Matt Worthington

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Yeovil Town club captain Matt Worthington has joined National League Premier rivals Oldham Athletic.

The departure comes days after the midfielder made his 250th appearance in green-and-white in last Friday’s goalless draw at home to Gateshead.

The 27-year-old has moved on a free transfer and signed for the Latics, who presently sit fifth in the National League, until the end of next season.

In a statement from Yeovil chairman Martin Hellier, he said that it was “with a heavy heart” that the club had allowed the skipper to depart seven years after he joined the club permanently in September 2019.

The owner said: “Whilst I, as well as the club’s supporters, are saddened to see Matt go, I am also fully supportive and excited for him receiving what is a great offer and an exciting move for him and his career, and I have no doubts that fans will share in that support for Matt’s ambitions.

“Matt has shown great loyalty and service to Yeovil Town, and I am always reminded of his commitment in staying with Yeovil Town after it was relegated to the National League South, despite offers he had at the time from clubs in higher leagues. Jack and I have enjoyed an endearing friendship with Matt off the pitch too, and when Matt approached us requesting this move, we are first and foremost commitment to the happiness and welfare of an employee as well as a good friend.

“Myself, Mark and Jack, as well as all the staff and supporters of Yeovil Town salute you Matt for your dedication and loyalty, and sincerely wish you the very best for the future.” 

 

A statement from Worthy posted on his social media after the news broke.

In their announcement, Oldham confirmed Worthington had agreed a deal until the end of next season and quoted Worthy saying he only found out about the move on Thursday.

He said: “When I was presented with the chance to join, it was something I could not turn down. The move came about very quickly to be honest, I found out yesterday it could get done so I headed up here this morning (Friday) to get it done.

“I am a good age and I have played a lot of games at the level for Yeovil, when Oldham come in and showed interest it was something I had to get done.”

 A freak injury sustained in the goalless draw at Tamworth in late October kept Worthington out of the team for a month and has limited him to 16 starts and six substitute appearances in all competitions this season.

However, the former AFC Bournemouth youngster has showed his versatility filling the role of wing-back in the absence of first-choice Michael Smith and Alex Whittle through injury at points this season.

Worthington’s first appearance came off the bench in a 2-2 home draw against Morecambe in September 2017 when he joined Darren Way’s Yeovil on loan from AFC Bournemouth in the first half of the 2017/18 season in League Two. He made 19 appearances for the club that season, before starting the following campaign at Forest Green Rovers, then managed by current Glovers’ boss Mark Cooper.

Matt Worthington. Picture courtesy of Mike Kunz.

At the end of his time in Gloucestershire, he signed permanently with Yeovil in January 2019 and was part of the side which took the club out of the Football League at the end of the 2019-20 season. Following relegation, he was a key part of teams under first Darren Sarll, the temporary charge of Charlie Lee and briefly Chris Hargreaves, before suffering relegation in to the National League South under Cooper’s charge in 2022-23.

Matt Worthington. Picture courtesy of Mike Kunz.

He was one of the first to sign a new two-year contract in May 2023 despite interest from other National League Premier clubs for his services. He was rewarded by being the man with the armband who lifted the National League South title 12 months later, confirming his place in the club’s history.

This season back in the top flight of the non-League game has seen him used more sparingly due to the form of Brett McGavin and Charlie Cooper in the centre of midfield and injury, but he did make his 250th appearance for the club in the goalless draw at home to Gateshead last weekend.

Matt Worthington lifts the National League South championship trophy.📸 Gary Brown

 

 

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Club captain Matt Worthington declared himself “delighted” to reach the milestone 250th appearance when he turned out in the goalless draw at home to Gateshead on Friday night.

The skipper signed permanently at Huish Park in January 2018 having previously had a 15-match loan spell with the club and has been a constant presence throughout two relegations and last season’s promotion back to the National League Premier Division.

Speaking to BBC Somerset’s Jack Killah after the match, he said: “It was an amazing feeling. It was something I wanted to reach this season, it took a bit longer than I wanted it to, but I am just delighted. It is a massive personal achievement for me and my family. There has been some lows and then highs with promotion last season, it has been difficult when contracts have been up for renewal, but I love being here and hopefully I can make many more appearances for this club. I see Yeovil as home, I have been here a long time and I am just really happy to have stayed and to reach this milestone, I am just delighted.”

The midfielder was replaced by Frank Nouble in the 90th minute of the match and was given an ovation by the Huish Park crowd and could only watch on as goalkeeper Ollie Wright pulled off an outstanding save in the dying seconds of the match.

On the game, he added: “It is definitely a performance we can build on. We showed a bit more pressing tonight, more high tempo, we just needed to be better in the final third. We had chances to win the game, but they also had chances towards the end and we dug in deep and defended well towards the end.

“The defence has been brilliant this season. I know we have had a couple of mistakes lately which we have been punished for, we rarely make mistakes and at the moment when we make one we seem to get punished. I am delighted for Ollie (Wright) and the backline. We wanted to keep a clean sheet and Ollie’s save at the end was brilliant and we deserved the clean sheet.”

Worthington even had a good chance of his own to make it a real fairytale night but he was denied by a good save by the visitors Owen Mason with ten minutes remaining.

He said: “It was a good press from Jacob (Maddox) and it was a good save. My legs went a little bit and I had a swing at it, but I was just happy to make my 250th appearance.”

From all of us here at the Gloverscast, congratulations to Worthy on his milestone night.

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Captain Matt Worthington paid tribute to Yeovil Town’s substitutes for helping them secure three points with a 3-1 home win over Braintree Town today.

The Glovers made five changes to their starting XI from the FA Trophy exit at the hands of local rivals W*ymouth in midweek, but made five changes in the second half when they scored two goals to seal victory.

Speaking to BBC Somerset’s Jack Killah, the skipper said: “The season is going to take everyone in the squad and (the substitutes) all made a massive difference. Dylan Morgan did well to set up Brett’s (McGavin) goal at the end, Frank (Nouble) was a threat when he came on, but it is going to take all of us to achieve with what we want to this season.”

The Glovers had to come from 1-0 down when John Akinde put the visitors ahead after 15 minutes before Aaron Jarvis levelled just before the half-hour mark to go in level at the break.

They brought on striker Frank Nouble and defender Finn-Cousin Dawson before on loan Exeter City defender Ed James put them ahead on the hour. Dylan Morgan and Josh Sims then came on with Morgan’s surging run setting up Brett McGavin’s third goal in second half injury time.

On the performance, Worthy added: “We had to dig in, I thought they played well. It was tough, the pitch was chewed up a little bit  and it was tough to get our momentum with the ball. We knew that whatever it took to get a result after Tuesday, so overall we were just pleased to get the win.

“It was a tough week after Tuesday, a few people said some things that needed to be said. It was a massive game and we were really disappointed with it. We looked back at it and and saw the reasons why we lost, so today was about putting on a gritty, tough performance.”

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Captain Matt Worthington has said his Yeovil Town team-mates understand the significance of a derby against W*ymouth in the FA Trophy third round this weekend.

The Glovers host the National League South strugglers this weekend and the skipper has his eyes set on progressing in the competition.

The midfielder returned as an 88th minute substitute in last Saturday’s 2-0 win at Woking having missed the previous two months with an ankle injury sustained in a freak incident when warming up in the goalless draw at Tamworth in October.

Speaking about the injury, he told BBC Somerset’s Jack Killah: “It’s been five or six weeks since I was last playing, so it is nice to be back involved with the team and I am looking forward to the weekend. I had a masterplan of a kick-off and there was a sniper in the stands that took me out! It was really unfortunate, not what I had planned obviously! It’s just a freak landing and injury, so I will not be looking to do that again!

“It’s been a difficult time. Luckily I have not had many injuries in my career and always been fit and available, so it has been difficult but a lot of players have had worse injuries, so I cannot be too down about it. It was great to get back, the lads had a great game and we just needed to see the game out (when I came on). Now it is just about building minutes up again and getting firing again.

“I was still in every day behind the scenes and I like to think I like am quite loud and funny and able to have a laugh with the team. It is just about being around the group and trying to help out as much as I can. It is a learning experience, not something I have had to do too often, so I am just pleased to be back.”

It turned out alright last time we faced W*ymouth in a cup competition.

The Terras, who sit second-from-bottom of the National League South, make the short journey up the A37 this weekend having lost their last three matches and without a manager following the sacking of Mark Moseley.

Former goalkeeper Jason Matthews took interim charge of their latest defeat, a 1-0 loss at home to Tonbridge Angels last weekend, and is currently expected to take charge at Huish Park. However, the Terras are not adverse to unveiling a new manager on the day of the biggest game of the season (for them!), so don’t rule out a new boss being in the dug-out.

Worthy is well aware that, despite the desperate form of our seagull-bothering ‘friends’, the atmosphere of a derby will make form count for little.

He said: “It is a massive game. If you can draw them, you want to pull them out of the hat. I have played in a few, I scored in one away from home which was brilliant, so all the lads know how did the occasion it will be on Saturday. The form we are in at the moment, everyone will be ready to take on the challenge.

“I haven’t seen too much of them, I do not look at them, how they are getting on. But we know that comes Saturday it does not matter what their form is, it is a derby game so they will be up for it. It will be a difficult game, no matter where they are in the league, so we have to be on top of our game. 

“Any tournament is big, we were gutted about going out of the FA Cup, because we wanted a run in that. But it is about continuing the winning mentality, it doesn’t matter if it is the Somerset Men’s Premier Cup, the FA Trophy or the league, it is about building on our form, so we will be looking to have a good run in it.“

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Yeovil Town captain Matt Worthington has said there will be no excuses from his side as the Glovers lost 1-0 at home to Solihull Moors on Tuesday.

A single first half goal from Conor Wilkinson was all that separated the sides in a game where the home side did not register a shot on target despite having two efforts off the woodwork. 

Speaking to BBC Somerset’s Mark Stillman after the match, Worthington said:

“It was difficult, I don’t think we really got going, we looked lethargic and quite slow I’d say.

“It’s disappointing, off the back of two wins we were full of confidence and to lose the way we did, at home, it’s disappointing.”

Yeovil did have the ball in the back of the net late on, a Jake Wannell header from a Charlie Cooper free-kick was deemed to have come from an offside position.

The skipper wasn’t convinced that was the right call, he said:  “I thought it was onside, a few times the lino didn’t really put his flag up, so the ref made the decision. It went against us, it was frustrating, we have to move on.”

“No excuses from us, we should have been better and we’ll look to turn it around on Saturday.”

The Glovers have now lost three of the four National League Premier Division games at Huish Park this season and supporters were audibly frustrated throughout.

The captain said: “It’s difficult, a few boos coming in at half-time, as players we need to feed off the fans really, but then again, if we put in a performance where we’re not at it, not creating enough chances, it’s hard for them to really get behind us, it’s a disappointing night all round, but we’ll look to bounce back on the weekend.

“There’s no excuses from us, obviously there’s been a lot of travelling, it was a game on Saturday where we had to chuck everything at it, really, so it took a lot out of the lads, and maybe that’s a factor why we looked leggy and lethargic today, no excuses from us, we should have been better and we’ll look to turn it around on Saturday. “

The Glovers are back in front of the Huish Park faithful on Saturday when Altrincham make the trip to Somerset, a chance to put Tuesday’s performance right, says Worthy.

“Every game is tough, there’s going to be no easy games in this league, we just have to prepare right, rest up and get ready to put a performance on Saturday.”

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Captain Matt Worthington has said the team spirit built on last season’s National League South title-winning campaign can be a big boost as Yeovil Town return to the top of the non-League pyramid this weekend.

The Glovers take on Hartlepool United, managed by the midfielder’s former boss, Darren Sarll, at Huish Park on Saturday.

Speaking on Thursday ahead of the match, Worthington said: “If you go in the season not wanting promotion, you are doing it wrong. The sky is the limit. We have a great togetherness in the squad and that can take you a long way. We have made some good additions to the squad, so we will be looking to do well.”

The skipper has a new midfield colleague in the form of Brett McGavin, who has impressed in pre-season after arriving from Torquay United in the summer, and admitted that the new arrivals had to get to grips with the style of play of manager Mark Cooper.

He said: “We had a tough first couple of weeks and then it was all about the tactical side of things, how the Gaffer  wants us to play this season.

“The way he plays is a difficult skill to master, you have to be very good on the ball, your discipline and positioning has to be spot on, so the new lads had to come and work on that.

“There’s definitely going to be teams in this league who are going to be more direct and get the ball forward which is easier than the way the Gaffer wants to play, but if you are a footballer you want to get on the ball as much as possible and show how good you are.

“It has been a process of some of the new players getting to know how he wants to play and getting to know the squad.”

Matt Worthington was a regular under Darren Sarll between 2019-2022. Picture courtesy of Mike Kunz.

The 26-year-old spent the best part of three seasons playing under Sarll in Somerset and knows exactly what to expect from his former manager, who has ex-Glovers’ left-back Carl Dickinson as his assistant.

Worthington added: “I played under Darren Sarll for a good few years, so I know they will be high intensity from the first minute, very athletic and it will be a difficult game, a real battle.

“I think he will get a positive reception, we had a few good years here, making the play-offs in his first year. As a manager and a man as well, I had a lot of respect for him, he went through some tough times when he was here.”

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Captain Matt Worthington has said his Yeovil Town team-mates will be looking to maintain their winning mentality when they finish their National League South campaign this weekend.

The champions travel to already relegated Dover Athletic on Saturday knowing that victory will see them reach 95 points and 29 wins for the campaign and, despite the game not having any influence on either side’s season, the skipper is still looking for the win.

Speaking on Thursday, he said: “We have built a winning mentality all season and that is not just something you turn on and off and that has helped us win the league.

“So we will be looking to win another game of football. As players you always want to win, it does not matter if you safe, not playing for anything or you are promoted, you still want to win a game of football. That leads on to next season, if you finish on a high, we can all go and enjoy our summer.

He added: “It starts from the training ground and then leads to on a Saturday. A winning mentality has been built up all season and we will be looking to take that in to next season.”

Worthy began last weekend’s win over Dartford on the bench.
📸 Gary Brown

Worthington, who started last weekend’s 3-1 home win over Dartford which ended with him lifting the championship trophy on the substitutes’ bench, completed a full training session on Thursday and said he will be available for selection.

Asked about next season back in the National League Premier, the 26-year-old said he believes that the team is capable of pushing towards the top of the league.

He said: “With the team we have got we are capable and if anyone comes in, it strengthens it more. We have got a really good core signed on for next season and there is no reason we cannot be pushing for play-offs and to go again, that is the target for everyone. We have winners in the changing rooms and that will carry on next season.

“Looking at the league, it is anyone’s league, there will be lots of teams pushing for those top places and it will hopefully be an exciting season.”

He admitted he was looking forward to taking a well-earned break over the summer and said he would begin his personal preparations for the next campaign from the middle of May.

Worthington was speaking on Thursday, a year to the day since Yeovil were relegated out of the National League Premier with a 3-0 defeat at Wrexham, and reflected on the changes at Huish Park since the past year.

He said: “It is crazy how much this club has come on over that year. It has been a fun day back in training today and preparing for Saturday and everyone has been in high spirits. The club has come so far in that year, it is complete change and something everyone is really enjoying.”

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Title-winning captain Matt Worthington spoke of his delight for Yeovil Town supporters after a 2-0 win over Truro City secured the National League South title and promotion at the first time of asking.

The skipper was part of the Glovers’ sides relegated from the Football League in 2019 and then during the turbulent season off-the-field last season and admitted he was thrilled to put smiles back on to fans’ faces.

Speaking to BBC Somerset’s Sheridan Robins after the win in Gloucester, he said: “I never thought I would be in this situation when I first joined. To be captain of this amazing football club. It is just so emotional because I have had some bad times here, stuck with it and I am just really happy we got it done.

“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. I love this club, I love the town and I am just happy I can be part of a promotion side.

“It was just amazing to see everybody so happy. A lot of people have come up to me and said ‘thankyou’ because they have been through a lot at this club and they deserve some happiness and I am glad that I can be part of that happiness. It is just an amazing feeling.”

Echoing the words of his manager Mark Cooper he said he was now looking forward to being presented with the championship trophy at Huish Park on Saturday when relegation-threatened Dartford come to town in the final home fixture of the season.

Worthington, who has played more than 100 games for the club, admitted it would have been nice to have sealed it on home soil against Worthing last weekend, but was just happy to be a champion.

He said: “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 and I hope we can all celebrate on Saturday with the trophy as well. I have dreamt about lifting the trophy for weeks! It has gone on longer than I wanted it too, we have made hard work of it but I am thankful we got the job done.

“It would have been nice to have done it last Saturday with everyone there, but at the end of the day we have done it. It does not matter how we do it, we have done it and now everyone is looking forward to another game at Huish Park and we can all celebrate.”

The 26-year-old also paid tribute to Cooper, adding: “He is an amazing guy, someone I am really happy to have work with. If he and Martin (Hellier, the chairman) had taken charge last season we would not have been here, there is no way that would have happened. I am just really thankful they showed faith in us this year, made me captain. I cannot talk more highly of him, he is an amazing man first and foremost but he is also an amazing coach and I am looking forward to working with him for the next few years.“

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Captain Matt Worthington has spoken about his pride at being handed the Yeovil Town armband this season as he looks to lead his side to the National League South season.

The 26-year-old was handed the captaincy after the departure of former skipper Josh Staunton at the start of this season and has repaid the faith of manager Mark Cooper by playing more games in a single season that he has managed in the rest of his career.

Having been part of the squads which took the club out of the Football League in 2019 and the National League Premier last season, he admits he wants to get the title secured as soon as possible. He could do it this weekend with the Glovers needing just three more points to be crowned champions when fifth-placed Worthing visit Huish Park on Saturday.

Speaking on Thursday, Worthington said: “I am massively proud to be captain of this football club. I was really grateful for the Gaffer for giving me the opportunity, it is a massive personal achievement.

“It would be a massive achievement personally but more importantly for the club because we need promotion. We will be looking to get that done as soon as possible.

“I can’t describe the feeling I get when I walk out with the armband on, I have been here so long, so it is a dream come true. There is a lot of lads in there that are leaders, I wear the armband but with the likes of Coops (Charlie Cooper), Frank (Nouble), Smudge (Michael Smith), Joe Day, Morgs (Morgan Williams) there are plenty of characters in there.
When we all come together and help the team out there, it is important we help the team out.”

He admitted he had questioned his own future at Huish Park following last season’s relegation with the club in a state of flux as former ‘stewards’ SU Glovers, the group operated by now-York City owner Matt Uggla, abandoned their takeover plans. But, the takeover by local businessman Martin Hellier and the decision to keep Cooper as manager convinced Worthington to sign a new two-year contract in June.

The midfielder said: “It was a very tough few weeks in the summer, I did not really know whether it was time to move on but I made the decision to stay after conversations with Martin and the Gaffer. I am really thankful I did now and hopefully we can get the job done.

“It was tough last season and it was difficult to see a light at the end of the tunnel with the way the club was going. Thankfully Martin (Hellier) took over, kept the Gaffer which was massive for us, and signed some really good players.

“It comes down to the complete change we have seen that from top to bottom and it is important that we finish the job.”

Matt Worthington. Picture courtesy of Gary Brown.

In his press conference, Cooper was full of praise for the player who he signed on loan as manager of Forest Green Rovers in the 2018-19 season before taking charge of him again when he arrived in Somerset.

The manager said: “He is a winner, he does not even like losing at five-a-side or even games of Tiddlywinks. He is a good character and I think Matty before was a midfield player who was just going to run all over the place with his energy.
We have tried to give him a structure and a discipline to his play which allows him to show off his qualities and I think he has shown us this season.”

The ex-Bournemouth academy graduate scored the first of his four goals this season at Worthing in the 2-1, sealed by an injury time winner from Morgan Williams, and is expecting a tough game from the visitors to Huish Park on Saturday.

He said: “They had a bit of a dip in form when they lost their manager (Adam Hinshelwood to York City in February), but they seem to have picked up now. They are a good footballing team and everyone knows that. They play total football.

“It was a tricky game at their place on an artificial surface which is always tough, but we are at home so we are full of confidence that we can put on a good performance and get the win.

“Previous to the Torquay game (which the Glovers won 3-0 on Good Friday) we lacked a bit of confidence and it is natural that at some stages of the season you have more confidence than you do in others, but Friday was a really good performance. We looked back to ourselves and we have to take that in to Saturday.”

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Captain Matt Worthington apologised to supporters after a poor performance saw Yeovil Town’s unbeaten home record ended by a 1-0 defeat to Welling United at Huish Park.

The midfielder admitted the side never got going following the loss of influential full-back Michael Smith after just 16 minutes.

Speaking to BBC Somerset’s Tom Seymour after the game, he said: “We are really disappointed. We were not good enough today. We did not click and did not look like scoring, I think we had a couple of chances in the first half, but in the last few games we have not taken those chances when they have come.

“If we are not playing great, you have to take those chances to get anything out of the game. I think it is just not going our way, we are working hard on it in training. We will look to work on the training ground and turn it around and look to create the chances we missed and score them in the next game.”

Smith was replaced by Jay Foulston with the Glovers initially switching to a back five before reverting back to a back four just a few minutes later with the left-footed Foulston playing at right-back.

After the defeat, manager Mark Cooper confirmed the Northern Irishman, who has been suffering with a hamstring injury since the 1-1 draw at St Albans City at the end of January, was a doubt for the visit of Chippenham Town to Huish Park on Tuesday night.

On the loss of Smith, Worthington added: “He is such a big personality and such a good player for us. Obviously Jay (Foulston) had to come in and he is left footed, playing on the right, so it was going to be difficult for him. It took us too long to get to grips with it, so it is a disappointing day but we have a chance to put it right on Tuesday.”

Matt Worthington.
Picture courtesy of Gary Brown.

With third-placed Worthing going down to a shock 3-1 defeat at home to Taunton Town, Yeovil’s lead at the top of National League South remains 12 points. Second-placed Chelmsford City take on Truro City at their temporary ‘home’ in Gloucester this evening.

Worthington added: “Worthing dropped points tonight, but ultimately we have to regroup, look on Monday at what went wrong. We have been very honest with each other all season. It was tough and I apologise on behalf of the whole group for the performance which was not good enough, but we have been very good all season. It is just one game and we will do everything we can to put it right on Tuesday.”

One small silver lining to the cloud of defeat was that both Worthington and Charlie Cooper got through the game without incurring the censure of card-happy referee Craig Scriven. That means both players avoided a two-match ban which would have come with a booking which would have been their tenth of the season.

The captain added: “It was difficult, but thankfully Charlie and I both got through it. It was difficult because there are challenges out there that you could go and win and put a bit more pressure on the opposition, but it is always in the back of your mind that if you slip up or catch them you will be missing for two games. At this point of the season, nobody wants to do that.“