Today's events leave Yeovil managerless but still second in the Conference table, 2 points behind Rushden following their 2-4 victory at Kingstonian. The gap between Yeovil and the 3rd placed team has now been extended to 7 points following Dagenham's 2-1 win at home to Hereford, the Essex club leapfrogging the Bulls into 3rd place.

Accordingly we are pleased to announce the formation of LOOFAH (Lay Off Our FAir Hacks), affiliated to the NSPCJ (National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Journalists). Please donate as generously as you gave to RANCID, you will be making some poor, down-trodden journo's much, much happier, a very worthwhile cause we are sure you will agree.

Yes, the hacks of the local press are laying several eggs after Webby's criticism of them at last week's Meet The Manager evening at Huish Park, where, amongst other things, he accused them of being 'the most negative local press he has come across in his experience', as well as 'doom and gloom merchants'. That was collectively, individually he also accused one reporter of sensationalism, another of starting rumours, a third of always being late for press conferences, one paper of never sending a photographer to away matches... The list goes on!

Shocked journos have dealt with these home-truths in various fashions. In the Clarion 2000, Fat Harry reports on Webb's criticisms and then, tongue-in-cheek, (we hope!) proceeds to open his Doncaster match report with the words, "There's a rumour going around..."

Steve Sowden in the Yeovil Express has his own strategy for dealing with Webb's criticism - he ignores it and the Meet the Manager Evening completely, making his main story the Rushden all-ticket match in a month's time. Defence by stealth, but it won't wash in these eyes, sorry Steve.

It's the Western Gazette that comes out fighting: Under the headline 'Unfair treatment for fair reporters' Sports editor Richard Briggs devotes half-a-page to explaining how the Gazette is scrupulously fair to both the club and readers before ending with the words, "We are here to give an independent view on matches, report facts about goings-on at Huish Park and offer opinion. Long may that continue." We couldn't agree more with those sentiments but can't help thinking that perhaps it was just as well Dave Webb wasn't here last season when the Gazette independently reported on the so-called 'internet death threats' between Yeovil and Weymouth fans which turned out to be Yeovil College students larking about. Independence is no excuse or defence for printing inaccuracies or sensationalism.

We look forward to seeing how and indeed if the local papers react to Webb's criticism's over the coming months. Will they change? Will they ignore him? Will they carry on doing the things he has criticised them for? The answer, as always, will become clear in the fullness of time. Ciderspace, and LOOFAH, will be watching...

Glovers ready for transfer change

Yeovil Town's John Fry is one of the few chairmen in the professional game who won't object if the EU go ahead with their proposals to scrap transfer fees.

Fry believes the Glovers will "adapt to any changes in the market."

He says Yeovil have always been a selling club rather than a buying club. "But we have to adapt to change. If you have the right plans in place you can cope, and we have a plan in place at Yeovil.

"At the moment the whole transfer market has gone crazy and it has to change, whether the change comes from the European Commission or elsewhere."

Webb meets the fans

Fans of Yeovil Town forked out £3 each for the privilege of hearing manager David Webb tell them he was happy with the way his youngsters had been performing over the first 10 matches of the season.

At a "Meet the Manager" evening Webb saved most of his criticism for the local media.

He accused one reporter of sensationalism, another of starting rumours, a third of always being late for press conferences. And he reprimanded the town's largest selling weekly for not sending photographers to away games.

One journalist who has covered the club's affairs for 40 years said: "Believe it or not, we all like Dave. But in his early days he kept us all in the dark and that created some friction."

The bare facts are that Barrington Belgrave and Warren Patmore with a brace scored Yeovil's goals, see the official website's match report for a flavour of what the match was like for those lucky enough to be there.

Leaders Rushden beat Dagenham 2-1 at home to remain 2 points ahead of Town, however 3rd-placed Hereford could only draw 1-1 at home to Leigh RMI. The Bulls remain in 3rd spot, but are now 5 points behind the Glovers.

We are asking anyone who wishes to travel with us to pay a deposit of £5. The overall trip costs £10 in total so the remaining £5 will be payable on the day. If you want to book a place e-mail Mark at ytisa@ytisa.screaming.net or Sara at sara.brimble@southsomerset.gov.uk

Cheques should be made payable to YTISA and posted to 233 St Johns Road, Yeovil, Somerset, BA21 5QR.

Book early to avoid disappointment!

Remember the the match at Nene Park has been made ALL-TICKET by Rushden - to gain admission to the ground you will need to have bought your tickets in advance from YTFC. Tickets are available from today at the club between 10am and 4pm all week and will be available to buy on Saturday at the home game v Morecambe. They cost £8.50 for adults, £5 concessions, £2 under 12's.

Jim Harvey, manager of Morecambe and also assistant manager of the Northern Ireland team, has applauded Yeovil's policy of promoting and developing young players:"Some managers lack the ability to coach and develop youngsters. It's not easy. That's why some managers prefer proven players. But youngsters are the lifeblood of the game."

In today's The Non-League Paper Steve Whitney writes that "Yeovil Town, under David Webb, seem to be doing pretty well this season with a young side. Around a solid and experienced backbone of Tony Pennock, Terry Skivington [sic] and Warren Patmore, Yeovil have seen highly-talented youngsters like 19-year-old Barrington Belgrave, defender Anthony Tonkin, former Chelsea midfielder Nick Crittenden and 20-year-old James Bent really prosper during the summer, with criticisms aimed at manager David Webb over the summer quickly vanishing.

"While striker Barrington Belgrave has received most of the plaudits - as forwards always seem to - it is perhaps left-sided defender Tonkin who has really caught the attention of the many scouts who have flocked to Huish Park." [Hmmm?, ed.]

Chairman John Fry sees this as the way forward. "Dave is a shrewd businessman who, unlike some managers, knows about administration and balance sheets. He has shown he can produce success on the field without spending money by implementing our youth policy and sticking to his budget. Taking us to the top of the Conference was a perfect answer to those people who gave us stick because we didn't buy any players this season. Our critics were forecasting that we would be in the relegation zone, but Dave told me not to worry and assured me that we could build our own side."

With eleven youngsters in the small first team squad Fry continues: "Dave and I believe in English players and feel we should give them every opportunity. Overall, England has some of the best players in the world and we should recognise this by giving kids a proper chance. Instead, too many foreign imports are preventing our own players developing fully with Premiership or First Division clubs. At Yeovil we are putting the emphasis on kids and we should have done it five years earlier. We formed a youth team four years ago soon after I first joined the club and now it is producing some great prospects. We could finish in the top six of the Conference with one of the youngest teams in the league."

With players such as James Bent and Anthony Tonkin getting regular places in the first team, Andy Lindegaard and Chris Weale in the first team squad and others like Chris Giles knocking on the door John Fry feels that the youth team policy is already proving itself: "Two of our key players, skipper and central defender Terry Skiverton and midfielder Nick Crittenden, both in their early 20s, could not progress at Chelsea because of the influx of foreigners. Skiverton went to Wycombe Wanderers and Welling United before joining us two seasons ago. Our youth team scheme cost us £120,000 in its first year, but now we are seeing the benefits and some of our kids could soon be worth thousands in the transfer market even if the new proposals come in because they are under 24 and, therefore, still eligible for transfer fees. Some managers seem scared to put youngsters in their teams. Perhaps they feel insecure in their jobs [Which could never be said about YT historically, now could it?! ed.] and don't try youn gsters because they need instant success. They don't have time to see kids develop, but by not being patient they are missing out. Another factor could be that some managers may not have the ability to develop youngsters the way we are doing."

Yeovil remain second in the table, only 2 points behind leaders Rushden now after ex-West-Brom-manager Brian Talbot's men could only draw 1-1 at home to struggling Kettering. Third placed Hereford could also only draw at home, 1-1 with Stevenage, to fall 3 points behind Yeovil in second.

The club today announced that tickets for Rushden away, Sat 4th November, will go on sale at the club from Monday onwards. Prices are £8.50 adults, £5 concessions with children under 12 being admitted for £2.

The paper quotes Webb as saying: "We have young Chris Giles, who has been playing superbly in the reserves, but I think it would be unfair of me to chuck him straight in. Chris is a different sort of player to Warren because he is not so big - so it would be a case of us having to change our whole style of play to centre it around another player. I tried to bring in someone last week who was a similar player to Warren, but I was let down - so I am still looking. I hope I can get hold of someone, sit them down and get them signed on in time for the Doncaster match."

Talking of Patmore, this week's Clarion 2000 reports that in addition to the striker's upcoming testimonial v Blackburn Rovers on Mon 13th November, an auction of signed football shirts and other items of sporting memoribilia is set to take place in early December as part of Patmore's testimonial fund. More details on that as they become available.

Meanwhile the Gazette reports that goalkeeper Tony Pennock appears to have cemented his place in the team in stone, following Dave Webb's widely-publicised doubts about his position earlier in the season. Webb tells the paper, "I am happy with the goalkeeping situation. Tony has been playing better than I've seen him play since I came to the club and young Chris Weale can feel a little disappointed that he has not got a look in. We have posed Tony a few questions - and he has responded excellently to them."

The full article can be found by clicking here.

Whilst Ciderspace welcomes any positive news about increased promotion/relegation places between the Conference and Division 3, something that is long-overdue in our opinion, we treat this latest report with just a faint tinge of skepticism. The idea that Division 3 clubs will agree to such a change in June of next year, to take effect the following season, seems fanciful to us. If it happens then we will gladly eat our words, but to us it just seems like yet another reason to delay a long overdue change for yet another season.

Despite dropping 2 points Yeovil gained a place in the table rising to 2nd-spot, 1 point in front of Hereford who lost for the first time this season by 2-1 at a rapidly improving Doncaster, who themselves visit Huish Park next Saturday. Rushden stretched their early season lead at the top of the table after an ominous 4-1 win at Woking, the gap between them and Yeovil in second now up to 4 points.

Further information on when tickets go on sale to follow when available from the club.

Former Chelsea star David Webb, who has led Yeovil Town to the top of the Nationwide Conference in his first season, has been hailed by the Somerset club as being:

"One of the few managers who tend to put clubs before their own careers".

The tribute came from multi-millionaire Norman Heyward [sic], one of three directors in charge at Huish Park.

"Dave is vastly experienced. At one time he was major shareholder at Brentford so he knows the score. "He has stuck to his guns, bringing young players to Yeovil - and it is paying off".

Yeovil Town believe "the Kidderminster experience" is holding them in good stead as they step up their bid for promotion from the Conference.

Chairman John Fry points out that although Kidderminster lost a string of games at the start of last season they had room to manoeuvre with their budget and it paid rich dividends with promotion to the third division.

Yeovil, on the other hand, started last term working to the limit of their budget, and after a shock 5-0 defeat at Scarborough on the opening day they had no room to make changes.

Meanwhile over at the Yeovil Express the paper's semi-legendary gloomy tone of the close season has been swept away by a veritable tsunami of optimism, with sports editor Steve Sowden comparing the league table at this time last season with the league table now and finding that at the time of going to press we were top in both. The difference this time around, according to Sowden, is that last season the club was top after a series of poorish performances which they were fortunate to win; this time they are top after a series of entertaining and professional performances, and says Sowden, with a team of young and fit players who are still learning their trade, things can only improve as the season progresses. The Express manages to find a dark cloud to hang all the silver linings on by predicting that league scouts will now be forming a queue to come and watch Yeovil's youngsters perform, but quotes manager Dave Webb as saying that he would not be willing to sell anyone so early in the season.

Finally the Express reports on Murray Fishlock's battle to save his career. The paper says Murray has now seen a specialist and has been given a month long rehabilitation programme to work through. He is quoted as saying, "He thinks I have a decent chance, but I realise this is the crunch. It's a real do or die effort." The very best of luck to Murray from all of us at Ciderspace - we want to see him pounding up and down the wing wearing the green-and-white shirt again!

The game had appeared to be in some doubt earlier in the day as Boston made repeated efforts to have the fixture postponed, citing a variety of reasons such as failing floodlights, players unable to get to the ground because of the fuel crisis, even a lack of stewards to ensure safety; but the Conference - and Yeovil - were insistent that the match should be played. In hindsight perhaps we should have listened to Boston! The result means that Yeovil stay third in the table on 18 points, the same as 2nd-placed Hereford and 2 points behind leaders Rushden; all of the leading trio having played 8 games each.

We are starting a list today and are asking anyone who wishes to travel with us to pay a deposit of £5. The overall trip costs £10 in total so the remaining £5 will be payable on the day. If you want to book a place e-mail Mark at ytisa@ytisa.screaming.net or Sara at sara.brimble@southsomerset.gov.uk

Cheques should be made payable to YTISA and posted to 233 St Johns Road, Yeovil, Somerset, BA21 5QR.

Book early to avoid disappointment!

The Clarion quotes Wazza as saying; "It’s great news and I am extremely grateful to Graham Souness for bringing his team down. He has promised that the whole team will be coming and there are some quality players at Blackburn. It’s a great honour to be granted a testimonial by the club and I hope we can give supporters a night to remember. Getting any top side is difficult as there are so few weeks in the calendar when there is not a league or F.A Cup game.

"We plan to play the current team in one half and the team that won the ICIS League back in 1996/97. It will be nice to see some of the boys back again at Huish from that team. Of course Big Robbo [Graham Roberts] will be playing as well which will no doubt bring back a few memories to Yeovil fans."

The Clarion also reports that as well as the testimonial game itself, a race night, disco and a shirt and memoribilia auction are all planned for the new year.

^* Long-serving by today's standards, that is! Ciderspace can remember Len Harris...

The full draw, up to the semi-finals, is:

First Round (To be played week commencing 18th September)
Boston United v Nuneaton Borough
Northwich Victoria v Leigh RMI
Hednesford Town v Telford United
Kettering Town v Forest Green Rovers
Hayes v Woking
Dagenham & Redbridge v Stevenage Borough

Second Round (To be played week commencing 9th October)
A. Chester City v Hednesford Town or Telford United
B. Morecmabe v Northwich Victoria or Leigh RMI
C. Boston United or Nuneaton Borough v Scarborough
D. Southport v Doncaster Rovers
E Hayes or Woking v Yeovil Town
F. Hereford United v Kettering Town or Forest Green Rovers
G. Dover Athletic v Kingstonian
H. Rushden & Diamonds v Dagenham & Redbridge or Stevenage Borough

Quarter Finals (To be played week commencing 4th December)
1. Winners of C v Winners of B
2. Winners of D v Winners of A
3. Winners of E v Winners of F
4. Winners of G v Winners of H

Semi Finals (To be played week commencing 18th February)
Winners of 3 v Winners of 4
Winners of 2 v Winners of 1

Like any of you care :-)

Yeovil Town went top of the Conference table this evening after beating last season's relegated Division 3 team Chester City, by 2 goals to 1 in front of the biggest crowd of the season so far at Huish Park, 2,862.

The Glovers were looking comfortable after goals from Warren Patmore and Nick Crittenden had put them 2 up when it all kicked off with less than 5 minutes of ordinary time left: Chester's Paul Beesley was sent off in the 86th minute for a second bookable offence which should have allowed the home team to coast home... It had the opposite effect, galvanizing Chester into pressurizing the Yeovil goal. James Bent sliced an attempted clearance into his own net on 88 minutes and in injury time Chester hit the bar twice as well as the post when it seemed easier to score... The Glovers held out however for a deserved win, see the official website's match report for the full details.

In other results Ru$hden drew at home 0-0 with Forest Green Rovers, enabling Yeovil to leap-frog over them into top spot of the Conference by a single point. The Glovers next game sees them visit bottom-of-the-league Conference newcomers Boston United at York Street, this Wednesday Sept 13th.

Clarion 2000 : Fozzie sorry to have left!

Western Gazette : Thommo could be back playing in 9 days!

Yeovil Express (when are they going to sort a website?!) : Webb pleased with Wazza!

There you are, no need to bother with the paper versions now.... Okay, there's more detail in the papers than above, but the gist of the stories are the same. In the Clarion, Adrian Foster throws a little more light on his move to FGR, admitting that reserve-team football was no good to him or to YTFC but insisting that he bore no grudges against David Webb and indeed was grateful to be released on a free transfer when theoretically YTFC could have asked for a fee for him (stop laughing at the back!). Intriguingly he speculates that he may even return to Huish Park in a coaching capacity at some point in the future. Just don't score against us this season please Fozzie...

In the Gazette the paper reports that player/coach Steve Thompson is hoping to resume training next week and could even be back playing within 9 days, providing his recurring calf injury has responded sufficiently to treatment. In an interview with the paper Thommo sounds optimistic that he can put his injury woes behind him, here at Ciderspace we certainly hope that's true as Thommo was in fine form in the pre-season and his experience will be needed in the coming months.

Finally, today's Yeovil Express focuses on Warren Patmore's start to the season, the big striker receiving a vote of confidence from manager Dave Webb after Wazza scored his first goal of the season against Nuneaton last weekend. Hopefully a vote of confidence from a manager doesn't have the same meaning as a vote of confidence from a chairman...

Fishlock in fitness fight

Murray Fishlock, the Yeovil Town fullback, is undertaking what he admits is a 'do or die' rehabilitation programme to salvage his career. If it fails, he will have to give up the game at the age of 26.

Fishlock, formerly with Hereford, missed more than 40 of Yeovil's 53 games last season with a lower back injury that failed to respond to treatment.

He says: "It was disheartening. I could not do the sort of explosive work that a wingback has to do. But I have been to London to spend three hours with an expert. He has worked out a programme for me and thinks I have a decent chance."

Yeovil net happy bunnies

Goal nets at Yeovil Town's Huish Park are being tested more by rabbits than visiting strikers at the moment.

The club even thought they might have to postpone one match when bunnies came in from the surrounding countryside and munched their way through nets overnight.

The problem began 10 weeks ago when Rodney Pippard, the Glovers' groundsman, started using a new kind of grass seed in the goalmouths. "They get on the pitch and sit around the penalty spot eating the seeds, then sharpen their teeth on goal nets," he said.

So far the rabbits have defied Yeovil's attempts to keep them out, but the club hopes the onset of winter will solve the problem.

The victory over Woking, following on from the 3-2 win at Kingfield a fortnight ago, consolidated Yeovil's 2nd place in the Conference table behind Rushden, who could only draw 2-2 at home to Stevenage, the Northamptonshire club's advantage being reduced to 1 point. Yeovil's next game is at home to Chester City this coming Saturday at Huish Park, kick-off 3.00pm

The result puts Yeovil 2nd in the early table, 3 points behind leaders Ru$hden, who came back from a goal down to defeat Telford 2-1 away from home yesterday. In other results to interest Glovers fans, striker Adrian Foster scored on his debut for a Forest Green side also featuring Rob Cousins and David Norton, but it wasn't enough to prevent a home defeat at the hands of Hayes, 2-1 to the visitors the final score. Meanwhile Yeovil Reserves Mark II, or Woking as they are otherwise known, went down 3-0 at home to Hereford Utd. The Cards visit Huish Park this coming Tuesday evening, kick-off 7.45pm.

It was FA Cup day in the lower leagues yesterday so the real reserves didn't have a game; however the Youth team kicked off their season with a good 3-1 home win over Bashley, French trialist Loric Herouard bagging a brace and Chris Luke adding the third (thanks to Blue Stew for providing that particular info).

Adrian Foster - Now a Gump, sadly. Photo © Clarion 2000

Forest Green Rovers Official Website has announced today that Yeovil striker Adrian Foster has now joined the Gloucestershire club on a free transfer.

The move follows the news - reported first on this website earlier this week - that the former Hereford and Rushden striker, who scored 13 goals in a total of 33 appearances for the Glovers last season, was to be given a free transfer.

Fozzie, who has signed a 1-year contract at The Lawn, joins former Yeovil stalwarts Rob Cousins and Dean Birkby at FGR, as well as David Norton, who also played a few games for the Green-and-whites.

We liked Fozzie here at Ciderspace, and wish him, Robbie Cousins and Deano the best of luck - except when they are playing us of course! - over the season.