Player interviews (Page 8)

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Barnett in action vs King’s Lynn
Pic Courtesy of Mike Kunz

Yeovil Town’s Jordan Barnett was on media duty ahead of the game against Dover and said that the team spirit and bond with the supporters was the key to this recent run of good form.

“It’s been really, really good, it’s been a great experience for me being in the team, going unbeaten in seven game, it’s really good”

“Every single man in the team has done absolutely brilliantly and we can’t fault any single player”

The former Oldham and Notts County full back said that he was probably in the best form of his own career and was enjoying playing either as a left-back or further forward.

When asked what he put that run down to, he kept it simple – by announcing his love for all thing YTFC!

“I’m really loving Yeovil, it’s a club that should be in the Championship, the fans are absolutely unbelievable, they travel everywhere. I remember Stockport, that was a brilliant game they travelled five hours, and on Tuesday night (at Bromley) that was unbelievable, I’m loving every single minute of it.”

“We’ve got a great spirit in the changing room, on and off the pitch, it’s absolutely brilliant, all the lads love each other and work hard for each other.”

“Even the finishers who come on the pitch for the last 15 minutes, every single player, they’re all for the club”

Barnett promised there would be no complacency in the build up to the Dover game despite their lowly position with him promising the side are taking things one game at a time – but admitted there was a goal in mind for the end of the season.

“The Play-Offs is what we should be aiming for, I think we can achieve that if we carry on as we are, I think it’ll definitely (!!) happen if every single player is fit. I think we will end up reaching the play offs, but we need to keep working hard”

The National League Play-Off Final is currently scheduled for Sunday 5th June 2022… in case you wanted to book the day off work.

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Yeovil Town defender Max Hunt spoke to BBC Somerset’s Sheridan Robins following the Glovers’ 2-1 win over Bromley and was full of praise for his team mates.

“It’s a special night, the gaffer and Tel (Skiverton), spoke to us about what we needed to do, gave us the confidence before the game to go out and do it, to see the boys back it up – every one of us – putting a shift in, defending like we did in the second half… to hold out and for Granty (Grant Smith) to make that save was brilliant”

The former Carlisle defender referenced how in previous seasons Bromley may have got an equaliser, but another rear guard action saw the game out for the win, thanks to whole defensive unit.

“It’s brilliant, I love every minute of it, going out there, and whether it’s Robbo (Jack Robinson) or Jordan (Barnett) there, you know everyone is going to put a shift in.

(Luke) Wilko and I have got a great relationship and have done since day one, and (Dan) Mossy has been faultless and to have Granty behind us is… you can’t ask for much more”

Yeovil have won back to back away games at Dagenham and Bromley and Hunt thinks that shouldn’t be underestimated.

“To come away twice in a week to two very tough teams, that are both up there and are always going to be up there, both good sides, to do a job on both of them is massive, and it shows how far we’ve come and the spirit of the boys”

“(We are) Looking forward to getting back to Huish on Saturday (vs Dover), put all this behind us, enjoy it tonight and make sure we start prepping properly this week”

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Glovers’ ‘keeper Grant Smith

Yeovil Town Goalkeeper Grant Smith says confidence is high after the Glovers extended their unbeaten run to six with a 1-0 win over Dagenham and Redbridge.

Speaking to BBC Somerset’s Sheridan Robins he said the most pleasing part of the win was restricting a free scoring Dagenham side.

“I think the big thing we took out of that is that we got a clean sheet against the best attacking goal scorers in the league, to come on to their patch, to keep a clean sheet and to really minimise them to not many chances, is very pleasing”

 

Yeovil won the game through a single goal late in the second half, which has been credited to Dagenham’s Paul McCallum as an own goal, but in a crazy few minutes, the Daggers were also reduced to ten-men with Elliot Johnson sent off for the hosts… Smith said, he didn’t see, but that the right decision was made. (Straight out of the Arsene Wenger guide to big moments, there, Grant)

Dagenham did their best to create pressure in the second half, and Smith had plenty of praise for the defensive unit in front of him.

“That back four, (Max) Hunty – some of them headers he had – (Luke) Wilko and then the two full backs (Jordan) Barnett and (Dan) Mossy they were unbelievable.”

“We want to win games, we want to score goals, but at the end of the day, we also want clean sheets, and personally for me, that’s what I want”

Attention turned to another tricky away game at Bromley on Tuesday, but Smith says the Glovers are ready and full of confidence.

“We’re on – I think that’s six unbeaten now – we are starting to really gel together now, we’re keeping them out the back of the net and scoring now also, so yeah, full confidence going into Tuesday”

 

 

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Luke Wilkinson.
Picture courtesy of Mike Kunz.

Yeovil Town Club Captain, Luke Wilkinson made his return to the team as the Glovers secured a 2-1 win over Eastleigh on Saturday.

Wilkinson was back in the starting line up partnering Max Hunt in the centre of defence allowing Josh Staunton to push back into midfield.

Speaking to BBC Somerset’s Sheridan Robins after the game, he said it was great to be back in the squad.

“It’s great to be back out there, it’s been way too long, it gets frustrating after a while, the boys have been brilliant for a month, really hitting form, it’s nice to be back out there and being able to help”

Focusing on the game, Wilkinson was full of praise for whole squad after taking the lead in the first half, before being pegged back – but Adi Yussuff scored the winner late on.

“Tom (Knowles) got his goal a couple of weeks ago against Woking and they seem to come in a flurry – it was a brilliant strike, it was an even-ish game up until that point”

“We had a bit of a spell, where Eastleigh came back into it, they got on top, they got a goal, but the subs came on and they changed the game. Adi (Yussuff) deserved his goal today, he worked hard, tirelessly for the team, and it was a brilliant strike again”

“You see the boys want to get in that form, you see the blocks the lads are putting in, in the goal mouth scramble, was unbelievable, that was from Morgan Williams who came on as a sub, and the rest of the boys, everyone was throwing their body in front of the ball”

Focus turned to the future, with Wilkinson returning from injury and the squad being boosted by a few additional bodies, the defender said the team would go into the game vs Dagenham full of confidence.

“We will keep ticking off each game as it comes, we’re back to Dagenham next week, we will prepare properly for that and go there and try and win the game.”

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Max Hunt in action against King’s Lynn at Huish Park.
Picture courtesy of Mike Kunz.

Following Yeovil Town’s 2-0 win over Woking on Tuesday night, defender Max Hunt spoke to Sheridan Robins from BBC Somerset.

The centre back said that the sides righted a few wrongs from previous performances which hadn’t seen the points secured despite decent showings.

“Coming away from Grimsby on Saturday, the fans there, and all of us would have seen that we did a lot of things right, but there’s just a few things missing in both boxes. We went into it tonight knowing it was important to start fast, and getting an early goal was massive”

“Going on and getting that second, which we haven’t done much much this season, takes the pressure off and allows us to focus on keeping that clean sheet which was even more important.”

Much like the first half, the second started with a goal, something which helped calm the nerves of players and fans alike.

“We knew it was important to come out the 2nd half and start it well like we did the first, and it’s a good team goal; Charlie (Wakefield) is looking like a threat down that side and brilliant for Knowlesy, he’s deserved it, he’s worked hard and had a difficult start and now he’s got his first he’ll be up and running”

The former Carlisle man also spoke of his central defensive partnership with Josh Staunton who not only pairs with him on the pitch, but at home as well.

“I live with him, I can’t get away from him, play together, now live together… we’ve got a great relationship on and off the pitch and I think it’s been showing, we’ve been putting some good work in and to get the rewards tonight is enjoyable”

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When we speak to Albi Skendi, on a late summer’s evening in August, Yeovil Town are a day or two away from kicking off their National League campaign against Kings Lynn Town.

Sat in his car, in sunny Los Angeles with palm trees in the background, Albi tells the Gloverscast why he’s not about to line up at Huish Park, and why that’s been the plan for a while.

“I lived in America prior to coming out to England to play and by then I got my citizenship and that goes on for four or five years until you are granted permanent citizenship.

“Having done my two years at Yeovil, I had to make a decision whether to be out in America and finalise my Green Card which was coming up to its expiry date and I had to be there to file the process for renewing my citizenship.”

“I had to make a decision to stay out here or go back to England to play, that is the be all and end all.

“Everyone at the club knew my decision. Everyone knew I wanted to go back to America at a certain point and I only wanted to be in England for a certain amount of time to play.

“I thought my contract was a two-year contract, so at the end of two years my plan was to go back to America and then I found out there was an option,” Albi explains.

When he was not spotted at pre-season training at Huish Park, speculation began that he would not return which manager Darren Sarll and chairman Scott Priestnall confirmed.

Priestnall 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.”

Skendi explained that he believed the option was mutual and that it needed to be agreed by both him and the club.

He said: “They said ‘we understand, we know you have been doing this process for years now’.

“Then as the weeks went by I was not hearing anything and then as the season came to an end my contract got extended with no discussion.

“In my view it was an option, it had to be agreed mutually by us both. That is what I thought was going to happen, but it didn’t. 

“I was even up for paying out my own contract so I could leave because I just wanted to be out here (in America).

The perception could be that Skendi is on the lookout for a move, but the humble utility-man has clearly got his roots in America that he wants to commit to.

“In life you have to make decisions and this is my decision, I have family and ties out here and I cannot just leave. 

“I had to pick one or the other and I feel like America is the one, I have invested so much after being out here for years and years, so I can’t just let it go to waste.”

Earlier in the Summer, Skendi was spotted having a kick-about with global megastar, Justin Bieber. He explained to us that he and Bieber go back a little bit.

“He is alright. I have known him for a while, I became friends with his friends and we just started playing football and he loves football.

“It is just a little five or six-a-side, just messing about, nothing serious.

“It is always crazy when he is out there, there are so many people out there, I do not even know how they know he is there to be honest. There is like 20 (paparazzi) out there hiding in bushes.”

Albi clearly has a soft spot for Yeovil Town. After spending two seasons at the Glovers and playing 75 times there is a clear fondness for the supporters.

“I loved everyone there, everything at the club, they showed me so much love, it was overwhelming.

“Sometimes the game they would be shouting my name and chanting my name, that was emotional, I loved it,” he said.

Speaking about a certain chant, he added: “so many people know that song, I don’t know who made that song up but it is crazy.”

Albi Skendi celebrates with Charlie Lee.
Picture courtesy of Mike Kunz.

As for the future Stateside, it’s a blank slate.

“I am going back to the drawing board to see what I can figure out, I would love to carry on playing football, but if it’s not meant to be I will just go to a 9-5 like everyone else.”

The Gloverscast approached the club for an update on the situation and we were informed that the comments from the chairman and manager were the only update.

However, manager Darren Sarll did comment on his AWOL midfielder in his press conference ahead of the trip to Boreham Wood.

He said: “Like I have always said, I have nothing against Albi, it’s his life and he’s got to live it like he sees it, but he’s not here.

“If he wants to stay in America, he stays in America, Yeovil is not a slave trade.

“He still has a contract with us, there are certain elements of contracts that mean you have to be here, like in any employment contract.

“I have nothing against Albi, it’s his life and life’s too short for Albi to not make the decision he’s making but also for me not to worry about someone who is not here.

“He will always have a friend in me, I have no gripe with him but if he wants to stay out there, he can stay out there.

“But I am only concentrating on things that affect us and there are so many of these players who need our time and attention that are here, I think they deserve that attention than those whose aren’t here.”

 

 

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Barnett in action vs King’s Lynn
Pic Courtesy of Mike Kunz

Yeovil Town left back Jordan Barnett was disappointed to come away from Boreham Wood with nothing after the Glovers lost 2-1.

Speaking to BBC Somerset, Barnett was adament the Glovers were on top both with 11 and 10 men with Adi Yussuf being shown a brace of yellow cards shortly before half time.

“We were definately on top, especially in the first half, when we had the man sent off we have to be a little more defensive, but we were also on top with ten men”

“In the second half, we came out and battled very hard and we were dominant throughout the game”

When asked about the sending off, Barnett was almost refreshingly honest about it saying;
“Obviously it’s a bit stupid, it’s a bit reckless, but it’s one of them where the ref is always going to give it”

“It’s just a stupid one really”

There were chances for the Glovers throughout the game both with 11 and 10 on the pitch and Barnett was quick to praise opposition goalkeeper Nathan Ashmore.

“Quigz (Joe Quigley) has had a few (chances), Knowlesy had a few, the keeper has pulled off some worldy saves off… but we were obvioulsy on top for large parts.”

The result leaves Yeovil Town 11th in the National League table on nine points.

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

Yeovil Town manager Darren Sarll spoke to BBC Somerset following the Glovers’ 2-1 defeat to Boreham Wood on Saturday.

He talked of his pride as the visitors spent most of the game with ten men after a 38th minute red card to Adi Yussuf.

“I thought more so than that (just) at times, we were the better team, I’m a bit disappointed we haven’t won, but I am immensely proud of the group of players.”

“They took themselves through that process (after the red card) they took themselves through the challenges and I thought they played wonderfully in the second half”

With regards to the sending off – the Glovers’ second of the season already – when asked if he thought it was a red card decision, Sarll simply replied “Yes”

He would go on to reiterate his pleasure at the response, rather than focus on the incidents that led to either of Yussuf’s yellow cards.

“I thought second half especially, the football we played, how competitive we were – I know it’s a defeat, but we are going to be all right, we are”

There was praise for former Boreham Wood ‘keeper Grant Smith, who despite an error in the build up to one of the hosts’ goals has been a regular member of the squad and often backed  by supporters, as well as for Josh Staunton who filled in at centre-half with a performance described by Sarll as “enormous”

Speaking on Yeovil’s newest recruit, Mitch Rose, Sarll indicated he was impressed with the midfielder’s debut performance and would expect more from the former Notts County man over time.

“I’ve known Mitchell a long, long time, he’s a powerful athlete and charachter and I thought you saw his qualities straight away when he came on.

“He’s not trained with us yet… he’s going to be a massive player for us, especially without Luke (Wilkinson). He gives us another senior man, another established man and he has real qualities.”

Yeovil Town have a 10-day wait for another competitive game when facing Maidenhead on October 5th, athough there was an indication of a midweek friendly against an unnamed EFL side this midweek.

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Yeovil Town manager Darren Sarll.
Picture courtesy of Mike Kunz.

Yeovil Town manager Darren Sarll has been speaking to the media ahead of the Glovers’ game against Chesterfield on Saturday and has said how proud he is of his side’s early season form, but that he – and his team are taking the season one game at a time.

“Any momentum is driven through training time, opportunity to learn, practice, repeat and drill and all of those things, that’s where our momentum has been built from”

“We’ve spoken about the construction of the squad; there’s a lot of misfits in there, people who have had two clubs in a season, so all the time we get to train and rehearse is to our benefit”

After three wins in a row, Sarll was adamant the squad aren’t getting ahead of themselves saying even in the impressive 3-0 win over Stockport, there was probably more to find.

“There were things Saturday, it was a good performance, an accomplished, professional performance, but there were still elements that absolutely have to be improved and developed”

“We have a saying in the dressing room ‘runs of one’ we only concentrate on the next game, we’re not interested in winning ten in a row, we are not interested in talking about runs, we’re not taking about going unbeaten on not conceding runs”

“One game, brutally, at a time”

Sarll spoken about how his team of ‘misfits’ were also lacking a long, hard season of experience, he named a number of his squad who hadn’t managed 40 games in a single season before who may have to, but reiterated that it was a simple case of one game at a time.

Looking ahead to the Chesterfield game, the gaffer was complimentary of the opposition, but confident his side would be ready for the challenge.

“I think what (Chesterfield boss) James (Rowe) have done is carried on those winning habits that they need to win games, I think all of our games are tough in a different way this season to last,

“This will be a tough game, they’ve recruited very powerfully and there comes an expectation with that type of recruitment”

“We will have to be very, very if we are to get anything from the game”

Middlesbrough loanee Jack Robinson is available to make his debut after a small injury whilst Matt Worthington’s suspension is also up making him available, but Sarll says he may have some tough decisions to bring them back into a winning squad.

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Joe Quigley hammers home the opener.
Picture courtesy of Mike Kunz.

Yeovil Town striker Joe Quigley has been speaking to be the press ahead of the Glovers’ game against Chesterfield.

Quigley has been in red hot form having scored five goals in the opening four games and has said that he’s been pleased with how he and side have bounced back after an opening day defeat to King’s Lynn.

“It’s been a good start, first four games and three good results, the first one was disappointing but we bounced back well…

“I think I’ve done well, obviously I’m five in four which you can’t complain about”

Quigley praised his teammates for helping in this rich vein of form, citiing a team high on confidence, players in form around him and an increased work ethic from the group throughout pre-season, but he also took time to recognise the work Manager Darren Sarll has done with the front man.

“The gaffer has a different wat of working with me to most others which has been very beneficial to me and to the team; if we can keep doing that we won’t go far wrong”

“We’ve got a good relationship, if you can match his work ethic then you’re not going to go too far wrong.”

Looking at the run of recent results, the forward said how the 3-0 win over Stockport was just another step along the road to proving this Yeovil team are a match for any side in the league.

“It was only a matter of time before it clicked going forward, we have been so good defensivley… it proves we can go toe to toe with anyone, as a group we don’t care what anyone spends, we know we can match them”

With five goals already on the chart for Quigley, he admitted he does have a target in mind… but that he’ll be keeping it to himself.

“There’s a figure in mind which I set at the start of the season, there’s bits on the way you can tick off, it’s been a good (goalscoring) start

“I’ll keep that (the target) to myself, but it’s on target… I’m happy with it”