On a sunny, celebratory afternoon in April, Matt Worthington hoisted the National League South trophy above his head. After five years at Huish Park and two relegations, the energetic midfielder (an understatement if there ever was one) had finally clinched silverware for Yeovil Town Football Club.
If there is a player who’s seen everything at Yeovil Town, Worthington is that player. Signed on loan by Darren Way in 2017 before making it permanent in January 2019, Worthington is one of two players who were at the club when Yeovil fell back into non-league after 16 years in the EFL. He’s seen three owners, seven managers – including the interims – and became the skipper after Josh Staunton’s departure this season.
Worthington has always been a leader without the armband, fronting up to the media, setting standards on the pitch and with the arrival of Mark Cooper, has become the relentless endeavour in a title-winning midfield. There was no one more worthy than Worthy to lift the clubs first (men’s first team) league title since 2005.
“I am just so happy that I stayed.”
It wasn’t for certain that Yeovil’s number eight would remain after the turmoil of the 2022/23 season. Yeovil travelled to Boreham Wood for the final match of that season with players unpaid and the future of the club in serious doubt. Martin Hellier stepped in and completed the purchase and set about giving Mark Cooper the resources to build a squad that could return to the National League at the first attempt.
Speaking after the unforgettable night in Gloucester when the Glovers clinched the title, Worthington told BBC Somerset’s Sheridan Robins: “Last summer was very difficult and I had a decision to make whether to stay or whether it was my time to stay on and I am just so happy that I stayed.”
When Worthington re-signed in the summer, Cooper said: “I’m delighted we have persuaded to get Matt to stay with us, especially as there were numerous clubs after him. I think like the existing core group of players, he feels a duty to try to get us back up.
“He is someone who is local, he understands the club, he understands the town and it is important we show fans that we have that on our minds.”
The duty has been fulfilled and now for the first time in his career at Yeovil, Worthington is at a club with positive momentum and a mountain of goodwill behind it.
“I have been here four or five years now and the fans have always been with us through good and bad. This season they have been unbelievable home and away. So it is just so nice to give them back something to enjoy,” Worthington said in his interview with Sheridan.
The Yeovil faithful, who travelled in their droves to Gloucester and revelled back in Somerset two days later, certainly enjoyed the first pressure free weekend in a season where every week the Glovers were expected to win. Mark Cooper masterminded 29 victories this season, surpassing the 28 achieved in 2002/03. Worthington played in 43, scoring 4, assisting 5 with a points per match of 2.10. He’s had a good season, in which he made his 200th appearance for the Glovers. His sumptuous Braintree lob as it poured it down in pink, the sidefooted opener against Slough and the stoppage time cushioner at Tonbridge stick out in the memory as key goals in important matches this season.
With the release and retained list now confirmed and with Matt Worthington at the core of this successful Glovers team, once again it feels like there’s more to come from him. Perhaps next year, with the club on an upward trajectory and a trophy in the bank he’ll step up again and captain the club to another successful season.
Some great pictures there