Latest Yeovil Town News (Page 412)

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Absent midfielder Albi Skendi remains under contract with Yeovil Town despite not featuring in the club’s pre-season preparations.

Manager Darren Sarll confirmed the player is still in the United States where he has “family connections” but said he remains the Glovers’ player for a further year.

Talking to the club’s YouTube channel alongside Chairman Scott Priestnall, the manager said: “He decided to not come back.

“I have nothing against Albi, he has made the decision for the benefit of his life, but like any player that does this, I just concentrate on the ones that want to give their all to the football club.

“There is no end date to that, we will just take it week by week, I am more interested in our new players and what they will bring.”

In a statement from Priestnall, the club confirmed the player was “absent” from training but was still a contracted player.


He said: “To avoid conjecture and rumour, we can confirm that Albi Skendi is currently absent from Yeovil Town training.

“However, Skendi does remain under contract with the football club.”

The 27-year-old signed from Stratford Town in the summer of 2019 and was a regular for Sarll in the past two campaigns.

Prior to arriving in England, the versatile Albanian had played in the United States where he played for Los Angeles Wolfs and Marymount California University.

At the start of July, he appeared on a post from the Instagram account of Genesta FC, a club playing in the Santa Monica Adult League in Los Angeles, California, where it appears he has played before.

When he was not seen back in pre-season training at Huish Park and did not appear at the club’s opening pre-season friendly at his old club Stratford, speculation about his future at the club grew.

 

 

 

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Yeovil Town have their first home match of pre-season tomorrow against Forest Green Rovers.

The match will see the Glovers don their brand new kit for the first time, with the match kicking off a 3pm.

Tickets are available the below prices:

Adults: £8
Young Person (16-23 years), Senior (65+ years) and Armed Forces personnel: £4
Under-16s – FREE – tickets must be allocated via ticketing website – here.

The Club have informed us that the “tea bars will be open alongside the bar inside the ground, which anybody with a ticket can access.”

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Josh Wagenaar who played 28 times in the 2008-09 League One season for Yeovil Town.

Former Yeovil Town goalkeeper Josh Wagenaar has said the team supported manager Russell Slade after his controversial sacking in 2009.

The Canadian goalkeeper spoke to the Gloverscast as the latest interviewee in our series of chats and articles with former players.

Wagenaar had played every minute of a four-man winning run under Slade which culminated in his sacking which was announced midway through a 3-1 win at Peterborough United in February 2009.

Recalling that time, the keeper said: “Everyone got along well, we were all in Slade’s corner, everyone liked him. I think the club has to do what it feels necessary to get results and that is what we decided. I don’t know I saw his sacking coming, perhaps if I had a bit more experience in the game at that point maybe I would have. I was just like ‘that’s what happens’, we had won a number of games before he was relieved of his job.

“I enjoyed playing for Russell and Thommo (assistant Steve Thompson), they were great coaches and a lot of fun. Their door was always open and they were very easy to talk with, but I also felt like they ran a tight ship as well.”

Slade went on to take over as manager at then-League One rivals Brighton & Hove Albion and masterminded a 5-0 win over his old employers a month later – in a game Wagenaar was sent-off with seven minutes remaining.

That led to the return of Chris Weale to Huish Park, and the homegrown stopper kept his place until the 85th minute of a final day defeat at home to Colchester United that season – when Wealey had famously scored a last-gasp equaliser against Hereford United to secure survival.

Wagenaar replaced him for those final five minutes of the final match, but that was the last he would play for Yeovil.

He recalls: “That was really the last time I played for Yeovil because then Wealey came in and I never got my spot back. Yeovil offered me to come back the next year, but it was basically the same contract I had been on the year before and I felt like I deserved a little more.”

He adds: “When I look back at my career, I wish I had been a little bit more professional in my approach but I was a young kid living in another country. I honestly just cared about myself and not a whole lot else, so I was mentally checked out a month before the season event ended. I was looking to move on somewhere else and get home. I was most likely ready for a break and see my family.”

Former Yeovil Town goalkeeper Josh Wagenaar, now a financial advisor and a good guy to speak to about your retirement savings.

Having left Huish Park in the summer of 2009, Wagenaar joined Scottish Premier League side Falkirk following a trial, but did not play a single minute as the club was relegated in 2009-10.

He returned home to Canada and drew a close to his professional career having suffered with arthritis of the back for a number of years.

He says: “For a few years I was able to keep that at bay with different drugs and that summer after Scotland I could not get my body to react, it just hurt to do anything. Eventually I found a medicine which gives me real quality of life, I get to play with my three kids and work out with my wife. I can’t train the way I used too but I don’t need too. I’m still coaching the goalkeepers at the university here as a way to stay connected.”

Now living in Louisiana in the United States, the 36-year-old is working as a financial advisor and helping people plan for their retirement.

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Tickets are now on sale for all Yeovil Town‘s pre-season friendly fixtures.

The club have confirmed tickets are available for this weekend’s opening match at Huish Park against League Two Forest Green Rovers together with the games against a Southampton B side and the under-23s from AFC Bournemouth on August 10 and August 14 respectively.

Tickets are also on sale for the away matches at Weston-super-Mare on August 7 and Taunton Town three days later.

Please not there will be no tickets available for the Taunton fixture on the night and tickets must be bought in advance on the website – here.

Details of the matches are:

v Forest Green Rovers – Saturday, July 31 (3pm kick-off)

Adults: £8.
Young Person (16-23 years), Senior (65+ years) and Armed Forces personnel: £4
Under-16s – FREE – tickets must be allocated via ticketing website – here.

v Weston-super-Mare – Optima Stadium – Saturday, August 7 (3pm kick-off)

Prices: Adults £8
Concessions £5
Under-16s: £2
Tickets can be bought online for a 50p booking fee, here: https://www.tickettailor.com/events/wsmafc/533304/

 

v Taunton Town – Wordsworth Drive – Tuesday, August 3 (7.30pm kick-off)

Adult: £11.23 (£8.33 + £1.03 fee + £1.87 VAT)
Under-18s : £5.90 (£4.16 + 76p + fee + 98p VAT)
Concessions: £9.11 (£6.67 + 92p fee + £1.52 VAT)
NOTE: Tickets are only available in advance, no sales on the night – buy here.

 

v Southampton B – Tuesday, August 10 (7pm kick-off)

Adults: £8.
Young Person (16-23 years), Senior (65+ years) and Armed Forces personnel: £4
Under-16s – FREE – tickets must be allocated via ticketing website – here.

v Bournemouth Under-23s – Saturday, August 14 (3pm kick-off)

Adults: £8.
Young Person (16-23 years), Senior (65+ years) and Armed Forces personnel: £4
Under-16s – FREE – tickets must be allocated via ticketing website – here.

 

 

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As the more eagle-eyed viewers of the Gloverscast website will recall, we were a little uncertain at the identification of the central defender who played the second half of Yeovil Town’s opening pre-season friendly at Stratford Town.

The game of Guess the Trialist came up with the name of Colin Daniel, an experienced former League defender who was released from Burton Albion at the end of last season.

Robin Dempsey warming up at Stratford Town.

It appears we were right to be a little questioning as the player in question is actually Robin Dempsey, the younger brother of former Glovers’ midfielder Gary Dempsey who played for us in 2007-8.

The 25-year-old central defender played in the youth set-up at Aston Villa having been signed as 16-year-old back in 2012. He had impressed playing for youth team North End United based in Ballymena and, upon his return from England having not been retained by Villa, for League of Ireland side Waterford.

He appears to have had a spell at another League of Ireland side Wexford following his time at Waterford.

But since then there appears to be no trace of him since he left there in 2017, except for him popping up on trial at Doncaster Rovers earlier this month .

 

 

 

 

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Rural internet specialists Jurassic Fibre have signed up to a three-year deal to be Yeovil Town‘s new sponsor.

The Exeter-based company will be the club’s “main partner and sponsor” according to both parties.

Jurassic Fibre market themselves as suppliers of ultrafast fibre for businesses and say they are “building a brand new network across Devon, Somerset and Dorset” so will presumably be known to some supporters.

Speaking to the club’s website, Chief Commercial Officer Steve Garrood said: “At the heart of our approach is working with communities, and Yeovil Town is a strong community-based club.

“We are excited to be supporting and working with the club and the local community through this three-year partnership.”

Club Commercial Manager Mark Robinson added: “Having just come out of a pandemic, for an organisation to look to commit to a long-term partnership with the football club is a great show of support and a sign of intent and commitment towards a successful partnership with Yeovil Town.”

The sponsor’s logo appeared on the front of the off-the-rack white kit worn by Yeovil Town in their opening pre-season friendly at Stratford Town at the weekend.

We are expecting the club’s kit design for the upcoming National League season to be unveiled later this week – watch this space, kit fans……..

 

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Darren Sarll has called for more from midfielder Tom Knowles despite the midfielder scoring a trademark winner in Yeovil Town‘s opening pre-season friendly.

The 22-year-old’s strike ten minutes in to the second half of the game at Stratford Town was enough to separate the sides.

Asked whether he was impressed with Knowles’ performance, the manager said: “I thought he scored a good goal, I thought he scored with the hardest chance of his game, but I was not particularly impressed with Tom.

“I thought he was in and out of the game, he struggled with his position, he struggled to find the chink in the amour of the opponent.

“He took his goal well and we know he has good quality like that, but if young players want to be top players the standard is ridiculously high and they have to set ridiculous standards to try and attain it.

“So Tom has got some work to do, but they all have.”

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Yeovil Town manager Darren Sarll has told supporters to expect a more controlled side for the upcoming National League season compared with the previous two campaigns.

The Glovers’ boss was talking after his side won 1-0 in their opening pre-season friendly at Step 4 side Stratford Town at the weekend.

He told the club’s official YouTube channel: “I was really pleased with the structure of them team because for two years we have been ‘we’ll get five if you get four’ and that is my fault because that is my attitude – I want to get in the middle and dominate the fight.

 

Sarll and Skiverton
Terry Skiverton, right, alongside Yeovil Town manager Darren Sarll.
Picture courtesy of Mike Kunz.

“But we are going to have to be different this year because there is no Charlie Lee, Jimmy Smith and those characters in the team that can take my character on to the pitch.

“We are trying to do things a bit more strategically and a bit more in control which is hard for me because I have to sit down.”

He added: “I was just really pleased with the control of the team, it is a different team and it may take the supporters a while to get their heads around it, but that is how we are going to have to be.”

The boss gave debuts to summer signings goalkeeper Grant Smith, defenders Mark Little and Jordan Barnett and midfielder Dale Gorman from the start against The Bards.

Other new boys midfielders Charlie Wakefield and loanee Lewis Simper were introduced in the second half along with four trialists – see more about who they might be – here.

The visitors had the ball in the net twice courtesy of striker Reuben Reid and midfielder Tom Knowles only to be ruled out for offside, and former Glovers’ goalkeeper Liam O’Brien pulled off a number of fantastic saves to deny his old employers.

Sarll added: “We had some good chances there, the goals that were ruled out were ridiculous and some of the other chances we had, it could have been a really hefty scoreline.

“But I was pleased with the performance and the fitness levels were great.”

 

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Yeovil Town got their pre-season campaign underway with a 1-0 win over Southern League Premier Division Central side Stratford Town at Knight’s Lane on Saturday.

A trademark Tom Knowles goal from the edge of the area on 55 minutes was what separated the two sides, but in reality it was the form of former Glovers’ keeper Liam O’Brien in the home side’s net that kept the score from being more comprehensive.

The visitors gave starting debuts to summer signings goalkeeper Grant Smith, defenders Mark Little and Jordan Barnett and midfielder Dale Gorman with other new boys midfielders Charlie Wakefield and loanee Lewis Simper starting on the bench.

The starting XI lined up in a familiar diamond with Josh Staunton, back after a long lay-off through injury last season, at the base, Knowles at the tip and Gorman and Alex Bradley in the middle.

In front of Smith, Little and Barnett took up positions on the right and left respectively with Luke Wilkinson and Max Hunt in the centre of defence, and Reuben Reid paired with Joe Quigley up front.

 

First half

The Glovers started brightly with Reid having a goal ruled out for offside after just two minutes before O’Brien went down bravely at the feet of Knowles four minutes later.

Knowles had the ball in the hosts’ net on 15 minutes only for the goal to be ruled out for a foul by Reid on O’Brien.

Ben Stephens fired wide for The Bards a minute later and that led to a spell of pressure from the hosts who were playing their fifth pre-season fixture.

Quigley was denied by a fine stop from O’Brien, who impressed during a spell with Yeovil back in 2019 before sustaining a serious shoulder injury, who was turned in to action to deny Bradley shortly after.

Half time: Stratford Town 0 Yeovil Town 0

 

Second half

As is tradition in all pre-season friendlies, there were wholesale changes at half-time with the introduction of two of the four trialists named on the bench by Glovers’ boss Darren Sarll.

We have played the game of Guess The Trialist, the results of which you can read – here.

On in place of Reid was Deshane Dalling, a former QPR youth team player, who was paired alongside Quigley, whilst Colin Daniel (possibly, maybe) replaced Wilkinson in the heart of defence.

The other switches saw Matt Worthington come on in the heart of midfield and Wakefield take up position on the right side.

Bradley dropped back to full-back to replace Little with Smith, Hunt, Barnett, Gorman, Knowles and Quigley the other players who remained from the first half.

Within ten minutes of the restart, Knowles made space for himself on the edge of the box and unleashed a rasping strike which deservedly beat O’Brien.

In between the substitution merry go-round with youngster Max Evans replacing Smith and Simper coming on for Gorman, Quigley had three chances to double the advantage.

Twice he was denied by O’Brien – with one looking suspiciously over the line – and another getting cleared off the line.

Youngster Toby Stephens and trialist Richard Afrane-Kesey – see more here – came on after 68 minutes and Stephens linked up nicely with Simper soon after, but the loan players header did not have the power to trouble the in-form O’Brien.

Simper had another chance soon after before a late push by Stratford saw them press for an equaliser, but the Yeovil backline held firm.

All in all, for the opening pre-season friendly, Darren Sarll will be pleased with what he saw from his side with good levels of fitness, sharpness, attacking intent and defensive solidity.

If it had not been for the brilliance of O’Brien, the score could have been more impressive, but for the time being a win and a clean sheet seem like a good way to get started.

Full time: Stratford Town 0 Yeovil Town 1.

 

Yeovil Town: Smith (for Evans

Yeovil Town: Smith (for Evans, 62), Barnett, Wilkinson (for Trialist – Daniel, 45), Hunt (for Trialist – Mbayo, 71), Little (for Wakefield, 45), Staunton (for Worthington, 45), Gorman (for Simper, 63), Bradley, Knowles (for Stephens, 68), Quigley (for Trialist – Afrane-Kesey, 68), Reid (Trialist – Dalling, 45)