Crowdfunder

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Yeovil Town manager Darren Sarll has admitted he needs a break after “easily the worst” year of his life.

Speaking  ahead of his side’s final game against $tockport County this weekend, the boss said he believed criticism of his side was “harsh” given the impact of the tragic death of Lee Collins, injuries and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

He said: “I need a rest, I am worn within an inch of my life and after this weekend I am going to have a little break.
“It has been easily the worst year of my life. I know people are critical of me and the team’s performances, but they have to understand it has been one thing after another for us. I think the criticism has been harsh because we have seen how even teams like Liverpool have struggled without their central defenders. We had three 10-day periods of isolation because of COVID, a real turnover of players because of injury, it has been incredible.”

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

The club has invited the family of Lee Collins to join them for the final game and Sarll said that the skipper’s daughters would be mascots for the day with Lee’s partner, Rachel Gibbons, joining them on the pitch.

He manager said: “Rachel and I have spoken regularly this week and they are special, special people and we want to show them how much Lee meant to us and how much they mean to us.”

In his pre-match press conference, he also spoke about a Crowdfunder the club has launched to raise funds for Lee’s family and Young Minds, a mental health charity which works with young people.

The club is aiming to raise £10,000 through the initiative and you donate to the fund – by clicking here.

Sarll spoke openly that he had been speaking with a psychologist from the League Managers’ Association (LMA) since the passing of his captain in March.

He said: “Mental health is like any illness, we never expect it to happen to us. That experience teaches you to respect the work that goes on and the treatments that can be applied. I have seen a psychologist since Lee passed and I have never seen one before or spoken to one before, Dr Alan Johnston from the LMA has been wonderful for me. You think you are never going to need it, but when it does happen you realise the quality of people out there that can help.”

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1621847889_2276858.jpgYeovil Town F.C. has today launched a Crowdfunder UK campaign to support the family of club captain, Lee Collins, following his tragic passing in April.

Collaborating with Collins’ former clubs, Yeovil Town F.C. are bringing the football family together across the UK to raise funds for Collins’ partner and young children and mental health charities, with 10% of the donations given to Young Minds.

Described as the ‘glue’ of the club at Yeovil, Collins also wore the captain’s armband at Northampton Town, Mansfield Town and Forest Green Rovers and played for teams across the English Football League (EFL) and National League including Wolverhampton Wanderers, Port Vale, Barnsley, and Shrewsbury Town.

Admired by all he played with at Yeovil and beyond, Collins set standards both on and off the pitch and will be remembered for his competitive attitude as well as his kind and caring nature.

Commenting on the campaign, Yeovil Town F.C.’s manager, Darren Sarll, said:

“Uniting the football family under one banner to create something special for the family of one of our own whilst supporting mental health charities in the UK is a huge objective of ours.

“Alongside Lee’s previous clubs and teammates, we have launched a fund to support the future aspirations of Lee’s daughters, Amelia, Laila and Charley-Mae and also raise money for the important work led by mental health charities across the nation.

“Yeovil is a family-centred club and Lee’s wonderful family, who have shown great strength during this extremely difficult time, will always have a home Huish Park. We’ll celebrating Lee’s life with all the Yeovil supporters during our match against Stockport County on 29 May and appreciate the unbelievable support we have seen over the past few weeks.”