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.”
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.”
“The sky’s the limit and you have to believe it as a squad…” 🎙️
Matt Worthington was on press duty ahead of this Saturday’s National League fixture against Hartlepool United. #YTFC 💚 pic.twitter.com/h2sylD1g7S
— Yeovil Town F.(C). (@YTFC) August 8, 2024