With pre-season training underway and a friendly (albeit behind-closed-doors) underway, the clamour for new signings to Yeovil Town’s squad is in full swing.
Other National League clubs have seen major exoduses and influxes, not least down the road at Torquay United and of course former Glovers’ boss Darren Sarll has been busy at Woking.
So far the summer transfer action was initially focused on retaining players from last season’s squad before the arrivals of strikers Malachi Linton and Ollie Hulbert and then full-back Jamie Reckord.
On the books at Huish Park for next season are 14 players including the three incomings, namely:
Goalkeepers: Grant Smith, Max Evans.
Defenders: Max Hunt, Morgan Williams, Jamie Reckord.
Midfielders: Josh Staunton, Lawson D’Ath, Matt Worthington, Toby Stephens, Ollie Haste.
Forwards: Malachi Linton, Ollie Hulbert, Tom Knowles, Charlie Wakefield.
This follows the departures at the end of the season of defenders Mark Little, Jordan Barnett and Alex Bradley, midfielder Dale Gorman and strikers Reuben Reid and Adi Yussuf. On top of this, loanees Jack Robinson and Josh Neufville returned to their parent clubs, Middlesbrough and Luton Town respectively.
In comparison, on July 9 2021 there were 14 players on the books – albeit one of those was Albi Skendi, AWOL in California until his release was confirmed in March 2022.
The players on the books then were:
Goalkeepers: Grant Smith, Max Evans.
Defenders: Luke Wilkinson, Max Hunt, Alex Bradley, Morgan Williams, Mark Little,
Midfielders: Albi Skendi, Josh Staunton, Toby Stephens.
Forwards: Tom Knowles, Reuben Reid, Joe Quigley, Charlie Wakefield.
Picture courtesy of Mike Kunz.
This followed the departures of defender Carl Dickinson, midfielders Jimmy Snmith, Charlie Lee and Emmanuel Sonupe, strikers Rhys Murphy and Chris Dagnall, and youngsters Gabriel Rogers and Alex John.
We also saw loanees goalkeeper Adam Smith, defenders Michael Kelly and Billy Sass-Davies and Neufville return to their parent clubs after their loans.
Once pre-season friendlies got underway with the first friendly taking place at Stratford Town on July 24, there was the usual influx of trialists.
Who can forget Deshane Dalling, Harlain Mbayo, Richard Afrane-Kesey or Zeli Ismail? What do you mean you’ve forgotten them already?!
One assumes that the presence of ‘A Trialist’ on the score sheet twice in the 4-0 win over Sherborne Town at Alvington on Friday night means the guessing games can start again at next Tuesday’s visit to Taunton Town.
One player who has been spotted at Huish Park (in a full training kit) is former Glovers’ youth team product and Torquay United midfielder Matt Buse, who spent the end of last season on loan at W*ymouth.
It is not known whether he is just training to keep fit or whether Hargreaves and his assistant Chris Todd, who presumably know the 24-year-old from their time at Plainmoor, are considering offering him terms.
He played 15 times for Wealdstone, scoring twice, at the start of last season, before moving to our lower division seagull bothering neighbours at the end of March, playing eight times including starting the goalless draw against Yeovil on Easter Monday.
Here’s how the Summer 2021 went:
IN:
14 June: Morgan Williams – joined following release by Coventry City
18 June: Charlie Wakefield – joined following release by Bromley
23 June: Grant Smith – joined following release by Chesterfield
25 June: Mark Little – joined following release by Bristol Rovers
15 July: Lewis Simper – joined on loan from Cambridge City
20 July: Dale Gorman – joined from Glentoran
13 August: Sonny Blu Lo-Everton – joined on loan following a season-long loan from Watford
20 August: Adi Yussuf – joined following release by Blackpool
28 August: Dan Moss – joined on loan from Millwall
28 August: Jack Robinson – joined on loan from Middlesbrough
OUT:
11 June
Rhys Murphy – rejected a new contract and joined Southend United
Jimmy Smith – retired to take up coaching role at Chelsea
Carl Dickinson – retired to take over as manager of Hanley Town
Charlie Lee – departed to join Billericay Town.
Chris Dagnall – out of contract, joined Hanley Town
Emmanuel Sonupe – out of contract, released
Gabriel Rogers – out of contract, released
Alex John – out of contract, released
Adam Smith – returned to Forest Green Rovers after season-long loan
Michael Kelly – returned to Bristol Rovers after loan
Billy Sass-Davies – returned to Crewe Alexandra after loan