughout the whole game and we said that in the changing rooms at half-time, once we got the basics right as we did in the first 15 minutes, we knew we would be fine.

“Since I came back we have shown what a good team we are, all around the pitch we are good.”

The final league game of the campaign next weekend will see him return to Altrincham where he suffered a broken leg after just 12 minutes of a 4-3 defeat last May.

But the youngster is unfazed about the idea of returning to the scene of the incident which kept him out for nine months.

He said: “It’s part and parcel of the game, going back there for the last game of the season and the lads will give it their all, as we did today.

“We are playing for pride and we showed that today, at 2-0 down we had to make sure we didn’t leave anything out there today.

“All the boys are knackered, legs hurt, feet hurt, Wilko was quick to take his boots off and that just shows how hard we have all worked.

“Even when the season is done, we still have to fight for something whether it is pride or contracts or whatever.”

By:
On:
In: Latest Yeovil Town News

Charlie Lee said he never doubted his Yeovil Town side’s ability to come back and get something out of today’s final home fixture of the season.

The Glovers’ caretaker boss made a number of changes from the goalless draw with Wealdstone on Bank Holiday Monday, playing a back three with defenders Morgan Williams and Jack Robinson at wing back against Boreham Wood.

Despite trailing 2-0 at half-time, Lee said he believed his side’s performance was “the best we’ve played since I have been manager” and never considered making changes at the break.

Caretaker manager Charlie Lee was happy with his side’s performance in the 2-0 draw against Boreham Wood.

Speaking to BBC Somerset’s Sheridan Robins he said: “I turned to Jody (Brown, assistant manager) at one point when we were 2-0 down and I said ‘I don’t know why, but I think that is the best we’ve played since I have been manager’.

“It made my job easy at half-time because I said to the players ‘you have got to keep doing the same things, you have got to be brave and go back and win the game.’

“From a bad position being 2-0 down, they were exceptional in the second half, but at no point did I ever feel uncomfortable with what we were doing.”

In between goals from the visitors’ Tyrone Marsh and Dennon Lewis, midfielder Dale Gorman saw a penalty saved, but it was two set pieces which led to the goals which earned Yeovil a point.

Just before the hour, a long throw from Tom Knowles came off Boreham Wood defender Jacob Mendy to pull one back before captain Luke Wilkinson fired home his first of the season from a free-kick five minutes later.

Lee said: “We looked a threat from set pieces, we have worked on it a lot in these past few weeks and I have been very vocal.

“I don’t like to criticise players but I have criticised them for set pieces and they had the bit between their teeth today.

“We had a left back playing left wing back and a centre back playing right wing back and they were incredible.

“Morgan Williams could play that position for the rest of his career, he was sloppy on the ball a couple of times, but that was the whole team and I thought there was a lot of positives.

“There will be a lot more positives coming out of today than there has been in other games recently.”

The result keeps Yeovil in 13th place in the National League table with their final day opponents Altrincham two points behind them with a game in hand. They travel to Bromley on Tuesday night before hosting Yeovil at Moss Lane next Sunday.

By:
On:
In: Match Reports, Latest Yeovil Town News

Venue: Huish Park
Saturday, 7th April, 3pm kick-off

Conditions: Lovely clear day.

Pitch: Looking good.

Attendance: 2,599

Scorers: Tyrone Marsh 11 (0-1), Dennon Lewis 27 (0-2), Jacob Mendy o.g. 59 (1-2), Luke Wilkinson 65 (2-2)

Bookings:

Yeovil: Gorman 36, D’Ath 53
Boreham Wood: Raymond 37, Evans 65

Referee: Ryan Atkin

 

Yeovil Town : (5-3-2)

Grant Smith

Morgan Williams, Mark Little (for Reuben Reid, 83), Luke Wilkinson, Max Hunt (for Ben Barclay, 90), Jack Robinson

Lawson D’Ath, Dale Gorman, Matt Worthington (for Jordan Barnett, 90)

Tom Knowles, Josh Neufville

Substitutes: Ben Barclay, Jordan Barnett, Alex Bradley, Reuben Reid, Adi Yussuf.

Boreham Wood: Ashmore, Evans, Stephens, Comley, Mendy Mendy, Smith, Mafuta, Raymond, Boden (for Clifton, 82), Marsh, Lewis. Substitutes: Ashby-Hammond, Smith, Joyce, Orsi.


Match Report

A second half free-kick from captain Luke Wilkinson earned Yeovil Town a point in their final National League home match of the season.

Having gone 2-0 down after a powder puff first half performance, Charlie Lee‘s men turned things around with an improved second half appearance.

A long throw from Tom Knowles was flicked in to his own net by Boreham Wood defender Jacob Mendy to pull one back after the hour mark before Wilkinson stepped up to lash home the equaliser five minutes later.

Here’s how it went down at Huish Park……

 

First half

Caretaker manager Charlie Lee went for a back three of Luke Wilkinson, Max Hunt and Mark Little to match up to the opposition who arrived at Huish Park still in with a shout of a play-off place. Morgan Williams and Jack Robinson 

The opening exchanges favored the home side albeit their possession was never turned in to any real threat on the visitors’ goal and after 11 minutes Boreham Wood opened the scoring with their first attack.

Mark Little lost the ball to Jacob Mendy who drilled a ball across the face of goal and visitors’ top scorer Tyrone MARSH was on hand inside the six yard box to open the scoring with his 11th of the season.

Yet another goal conceded far too easily but, on 17 minutes, Yeovil were gifted a golden opportunity to half the deficit. Tom Knowles controlled the ball superbly inside the box and went down under contact from the Boreham Wood defender and, despite the forward getting back on his feet, the referee pointed to the penalty spot.

Dale Gorman. Picture courtesy of Mike Kunz.

Dale Gorman stepped up and his effort was saved by Nathan Ashmore. Put that down as ‘good height for the goalkeeper’ and from the follow-up the ball was put back in to the box by Knowles and Morgan Williams headed wide.

On 24 minutes, Wood had a penalty shout when Kane Smith’s shot was blocked by Wilkinson, the visitors were convinced it was handball, the referee was not. But three minutes later they doubled their advantage.

Dennon LEWIS won the ball 40 yards from goal and found himself one-on-one with Wilkinson and made no mistake with a composed finish.

A golden opportunity to level the scoreline spurned followed by another gift of a goal. Sigh. It just sums us up this season, doesn’t it?

It took until moments after the board went up to confirm the amount of added time before half-time for Yeovil to fashion a meaningful chain and no surprise it was Knowles whose shot was smartly stopped by Ashmore.

Play almost immediately swung to the other half as goal-scorer Lewis hassled Jack Robinson in to a mistake, burst forward but his shot was stopped by Grant Smith.

If this change of formation was an experiment by Charlie Lee, it failed.

Half time: Yeovil Town 0 Boreham Wood 2

 

Second Half

If you were out late from the bar (is that a thing at Huish Park at half-time?) and did not arrive until around the hour mark, you’d not miss anything. Not a thing. But on 59 minutes, Yeovil got a goal back.
A long throw by Knowles landed on the head of Mendy who was challenging with Morgan Williams and looped in to the net. Williams grabbed the ball as if it was him, but that was an OWN GOAL from Mendy – albeit one from a long throw.
A bit of a spark? Josh Neufville wriggled away as far as the edge of the box and found himself crowded out by the Boreham Wood defence, passed to Knowles but his effort was easily stopped by Ashmore.
On 65 minutes, Knowles was causing problems again and fouled just outside the box by Will Evans, who was shown a yellow card for his ‘professional’ foul.
Luke Wilkinson celebrates his equaliser. Picture courtesy of Mike Kunz.

From the resulting free-kick, Gorman and Wilkinson were over the ball. Not excited, right? Obviously Nathan Ashmore in the Boreham Wood goal had been listening to the podcast and underestimated WILKINSON whose effort sent the keeper the wrong way to net the equaliser.

You’re not reading this wrong, folks. That is a goal from a long throw and one from a free-kick – where’s that been all season?
Wherever it had been, it was enough to earn a point in this last action of the season at Huish Park – with the exception of next weekend’s Legends’ game, of course.

Full time: Yeovil Town 2 Boreham Wood 2