Latest Yeovil Town News (Page 376)

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The Glovers Trust has responded to criticism at its lack of communication in recent months as it looks to elect new members to its board.

In an update posted on its social media on Thursday, the Trust said it had “been necessary to take a step back, learn from our mistakes and come back stronger” following the departure of long-standing chairman Brendon Owen, the collapse of Simul Sports‘ bid to buy the club which was backed by the Trust, and the sale of Huish Park to South Somerset District Council (SSDC).

The Trust Board said: “It’s understandable that our lack of communication has led to more frustration and anxiety among Trust members – as a board we are more determined than ever to change, improve and secure the future of Yeovil Town FC for future generations.

“As the largest independent supporters group, we still believe the Glovers Trust remains our best hope of doing so.”

It confirmed the Annual General Meeting will take place on Tuesday, November 22 at The Arrow pub on Abbey Manor Park, Yeovil, starting at 7pm.

The Trust has invited club chairman Scott Priestnall and fellow director Stuart Robins to “speak at the event and encourage all of our members to attend, either in person or online.”

It added: “We are looking to expand and diversify our board, to better represent supporters and affect positive change. We’re particularly keen to hear from women, young people and under-represented voices from the Yeovil Town family.

“Above all we’d love to hear from you if you’re motivated to help keep the club alive – we are now accepting applications at communications@glovers-trust.co.uk. Please send a short introduction about yourself and your history following Yeovil and we’ll be in touch soon.

“Please be in touch by email or social media with your questions or comments. Your input will help shape the Trust and ultimately the future of the club. In the all-too-familiar words of YTFC on social media – we go again.”

The update described the collapse of Simul Sports’ bid to buy the club in May as “beyond disappointing for all at the Trust.” In recent statements, both Scott Priestnall and Stuart Robins have said the consortium, led by former Cardiff City director Julian Jenkins and including ex-Glovers’ midfielder Marc Bircham, had never showed it had the financial backing to complete the deal.

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FA Cup giant killing and Yeovil Town have a long history. But, a season after setting the record for the non-League club with the most League scalps in the FA Cup, the Glovers’ campaign has been ended early by lower league Taunton Town.
As he was for the first match, Rich Willcox-Smith was watching on from the stands at Wordsworth Drive – we’ll not ask in which end – and here he gives his conclusions on another difficult night to be a Yeovil Town fan.
It started okay. In my conclusions after Saturday and on the podcast on Monday, I said that I was surprised how sluggish Yeovil were from the off in the first game. But from the off, they looked faster and fitter and the ball spent a lot of time in the Taunton half. If the personnel were the problem at the weekend, the arrival of experienced heads like Jamie Reckord, Alex Fisher and Gime Toure seemed to be the tonic – for the first 15 minutes at least.
We struggled with balls in to the box. We know we are struggling to score goals and, if that is an issue, a sound defence is absolutely crucial but we really struggled with Taunton’s balls in from wide and set pieces. It was one of these that got Taunton a penalty. It was a dangerous ball in that was on its way out if it was left, but a silly, more stupid, raise of a hand gave the ref no option to point to the spot. Couldn’t really be argued with. Even know Grant Smith did get booked for not agreeing with the decision.
The scoreline could have been a lot worse. As was the case of Saturday – I seem to be saying that a lot – Taunton could have been more than one goal ahead at half-time. In the second half, if they had got another two I don’t think anyone could have complained. They were more than deserving of their victory and an away tie at MK Dons in the first round.
If you don’t take shots, you don’t score goals. Forgive me the obvious comment, but the way we struggled to make Jack Bycroft in the Taunton goal work was painful. Over 180 minutes of football, there was nothing which made the keeper have to pull off a worldie for his cleano – sorry, Ben! This is the same team by and large that has managed to get results against the likes of Wrexham, Chesterfield and Solihull Moors in the league.

Is this rock bottom? Two abject performances in space of three days, Ben Richards-Everton and Matt Worthington coming together after the match and supporters protesting against the manager the owner, it’s not a great look. In his post-match interview, Josh Staunton said that this has to be our rock bottom. [Think we said that was the defeat against York City, Rich, or was it the draw at Altrincham? – Ed] It is heart-breaking to see so many supporters say they have had enough and will not return until Hargreaves, Scott Priestnall or both are gone. As Dave keeps on saying, nothing changes until everything changes – but the big question is, who is going to bring about that change? Whoever it is and whatever it is, it needs one happen fast.

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As was evident on social media last night, many are unhappy with the situation at Yeovil Town at the moment under the management of Chris Hargreaves.

As a website that tries to gather opinions of across the Yeovil Town piste, we’d like you to share your view on the poll below on whether you think it’s time to make a change.

Sorry, there are no polls available at the moment.

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Yeovil Town captain Josh Staunton said the club’s exit from the FA Cup at the hands of Taunton Town had to be “a wake-up call”.

He admitted there was “an air of negativity” in the dressing room which was “crippling” the squad, but he said the 300 travelling supporters were within their rights to boo the team off the pitch at the final whistle.

He said: “We have let them down. As a group of men we have not delivered a performance that a club or our stature deserved and that falls on the players.

”Those scenes at the end are a wake up call, that hurts me as captain of that team and trust me you will not find anyone more disappointed than me over these last two games.

“We need to be inspired to do something and when chances fall our way, we have to be the ones who want to make a difference.

”That is how you turn a season around, one bit of passion or heart to grab the game by the scruff of the neck and be the one to make a difference, at the moment we look like we are passing the buck.”

Manager Chris Hargreaves cited the inexperience of some of his side’s younger player saying that the occasion of the Cup tie may have got to some players.

Asked about the response to going behind to a first half penalty from Taunton’s Lloyd James, Staunton said that was the moment his team-mates had to react positively.

He said: “That is where you either become a player who has some longevity in your career and you want to make a difference, or you find it hard to galvanise yourself and go in to your shell.

”As soon as we concede a goal at the moment, it seems like we are climbing a mountain and it all comes down to belief and confidence and when things are not going your way you have to find that yourself.“

The captain concluded that there now needed to be a response as the team travels to Oldham Athletic on Saturday looking to their 17th place position in the National League.

Staunton said: “It is a test of resilience. You can either lay down and be someone who lets the game pass by or be someone who will stand up and say ‘this is it, this is our turning point.’

”This has got to be the rock bottom that we bounce back up from. It is now a case of galvanising the group, picking them up for Saturday and being the one who leads the group by putting your shoulders back and taking the responsibility and criticism.”

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Chris Hargreaves apologised to Yeovil Town supporters for a performance which was “nowhere near good enough” as his side went out of the FA Cup at Taunton Town.

A first half penalty from Lloyd James was enough to settle the fourth qualifying round tie and send the National League South side, who sit 24 places below the Glovers in the pyramid, through to the first round.

Speaking to BBC Somerset’s Sheridan Robins, the manager said he “could not accept that kind of performance” from his players.

He said: “I picked a team I believe could win the game comfortably, it’s a group of lads that has been good enough to get results against good sides in the National League.

”So against a very resilient team, albeit one from a lower league, we did not deliver, so apologies to anyone who turned up tonight to watch that.”

The travelling 300 supporters at Wordsworth Drive made their feelings known with the team booed off at the final whistle for the second successive match. They faced a similar reception at the end of the tie’s first game at Huish Park on Saturday.

Hargreaves said he did not blame fans for the reaction: “They have to see something (from the team) which they can hold on to and get behind you. I have no problem with (the reaction of supporters.

”The players have got to step over that white line and give them something to cheer about over the two legs they haven’t which is bitterly disappointing.”

He admitted there was “no hiding place” from criticism of his record since taking the manager’s job and compared the situation with Bristol Rovers, where he was previously part of the youth team set up.

He said: “I have seen (Bristol Rovers manager) Joey (Barton) take a lot of stick and then turn it round and that is all you can do in football – prove people wrong, fight and believe and I do.

”If I didn’t (believe) I would not have taken the job and I want everyone else to do that.”

The final whistle saw some Glovers’ players clashing with each other with defender Ben Richards-Everton and midfielder Matt Worthington involved in some fiery exchanges.

Asked about it, the manager said it was a product of their annoyance at the performance and result.

He added: ”The boys are giving everything, but tonight a few nerves showed with some of the younger players and the occasion got to them.

”We have to work with them quickly because we need them to play.”

He added that he would “have to see a reaction” from the players when they returned to training on Wednesday morning.

They travel to Oldham Athletic in the National League on Saturday looking to build on a 1-0 home win in their last league match.

Hargreaves said: “I will now move on to a National League game having won the last one, that is my mindset. I can’t forget about that.

”Since that game there has been a very disappointing two (games) against a team in a lower division.

”This club needs to be in the Football League, not win the FA Cup. I go in to the next game on Saturday as determined as I was when I walked in the door.”

 

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Venue: Wordsworth Drive
Tuesday October 18th, 7.45pm kick-off

Conditions: Dry but cold
Pitch: Narrow and slopey

Attendance: 2,347 (350 away supporters)

Scorers: Lloyd James (pen) 26

Bookings: 

Yeovil Town:  Worthington 33
Taunton Town: Grimes 13, Z.Smith 48

Referee: Paul Johnson

 

Yeovil Town : (3-5-2)

Grant Smith

Max Hunt  Josh Staunton Ben Richards-Everton

                                 Chiori Johnson                                                       Jamie Reckord

Sam Pearson       Callum Rowe (for Will Dawes, 70)      Matt Worthington

Gime Toure  (for Jake Scrimshaw, 78)   Alex Fisher (for Malachi Linton, 78)

Substitutes: Will Buse, Morgan Williams, Sam Perry, Ollie Hulbert.

Taunton Town: Bycroft, Foulston, Grimes, Ball, Chamberlain, James, Jarvis, McCootie (for Sims-Burgess, 83), Guest, Smith, Lucas. Substitutes: Budd, Warwick, Stearn, Staley, Morgan, Irish.

 

Match Report

Yeovil Town’s FA Cup campaign came to an end

Thanks to Jake Farrant from the Green & White Supporters’ Club who allowed us to use his match report – you can read it on the club’s own page – here – with none of the Gloverscast trio in attendance.

Here’s how he saw it…..

First half

Yeovil had the better of the opening exchanges but they weren’t able to put Taunton under any sort of pressure and the game soon began to be a bit dull, much like the first game at Huish Park.

As Taunton began to have some play of their own they were awarded a penalty on 26 minutes when Chiori Johnson handled the ball in the box and Lloyd JAMES stepped up to fire the ball past Grant Smith.

On 30 minutes the home side almost made it 2-0 when Ollie Chamberlain broke through the Yeovil defence but he fired his effort wide.

Very little happened for the remainder of the half as Yeovil just didn’t look like getting an equaliser and they trailed at the break.

Half time:  Taunton Town 1 Yeovil Town 0

Second half

Neither side made changes at half time and the game continued with Yeovil playing poorly.

Both teams struggled to create chances during the second half with Yeovil being limited to half chances.

As time ticked away it was inevitable that Yeovil were heading out of the cup and when the full time whistle went the fans were less than impressed.

Full time:  Taunton Town 1 Yeovil Town 0

 

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Yeovil Town will face MK Dons in the first round of the FA Cup… IF…. IF…. the Glovers negotiate the 4th Qualifying Round replay against Taunton tomorrow night.

Alan Smith and Dion Dublin made the draw with big Dion drawing the Glovers away in Milton Keynes.

Cheers, Dion!

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Benjani Junior in action for Yeovil Town Under-18s.
Picture courtesy of @ytfcacademy.

Yeovil Town’s Under 18s striker Benjani Jnr has signed his first professional contract with the club.

Having been something of a goal machine for the young Glovers last season and in the early part of this season he has signed on to become the team’s third professional player in three years to come from within.

He follows in the footsteps of Toby Stephens and Ollie Haste who have made the step up to the first team squad.

Benjani has already represented the first team in the successful 2021-22 Somerset Premier Cup campaign but will be hoping to make a mark in the upcoming months across all first team fixtures.

Benjani is the son of former Portsmouth and Man City striker Benjani Mwaruwari.

A huge congratulations to all involved!

 

 

 

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Tickets for the FA Cup fourth qualifying round replay at Taunton Town have gone on sale to Yeovil Town supporters.

The club has received an allocation of 300 tickets.

There is no seated allocation available to away fans for the tie at Wordsworth Drive on Tuesday night (7.45pm kick-off) and will be available to season ticket holders only, limited to one ticket per person.

They will go on sale from 10am on Monday and, if tickets are still available, the Huish Park ticket office will remain open until 7pm.

The club statement added: “Because of the short turnaround on sales, tickets sales will only available be in-person from the Ticket office or by calling on 01935 847 888. We will endeavour to answer as many calls as possible but it may not be able to answer all calls. Please have your season ticket details on hand when purchasing tickets.”

However, the club are not expecting to receive printed tickets from Taunton until Monday evening – so, if you pay for a ticket in person, you will not be able to collect it until Tuesday morning.

You will be able to collect them from Huish Park until 4pm on Tuesday or alternatively you can collect them at Wordsworth Drive  “by the away entrance which is in the car park towards the Fire Station” from 6.45pm.

Tickets are priced at the same level as Saturday’s match at Huish Park, namely:

Adults: £15

Concessions: £10
Under-18s: £5

There are no details of any travel put on by the Green & White Supporters’ Club, but it seems likely they will adopt the same policy as last season’s fourth qualifying round replay at W*ymouth and assume most people will make their own way up the A358.

If that changes, we will let you know.