Team news for King’s Lynn Town
2021-05-15
There are returns to the Yeovil Town side for defenders Luke Wilkinson and Carl Dickinson for the visit of King’s Lynn to Huish Park on a damp Saturday afternoon.
Lawson D’Ath, who appeared as a substitute in the midweek feature at Aldershot Town, also starts with only four players on the bench.
Our opponents have just three substitutes, one of whom is 50-year-old assistant manager, Paul Bastock, who some Glovers’ fans may recall playing in goal for Boston United against us many moons ago.
Yeovil Town: Adam Smith, Michael Kelly, Luke Wilkinson, Billy Sass-Davies, Carl Dickinson, Charlie Lee, Tom Knowles, Lawson D’Ath, Josh Neufville, Reuben Reid, Chris Dagnall.
Substitues: Max Evans (GK), Emmanual Sonupe, Toby Stephens, Joe Quigley.
King’s Lynn:Richardson, Howard, Callan-McFadden, Fleming, Denton, Clunan, Gyasi, Kiwomya, Carey, Jackson, Gash.
Substitutes: Payne, Babos, Bastock.
Gabby Rogers turns out for Willand Rovers
2021-05-15
The whereabouts of exiled winger Gabby Rogers appears to have been cleared up.
A player by the same name turned out for Willand Rovers, a Southern League Division One South club based in Cullompton, near Exeter, in a friendly match at Clevedon Town on Friday night.
The team-sheet posted by Clevedon Town shows Gabby appearing as a number 10 for the visiting side.
Clevedon won 3-0 in the friendly fixture.
The Torquay-born winger has not featured since coming off the bench in the 3-2 FA Cup defeat at Stockport County in late Stockport.
Speaking in his pre-match press conference ahead of Yeovil Town’s National League fixture with King’s Lynn, Glovers’ boss Darren Sarll was asked about the whereabouts of Rogers.
He said: “Nothing has changed from the first time around. I will only play players who want to play for the football club, it does not matter who it is. We want to produce a group of people that are highly committed to the club. Gabby was (committed to the club) but things change.”
If this does mean Gabby’s time as a Yeovil Town player has come to an end, all of us on the Gloverscast wish him the best for his future career.
On This Day – May 15th
2021-05-15
May 15th 2001.
In the summer of 2001, Yeovil were searching for a new manager following the resignation of Colin Addison, and if reports were to be believed, Chairman John Fry had a couple of very well known faces lined up for a spot in the Huish Park dug out.
Local media had been reporting that both Tony Pulis and Harry Redknapp were being lined up for the job.
However, it was on this day in 2001 that Fry put those rumours to bed.
Telling the club’s official website;
“That’s just paper talk. I had a reporter talking to me about Neil Coates’ testimonial against West Ham, and we got talking about Harry Redknapp. Next thing I know, I’m apparently after him for the job! All I can say is that I have not talked to Harry Redknapp or Tony Pulis about the position.”
Rumours were firmly quashed by the Western Daily Press as well, with them saying “it is absolute rubbish”.
Of course, neither Pulis or Redknapp ever did end up joining Yeovil, althought did stop by for a coffee on a couple of occasions after being invited by Darren Way in 2017
The Glovers ended up signing a chap by the name of “Gary Johnson” in June of 2001, and we here at the Gloverscast are told… he ended up doing alright.
Matchday preview: King’s Lynn Town (home)
2021-05-14
Whilst Yeovil Town are looking to end a disappointing season on a high, the visitors to Huish Park this weekend, King’s Lynn Town, are looking back on a good first season in the National League.
The Linnets, whose late equaliser earned a 2-2 draw in the reverse fixture on the opening day of the season, will survive in the absence of relegation, but are unlikely to achieve boss Ian Culverhouse‘s aim of not finishing in the bottom three.
Even if you don’t count Dover Athletic, technically rock bottom on zero everything, they are sandwiched between Woking and Barnet and come in to the fixture without a win since the Easter Monday victory over Altrincham.
You have to go back to mid-January and a 1-0 win at Eastleigh to find the last time they won on the road, but they can’t go down which equals success for the Linnets.
Like many clubs, they have players on furlough and therefore unable to play – because, well, they are on furlough – and Culverhouse has had to bring in players from Step 2 and Step 3 clubs looking to make a name for themselves at this level, and a number of loan signings.
FROM (OUR) MANAGER
Normally, I would try to find you the views of the opposition manager in this pre-match previews, but I cannot find a word from Ian Culverhouse about his side’s trip to South Somerset.
So, here is what Glovers’ manager Darren Sarll had to say about them: “It’s a group of players playing with ridiculous freedom because their sole goal this season was to maintain their status in the league.
“They have done that with no relegation, which translates in to some very good football at times.
“A good game for us is winning and playing good football and my focus is on us rather than King’s Lynn.”
There is more from the manager on the club’s official matchday preview which you can read – here.
TEAM NEWS
According to the Eastern Daily Press, the Linnets’ only fitness concern is over midfielder Ryan Jarvis, who came off at half-time in the 4-1 defeat at Chesterfield in midweek.
That was the former Torquay United man’s first game in two months due to a knee injury.
Central defender Elkan Baggott, who is on loan from Ipswich Town, could return at Huish Park having missed the midweek defeat playing in an FA Youth Cup semi-final for his parent club.
It has been a busy season season for the 18-year-old, who made his senior debut for the Tractor Boys in the League Cup earlier this season, signed a professional contract, got called up by the Indonesian national team and joined King’s Lynn on loan.
The visitors will be without Adam Marriott, the prolific striker who nicked an 87th-minute equaliser against Yeovil on the opening day.
He joined Eastleigh in April with his contract at King’s Lynn up in the summer.
A FOOT IN BOTH CAMPS
Tai Fleming – an 18-year-old defender who on his personal website describes himself as “a no nonsense defender who takes pride in defending” has made 15 appearances for King’s Lynn this season.
But, up until May 2020, he was on a scholarship with Yeovil Town and captained the youth team with four first-team appearances in pre-season friendly matches.
The youngster appears to have been a regular starter since arriving at The Walks, so expect him to line up against his old club this weekend.
Kwesi Appiah – spent a month on loan with Yeovil from Crystal Palace during the 2012-2013 – which turned out alright for us, as I recall.
He made five appearances for Gary Johnson’s men, coming off the bench for four of them which the Glovers won, and starting one – a 2-0 defeat at Colchester United on a cold February night.
Earlier in his career, whilst with Peterborough United, Appiah had a prolific spell with King’s Lynn FC scoring nine in 10 games for the Northern League Premier side before his loan spell was cut short when the club went bust. I’m not saying he’s unlucky, but….
King’s Lynn FC were eventually wound up in November 2009 with debts of £77,000 and reformed as today’s King’s Lynn Town in January 2010.
For the lowdown on King’s Lynn, listen to the chat with Jamie Heaphey, a volunteer at King’s Lynn Town, talk about loan players playing for expenses for the club on the latest edition of the Gloverscast.
First Team Future For Billy Sass-Davies
2021-05-14
Glovers defender, Billy Sass-Davies has been the subject of much praise from him parent club’s manager David Artell.
The Crewe boss spoke on Friday about the Welshman’s progression since joining on loan in February.
“He has gone down there on loan and held his place and it will be another great learning curve for him. It is one of the reasons why I have allowed Olly to leave us. Billy has got to be given his opportunity and I think he is ready.”
Artell added: “I will talk to him, to reassure him that him going out on to Yeovil is all part of his development. He has been placed on loan for that very reason, much in the same way Owen Dale was. “
At the time of writing, Sass-Davies has played 18 games for Darren Sarll’s side, scoring the one goal – against Barnet, he has also made his Wales Under 21s debut whilst on loan with the club and looks set to be in Crewe’s plans for their first team campaign next season.
More evidence that sending young talent on loan to Huish Park is of benefit to everyone, more of the same next season, please!
National League Play-Off Schedule
2021-05-14
Not that we’re going to have more than neutral spectator interest, but the play-off schedule for the National League has been released this afternoon (Friday 14/05).
As was to be expected, Wembley has other fish to fry so the almost equivalent glamour of Ashton Gate awaits the finalists.
Saturday 5th June, 4.00 p.m.
Elimination Round – Match A – 5th place v 6th place
Sunday 6th June, 4.00 p.m.
Elimination Round – Match B – 4th place v 7th place
Saturday 12th June, 12 noon
Semi Final – 2nd place v winner of Match A
Sunday 13th June, 12 noon
Semi Final- 3rd place v winner of Match B
Sunday 20th June, 2.00 p.m.
Final – Ashton Gate
All fixtures will be broadcast live by BT Sport.
Sowunmi Released By Colchester
2021-05-14
Former Yeovil Town Captain Omar Sowunmi will be leaving Colchester United at the end of his current contract.
Picture courtesy of Mike Kunz.
The U’s detailed their plans for the upcoming season with their released/retained list on Friday, which includes confirmation the central defender will be leaving.
Sowunmi joined the Glovers at the start of the 2015/16 season from Ipswich Town by then Manager, Paul Sturrock.
Despite not playing any league games for the Tractor Boys, he had played regularly with loan spells in the National League Divisions with Braintree and Lowestoft.
He would spend four seasons and Huish Park before joining Colchester for an undisclosed fee in July 2019.
Sowunmi would play 87 times in the Green and White and was named Team Captain in 2018.
We wish Omar all the best in his search for a new club, also, here’s a slightly frightening Gif of him, very happy about something ?
Walsh and Gilmartin Released By Bristol City
2021-05-14
Two former Yeovil Town loanee are on the hunt for a new club this summer after being released by Bristol City.
Picture courtesy of Mike Kunz.
Goalkeeper Rene Gilmartin played a handful games on loan from Watford in the 2011/12 season before having spells at Plymouth, Crawley Town and Colchester before landing up the road on the red side of Bristol.
But more surprisingly on the released list is Liam Walsh.
A firm fan favourite from his 15-game loan spell from Everton in 2016, he lit up Huish Park with some glittering performances.
Walsh spent time with Birmingham City, before joining Bristol City – signed by former Glovers’ midfielder, Lee Johnson.
Injuries and a loan spell at meant that his time as Ashton Gate has been stop=start, but with undoubted quality, it wont be long before Walsh has an option or two for the forthcoming season, maybe Skivo still has his number?
Fela released by Scunthorpe
2021-05-14
Former Yeovil Town loan striker Olufela Olomola has been released by Scunthorpe United following the expiry of his contract.
The 23-year-old, who had two spells on loan at Huish Park under former boss Darren Way, is among 17 players being shipped out of the League Two club in what looks like a major clear out.
Fela first joined us in the 2017-18 campaign from Southampton and made 28 appearances scoring seven times. He returned in 2018-19, this time from Scunthorpe, scoring just three times in 27 appearances.
He made just seven starts for the Iron this season.