Gloverscast #84 – “Huuuuuuuugo!”
2021-06-28
On this episode of the Gloverscast, Perky and Dave speak with YTFC cult hero, Hugo Rodrigues, about his short time at Yeovil.
Hugo reveals Johnson came to Portugal to ask him to stay
2021-06-27
Hugo Rodrigues has revealed former Yeovil Town manager Gary Johnson came to his home in Portugal to try and get him to re-sign.
The giant defender had seen out his contract at the end of the 2003-04 season, the club’s first in the Football League, and returned to his home country.
Johnson met with Rodrigues and his family ahead of going to watch Latvia draw 0-0 with Germany in Porto during Euro 2004.
Speaking to the Gloverscast in an interview which will be broadcast on Monday, he said: “I remember sitting down outside my parents’ place and saying ‘Gaffer, thankyou for everything, but I can’t go back.’
“It is not about money, I just can’t (leave my family), and he said to me ‘I understand, I have seen you and your family and I understand your decision.'”
Hugo, now 41, spent just one season in England playing 34 times for Yeovil before returning to Portugal where he retired from football.
Don’t miss tomorrow’s Gloverscast to hear our interview in full with Hugo.
Darren Sarll hails ‘brilliant’ Little signing
2021-06-26
Darren Sarll has spoken to YTFC.net about the latest Glovers signing, Mark Little, emphasising what a coup Little’s signing is for Yeovil Town.
The Yeovil manager said: “This is brilliant, brilliant signing for us. This is a lad who’s not even played in League Two. This is a League One, Championship fullback. Everyone I’ve spoken to has told me (he’s a) brilliant character, good talker. Were almost trying to reinvent a different style of footballer to Carl Dickinson. That age, that experience, that level that they’ve played at, they have a standard to their work. They understand the things you have to do to in order to get promoted and Mark covers all those boxes.”
The 32-year-old’s signing from Bristol Rovers was announced yesterday, and adds ‘character’ and importantly to the manager, another ‘talker’. Sarll said: “It’s a lot of character that comes in. Same with Grant Smith – brilliant talker. Same with Morgan Williams – brilliant talker. There’s a theme, I know. It’s such an important part and we were very quiet last year because of our age and inexperience. Mark’s a coup for the football club.”
Sarll also explained his shock when Little gave him a call, and had a conversation with former Glover Charlie Lee about his ex-teammate.
“I was shocked when I was phoned. I then when I spoke with Charlie Lee (who was previously a teammate of Little), Charlie was shocked he’d phoned. Mark’s driving it. Mark’s driving the decision. Marks drove the process. (They’re) brilliant people to deal with. I must say, agents get a lot of stick, Mark’s agent was magnificent. Good guy, very sensible, very reasonable,” Sarll said.
Ex-Yeovil fullbacks Luke Ayling and Ryan Dickson also praised the signing on Twitter.
YES YES YES ???? https://t.co/k4S7O9RhgQ
— Luke Ayling (@lukeayling_8) June 25, 2021
Good signing.
— Ryan Dickson (@Ryandickson23) June 25, 2021
A Little addition for the Glovers
2021-06-25
Yeovil Town have announced that former Bristol Rovers defender Mark Little is the latest signing to join the Glovers this summer.
The experienced campaigner has signed a deal at Huish Park for the upcoming season.
Little, 32 has spent time with both Bristol clubs as well as clocking up well over 100 appearances at Championship level with both Bolton Wanderers and Wolves where he started his career.
Predominantly a right-back, Little has well over 350 career games on his CV and has won the League One Play-Offs with Peterborough as well as being a two-time winner of the Football League Trophy with the Posh and then with Bristol City – in back to back seasons, no less – lifting silverware at Wembley in both 2013 and 2014.
Mark joins a now very competitive defensive line with Morgan Williams joining a back line with Alex Bradley, Max Hunt, Luke Wilkinson already secured, with Grant Smith signed up as the number 1 ‘keeper for the season the squad is starting to take shape.
Speaking to YTFC.net, Little said; “I feel the club is in a bit of a false position.”
Making no secret of his desire to help Yeovil back up the divisions he added: “From playing against the club previously it’s always been in the Championship or League one, to find the club out of the Football League, it’s not right so I’m here to correct that.”
Welcome to Huish Park, Mark.
New keeper Smith hoping to ‘drive the team on’
2021-06-23
New Yeovil Town goalkeeper Grant Smith has said he is hoping to come “drive the team on” to success in the National League next season,
The stopper was confirmed on a one-year contract following his release by rivals Chesterfield at the end of last season.
Speaking to the club’s YouTube channel, the 27-year-old said: “For me personally, I want to get as many games as I can and hopefully stay fit for the whole season, and hopefully drive the team on.”
The keeper kept 10 clean sheets in 18 appearances for Chesterfield last season and is hoping to bring that confidence with him to Huish Park.
He added: “I am coming in with a positive mindset, I am really happy to be here and I just can’t wait to get going.
“I am a bit of everything. I like to be dominant from crosses, I like to think one of my strong points is my distribution as well as being able to save the ball.”
Smithis the third signing of the summer for boss Darren Sarll having brought in defender Morgan Williams and midfielder Charlie Wakefield.
Glovers Get Gloveman Smith – but not that one
2021-06-23
Yeovil Town have announce the signing of former Chesterfield goalkeeper Grant Smith on a one-year contract.
The former Brighton stopper has spent time at a number of non-league clubs including Hayes and Yeading, Bognor Regis and Boreham Wood before spending the back end of the most recent season with the Spireites.
He played – and kept a clean sheet in Chesterfield’s 3-0 win over Yeovil in March, goals from Akwasi Asante, Tom Whelan and Jack McCourt sealed the three points.
We will bring you reaction on his signing here on the Gloverscast when we hear from our new ‘keeper.
Welcome to Huish Park, Grant!
Ben Smith talks about his regret at not sticking around for Johnson
2021-06-22
Ben Smith has spoken about his regret at leaving Yeovil Town just weeks before Gary Johnson arrived at Huish Park and started a dynasty at the club.
The former Glovers’ midfielder arrived at the club as a teenager in 1998 and was part of the Glovers’ squad which was pipped by Rushden & Diamonds for the Conference title in 2000, before leaving to join Southend United in summer 2001.
He spoke to the Gloverscast about his departure following his former Yeovil manager David Webb to Essex.
Smith said: “I look at that young, vibrant team that Gary put together and I am pretty sure I would have fitted quite well in to that and it would have helped me grow up because of the professionalism he put in place and the way the team grew together.
“I don’t see any reason why I could not have been part of that with Darren (Way) and Lee Johnson in midfield, I look at Paul Terry who went there later and did well, and I could have done that role quite easily.
“But, who knows? Gary Johnson could have said ‘No, you’re not for me’, but if you could have guaranteed me I would stay there. If I had a one-year contract offer I would have done it 100%, but when you get the opportunity to go to a club in the league above after having a pretty poor to the end of the season, you can’t really turn it down.”
You can hear the full interview with Ben on the latest edition of the Gloverscast including his time playing under David Webb at Huish Park – listen here.
Harrogate’s Williams linked to Glovers
2021-06-21
Yeovil Town are being linked to former Harrogate Town defender Jay Williams.
The72.co.uk is reporting that the Glovers are leading the way in the hunt for the former Northampton Town defender’s signature since his name appeared on Harrogate’s released list at the end of the League Two season.
The website’s reporter Luke Phelps simply cites “sources” with regards to the where his information has come from, so at the time of writing this is nothing more than speculation and rumour… but who doesn’t love a bit of that during the off season?
Williams begun his career for the Cobblers (no, it’s true, he did) and has spent time with both Kettering Town and for the back end of the 2020/21 season Harrogate Town.
Predominantly a central defender, Williams has been used in as a midfielder in the past.
We will bring you news on where Williams ends up – whether it’s Huish Park or somewhere else!
Hartlepool win promotion against Johnson’s Torquay
2021-06-20
The average travel time of a Yeovil Town supporter reduced dramatically as Hartlepool United saw off Gary Johnson’s Torquay United on penalties in a dramatic play-off final at Ashton Gate.
The Poolies won it 5-4 on penalties with Yeovil-born midfielder Matt Buse missing the all-important spot kick for the Devon side.
The game went to extra time after Torquay goalkeeper Luca Covolan scored a dramatic equaliser in the 95th minute
Hartlepool had looked like they were destined to win it in ordinary time after Luke Armstrong, who is on loan from Salford City, scored his 15th goal for the club gave them a 35th minute lead.
The North East side were on top for the majority of normal time but as the clock began to tick down, Johnson’s men began to lay siege on the Pools’ goal.
It looked as if they had weathered the storm until in the fifth minute of injury time when a high ball in to the box was met by a glancing header from the Brazilian Covolan, who had gone forward for an earlier set piece.
In the shoot-out, neither side scored the first two spot kicks with Covolan saving both Hartlepool’s opening two efforts.
Ed Upson joins Newport County
2021-06-20
Former Yeovil Town midfielder Ed Upson has signed a one-year contract at League Two side Newport County.
The 31-year-old, who was part of the Glovers’ side which won promotion to the Championship in 2013, was released by Bristol Rovers following their relegation to League Two last season.
He links up with another former Yeovil Town midfielder Matt Dolan at the South Wales club who has lost Josh Sheehan, who had a spell on loan at Huish Park, and Josh Labadie from the side which reached the League Two play-off final in May.
Follow the progress of former Yeovil players with the Gloverscast Where are They Now? tracker – here.