Yeovil Town grabbed a valuable three points at Griffin Park tonight, when they grabbed two late goals to sink the Bees on their own patch. A brace from James Hayter gave him his first goals for the Glovers as he converted once in each half, and although Clayton Donaldson equalised during a more impressive spell from the home side, it was Yeovil who came out of the game happy as Hayter got his second, quickly followed by Lewis Young's shot being turned into his own net by Brentford defender Tony Craig. However, those four goals alone didn't tell the full tail of a pulsating match as Glovers keeper Marek Stech pulled off a stunning first half save, and stopped a penalty that would have given the Bees the lead at a critical point in the match.
The Glovers went into the match making just one change to their starting line-up. Reading loanee Gozie Ugwu has been playing in a slightly unfamiliar right-wing position, and he had to be subbed on Saturday after he was the victim of a poor foul. Both factors may have been on manager Gary Johnson's mind when he chose to swap Ugwu for Keanu Marsh-Brown, with the same sixteen being used overall. Gavin Williams (calf muscle) and Rohan Ince (shin) were both left out, although Gavin's appearance at the match, wearing shorts and sitting in the dugout suggests that he is getting close to a return.
First half saw Yeovil attacking the end filled with a noisy 219 travelling supporters, and they saw some early action when Reuben Reid flashed a ball on the half volley across the face of the Brentford goal, whilstling the shot wide by a foot or so. Reid then put James Hayter through on goal with keeper Simon Moore saving well, but an offside thwarting the move anyway. It took the Bees around 15 minutes to get into their stride, although when they did, they really should have been ahead, and would have been were it not for the brilliance of Marek Stech. His outstretched save to his left from a rasping Adam Forshaw drive was top drawer, with the home fans behind that goal leaping in celebration until they realised that the Czech Republic keeper had somehow kept the ball out.
That save was to be crucial, as the Glovers took the lead midway through the half. Their chasing down of Brentford's back four was making the home defence somewhat edgy. Defender Tony Craig played a woeful ball across his own box which his centre-back partner Leon Legge had no hope of getting to. Instead Sam Foley grabbed possession and delivered a looping cross back across the goal, leaving the Bees defence entirely out of shape, and allowing James Hayter the chance to slide in from close range and open the scoring. 1-0 up and on the balance of play fully deserved.
Brentford came back a little in the closing stages of the first half, even if their final ball was lacking. A cross by Clayton Donaldson was a touch too deep, whilst Marek Stech emphatically punched out a Sam Saunders free kick as Yeovil's defence were put under pressure, sometimes with questionable positioning as they tried to recover their ground in times when their team-mates lost possession. However, overall this was a good 45 minutes worth of football with the lead fully deserved.
The opening part of the second half was a mirror image of the first - Brentford appeared to have done a bit of tactical work during the half time break, and set out on the front foot, leaving Yeovil wobbling. Bookings for Richard Hinds after he blocked off his man, Byron Webster for a late tackle, and Luke Ayling for one out on the flank showed how much pressure they were being put under. The Bees would have been level were it not for Clayton Donaldson kindly getting in the way of a team-mate's shot - in doing so he deflected the goalbound attempt wide of the post.
Minutes later though, Clayton Donaldson got on the scoresheet himself, as the warning signs came to fruition. James Hayter lost possession on the halfway line, Toumani Diagouraga ran through down the left flank and slipped the ball through to Donaldson. The striker shaped up and fired across Marek Stech, with the ball striking the inside of the post, and into the back of the net. 1-1 and on the ten minutes of the second half, there could be few complaints.
The Brentford pressure continued, with Luke Ayling needing to dig one out from under the foot of the far post as his team struggled to defend from corners. And it looked as though the home side were about to take the lead as they got themselves a penalty - awarded after a long ball up field struck the arm of Byron Webster. Even if it appeared to roll across him, the linesman flagged it as a deliberate offence. But striker Paul Hayes, on his Brentford debut, found his penalty kick well saved by Marek Stech diving down to his left to keep the scores level.
Just as Stech's first half save came at a crucial time, the same happened in the second period. A minute before the spot kick, Gary Johnson had made a double substitution, introducing Lewis Young and Nathan Ralph to freshen things up. That combined with the lift from the save appeared to push Yeovil back on the offensive for the first time in the half. Ed Upson fired wide of the post, and ninutes later the Bees defence failed to clear their lines properly - as a threaded ball into the box caught them flat footed. The loose ball fell to James Hayter on the edge of the box, and he swept it home into the corner of the net to put the Glovers 2-1 up - a little against the run of play in terms of the half overall.
The match was sealed substitute Lewis Young charged his way down the right wing four minutes later, and whipped in a dangerous cross. Defender Tony Craig had dropped the clanger for the opening goal, and his night of misery was completed as he smashed Young's cross into his own net to seal a 3-1 win for Yeovil, and to spark a mass exodus of Bees fans who decided to head off home. Those who stayed booed their team off at the end - possibly a little harsh given that there were a couple of key moments when they could have got a clear foothold in the game. Whilst Hayter will grab the headlines, the two Marek Stech saves were hugely influential in the outcome of the match and should not be forgotten in the final assessment of what was a great win and a great night of football.
Scorers: James Hayter (23 mins, 0-1), Clayton Donaldson (55 mins, 1-1), James Hayter (80 mins, 1-2), Tony Craig (84 mins, own goal, 1-3)
Brentford: 21. Simon Moore
14. Shaleum Logan 5. Tony Craig 32. Leon Legge 3. Scott Barron
7. Sam Saunders 8. Jonathan Douglas 4. Adam Forshaw 20. Toumani Diagouraga
9. Clayton Donaldson 10. Farid El Alagui
Substitutes: 1. Richard Lee 2. Kevin O'Connor 15. Stuart Dallas 18. Ryan Fredericks 19. Harry Forrester (68 mins for Toumani Diagouraga) 23. Paul Hayes (67 mins for Sam Saunders) 26. Leon Redwood
Yeovil Town: (4-4-2) 1. Marek Stech
2. Luke Ayling 4. Richard Hinds 5. Byron Webster 3. Jamie McAllister (Capt)
7. Keanu Marsh-Brown 6. Dominic Blizzard 8. Ed Upson 14. Sam Foley
9. James Hayter 11. Reuben Reid
Substitutes: 19. Gozie Ugwu (77 mins for Reuben Reid) 12. Gareth Stewart 15. Lewis Young (68 mins for Sam Foley) 16. Nathan Ralph (69 mins for Keanu Marsh-Brown) 20. Curtis Haynes-Brown
Brentford Bookings: None.
Yeovil Bookings: Richard Hinds (48 mins, foul), Byron Webster (52 mins, foul), Luke Ayling (73 mins, foul)
Brentford Match Statistics: Possession: 64%; Shots: 18; Shots On Target: 7; Corners: 8; Fouls: 10.
Yeovil Match Statistics: Possession: 36%; Shots: 12; Shots On Target: 8; Corners: 9; Fouls: 15.
Referee: Carl Berry (Surrey). Assistants: Daniel Leach (Oxfordshire) and Wade Norcott (Essex). Fourth Official: Andrew Laver (Hampshire).
If you watched this evening's 3-1 away win against Brentford at Griffin Park, don't forget to cast your Man of the Match votes. Choose your top three players from the match, plus entertainment and performance ratings along with any other comments you want to make on the game, using the form below.
Yeovil Town have made one change to their side for tonight's match against Brentford at Griffin Park. The first away League One match of the 2012-13 season sees the same sixteen players named for the third time running. However Gozie Ugwu and Keanu Marsh-Brown swap between the bench and the starting line-up with Ugwu having picked up a slight knock on Saturday.
Midfielder Gavin Williams (calf muscle) and defender/midfielder Rohan Ince (shin) remain unavailable for today's game, and are not named in today's squad.
The team is therefore as follows:
Yeovil Town: (4-4-2) 1. Marek Stech
2. Luke Ayling 4. Richard Hinds 5. Byron Webster 3. Jamie McAllister (Capt)
7. Keanu Marsh-Brown 6. Dominic Blizzard 8. Ed Upson 14. Sam Foley
9. James Hayter 11. Reuben Reid
Substitutes: 19. Gozie Ugwu 12. Gareth Stewart 15. Lewis Young 16. Nathan Ralph 20. Curtis Haynes-Brown
Yeovil Town manager Gary Johnson believes his side are coming up against a side tonight that will be on the edge of the promotion places this season. Since getting promoted back to League One level, the Bees have managed a very consistent 11th, 9th and 9th place finish across the last three seasons, generally putting them close to the play-off positions, even if they've fallen slightly short on the final hurdle.
Johnson has told BBC Somerset that he is expecting tonight's opponents to be of a similar quality, and thus to be tough opposition. With this being the club's first away match, he wants his players to raise up to the challenge, rather than act as 'shrinking violets' when they reach Griffin Park:
"It's our first away game and I've already set the scene by telling the players that we'll see who the shrinking violets are, when it really comes down to it. That's if there are any - let's hope there aren't. If there are, then they know I'm going to be jumping on them. So hopefully they'll be prepared right, and we'll make sure that we go there, because we want to pick up the three points. If you draw a game, then you've got to win your next one.
"If Brentford play to their potential then Brentford will be there or thereabouts - there's no doubt about that. But we mustn't be surprised by anything. We always respect the opposition, so we do a lot of work on them, and how we can combat their way of playing, but still maintain our own philosophy and performance. Although we haven't had a lot of time to do it, we've certainly been doing that all day today."
Having kicked off the season at Huish Park with a 1-1 draw against Coventry City, which followed the League Cup victory over Colchester United, Johnson is anxious to build up form on the club's travels as well:
"You don't want to be doing well at home and then blowing it away from home, from our point of view. So let's see if we can't keep our non-losing run going, albeit with ten friendlies. We've had two competitive games, so that's twelve, and the confidence that brings."
Once again, Yeovil Town will go into tonight's match, with Gavin Williams (calf muscle) and Rohan Ince (shin) still absent, with both players having missed the whole of August so far. Johnson hopes that pair will be available to him soon, but warns that those players that do get injured may struggle to get back into the side if the team plays well:
"There's players who actually want to play. So it's going to be difficult if you get injured or if you can't train for whatever reason, or you've got to do something outside the football club. You could lose your place, and at that point, the other lad is going to take it, because he is going to be good enough to have a run in the team. So especially when Gavin (Williams) comes back, which we think he is very close to now, and also Rohan Ince when he comes back, that will give us a proper set of eighteen lads to choose from, as at the moment we've only got sixteen."
Perhaps the biggest concern of Johnson's current squad is its size, with the club unable to field all seven substitute spots during their two competitive fixtures so far. In addition, Sam Foley, Nathan Ralph and Gozie Ugwu only made their Football League debuts on the weekend. Gary admits that it isn't a big squad, but feels that his more inexperienced players are good enough to cope with League football:
"We haven't got a big squad, but we've got a strong squad. We haven't got bundles of inexperienced players that aren't good enough. We've got inexperienced players, but I think they'll be good enough. We gave three people their League debuts on Saturday, which is fantastic for them, because they've got that out of the way. They can settle down now to play a few more games. I don't think you're a proper professional footballer until you've played 50 to 100 League games."
Tonight's match kicks off at 7.45p.m. at Griffin Park. If you can't get there, then BBC Somerset will have Chris Spittles and Chris Sweet on the airwaves commentating on the match, with coverage starting just after the 7.00p.m. news. We'll also be tweeting about the match on our @ytfcciderspace account throughout the evening, so make sure you're following us.
The rights to the Football League's online video highlights package have this season been transferred from the BBC Sport website to the Sky Sports website. As a result, you've got to head in a different direction if you want to see online clips of Yeovil Town's recent home matches against Colchester United and Coventry City.
To view the highlights, follow the two links below. At present we're not sure if they're available to users outside the United Kingdom - the BBC rights were for UK users only. In past seasons, the videos have tended to expire seven days after they are posted, so get in quick for the Colchester one, in particular.
A couple of weeks ago, Yeovil Town's new striker James Hayter was interviewed by the BBC, giving his thoughts on the coming season. In an interview conducted by BBC Bristol reporter Ed Hadwin, James describes his hopes for the 2012-13 season, as well as what he can offer as one of the club's more experienced players.
That interview with James has now been archived via the link below.
Tomorrow evening sees Yeovil Town make their first away trip of the 2012-13 season, having opened with two home matches. The trip to Brentford is a rather familiar one, but for those who are travelling and can't remember where to go, the usual mix of directions, car parking, stadium information, ticketing, travel and a pub guide, can be all found via the link below.
Yeovil Town Ladies made the perfect return to the FA Women's Premier League with a well won 3-1 victory over Lewes Ladies at Wells on Sunday. It was a good performance from the female Glovers, and one that saw Laura Bray continue her impressive goal scoring from last season with a brace, following an early debut goal from new signing Grace Rapp.
The three points have catapulted the Ladies to fourth place in the inaugural Premier League table, and have left joint managers Nigel Williams and Sarah Lawler delighted with a job well done from their team. Both felt that this fine start should bode well for the season ahead, but as Williams explained they and their players are keeping their feet firmly planted on the ground.
"It was a pleasing result," he said after the match. "But it is only the first day in a new league, so we are not getting carried away, but we have belief in our own ability to perform, so are confident we can succeed. Sarah and I felt that we had done our homework and preparation in close season, and it was now down to team selection and the performance of the players.
"Lewes have come into the Premier league in similar form to ourselves, having been unbeaten in the South East Combination over the last season, so we knew we had to give a good performance to get something from the game. It was a good test for the girls, and they did well."
Lawler said that she was pleased that the girls had listened to what she and Williams had said in the dressing room before the game, and they started the game at a high tempo. The passing was good, with the ball getting out well to the wide players to deliver into the danger area.
Yeovil were the early dominant force, and deservedly look the lead on six minutes when the lively Grace Rapp got on the end of a superbly delivered Emma Brazell comer, rising high to flick the ball into the back of the net with her head.
"Grace had a great game today, and she was given the players player of the game," Williams said. "She is a player that we had been tracking for some time, and when she was out of contract from her previous club this summer we made an approach. She is improving with every game she plays, and when you consider her young age we need to work with her to develop her into the ladies game and this league. It was a great goal she scored today, and one that got us off to a great start."
The game continued, and the Glovers continued to pressure the Lewes midfield. It was good play from Yeovil, with them closing down the opposition at every opportunity, constantly winning the ball back, and using it well in possession.
"We asked the girls to put plenty of pressure in the middle of the park," Williams said. "And we were not disappointed. The second goal came from our midfield winning the ball from a slide tackle from Jade Radburn, and the ball broke through the channel to Laura Bray, who looked up and seeing an advancing ‘keeper calmly slotted the ball in the bottom left hand corner."
"It was a really good finish", Sarah Lawler said. "Laws (Bray) was our leading goal scorer last season, and she has risen to the challenge presented to her with other strikers coming into the club during the summer. She had a good game today."
The Glovers were hungry for more, and added to their tally on 38 minutes when Laura Bray grabbed her second of the game after receiving a fine through ball from Rosie Williams.
"It was a well worked goal, and was built well from the back," Nigel Williams said. "After winning the ball well in defence, it was played into Rosie Williams, and again we found the channels between the centre backs and left back for Laura to receive the ball in a good position. She took the ball in her stride, and rounded the ‘keeper to provide a great finish from an angle."
The Glovers always looked the likely winners after that point, and despite Adrea Veiga getting a goal back for the Rookettes late in the second half, the game was well won.
"Everyone is a bit nervous at the first game of the season, as you want a good start," Williams said. "But we settled well today, and got that good start. I think we were the better team, but in the second half we saw a different Lewes team from that of the first period. They passed the ball around better, and had some good passages of play, but we dealt with it well. We matched them in every area, and were unfortunate to have lost a goal towards the end of the game from a free kick on the edge of our area.
"If you had said to me at midday that we were going to run out 3-1 winners I would have accepted this result. I was really pleased with the whole set up today. It has been a great start to the campaign, but it is early days yet. However, we are happy to have the early points in the bag."
As part of the build-up to the start of the 2012-13 season, Yeovil Town Chief Executive Martyn Starnes did two interviews with the BBC to give his thoughts on the coming campaign. We've already covered his Friday afternoon one - on Saturday lunchtime he spoke to BBC Bristol representer Geoff Twentyman on the Saturday Sport programme - the output of that can be read via the link below.
Tomorrow evening's opponents Brentford have made a new signing in time for the match at Griffin Park. They have snapped up striker Paul Hayes from Charlton Athletic, with the 28 year old being given a three year contract by the Bees.
Hayes is well known by Yeovil Town manager Gary Johnson, having tried to sign him during 2005. He is best known for the 74 goals he scored for Scunthorpe United across two spells that were sandwiched by a two year period in Barnsley. He was on the books of Charlton Athletic last season, but struggled to break into their side, sparking to life only when he was pushed out on loan to Wycombe Wanderers in their fight against relegation. His six goals in six appearances for the Chairboys wasn't good enough to keep them up, but was good enough to put his name back in the frame at this level.
The Dagenham born striker will have been registered in time for tomorrow evening's fixture and joins a wide variety of newcomers at Griffin Park that include Harlee Dean (Southampton, free), Adam Forshaw (Everton, free), Farid El Alagui (Falkirk, free), Tony Craig (Millwall, undisclosed), Stuart Dallas (Crusaders, free), Leon Redwood (Brighton, free), Ryan Fredericks (Tottenham, loan) and Scott Barron (Millwall, undisclosed).
Official for Yeovil Town's League One trip to Brentford have been published by the Football League. The match takes place at Griffin Park on Tuesday 21st August 2012 with a 7.45p.m. kick-off. The man in charge will be referee Carl Berry (Surrey).
We've only had Mr Berry twice as a match referee, as he was promoted to the Football League lists over the summer of 2011, although he did cover a couple of League Two matches during the latter part of the 2010-11 season. We've had him a couple of times as an assistant referee, such as the August 2009 home game against Tranmere Rovers (2-0 win) and the September 2010 home match against Exeter City (1-3 defeat) although we don't recall either linesman as being particularly annoying - over and above the usual!
His first appearance as the man in the middle in a Yeovil match came back in October 2011, and was his first match as a referee at League One level. This was for the visit of Carlisle United at Huish Park, and marked the one and only time that we saw Flavien Belson play for the Glovers. Two yellow cards meant that our sight of the Frenchman was rather brief; playing out the second half with ten men.
Terry Skiverton, who was manager at the time, was particularly non-plussed with Mr Berry's performance on the day, complaining after the game about the volume of yellow cards raised (three against Yeovil, two against Carlisle) and also his lack of leniency concerning Belson's second yellow, feeling that the match official should have made more allowances for Belson's nationality.
For what it's worth, a fair chunk of the Glovers fans in the crowd could see Mr Berry's signalling, prior to the critical incident, that made it clear to them that a 'last warning' had been fairly given five minutes previously, and so you didn't need English to be your first language to know what was coming once the next foul was committed. As such, we didn't really agree with Skivo's views on events.
There was a bit more sympathy for a disallowed goal against Steve MacLean prior to that incident - one of those cases where a player's arm makes contact with a bouncing ball as he runs onto it, and so not really a deliberate act - but that one was given by the East Stand linesman rather than Mr Berry. Overall, he didn't have a great game, although in the case of Belson's red card there wasn't a lot he could have done.
Mr Berry also took charge of the May 2012 game against Huddersfield Town that ended our 2011-12 season. The Terriers were already in the play-offs; we were already safe from relegation. As such, this one was probably one of the easier games to referee, and bar two very early bookings, Mr Berry didn't have a lot to do. We lost 2-0, and we can't recall him having a particular effect on that.
Mr Berry will be assisted by Daniel Leach (Oxfordshire) and Wade Norcott (Essex). The Fourth Official will be Andrew Laver (Hampshire).
Yeovil Town Ladies marked their return to the FA Women's Premier League this afternoon, by recording a win on their opening day of the season. Their first competitive game at their new Wells City venue, saw them feel very much at home when Grace Rapp netted on her debut after just six minutes.
Last season's top scorer Laura Bray proved that she had summered well by grabbing a brace to put the Glovers 3-0 up at half time. Lewes Ladies managed to get a goal back in a more even second half, but the game had already been during that opening 45 minutes.
Footballers and Twitter have proved to have a fairly questionable relationship since a significant proportion of those in the professional game have opened accounts with the social networking platform. On the positive side - and thankfully Yeovil Town's players fit universally into this category - they are a means for players to get across their own messages to the fans before and after games. The negative side comes with the steady stream of high profile cases that the Football Association are having to deal with - the FA's disciplinary page seems to be filled just as much with players off the field tweeting as it is for their on the field misdemeanours.
Former Northampton Town midfielder Ryan Gilligan is the latest to say things he may later regret, even if the FA can't touch him on this occasion, given that he is currently plying his trade at Swedish Third Division side Ostersunds FK, having signed for them a few weeks ago. Gilligan has launched into an attack on his last two Cobblers managers, Aidy Boothroyd and Gary Johnson. The Northampton Evening Telegraph have tonight printed a sanitised version of the tweets.
Provoked by a pair of his former team-mates being left out of Boothroyd's opening day League Two side, Gilligan has laid into both managers. Of Johnson he is particularly venomous (we've asterisked out a couple of words) saying:
"The fat p***k was something else ... Gary Johnson was a disgraceful human being. A nasty selfish little p***k, with not a genuine bone in his body! ... Everyone knew he was a reptile ... GJ was a just an outright moron. Just my opinions though, I'm sure others love him!"
As for Boothroyd, who is still first team boss at Sixfields, and was the manager to show Gilligan the door, the midfielder is hardly more diplomatic:
"He just isn’t keen on personalities! If the players were allowed to voice an opinion without being fined it would all be revealed trust me! Boothroyd is far more calculated (than Johnson). You only see a fraction! And that fraction is what the manager/media allow you to see, it’s all manipulated to there advantage to create excuses! Trust me."
It should be noted that Gilligan played just one first team match under Gary Johnson, and only two games under Aidy Boothroyd. Johnson's predecessor Ian Sampson had shipped the midfielder out on loan to Torquay United during the month leading to Sampson's departure, meaning that he was down at Plainmoor when Johnson arrived in the hotseat.
Boothroyd also loaned him out, with a deal with Newport County lasting just six games, instead of the half season loan, followed by a permanent move that it was intended to be. He was therefore released from his contract at the end of the 2011-12 season, having not featured for any clubs from the end of January onwards, and having managed three Cobblers appearances in 17 months. This could go a long way to explaining his attitude to both managers.
Quite a sizeable number of players use the Scandanavian Leagues as a stop-gap for games whilst they are 'in between' clubs before making their return to the English leagues. Given that Gilligan has only played for a limited number of football clubs, he may have some interesting times seeking references from his former managers, if he decides to return from Sweden in the near future.
Just before Saturday's home match against Coventry City kicked off at Huish Park, Yeovil Town manager Gary Johnson spoke to the BBC. Giving his thoughts on that match and the season proper to BBC Bristol reporter Richard Hoskin, Gary's pre-kick-off views are captured via the link below.
Ticketing information for Yeovil Town's League One trip to Scunthorpe United is now available. The match takes place at Glanford Park on Saturday 25th August 2012, with a 3.00p.m. kick-off. Ticket prices for the game are as follows:
Adults: £21.00; Over-60s and 18-21yo: £14.00; Under-18s and Full Time Students: £10.00; Under-16s: £5.00.
Wheelchair and Ambulant Disabled supporters pay the above rates, with an assistant admitted free of charge. For any special arrangements, Scunthorpe's ticket office is available on 0871 221 1899 (Press Option 1 then Option 3) or you can contact their Safety Officer, Alan Welsh, on 01724 747683
Yeovil Town supporters will be allocated seating in the South Stand, situated behind one of the goals. This holds up to 1,678 spectators. The relevant Turnstile Gates are 6 A, B C and 7 A & B. Wheelchair Disabled supporters are housed separately in the Grove Wharf Stand, with pitch level views.
There are no matchday surcharges for this match, and tickets will also be available from Glanford Park on the day. At present we're not sure whether the Huish Park Ticket Office is selling advance tickets, but with a flat tariff and plenty of spaces, there's obviously no hurry.
Next Saturday sees Yeovil Town make their second of two away trips inside a week, as they head up to Scunthorpe United for a League One match. The game at Glanford Park takes place on Saturday 25th August 2012 with a 3.00p.m. kick-off. The Green and Whites Supporters Club have announced their travel plans for this match and you can book your place now.
Coaches will depart from Yeovil Bus Station at 7.15a.m. and from Huish Park at 7.30a.m. Cost of travel will be £26.00 with concessions available at £24.00. Non-GWSC members are welcomed and will pay two pounds extra.
To place your booking, call Paul Hadlow on 07736 044570 or Rich Rendell on 01935 427072 (Evenings).
As mentioned earlier this week, annual membership subscriptions for the GWSC are due for the season, if you haven't already paid them. You can join the GWSC on the day you travel - this will be of benefit to you if you travel regularly with them during the coming season, or if you are visiting their shop on matchdays.
Membership prices are £7.00 for individual supporters, whilst a family of three can gain membership at £18.00 - for larger families add on £6.00 per person.
Coventry City manager Andy Thorn believes his side were denied a 'blatant' penalty during the second half during yesterday's 2012-13 League One opener against Yeovil Town. The Sky Blues had to settle for a point, but were upset by an incident that saw Glovers defender Byron Webster and Coventry goalscorer Cody McDonald tangle inside the box. Referee David Phillips chose to wave away the visitors protests - a key moment in the game, given that it was finely balanced on a 1-1 scoreline.
McDonald also missed a late chance to win the match when he fired over the crossbar during second half injury time, and Thorn felt that both incidents were key moments that stopped them from gaining three points:
"Cody McDonald could have had a hat-trick. He was pulled down for a penalty and on another day you never know. We created enough chances to win the game. I've seen it on the video and it's a blatant penalty, but we're pleased to get the season underway."
Like Glovers boss Gary Johnson, Thorn felt that there was room for improvement in his side's game, and that with the match being the opening League One fixture of the season that both sides were edgy in their play at times:
"The first half was a typical first game of the season where everyone was a bit on the edge, and the occasion got to us. When we scored I thought we settled down, but we are very disappointed with the goal we conceded. I didn't think we really played at the top of our game, but still created lots of chances, so that's encouraging. It's a point away from home on the first day of the season against a tough team. Now we need to kick on."
Following Saturday afternoon's 1-1 draw against Coventry City at Huish Park, Yeovil Town manaer Gary Johnson spoke to the BBC about the match. With questions from BBC Bristol reporter Richard Hoskin, Gary's post-match thoughts can be read via the link below.
West Midlands Police have confirmed that they have arrested the Coventry City supporter suspected of throwing a smoke flare onto the pitch at Huish Park on Saturday afternoon. The game against the Sky Blues was pretty much trouble-free, with the exception of a short second half delay when a blue flare, which had been smuggled into the ground, was lit, and landed on the edge of the pitch.
With 2,136 Sky Blues fans at the game there were five visiting supporters ejected for alcohol-related offences, but it would appear that these will not be taken further. The relevant Twitter account for their Football Liaison Officer explains in a series of tweets:
"2,200 Coventry fans attended Yeovil today. Five were ejected for alcohol related issues and one male was arrested. A Coventry male was identified for throwing a flare onto the pitch during today's game. He was arrested after the match by West Midland Police officers. The Coventry fan arrested for the flare now has another trip down to Yeovil, this time to explain his actions to the local Magistrates."
Yeovil Town manager Gary Johnson felt that both sides created enough opportunities to have won today's 2012-13 season opener against Coventry City. The eventual 1-1 draw that those at Huish Park witnessed, could easily have had more goals besides the Cody McDonald opener for the Sky Blues that was cancelled out by a Richard Hinds header.
Speaking to BBC Somerset after the game, Johnson refused to be drawn on which side more deserved to win the game, feeling that although Yeovil Town could have easily gained all three points, that their opponents could have easily stolen the game:
"I think we did enough to create enough opportunities to have won the game. They also created their opportunities. But the fact that we're saying that it could almost be two points lost against a club like Coventry is obviously meaning that us as a club are getting further forward."
Johnson added that for his side to be a top half of the table team, they needed to be better at turning their superior possession into clear-cut chances. He felt that his side fell short in that area, and needed to work harder on delivering the final ball that would have created a winning goal on the day:
"I felt that our standards weren't quite there, for what we need if we're going to be in the top half competing. But it was there on occasions. We had enough good play, but it was our final ball. We just didn't quite get that last ball to create the opportunity. We didn't quite find our forwards or a goal. So I was a bit disappointed with that, but the lads know that we've got to raise it a little bit."
If you watched this afternoon's 1-1 draw against Coventry City at Huish Park, don't forget to cast your Man of the Match votes. Choose your top three players from the match, plus entertainment and performance ratings along with any other comments you want to make on the game, using the form below.
Yeovil Town picked up a home point in their opening game of the 2012-13 season this afternoon at Huish Park. They had to come from behind after Cody McDonald's 10th minute header gave Coventry City the lead in front of 6,006 supporters that included well over 2,000 travelling Sky Blues fans. However, those visitors were soon silenced after Richard Hinds scored his third goal of the season as once again he netted from a set piece midway through the half. Both sides had their chances to win it, with Hinds seeing a goal ruled out, whilst McDonald struck the woodwork during the second period, but in the end they had to settle for a share of the points.
The Glovers selected an unchanged team for the match, with even the five substitutes chosen identical to the midweek win over Colchester United. Gavin Williams (calf muscle) and Rohan Ince (shin) remained absent once again, having both missed several weeks of pre-season. They came up against a Coventry side playing at third tier level for the first time since 1964 and with them travelling to Yeovil for their first ever competitive fixture.
Yeovil may have had the first chance, with Richard Hinds firing over the bar from an Ed Upson corner that Coventry failed to clear. However, it was the visiting club's own set piece that gave them the lead. Hinds gave away a free kick for a foul on the edge of the box, and when John Fleck's dead ball was put into the box, Cody McDonald was allowed far too much space to head home from close range to lift the 2,000 visiting supporters inside the ground. The Glovers looked a little overawed during the opening quarter hour, allowing Coventry too much time on the ball, and for them to turn them.
It took a while for the Glovers to get into the match, and The equalising goal came midway through the first half, after Coventry keeper Joe Murphy had comfortably tipped over Byron Webster's header for a corner. Yeovil Town's first two goals in midweek came via Ed Upson corners, with Richard Hinds the goalscorer, so it was not as if Coventry's scouts would have not known of the possible combination. However, Hinds made a good run in front of his marker when the corner kick was taken, and Yeovil were level, with his header this time going past Murphy into the back of the net.
That was the cue for Yeovil to dominate the majority of the first period - Coventry's only real further chance before the break came when Jamie McAllister's poor backpass let in Cody McDonald. However, Marek Stech rescued his captain with a fine save, and Richard Hinds blocked any chance that John Fleck had of getting the rebound. Otherwise the half was Yeovil's - they grew into the match following the goal, breaking on the Sky Blues, and with Reuben Reid and James Hayter both getting sights on goal. When they got possession with the ball on the deck, there the home side were undoubtedly the dominant force.
Around the hour mark of a somewhat less eventful opening to the second half, there were two questionable incidents involving the match officials. Firstly Reuben Reid landed in the referee's notebook for kicking the ball away, after he felt he was unjustly given offside, having sprung a run from inside his own half. But a minute later, Coventry had appeals for a penalty turned down when Byron Webster and Cody McDonald both went down inside the box - referee David Phillips waved the visitors appeals away in what would have been a certain red card decision had it been given, leaving the visitors fuming.
Not that this was the only decision that Mr Phillips got involved in. After Adam Barton had curled a ball against the post, having made his way in from the wings, Yeovil thought they had retaken the lead through Richard Hinds. Once again, the centre-back showed his prowess at the other end of the field - chesting the ball down with his back to goal, then turning his marker and firing the ball into the back of the net. Unfortunately referee Phillips chalked the goal off, with the feeling that he had penalised Hinds for handling as he controlled the ball.
Both teams played for the win in the closing stages, with Yeovil's three pacey substitution changes mirroring the alterations made on the Tuesday night, as Keanu Marsh-Brown finished the game up front, with Lewis Young and Nathan Ralph occupying wing positions as they injected fresh legs on the pitch. Gozie Ugwu's withdrawal seemed possibly forced - the Reading loanee had picked up a knock on the hour mark, following a poor challenge by Coventry full-back Chris Hussey.
Right at the end, Cody McDonald should have won the game for Coventry as he burst through with just Marek Stech to beat. But with the game into five minutes of injury time, McDonald fluffed his lines, slicing the ball well over the bar, and ensuring that both sides came out of the game with a point each. That leaves Yeovil and Coventry tied in equal 7th place along with six clubs who all drew 1-1 today, and will be seen as a decent start against a side presumed to be looking to challenge in the top six positions during the coming season.
Yeovil Town: (4-4-2) 1. Marek Stech
2. Luke Ayling 4. Richard Hinds 5. Byron Webster 3. Jamie McAllister (Capt)
19. Gozie Ugwu 6. Dominic Blizzard 8. Ed Upson 14. Sam Foley
9. James Hayter 11. Reuben Reid
Substitutes: 7. Keanu Marsh-Brown (60 mins for Gozie Ugwu) 12. Gareth Stewart 15. Lewis Young (81 mins for James Hayter) 16. Nathan Ralph (77 mins for Sam Foley) 20. Curtis Haynes-Brown
Coventry City: 1. Joe Murphy
2. Jordan Clarke 35. Reece Brown 24. Richard Wood 3. Chris Hussey
10. John Fleck 27. Billy Daniels 15. Kevin Kilbane 16. Adam Barton
9. Cody McDonald 17. Callum Ball
Substitutes: 13. Chris Dunn 6. Kevin Malaga 11. Gary McSheffrey (33 mins for John Fleck) 8. Carl Baker 25. William Edjenguele 14. Stephen Elliott (63 mins for Callum Ball) 12. Steve Jennings
Yeovil Town's Under-18s went down to defeat in their second League match of the 2012-13 season this morning. They played Torquay United Under-18s in a match staged on their main Plainmoor ground, but were on the wrong end of a 4-1 scoreline. Striker Melchi Emmanuel-Williamson provided their main moment of joy, as his penalty just before the break was converted.
More detail on this game will follow later in the weekend.
Final Score: Torquay United Under-18s 4 Yeovil Town Under-18s 1.
With Yeovil Town having gained an emphatic 3-0 win against Colchester United in midweek, it's not too surprising to find that there are zero changes to the line-up that faces Coventry City this afternoon at Huish Park. The opening League One match of the 2012-13 season sees the same starting eleven and the same five substitutes named for the first competitive fixture between the Glovers and the Sky Blues.
Midfielder Gavin Williams (calf muscle) and defender/midfielder Rohan Ince (shin) remain unavailable for today's game, and are not named in today's squad.
The team is therefore as follows:
Yeovil Town: (4-4-2) 1. Marek Stech
2. Luke Ayling 4. Richard Hinds 5. Byron Webster 3. Jamie McAllister (Capt)
19. Gozie Ugwu 6. Dominic Blizzard 8. Ed Upson 14. Sam Foley
9. James Hayter 11. Reuben Reid
Substitutes: 7. Keanu Marsh-Brown 12. Gareth Stewart 15. Lewis Young 16. Nathan Ralph 20. Curtis Haynes-Brown
Coventry City: 1. Joe Murphy
2. Jordan Clarke 35. Reece Brown 24. Richard Wood 3. Chris Hussey
10. John Fleck 27. Billy Daniels 15. Kevin Kilbane 16. Adam Barton
9. Cody McDonald 17. Callum Ball
Substitutes: 13. Chris Dunn 6. Kevin Malaga 11. Gary McSheffrey 8. Carl Baker 25. William Edjenguele 14. Stephen Elliott 12. Steve Jennings
Just ahead of the start of the 2012-13 League One season, Yeovil Town's Chief Executive Martyn Starnes gave the BBC his pre-season verdict on how the Glovers were likely to perform. With questions from BBC Somerset presenter Ben McGrail, Martyn's views on the coming nine months can be found via the link below.
Yeovil Town have been drawn away in the First Round of the Football League Trophy. They will face a trip to Bristol Rovers in a match that will be played during the week commencing September 3rd. The draw was made live on Soccer AM and the following was produced:
South-West: Oxford United v Swindon Town
Bristol Rovers v Yeovil Town
Portsmouth v Bournemouth
Exeter v Aldershot
South-East: Southend v Wimbledon
Dagenham and Redbridge v Stevenage
Northampton v MK Dons
Crawley v Gillingham
North-West: Rochdale v Fleetwood Town
Carlisle United v Preston North End
Accrington Stanley v Morecambe
Port Vale v Tranmere Rovers
North-East: Rotherham United v York City
Chesterfield v Oldham Athletic
Coventry City v Burton Albion
Scunthorpe United v Notts County
The following clubs were already awarded byes through to the next round:
Northern Section: Bradford City, Bury, Crewe Alexandra, Doncaster Rovers, Hartlepool United, Sheffield United, Shrewsbury Town, Walsall
Southern Section: Barnet, Brentford, Cheltenham Town, Colchester United, Leyton Orient, Plymouth Argyle, Torquay United, Wycombe Wanderers
Just as we commence the 2012-13 season, we needed to clear up one loose end concerning the 2011-12 season. Our prediction results for last season haven't yet been published, and so it's time to have a little look back at what happened last year.
The final 2011-12 season League One table saw Charlton Athletic and Sheffield Wednesday run out in the automatic promotion positions, whilst Huddersfield Town got promotion via the play-offs. At the other end, we said farewell to Wycombe Wanderers, Chesterfield, Exeter City and Rochdale.
So how close were people in general terms? As far as promotion was concerned, 61% of voters actually expected Huddersfield to go up in an automatic position, whilst only 10% thought they'd need the play-offs. But overall, that trio were fairly well predicted, although not necessarily in the right order.
At the other end Exeter City (11%), Chesterfield (17%), Rochdale (18%) and Wycombe Wanderers (55%) were all well predicted so at least we didn't have any of the curveballs that we've had in recent seasons, such as when Swindon Town went a play-off position to relegation inside one season that caught almost everyone out.
Perhaps in terms of Yeovil Town's own League position, a decent number were caught out - only 12 voters predicted a 17th place finish. The most popular votes came for the Glovers to finish between 10th and 13th last year, taking up 43 percent of the vote, giving a clear indication that far too many of you were a bit too optimistic.
The people to correctly predict Yeovil Town's 17th place position were as follows: Vyse, John Baker, Chris Hodge, Alex Duell, Merlin, Antmania, Ben Pollock, R Morris, M Cousins, Barry Hemsley, Paul Brenton and Roy Clarke. Well done to all there!
As far as the promotion positions were concerned, no-one got all three correct in entirely the right order. However, Robert Will Howes deserves a shout-out for getting both Charlton Athletic and Sheffield Wednesday both spot on in terms of their automatic promotion positions - he was the only person to achieve this. As mentioned earlier, most people got caught out by Huddersfield failing to go up automatically.
For the relegation slots, it seems that although a number of you thought Exeter and Rochdale might drop, very few people thought they'd occupy the bottom two positions, probably due to both having had excellent finishes during the 2010-11 season. However, Nick Burton, Peter Hemborough and Roy Clarke deserve credit for getting two out of the four positions spot on.
Looking at all of the possible predictions on their merits, across promotion, relegation and Yeovil Town's own position, two supporters managed to get three positions correct. They were Roy Clarke and Brian Bonner. In addition to getting Yeovil's finishing spot on the nail for last season, Roy also did exactly the same for the 2009-10 season, so if you know him, find out what he's entering for the 2012-13 predictions and nip down the bookies.
Talking of which, you have until 3.00p.m. on Saturday afternoon to get in your predictions for this season - so you need to hurry to cram in your entry. Follow the link below, and hopefully we'll be shouting out a few names during the summer of 2013.
Former Yeovil Town loan midfielder Conor Clifford has completed his loan move to League One side Portsmouth. The Irish Under-21 international has become the latest player to sign terms at Fratton Park on a limited one month basis whilst the club remains in limbo.
The 20 year old was intended to sign on a half season loan, having played in one of Pompey's pre-season friendlies, but at the moment that has been limited to the first month only. He joins ex-Glover Luke Rodgers who signed for them yesterday on a one month contract, having recently returned from the USA, via a short spell with Norwegian club Lillestrom.
Former winger Alan O'Brien has returned to this part of the world after a year in the North-East. The 27 year old has signed for Hungerford Town, who play in the Southern League Division One South & West. The Irishman spent the second half of last season playing for Gateshead at Conference National level, but has dropped three divisions to join the Berkshire club. Hungerford boss Bobby Wilkinson says of the the player:
"It's a great signing for us and he will be in the squad that goes to Bridgwater for the opening game of the season."
Former midfielder Gareth Risbridger has made a permanent switch to St Albans City after winning a contract with the Southern League Premier Division side. Now aged 30 years old, the former Youth Teamer, who was taken to Southend United by David Webb, has most recently been with Boreham Wood and Staines Town. He joins former Glover Curtis Ujah, who has also moved to Clarence Park this summer.
Former midfielder Ben Smith has signed for AFC Sudbury, who play in Isthmian League Division One North. The 33 year old was on the books of Crawley Town last season, although had spent time on loan with Kettering Town and Aldershot Town having drifted out of their first team. Ben was training with Braintree Town earlier this summer, but now signs for Sudbury, putting him close to his Chelmsford roots again. Their first team manager Chris Tracey has given him a one year contract, saying:
"Ben will bring his experience to our side and I have no doubt he will be a big influence on it. He has had a number of offers from various clubs but has found us the one he likes. He is extremely fit and showed up well in our last pre-season game at Bury Town last week, I’m sure our supporters will be pleased with him."
Finally former Glovers trialist Aarran Racine has signed a three month contract with Conference National side Forest Green Rovers. The 20 year old was at Huish Park earlier this season, but failed to get a contract offer, with the defender having left Southampton over the summer just gone.
Yeovil Town manager Gary Johnson has said that he welcomes the chance to commence the 2012-13 Season with a game like tomorrow's home match against Coventry City. The Glovers stage their first competitive fixture against the Sky Blues, with the Midlands side playing their first game at this level since 1964. Having regularly been a top flight side since that time, most people associated with Coventry are encountering new territory, with the standard of football at League One level an unknown quantity to them.
Johnson has told BBC Somerset he feels that could be an advantage to his side, in that the Glovers may have the element of surprise, and said that if he'd been hand-picking an opening game, that would be high up on his list:
"It's a super game to have. For me, if I had to pick a team to play on the first game of the season, it would be somebody like Coventry at home. They're probably expecting to beat us. Hopefully the bookies have told them that we're hopeless as well. So we'll have to wait and see what sort of attitude they turn up with."
The Glovers went unbeaten during the 2012-13 pre-season, clocking up five wins and four draws, and so adding that into the midweek win over Colchester United in the League Cup, Johnson's side commence the League One fixtures on ten games without having tasted defeat. He says that has been a big factor in how confident the team are feeling right now:
"The feeling of being aware that yourself and your team-mates are good enough to be unbeaten for ten or eleven games, results in the confidence that flows through the team, and that can only be good. I'm sure that's what's happening at the moment, because they're working hard on the training ground, and they're working hard because they are enjoying what they're doing at the moment."
The bookies may once again disagree with Johnson's views, predicting that the Glovers will be one of the rank outsiders for the season. However, Gary feels that a lot of that is drawn from the way the team have performed in recent seasons and so is not concerned at what they think:
"It doesn't bother me that people think that we're second favourites to go down. They're only going after the last few seasons where the club has been struggling a little bit in the relegation zone, and then manage to creep out of it at the last minute. So that's all they're going on. The bookies are not down here watching us in pre-season, and they wouldn't have seen our games. But our odds will get lower as the season goes on, I'm sure."
As mentioned earlier this month, Coventry will be bringing down just under 2,000 away fans to Huish Park for the game, and so expect Huish Park to be a bit more crowded than usual. Obviously if you're an away fan, then don't travel without a ticket. You'll find plenty of ground information and directions available on this site. For home fans, we'd strongly advise that if you've not bought a ticket, that you take ID with you, such as Supporters Club cards, or Ticket Office Database numbers, as we believe there are a number of checks being made to ensure away fans do not gain admission to home areas of the ground.
If you can't make it, then Richard Hoskin and Chris Spittles are manning the airwaves for BBC Somerset tomorrow on 95.5FM with full live commentary, whilst there will be the usual live tweeting tomorrow on the game, so hit our follow button if you haven't already.
The subject of football pitches in Yeovil has been a constant theme throughout this summer, from multiple angles. This week, first team manager Gary Johnson brought up his own concerns, calling for 'standards' to be raised throughout the club.
In the latest Taff's Gloversblog entry, Cruncher looks at the situation, and considers the merit of Gary's words. That article can be found via the link below. As ever, matching or alternate views are welcomed - just use the 'Comment' box at the foot of the article.
This week's collapse of Portsmouth's plans to set up a new ownership structure under Balram Chainrai's Portpin company has seen Portsmouth Supporters Trust emerge as the club's only possible saviour from liquidation. The sudden change in focus overlooked the fact that administrator Trevor Birch had set an August 10th deadline for Pompey to have a firm exit plan to come out of administration - which was in itself an extension on the original deadline which has been set when their CVA was agreed.
Birch has now told BBC Radio Solent that he wants the Supporters Trust to finalise their bid to buy the club by next Friday, although even then there seems to only be a 'hope' that this will happen by that date:
"I would hope by the end of next week the Trust will say to me we are ready to go. They will need to go back to the Football League with a business plan that is acceptable. The compromise agreements also need to be revisited and we need to look at the Trust plan and see what can now be paid to the Football Creditors."
There are a number of ever-complex obstacles that the Supporters Trust need to overcome if they are to get as far as owning the club. Birch's mention of 'compromise agreements' being revisited concerns the fact that under the Portpin offer, the club's Football Creditors had been given agreements that would commit Portsmouth to paying out in the region of £8-9 million over the next four years. However, the Portsmouth News indicates that the Trust are only prepared to offer around £2 million, meaning that Birch may have to call back the eight players who have left the club in return for severance agreements.
There is also another problem in that Portsmouth City Council's £1.45 million loan to the Trust was intended to be guaranteed from Premier League parachute payments. The Premier League has said that they are not prepared to do this, and say that it is the responsibility of Birch or the new owners to commit to this. However, there is a suggestion that the parachute payments were due to be used to pay off their former players, providing a risk that such monies have been double-counted.
The Supporters Trust's other problem is that Fratton Park is currently owned by Chainrai's Portpin company, rather than by Portsmouth Football Club itself, with the assets having been split from the club in recent years. The Trust have offered £2.75 million to Chainrai to give up his rights to the ground and return it to club ownership.
Yesterday's news that the Football League had given Pompey permission to start the season on zero points might have been viewed as them having got over their financial problems. Yesterday, they confirmed the signing of Kieran Djilali, Mustapha Dumbuya, Jon Harley, Brian Howard, Izale McLeod, Lee Williamson and Simon Eastwood on one month contracts, and will add Jack Compton, Luke Rodgers and Liam Walker, subject to international clearance, with more loans such as former Glovers loan midfielder Connor Clifford still to come. However, it would seem that the next seven days will be just as turbulent and unpredictable as they struggle to avoid liquidation.
Yeovil Town have issued ticketing information for their League Cup Second Round tie against West Bromwich Albion. The match will be played on Tuesday 28th August 2012, with a 7.45p.m. kick-off at Huish Park.
Tickets for the game will be on sale from Monday 20th August 2012 on general release to all supporters. Season Ticket Holders will have their 'places' reserved but must purchase their seat/terrace ticket by Thursday 23rd August at 5.00p.m. At this point, their tickets will be made available for general sale.
There is no limit on how many tickets supporters can purchase. Ticket prices will be as per the standard 2012-13 League One prices. Away supporters must purchase their tickets from the West Bromwich Albion Ticket Office.
Ticket Office Opening Times:
Monday 20th August : 9.00a.m. - 6.30p.m.
Tuesday 21st August : 9.00a.m. - 5.00p.m.
Wednesday 22nd August : 9.00a.m. - 5.00p.m.
Thursday 23rd August : 9.00a.m. - 5.00p.m.
Friday 24th August : 9.00a.m. - 4.00p.m.
Saturday 25th August : 9.00a.m. - 12.00 noon
Monday 27th August : 9.00a.m. - 12.00 noon
Tuesday 28th August : 9.00a.m. - 7.45p.m.
Yeovil Town Ladies start their new league season when they take on Lewes Ladies at Wells City FC on Sunday. The female Glovers are of course back in the FA Women’s Premier League after a great campaign last term that saw them promoted unbeaten as champions of the South West Combination Football League, and they will be looking to continue their good form back at the premier level with three points in this first match.
Like Yeovil the Rookettes are newly promoted to the Premier League, and similar to the Glovers they made to jump to the higher level after a season that saw them run away with their championship, winning the South East Combination unbeaten, with nineteen victories from their twenty league matches. However, as Yeovil found two years ago, they may find the Premier League a completely different ball game, with opponents more skilful and fitter than those at the lower level. They look well equipped for this new division, and should prove just as tough an opposition to Yeovil on Sunday as the Glovers will be to them. Both teams will be fired up for this game, and both desperate for victory. It should be quite a spectacle!
Joint Yeovil managers Nigel Williams and Sarah Lawler have added well to their squad this summer, bringing in a good mix of youth and experience to an already talented pool of players, with the likes of Jade Radburn, Michelle Keehan, Grace Rapp, Abi Locke and Kayleigh Sage all joining the ranks. Not only has the squad’s talent swelled, but so has the wide choice of players, allowing for more flexible team selection. The squad is looking good, and with the hard work put in during pre-season, the girls look well equipped to compete in the Premier League.
This will be Yeovil Town Ladies first competitive match at the Athletic Ground. The decision to leave Sherborne was a difficult one, but in the end it was felt that to realise its potential the team needed to play on a superior surface. The pitch at Wells provides this, and should give the girls the best possible chance of success. They played their first game at the ground last Sunday against Wolves, and got a good size crowd, something Nigel Williams is looking for again this Sunday.
"It was wonderful to see so many people come along last weekend to see our first game at Wells," he said. "It is that kind of support that will really spur us along in the league this coming season, so we urge the fans to travel the extra few miles to see us play.
"Sarah (Lawler) and I would like to thank the fans for their great support, and we would love to see a good crowd on Sunday. It would be a big shot in the arm for the girls, and will hopefully inspire them to victory. The Athletics ground has good facilities, and it has a great pitch which should help us to play entertaining football, which in turn should encourage success. I would hope that watching Yeovil Town Ladies this season will make for a good Sunday afternoon, not only for the fans of Yeovil, but for supporters of any team. With the impressive performances of the Team GB Ladies football team at the Olympics this summer I hope that more people will be inspired to now watch the women's game."
Yeovil Town Ladies take on Lewes Ladies at the Athletics Ground in Wells this Sunday the 19th of August. The match kicks off at 2.00p.m., with admission prices just £3.00 for adults and £1.00 to concessions.
Directions To Wells City FC: The Athletic Ground, Rowdens Road, Wells, Somerset, BA5 ITU.
From the North & Southwest - Follow the A39 to Strawberry Way to roundabout. Follow A371 East Somerset Way, and take right turn into Rowdens Road. The ground is on the left.
From the East - Follow A371 from Shepton Mallet. After approximately five miles on East Somerset Way take left turn into Rowdens Road. Ground is on left.
Ticketing information for Yeovil Town's first away trip of the 2012-13 season is now available. The match against Brentford takes place on Tuesday 21st August at Griffin Park, with a 7.45p.m. kick-off. As with recent visits, we will be at the Brook Road End end of the ground, which is a two-tiered stand with seating on the upper tier, and terracing underneath. Prices therefore vary as to which tier you pick and are as follows:
Note that Brentford have introduced pre-match and match-day tariffs for the 2012-13 season, which means that ticket prices for Adults and Seniors go up by £2.00 on the day of the game. Juniors are the only tariff that stay on the pre-match rate if you purchase on the day.
Note also that wishing to avail themselves of the student concession MUST book their tickets before the day of the game, as this concession is not available on the day of the match. Students must be in full-time education and produce a valid NUS/NUS Associate Card or photo Oyster Card when collecting their tickets. No other cards are acceptable.
Ambulant and Wheelchair Disabled supporters pay concessionary ticket prices according to their age, although Brentford don't make it clear whether this is against the seated or the terrace rates. A helper is admitted free of charge. Wheelchair users must contact Griffin Park and purchase in advance of the day of the game. If you need to make any special arrangements at Griffin Park in advance of the game then speak to their ticket office on 0845 3456442 (option 4). You can also reach them via email on tickets@brentfordfc.co.uk
To our knowledge, the Huish Park Ticket Office will have advance tickets on sale, although with the match due to take place next Tuesday, you'll need to order tickets quickly if you are to avoid the matchday increases.
Yeovil Town manager Gary Johnson has said that he wants to see standards raised within and around Yeovil Town Football Club in an effort to improve the way the club is run. The Glovers boss was speaking in the wake of a mid-week match that saw him fail to show for a midweek press conference, after the club's 3-0 win over Colchester United in the League Cup.
Whilst the win impressed Johnson, his assistant Terry Skiverton admitted after the game that the gaffer was hopping mad about certain aspects of the evening, with the broad implication that the quality of the Huish Park pitch had upset him. Two days later, Gary seems to have calmed down enough to speak to the press about his reasons for leaving the ground straight after the game ended. Choosing his words often carefully and slowly, he told BBC Somerset that he felt very emotional about getting the standards at the football club right, both on and off the pitch:
"You get all emotions, don't you, when you come into a football match. They all revolve around you trying to get the standards right. So you have high emotions of being happy, because the players got to a performance level where we've raised the standard. I'm looking for that from everywhere around the club, as are everyone else who is part of the club. Some people have different standards to others. I just want to keep pushing because I want this football club to go as far as it can. We've got to start acting and being like a League One club, which it has been for a little while now."
"So there are a lot of people who are trying to improve standards, and keep pushing and shoving, and I'm one that does that, and some of our Directors want to do that. But we have to get into those people who have not quite got those standards that we've got, and make sure that they raise them. If they do, then we'll all be happy."
Gary said that good standards were as important during the week as well as on matchdays, pointing out that for his team to put on good performances on the Huish Park main pitch, they also needed to perform well in training. Revealing that his team are currently not training at the club's Alvington venue, which they only took over in the summer, he said that finding an adequate surface required his players to travel 'half an hour' from the club:
"When you get a football team that is in your own image, and a team where you know how you want to play, then you've got to have the best facilities to do that. That includes training grounds as well. It includes maybe the Council trying to help us as well - do you know what I mean? At the moment we're having to travel half an hour up the road because our training grounds are impossible to train on."
"For a League One club, that is poor. There are people working hard to try to change that, but we need to try harder, and we need to get that right properly. That's because if you're going to play the type of football that I want us to play, then you have to train that way. Then obviously your surface is so important to the way your team plays."
The Yeovil boss added that what his team showed against Colchester showed what they were capable of, if given a good environment to play in. However, he said that there needed to be decisive 'action' within the Glovers ranks to help push the club onwards:
"You can see we've got running power in our team, and you can see that we're trying to play one or two touch. The ball needs to get across the ground, and everybody knows how I want to play, and I think it reminded people that it needs type of surface. Sometimes I get a little bit disappointed when I see that it's not quite right for what we need, when we know the exact measurements. People sometimes have excuses of this, that and the other. But I don't want excuses, we need action. That's not having a go at any one person, or any one department. It's saying 'Look this is us, as a football club'. We need the best facilities that we can, out there and inside the stadium. We've got to keep pushing to improve our standard and that's the main thing."
Sky Sports have chosen both of the live matches that they will screen during the Second Round of the 2012-13 League Cup later this month. They have selected Nottingham Forest vs Wigan Athletic, after Championship side Forest got past Fleetwood Town in the First Round. They will stage their tie on Tuesday 28th August, with a 7.45p.m. kick-off.
The other game to be selected is Northampton Town's home match against Championship side Wolverhampton Wanderers, after the Cobblers caused a shock by knocking out last season's Cup finalists Cardiff City in the first round. Their match will be scheduled for Thursday 30th August, with a 7.45p.m. kick-off.
The end result of this is that barring a huge surprise, Yeovil Town's home game against West Bromwich Albion will take place on Tuesday 28th August, with a 7.45p.m. kick-off, now that both televised ties have been selected.
The Football League have given League One side Portsmouth permission to start the 2012-13 season, despite their future being far from clear. With the South Coast club still in administration, and prospective owner Portpin having pulled out of a deal to buy the club earlier this week, their only hope is for the Portsmouth Supporters Trust to do a deal with the club.
The League have also confirmed that Portsmouth's ten point deduction will not be enacted until they come out of administration. A number of reports at the time of the League's offer of membership to Pompey appeared to suggest that the deduction had already been made. The League have said that this will only happen once the agreed CVA process has been concluded and the club comes out of administration. Because they have yet to complete that process, Portsmouth will commence the season on zero points.
The Football League's statement issued this afternoon says:
"The League will continue working with the administrator in an effort to secure the future of the club. Given the ongoing dialogue between the administrator and the Supporters' Trust, the Board has given its consent to Portsmouth beginning the new season in administration.
"The club will start on zero points, with the conditions of membership announced at the Board's previous meeting - including a 10-point deduction - not coming into effect unless and until the club exits administration."
Pompey administrator Trevor Birch claims that the club will request that the League re-reviews the planned points deduction when they come out of administration, although this seems a folorn hope, given that the CVA proposals plan to junk the original CVA agreement that was set up in 2009. As a breach of the League's insolvency rules, the deduction is in line with similar deductions made to clubs such as Rotherham United, who went through two CVAs in a short space of time.
Portsmouth also appear to have been given the green light to sign new players, given that their wage bill has been brought down somewhat by the departure of eight of their high earners. The BBC Sport website expects boss Michael Appleton to sign up the likes of former Glovers transfer target Izale McLeod and former Glovers striker Luke Rodgers, plus Mustapha Dumbuya, Jon Harley, Brian Howard, Jack Compton, Kieran Djilali and Liam Walker.
Appleton is also looking at the loan market, with former Glovers loan midfielder Conor Clifford, plus Reading keeper Mikkel Anderson, West Ham goalkeeper Peter Kurucz and Celtic defender Josh Thompson all ear-marked for recruitment as soon as they get the green light. At present Pompey's only registered players come from their Academy side - they finished their League Cup midweek match at Plymouth Argyle with all outfield players aged 18 years or under.
Officials for Yeovil Town's opening match of the 2012-13 season have been published by the Football League. The home game against Coventry City takes place on Saturday 18th August 2012 with a 3.00p.m. kick-off. The man in charge will be referee David Phillips (West Sussex).
He is in his fifth season as a Football League referee, and we have had him six times during that period. The first of those occasions was November 2008's freezing trip to Colchester United that saw the Glovers lose out by a 1-0 scoreline. Mr Phillips dished out a stop-start performance, blowing his whistle far too often, making for a dull encounter in Essex. Playing short on first half injury time, as well as disallowing a 'goal' from Terry Skiverton, certainly manager (at the time) Russell Sladewasn't too amused by his performance on the night.
The second occasion was a little less controversial but we still weren't too happy with his part in Yeovil's 1-1 draw with Carlisle United in March 2009. Again the second half deteriorated into a stop-start game, and he wasn't particularly wise to some gamesmanship being carried out by Carlisle players.
Next we had him for the September 2009 Football League Trophy tie against AFC Bournemouth. Here we were probably glad that he chalked off a goal for the home side, even though it was a somewhat generous decision for us. His decision-making was also questionable in a number of second half decisions against both sides that tended to lead to players taking matters into their own hands and it was probably fortunate that things didn't escalate further.
Two months after the Bournemouth game, he took charge of the home match against Southend United. During that match he sent off Southend's Sean Morrison for a professional foul. We thought it was a decent decision, even after having the BBC Sport highlights to view it on playback, although Morrison himself and Southend captain Adam Barrettwere definitely not happy, whilst Shrimpers boss Steve Tilson - one of the more level-headed people in the game - ripped into the officials accusing them of ruining the game. In truth whilst we felt Mr Phillips was spot on with the professional foul, the decision for the free kick that won the Glovers the game, and his tendency to let the game boil over badly did not give us a warm feeling about him either.
There was then a little bit of a gap before we had Mr Phillips again. That next meeting came during the 2010-11 season at Victoria Road, when we lost 2-1 to Dagenham and Redbridge in February 2011. An excellent first half of football was followed by a rather poor second period from a Glovers point of view, but we can't find too much to moan about that which we would pin upon the referee - our defeat was our own undoing on the day.
Most recently he took charge of the October 2011 game against Bury at Huish Park. This was an awful performance ... by the team. He may or may not have irritated the Yeovil faithful - but if he did then all that was eclipsed by the way the Glovers played on the day. So no complaints, and no mention of Mr Phillips in the match report.
Mr Phillips will be assisted by William Bull (Hampshire) and Mark Pottage (Dorset). The Fourth Official will be Adrian Tranter (Dorset).
Following yesterday's 3-0 win over Colchester United at Huish Park, Yeovil Town assistant manager Terry Skiverton spoke to the BBC about the game. With questions from local journalist Chris Spittles in an interview for BBC Somerset, Skivo's post-match thoughts can be read via the link below.
Yeovil Town's first away trip of the 2012-13 season sees us head up to Brentford for a League One match. The game at Griffin Park takes place on Tuesday 21st August 2012 with a 7.45p.m. kick-off. The Green and Whites Supporters Club have announced their travel plans for this match and you can book your place now.
Coaches will depart from Huish Park at 3.00p.m. - there will be no pick-up from Yeovil Bus Station on this occasion. Cost of travel will be £20.00 with concessions available at £18.00. Non-GWSC members are welcomed and will pay two pounds extra.
To place your booking, call Paul Hadlow on 07736 044570 or Rich Rendell on 01935 427072 (Evenings).
With this being the first away trip of the 2012-13 season, annual membership subscriptions are due for the season. You can join the GWSC on the day you travel - this will be of benefit to you if you travel regularly with them during the coming season, or if you are visiting their shop on matchdays.
Membership prices are £7.00 for individual supporters, whilst a family of three can gain membership at £18.00 - for larger families add on £6.00 per person.
Yeovil Town players will be at a supermarket in the town on Thursday afternoon, signing copies of the Western Gazette season preview for fans. This Thursday's newspaper contains a 16-page pull-out, giving Yeovil Town supporters the inside track on their club's hopes ahead of the npower League One season.
Some of Gary Johnson's star men will be at Asda on Preston Road from 2.30p.m. on Thursday to meet fans and personalise the preview supplement.
The pull-out contains interviews with key members of the playing and management staff at Huish Park, including Johnson himself, assistant Terry Skiverton and summer arrivals Jamie McAllister and Byron Webster.
As the club gears up for its tenth year in the Football League, we take a look at the key moments of the past decade as well as casting the spotlight on the Glovers' scholars and ladies team.
Yeovil Town assistant manager Terry Skiverton said that last night's performance against Colchester United was a knock-back to manager Gary Johnson's first spell at the club. Their 3-0 win at Huish Park got the 2012-13 season off to a flying start, and gave them a Second Round tie against West Bromwich Albion as a result.
Speaking after the game, Skiverton told BBC Somerset said that the overall way the team played had a lot of echoes of an era that saw Johnson lift the club out of non-league football until his departure in 2005:
"On the back of the Exeter game where we did look a bit rusty, every facet of our game worked well. A lot of people made their competitive debuts for us, and we might get - fingers crossed - a few more people coming out on Saturday. For the first time in a long time, that felt like the old times. I don't know if I'm right in saying that, but there were saves at one end, shots at the other, quick breaking and loads of inter-play, strikers getting shots off, defenders having to make last ditch tackles, and all that definitely did remind me of a recent past."
Yeovil's first two goals came from defender Richard Hinds, leaving them 2-0 up at the break. However, the third came when Keanu Marsh-Brown broke through the Colchester defence, surprising them just having come on as a substitute. Skiverton added that putting the player into a slightly different position was a factor in the goal:
"We had been playing Keanu Marsh-Brown on the right in pre-season, but since the pre-season game at Plymouth where he played behind the front men, he has wanted to play there again. This was the first time we've seen him there again and that last goal was a great goal."
Yeovil Town Under-18s will play their next League match on their opponents first team pitch. They travel to play Torquay United on Saturday, in a Football League Youth Alliance fixture that will be staged at Plainmoor itself, rather than their usual out of town venue.
As a result of the game being held inside their main ground, there will be admission charges for this game as follows:
Adults: £2.00; Under-16s: £1.00.
If anyone is travelling to the match - even if you're a relative of one of the players - please drop an email to ytfcbadger@ntlworld.com as we'd obviously like to help give the Under-18s a decent profile this season.
League One side Portsmouth hopes of survival were thrown into disarray this morning when Balram Chainrai withdrew his Portpin bid to take over the club. With four days until the League One season commences, and one day after a Pompey Youth Team lost 3-0 against Plymouth Argyle in the League Cup, Chainrai has thrown in the towel as the nominated party to take on the club's CVA under new ownership.
Under these circumstances, you would have expected Chainrai to have accepted full responsibility for the late withdrawal of his bid, which has been there as a firm offer since their CVA was agreed on June 25th. However, he has sought to blame anyone and everyone but himself. In a statement littered with holes, Chainrai blames the club's administrator, Pompey's fans, their players, the Football League, the Supporters Trust, and finally the first team manager. But of course, definitely not Chainrai himself, whose company once owned Portsmouth Football Club.
Where this leaves Portsmouth is with the Portsmouth Supporters Trust as their only hope against liquidation. The snag is that Chainrai, as one of the club's biggest creditors, still holds the club's future in his hands, as a Supporters Trust statement admitted:
"We have today been advised that Balram Chainrai and his company Portpin have withdrawn their offer to purchase Portsmouth Football Club for a third time, leaving the way clear for the Pompey Supporters Trust to be able to take control of our club. We call on Mr Chainrai to do the decent thing and accept the PST offer to purchase his charge on the club, and therefore walk away from Pompey, regaining some of the money he has lost, and leaving the club in the hands of the people who will truly cherish it and ensure that it continues as both a business and a legacy for the future."
The Supporters Trust's offer is underpinned by a £1.45 million loan from Portsmouth City Council, but for their offer to go through, Chainrai needs to give up some of the money he is owed due to loans agreed during his previous ownership of the club. Whilst those negotiations go on, first team boss Michael Appleton, who yesterday predicted relegation under Chainrai's proposals, will have to field his club's Youth Team, giving a huge advantage to those clubs who face Pompey during their early League One fixtures. If of course they get that far down the road.
Yeovil Town first team manager Gary Johnson decided not to show for last night's press conference, despite his side winning through to the Second Round of the League Cup. The Glovers may have beaten Colchester United by a 3-0 scoreline, but Johnson was fuming about ongoing issues he has with the quality of the Huish Park main pitch.
The Glovers boss has on a couple of occasions this summer criticised the pitch, after the club were unable to stage their opening home pre-season friendly against Plymouth Argyle, switching it to Dorchester Town's ground instead. In his place, assistant manager Terry Skiverton stepped up to talk to BBC Somerset, and he admitted that Johnson had already left the ground by the time the press conference was held:
"I think the manager has decided for me to come and do the press conference tonight. If he had come out, I think one or two hand grenades might have been thrown right into the mix of things. I don't think he wanted anything to detract away from the performance of the players tonight. But he's shot off straight from the ground, and even I had to take a step back. I don't think he's in a very good mood about something. But that will probably come out at a later date."
Skiverton was reluctant to go into specifics, in terms of what Johnson's concerns were. However, BBC Somerset have indicated that the issues related to the Huish Park pitch, and a further question from interviewer Chris Spittles relating to the pitch was not denied by Skiverton, merely agreeing that he felt it was a subject that needed to be left until another day.
Johnson's most recent comments on the pitch in last week's Western Gazette were barbed ones, suggesting that he was wanting a pitch with shorter grass on it, so his team had a better chance of playing their usual passing game, but that the club's groundsman was not carrying out his wishes:
"One day someone will listen to me and make that grass short enough so we can get that opportunity (to play passing football)."
In the July 19th edition of the Western Gazette, the club issued a statement in response to Johnson's initial criticism, saying that they supported his views. They enlisted Yeovil Town's Stadium Director Brian Willis to investigate why there were problems with both the main stadium pitch and those down at the club's Alvington training ground:
"The club shares Gary Johnson's concerns about the condition of the pitches at Huish Park and Alvington. A comprehensive review is to be undertaken of the situation by stadium director Brian Willis as soon as possible. The club has consistently maintained the view that football pitches in and around Yeovil do not meet local requirements and efforts are being made to eradicate this problem."
The draw for the Second Round of the 2012-13 Cup has been made this lunchtime. The draw was broadcast live on Sky Sports News today, and Yeovil Town have been drawn home to West Bromwich Albion in a match that will be played at Huish Park.
The full draw for the Second Round of the 2012-13 League Cup is as follows:
Preston North End vs Crystal Palace
Watford vs Bradford City
Swansea City vs Barnsley
Yeovil Town vs West Bromwich Albion Coventry vs Birmingham City
West Ham United vs Crewe Alexandra
Doncaster vs Hull
Carlisle vs Ipswich Town
Reading vs Peterborough
Sheffield Wednesday vs Fulham
Leicester vs Burton Albion
Burnley vs Plymouth Argyle
QPR vs Walsall
Stevenage vs Southampton
Nottingham Forest vs Wigan Athletic
Stoke City vs Swindon
Aston Villa vs Tranmere Rovers
Crawley Town vs Bolton Wanderers
Gillingham vs Middlesbrough
Northampton Town vs Wolves
Everton vs Leyton Orient
MK Dons vs Blackburn Rovers
Leeds United vs Oxford United
Sunderland vs Morecambe
Norwich City vs Scunthorpe
The following teams have a bye until the Third Round of the competition, due to their participation in European competitions:
Clubs Given Byes: Manchester City, Manchester United, Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur, Newcastle United, Chelsea, Liverpool.
All ties are scheduled to be played during week commencing August 27th and so the most common date chosen by clubs will be Tuesday 28th August, although that will be subject to television and policing requirements.
There will be two matches scheduled as live games for Sky Sports - for the First Round these were scheduled for the Monday and Tuesday, although with a Bank Holiday weekend on the 27th that may be different on this occasion. Sky usually choose their live matches within two or three days of the draw being announced.
The draw for the Second Round of the 2012-13 Cup has been made this lunchtime. The draw was broadcast live on Sky Sports News today, and Yeovil Town have been drawn home to West Bromwich Albion in a match that will be played at Huish Park.
All ties are scheduled to be played during week commencing August 27th and so the most common date chosen by clubs will be Tuesday 28th August, although that will be subject to television and policing requirements.
The full draw will be published on this site very shortly.
With Yeovil Town now having a First Team Sponsor for the 2012-13 season, moves are now afoot within the club to incorporate their logo into all the club's products and promotional literature. Last Friday the club revealed that W&S Recycling of Poole were to be the club's new sponsors on what appears to be a twelve month deal in the first instance.
The most obvious gap are the first team shirts that will be worn by players and supporters. The club will use transfers over the unsponsored shirts the players are currently wearing to ensure that the sponsors logo can be worn for the opening League One match against Coventry City.
The supporters replica shirts will be screen printed with the sponsors logo on them, and the club are currently targeting for these to be available in the Huish Park Club Shop at the end of the month - i.e. on or around Friday 31st August. Obviously when that date is firmly nailed down and the kit is in stock, we'll provide a further update.
On the plus side, the W&S Recycling logo uses green, white and black and so should hopefully blend into Yeovil Town's home shirt design fairly easily. There could be a greater challenge for it to be used with the 2012-13 away shirts, which are based around yellow and black hoops.
Yeovil Town fall into the unseeded group of clubs that will go into this lunchtime's League Cup Second Round draw. After defeating Colchester United in last night's 3-0 win the Glovers now go into a draw where a total of thirteen Premier League sides enter the competition.
As with the first round, the competition continues to be seeded and that means the club are guaranteed either a Premier League or Championship side. However, note also that this is a national draw - there is no regional aspect to the draw. The teams will therefore be drawn out of two hats. According to the Swindon Advertiser this is the list of clubs that Yeovil Town can possibly face:
Seeded teams: Aston Villa, Birmingham City, Blackburn Rovers, Bolton Wanderers, Burnley, Crystal Palace, Everton, Fulham, Hull City, Ipswich Town, Leeds United, Leicester City, Middlesbrough, Norwich City, Queens Park Rangers, Reading, Southampton, Stoke City, Sunderland, Swansea City, Watford, West Brom, West Ham, Wigan Athletic, Wolverhampton Wanderers.
For clarity, this is the list of unseeded clubs that got through to the Second Round draw:
Unseeded teams: Barnsley, Bradford City, Burton Albion, Carlisle United, Coventry City, Crawley Town, Crewe Alexandra, Doncaster Rovers, Gillingham, Leyton Orient, Morecambe, MK Dons, Northampton Town, Nottingham Forest, Oxford United, Peterborough United, Plymouth Argyle, Preston North End, Scunthorpe United, Sheffield Wednesday, Stevenage, Swindon Town, Tranmere Rovers, Walsall, Yeovil Town.
The draw will be live on the Sky Sports News channel at 12.30p.m. and needless to say we'll put out the draw on our Twitter account as soon as it happens, and on this news page as soon as possible after that.
The Second Round is scheduled to be played during week commencing August 27th and so the most common date chosen by clubs will be Tuesday 28th August, although that will be subject to television and policing requirements.
On Tuesday night, Yeovil Town got their season off to an excellent start on Tuesday night, sweeping aside Colchester United by a 3-0 scoreline. Glovers fan Kurt West was at Huish Park and has posted another update to Taff's Gloversblog giving his views on the match.
In addition to the usual Man of the Match Voting we'd love to hear alternative views on the match - feel free to post them at the foot of the article below.
League Two side Bristol Rovers have continued their tendency to recruit in former Yeovil Town players today, by bringing goalkeeper Sam Walker in on loan. The Gas have taken the 20 year old Chelsea player on loan until January 2nd, after they lost Scott Bevan to a wrist injury, and suffered delays in their plans to sign former Nottingham Forest goalkeeper Paul Smith.
Sam made 20 appearances for Yeovil Town last season as part of a loan spell, and was at one stage thought to be heading back to Huish Park, until West Ham United released Marek Stech, and the Glovers signed the Czech Republic keeper up on a free transfer. Sam made his debut for Rovers tonight in their 3-1 defeat against Ipswich Town, playing the full 90 minutes.
Meanwhile Clevedon Town have signed up midfielder Alex Russell after he left Bath City at the end of last season. The former Liverpool trainee will celebrate his 40th birthday during the coming season, and will play at Southern League Division One South & West level for his new club.
Former defender Curtis Ujah has signed a deal with Southern League Premier Division side St Albans City after spending pre-season at Clarence Park on trial. He was playing for Hayes and Yeading United last season, but now the 24 year old will play under manager David Howell, who believes his recruitment of the former Reading trainee is a big coup:
"I am delighted to have secured Curtis's services. He has the potential to be a big figure for us and to acquire a player of his quality shows just how much the club means business this season."
Meanwhile former winger/striker Gavin McCallum who rose through the club's Youth and Reserve ranks, has signed for Conference National side Woking. The 24 year old was last on the books of Lincoln City but left them by mutual consent midway through last season.
Finally, former trialist James Clarke has found himself a new home, having signed for Conference South side Salisbury City. The former Oxford City player left Huish Park earlier this season after playing in three pre-season fixtures, and has now agreed terms with the Whites today, having played in two of their pre-season fixtures. First team manager Darrell Clarke has said of Clarke's arrival:
"I’m delighted to be bringing James into our squad for the new season. He brings in experience of playing at a higher level and I’ve been very impressed with his winning mentality in the two pre-season games he has played for us."
If you watched this evening's 3-0 win against Colchester United at Huish Park, don't forget to cast your Man of the Match votes for the first match of the 2012-13 season. Choose your top three players from the match, plus entertainment and performance ratings along with any other comments you want to make on the game, using the form below.
Yeovil Town breezed their way through to the Second Round of the League Cup tonight after they dominated a Colchester United side at Huish Park in the opening game of the 2012-13 season. The 3-0 win was set on its way by Richard Hinds, who needed just 3 minutes and 38 seconds to open his account, and the centre-back doubled his tally a minute before the break with a headed goal. Matters were polished off towards the end of the second period when substitute Keanu Marsh-Brown scored on the counter-attack in a game where the visitors were always largely on the back foot through Yeovil's pace.
The Glovers went into the match minus Gavin Williams (calf muscle) and Rohan Ince (shin) but otherwise were able to select the rest of their sixteen first team players in their starting line-up. The line-up chosen was identical to that selected for the final pre-season friendly against Exeter City, with only five of the seven substitute spots allocated. For Colchester, they included former Yeovil Town left-back Michael Rose, who was signed by Gary Johnson during his first spell at the club.
Four minutes into the match and in the first real chance of the game, the Glovers got the best start they could possibly have. The corner from Ed Upson wasn't the best one, but Colchester's defence lacked decisiveness, and when the ball dropped down to Richard Hinds, he lashed the ball home for an early lead. A great start to the season for sure, and 1-0 up!
Colchester reacted well to the goal being conceded, gaining plenty of possession and forcing a couple of corners, but without creating too many clearcut chances. The balance of the game was curious - the visitors had more possession, but the Glovers were more incisive about the way they played the game. A breakaway by Ed Upson saw the Colchester defence stretch, and his unselfish pass through to James Hayter saw keeper Mark Cousins push the ball out for a corner. Cousins had to do the same with a Sam Foley effort that was pushed over the bar.
Although the Essex side began to get some input into the game as the half closed, there was no doubt about which side deserved to be in front at the break. And that balance of the game was reaffirmed when another Ed Upson corner was fired into the box, and Richard Hinds produced a powerful 44th minute header to put the Glovers deservedly 2-0 up. Just as the half time whistle blew they almost undid that as a Byron Webster back header caught Marek Stech out somewhat, but thankfully the big keeper got a hand to stop the ball whilst off-balance.
The second period opened with Stech once again producing an excellent save - the Essex side certainly had a few chances across the 90 minutes to break the deadlock, but the Czech Republic keeper was in fine form. Overall this was a more even start to the half, although there was still a sense that the Glovers were capable of scoring more on the break.
With twenty minutes remaining, manager Gary Johnson came down from his seat in the Directors Box that he had occupied during the match, allowing Terry Skiverton to marshall things at dugout level. A few instructions and a double substitution saw Lewis Young and Keanu Marsh-Brown introduced, with Gozie Ugwu and James Hayter coming off. Nine minutes after Marsh-Brown's introduction, his pace crucified the Colchester back line, as Reuben Reid's pass split their defence in two, and forced their keeper Mark Cousins to commit himself, lifting the ball confidently over the advancing keeper and into the back of the net.
So 3-0 up and game over, but this was a game that could have seen more goals - at Yeovil's end if Marek Stech had not made a couple of excellent saves, and in the closing stages when Yeovil's third substitute Nathan Ralph came on and whacked the ball against the crossbar with his first touch, as Mark Cousins was forced to tip the shot onto the woodwork. The game was done and dusted in style and with ease, with the Glovers able to threaten on the counter-attack every time Colchester pushed up.
Thus an easy passage into Round Two of the League Cup, and a position in tomorrow's lunchtime draw. Whilst there might have been some concern that the Glovers could only field sixteen players on the teamsheet for the opening day of the season, there was no doubt that what they had on the field was superior to their opposition. When the three substitutes came on, that injected further pace into the side just at the time when the game was perhaps dying a touch. As starts to a season go, there can't be too many complaints about that.
Final Score: Yeovil Town 3 Colchester United 0.
Scorers: Richard Hinds (1-0, 4 mins), Richard Hinds (2-0, 44 mins), Keanu Marsh-Brown (3-0, 79 mins).
Yeovil Town: (4-4-2) 1. Marek Stech
2. Luke Ayling 4. Richard Hinds 5. Byron Webster 3. Jamie McAllister (Capt)
19. Gozie Ugwu 6. Dominic Blizzard 8. Ed Upson 14. Sam Foley
9. James Hayter 11. Reuben Reid
Substitutes: 7. Keanu Marsh-Brown (70 mins for Gozie Ugwu) 12. Gareth Stewart 15. Lewis Young (70 mins for James Hayter) 16. Nathan Ralph (81 mins for Sam Foley) 20. Curtis Haynes-Brown
Colchester United: 1. Mark Cousins
20. Brian Wilson 18. Tom Eastman 4. Magnus Okuonghae 3. Michael Rose
22. Anthony Wordsworth 10. Kemal Izzet 14. Andrew Bond
16. Ian Henderson 9. Clinton Morrison 30. Drey Wright
Substitutes: 35. Carl Pentney 6. Matt Heath 7. Karl Duguid (58 mins for Drey Wright) 8. John-Joe O'Toole (79 mins for Kemal Izzet) 15. Marcus Bean 25. John White 28. Alex Gilbey
Yeovil Bookings: None.
Colchester Bookings: None.
Yeovil Match Statistics: Possession: 56%; Shots: 16; Shots On Target: 13; Corners: 8; Fouls: 14.
Colchester Match Statistics: Possession: 44%; Shots: 10; Shots On Target: 5; Corners: 5; Fouls: 4.
Referee: Simon Hooper (Wiltshire). Assistants: Robert Ellis (West Midlands) and Andrew Bennett (Devon). Fourth Official: Derek Eaton (Gloucestershire).
Despite a poor performance in their final pre-season friendly, Yeovil Town have named an unchanged side for their opening match of the 2012-13 season, from their final friendly against Exeter City. For the home League Cup First Round clash against Colchester United, only Rohan Ince (shin) and Gavin Williams are missing from the squad, whilst the starting eleven and substitutes bench remain unchanged.
Jamie McAllister takes the captaincy, meaning that we can pretty much assume that he is the Club Captain for the season. The line-up for tonight is therefore as follows:
Yeovil Town: (4-4-2) 1. Marek Stech
2. Luke Ayling 4. Richard Hinds 5. Byron Webster 3. Jamie McAllister (Capt)
19. Gozie Ugwu 6. Dominic Blizzard 8. Ed Upson 14. Sam Foley
9. James Hayter 11. Reuben Reid
Substitutes: 7. Keanu Marsh-Brown 12. Gareth Stewart 15. Lewis Young 16. Nathan Ralph 20. Curtis Haynes-Brown
Colchester United: 1. Mark Cousins
20. Brian Wilson 18. Tom Eastman 4. Magnus Okuonghae 3. Michael Rose
22. Anthony Wordsworth 10. Kemal Izzet 14. Andrew Bond
16. Ian Henderson 9. Clinton Morrison 30. Drey Wright
Substitutes: 35. Carl Pentney 6. Matt Heath 7. Karl Duguid 8. John-Joe O'Toole 15. Marcus Bean 25. John White 28. Alex Gilbey
Yeovil Town manager Gary Johnson has said that he does not want tonight's match against Colchester United to be treated as another pre-season friendly. The Glovers and other Football League sides face a unique situation with the 2012-13 season opening with a League Cup First Round tie, with their game against the Essex club taking place at Huish Park tonight, kick-off 7.45p.m. four days ahead of the League One season proper.
Johnson has told BBC Somerset that he realises that the season proper is more important in the wider scheme of things, but wants his players to take tonight's game seriously:
"We don't want to treat it as a pre-season friendly, because it's an important cup. But it's certainly a real proper dress rehearsal for the League game four days later. Everybody wants a run in the cup. We're at home. I know Colchester have brought in some players, as we have. So they'll be an unknown quantity, as we will be to them."
For tonight's match, Yeovil Town will be without Rohan Ince (shin) and Gavin Williams (torn calf), leaving them down to sixteen recognised first team players. Colchester's squad is a little larger at 20 players, and only Ben Coker is absent from that list, after suffering a dead leg.
Colchester United played ten pre-season friendlies leading up to this match and recorded the following scores: Heybridge Swifts (W6-0), Vitesse Arnhem (W3-2), West Ham United (L1-2), Witham Town (L1-4), Maldon and Tiptree (W2-1), Brentwood Town (W2-1), Needham Market (L1-3), Derby County (D2-2), Ipswich Town (L1-2), Bishop's Stortford (W1-0).
The Essex side's new signings over the summer include strike pair Clinton Morrison (ex-Sheffield Wednesday) and Freddie Sears (ex-West Ham United), midfielder Marcus Bean (ex-Brentford), full-back Jackson Ramm (ex-Blackburn Rovers) and midfielder Merrick James-Lewis (ex-Southend United).
Tonight's match kicks off at 7.45p.m. with tickets available from the Huish Park Ticket Office right up until kick-off. If you can't get to Huish Park then BBC Somerset are broadcasting all games again this season - Chris Spittles and Chris Sweet are your hosts on 95.5FM, with coverage starting just after the 7.00p.m. news. Meanwhile we'll be tweeting and retweeting on our @ytfcciderspace account.
Portsmouth first team manager Michael Appleton is predicting that his side face certain relegation from League One, on the day that his club commence the 2012-13 season. Reacting to news that his playing budget has been cut back from his early summer plans, as the club have fought against liquidation, he believes what he has to play with is insufficient to survive at third tier level.
Appleton's problem is that prospective owners Portpin have shrunk their previously proposed wage budget from £4 million down to £1.5 million. Having recruited in a team of 'trialists' that Pompey planned to sign as soon as the Football League removed their transfer embargo, Appleton has been left with a squad of players that he may not be able to afford. Speaking to the Portsmouth News, he criticises the club's owners for changing the figures in the lead-up to the season proper stating that the late decision has left him with a headache:
"Unfortunately, the figures that have been reported are right. But if I was given a budget of what has been reported on May 1, for instance, then I would have gone out there and got the best 20 players within that budget. What I did do is spend all summer recruiting the best 20 players under a budget I was originally told. For that budget to change less than a week before the start of the season is slightly unprofessional under any circumstances. I have now got to somehow go and find 20 players to go and fit a different scenario, but with only six days to do it."
The Portsmouth News has an interesting view on the situation. They describe the budget change as requiring Appleton to "build a team on a shoestring" and leaving him with "a budget comparable to a mid-table club in League Two". Given Yeovil Town's own playing budget is somewhere in the region of one million pounds to maintain their League One status, we imagine that Gary Johnson would see the 'shoestring' budget of £1.5 million as positively rolling in money. We suspect that clubs like Walsall, Oldham Athletic and Bury operate on similar constraints, and so Pompey will find plenty of League One Chairmen and Managers who have been used to living within such means.
At the point at which Portpin's offer is accepted by the Football League, Pompey will be deducted ten points due to their failure to exercise their original 2009 CVA. Appleton believes that this level of playing budget means that Pompey will be playing the 2013-14 season in League Two, and is certain at what lies at the end of the season:
"Relegation. Without any shadow of any doubt. And that is me being probably the most optimistic person you have ever come across in recent times at Portsmouth. If I was given the budget we talked about originally, I basically put my neck on the line at the time and said regardless of the 10-point deduction I would get us back into the Championship."
Portsmouth's problem, financially speaking, will be that the eight high earners they have removed from their books over the past month all have agreed severance deals that will see the money they are owed spread out over a four year period. If they are to keep up those payments, and their agreed CVA, then that will be an overhead on their finances that they will have to swallow if they intend to break even.
As for their first fixture tonight, Portsmouth will be fielding largely a Youth Team against Plymouth Argyle at Home Park. They have been given permission to sign goalkeeper Simon Eastwood on non-contract forms to allow them to fulfil the fixture, but the Football League are still blocking further signings until Portpin commit to taking over the club - a matter that has been delayed due to disagreement over the Administrators fees. They list Ashley Harris and Adam Webster as being their only two players to have previously represented Portsmouth at first team level.
The team they will field tonight will largely be based around a side that lost 2-1 on the weekend against Conference South side Salisbury City, and it would appear that this is the basis upon which they will proceed until Portpin make up their minds on whether they plan to complete the sale, or whether Portsmouth Supporters Trust will be allowed to step in as the club's Plan B.
Tonight sees the 2012-13 start, as far as competitive matches are concerned. The League Cup First Round tie against Colchester United is a weird way to open up the season, but as a match that could lead to a game against a Premier League club or a game on television in the next round, it's one that hopefully will be taken seriously.
Some thoughts on that, and the new season and how we are likely to perform, can be found via the link below. Views are welcomed and expected via the foot of the article.
It's that time of year again, where just prior to the start of the season, we ask all readers to stick their heads on the block, with a bit of fun prior to Saturday's big kick-off. As with previous seasons, we want to see how good you are at predicting this season's key positions for the 2012-13 League One season. Choose the sides that get promoted and relegated as well as predicting where Yeovil Town will finish at the end of the campaign.
This is where we find who are the shamelessly over-optimistic ... and who are the downright miserable pessimists amongst you. Feel free to use your Green Room forum login name, your Twitter ID or a nickname, as these are names we'll use next summer to indicate who was good at the end of the season. The bookies have not disappointed us by forecasting doom once again for this season. We sense that Glovers fans are more optimistic than that. Manager Gary Johnson is stops short of forecasting anything but doubtless will have last season's 17th place finish as a marker for improvement. So what do you think?
The deadline for the survey is Saturday at 3.00p.m. when all twelve of the opening League One fixtures take place, including Yeovil Town's match against Coventry City which takes place at Huish Park. This means that you do of course have a chance to see the club in action tomorrow night when Colchester United come to town. So you may or may not want to delay your prediction until the Wednesday morning with that in mind. However, get your thinking caps on now!
Yeovil Town manager Gary Johnson has said that he is unruffled by the annual revelation that his side are one of the least fancied sides in League One for the 2012-13 season. The Glovers are one of a group of four or five clubs that the bookmakers are pitching with wide odds - a position that the club has occupied for most of the seasons they've had at third tier level.
Speaking ahead of the new season, which begins tomorrow with a League Cup match against Colchester United, and follows with the League One season itself against Coventry City, Johnson has told BBC Somerset that the important thing is to get a strong start when the campaign commences:
"We don't mind that at all. That's not a problem. We don't want to sneak up on the rails late on either. We want to get ourselves in a strong position nice and early, so that we give our supporters the benefit of seeing our performances early, and not just that, but to make sure that we feel confidence-wise that we're playing well enough to compete at this level."
The Glovers have had poor starts to the last two seasons, that have left them at the foot of the table by Christmas, leaving them with an uphill climb in the closing phase of the season. Johnson adds that he doesn't want to continue with that pattern, even if the end result was relative safety on both occasions:
"The goal is to compete and that is what you want to do. Being at the bottom of the table for most of the season is not competing. We need to compete at a level where it keeps everybody's interests and everybody feels that you've got a chance. With the play-off situation, as long as you're in the top half for most of the season, then you're going to be competing for at least a play-off place, and that keeps everybody's interest."
Now in his first full season of his second management spell, Gary has formed a squad of eighteen players, but has had to suffer the loss of club captain Paul Huntington and last season's top scorer Andy Williams. As a result, nine permanent signings and two loan signings have been added to the seven players who were on the club's books last season. Johnson hopes that the players he has brought together are good enough to improve on last season's showing:
"I hope so - you never know. There's a couple that we may have liked to have kept. But I think we've brought in players that are at least as good, and we hope are better. We certainly hope that the new regime - the new group of players, because we had to change the whole squad - will hit the ground running.
"I am excited, because I think we've got players here who have got flair, and have got good footballing ability. We've got some good runners, some good dribblers and we've got some good goalscorers, and we look like we've got goals in us. So I'm excited to see whether we can put that all into a League game situation."
The main point of caution is the club's squad size, with the eighteen first team players meaning that each player would be involved on a matchday, as rule changes allow for seven substitutes again. That means that any injuries will cut into the number of available players to Johnson rapidly. He concedes that is a risk, but is willing to dip into the loan market if he needs to:
"You keep your fingers crossed that you don't lose some of your big players - as in your important players. But we've got a squad of eighteen, and I think that is a first team squad, and I think that they can all play at first division level. If we do get an injury, then we've left ourselves with loans that we can go out and get. We've left enough spaces to bring in some loans."
For tomorrow night's match against Colchester United, midfielders Rohan Ince (shin) and Gavin Williams (calf) will be missing for the game, with both having an outside chance of sneaking onto the bench for Saturday.
For the optimists amongst you, a date for the Second Round draw of the 2012-13 League Cup has been published. The draw will be made live on Sky Sports News on Wednesday 15th August, at approximately 12.30p.m. The winners of tomorrow night's home match against Colchester United will go into this draw, which will include thirteen out of the twenty Premier League Clubs - the seven that have qualified for European competitions get a bye until the Third Round stage.
Whilst Yeovil Town and many other clubs were concluding their pre-season friendly programme, we had the rather bizarre sight of 14 First Round ties taking place across the weekend. Three more matches take place tonight, including the televised tie between Oldham Athletic and Sheffield Wednesday at Boundary Park, meaning that by the time the Glovers play their game on Tuesday night, a large chunk of the second round places will have been decided.
Weekend results were as follows:
Saturday 11th August 2012 Bury 1-2 Middlesbrough
Carlisle 1-0 Accrington
Cheltenham 1-1 MK Dons (Milton Keynes Dons win 5-3 on penalties)
Crewe 5-0 Hartlepool
Doncaster 1-1 York (Doncaster win 4-2 on penalties)
Hull 1-1 Rotherham (Hull win 7-6 on penalties)
Leeds United 4-0 Shrewsbury
Notts County 0-1 Bradford (After Extra Time)
Rochdale 3-4 Barnsley (After Extra Time)
Sheff Utd 2-2 Burton Albion (Burton Albion win 5-4 on penalties)
Walsall 1-0 Brentford
Watford 1-0 Wycombe (After Extra Time)
Wolves 1-1 Aldershot (Wolverhampton win 7-6 on penalties)
Sunday 12th August 2012 Blackpool 1-2 Morecambe
As can be seen from the above results, if tomorrow night's score is level after 90 minutes, then the match will go into Extra Time. If the scores are still level, then the tie will be settled on the night by penalty kicks. Hence brace yourself for a potentially late finish to the game at Huish Park.
Yeovil Town manager Gary Johnson took his players in for a Sunday training session, after being unimpressed by their performance in their final pre-season friendly yesterday. The Glovers drew 2-2 at Huish Park against Exeter City but had to rely upon a late equaliser from Reuben Reid to save them from defeat against a side that were relegated to League Two at the end of last season.
That goal may have helped the Glovers end the nine game pre-season schedule unbeaten, but Johnson wasn't prepared to paper over what had been a significantly low par performance. He ordered his players in for additional training for today, and told the Sunday Independent that he wanted them to learn a lesson from that match:
"They have to know what will happen when it doesn't quite happen on the pitch. We want to see a team in our image and we haven't seen it yet. We certainly didn't see it (against Exeter City). The onus was on us to keep the ball longer and be a bit sharper, but it wasn't quite there."
Johnson added that with games against Colchester United in the League Cup, and a season opener against Coventry City it was important that the club got off to a good start. He warned his players that if they didn't show what they were capable of, that he would look to make changes to his squad early on:
"I just reminded them to make their minds up. If you want to be part of it, we need to see you in our image, otherwise your Huish Park careers might be very short. The lads now know how important Tuesday and Saturday is to this club and if they want to be part of it they need to liven up."
Tuesday's match against Colchester takes place at Huish Park, kick-off 7.45p.m. This is an 'all pay' match, and admission prices are available via the link below. Standard 2012-13 admission prices will apply to the weekend game against Coventry.
At the tail end of May, we ran a full set of 2012-13 League One bookies odds, to show how the various bookmakers saw Yeovil Town's chances for the season, directly after the Play-Off Finals had completed. With the season proper due to commence next Saturday, it's time to look at those odds again, and see how much the world has changed.
At that time, we took William Hill as a sample bookmakers (others available, so shop around) and they gave the thumbs down to Leyton Orient, Bury, Yeovil Town and Walsall as their four sides they were predicting for the drop. Fast forward by just over two months and the situation hasn't changed too much.
We've looked through odds for seventeen different bookies to see what differences of opinion they all have. Of those bookmarkers that are most pessimistic about Yeovil's chances, eight of them put Yeovil as rank outsiders with Totesport, Betfred (plus Bury), Boylesports, Paddy Power, Bodog, 188Bet (plus Bury, Leyton Orient, Walsall), Sporting Bet (plus Walsall), Stan James (plus Bury and Walsall) giving the Glovers their widest odds.
All bookies except two place Yeovil Town as either in a list of rank outsiders or in the next set of clubs with widest odds. The two exceptions are Blue Square and 888 Sport who both present identical odds, placing Walsall as rank outsiders, and the pair of Bury and Leyton Orient as their next widest odds. Both then place Yeovil Town and Oldham Athletic as battling for the final relegation place.
All of this gives a common theme. Walsall are probably the least fancied club, with Yeovil Town, Bury and Leyton Orient predicted by the bookies as doomed to join them in League Two at the end of the campaign. If you want to avoid relegation, then Oldham Athletic are the next nearest club to drag into the bottom four.
Revised odds from William Hill are shown below and are quoted against League One title winners:
Sheffield United (5/1); Milton Keynes Dons (6/1); Swindon Town (8/1); Coventry City, Preston North End, Notts County, Portsmouth (10/1); Doncaster Rovers, Crawley Town (12/1); AFC Bournemouth, Brentford (14/1); Stevenage (20/1); Carlisle United, Portsmouth, Tranmere Rovers (25/1); Shrewsbury Town, Colchester United, Scunthorpe United (33/1); Crewe Alexandra (40/1); Hartlepool United (50/1); Oldham Athletic, Leyton Orient, Bury, Yeovil Town (66/1); Walsall (100/1).
If all of this fills you with doom'n'gloom for the coming season, fear not as we can look back at last season's odds and see how well they did. We used Bet365 on that occasion and they predicted that the bottom four positions would be contested by Bury, Hartlepool United, Stevenage, Tranmere Rovers and Yeovil Town. How many of those did they get right? A big fat zero. In fact of those who did end up dropping, they had Chesterfield as their ninth favourites to win promotion - meanwhile Stevenage, who were predicted for the drop instead landed a League One Play-Off place in sixth.
Let's hope that once again, the bookies' knowledge of League One football continues to be as wrong as last season.
Yeovil Town Under-18s got their 2012-13 season off to an encouraging start yesterday, as they grabbed all three points at Alvington. The Football League Youth Alliance match against Plymouth Argyle was won thanks to two first half goals from Will Agbo, and although the Pilgrims pulled a goal back during the second period, the Glovers held on to secure victory.
With this being a new season, this meant that the Glovers had a new look team, with all of year's second year scholars having left the club. In their place, Elliot Nelson and Tommy Smith have moved up from the Under-16s on scholarship deals, along with Curtis Hansford, although in truth all three played increasing parts in last season's side as part of their progression through the ranks. As such only Charlie Ware and Liam MacDevitt were new faces - the latter having moved down from Berkshire to take part in the club's scholarship programme.
The game started in the best possible way, with the Glovers opening the scoring early on. They had threatened from kick-off as Melchi Emmanuel-Williamson put Liam MacDevitt through on goal, but the striker's shot was parried away by the Pilgrims keeper for a corner, which came to nothing. However, it wasn't long before they did find goal, as Will Agbo's 22 yard strike was placed into the bottom right hand corner, with the keeper's hand on the shot not strong ebnough to keep the ball out of the back of the net.
Five minutes later, Will Agbo and Yeovil Town doubled their tally, as from 25 yards out, he produced a great strike on the half volley, with the ball landing in the top left hand corner, giving the Pilgrims keeper no hope of keeping it out.
The second period was a competitive affair, with Taran Singh Jheeta getting involved in some of the more significant moments - a fracas that broke out between the two sides after the former Allerton Grange, Leeds schoolboy got involved in a spot of pushing with an Argyle opponent. The match referee chose to let all parties off at the time, but later booked the Glovers player for persistent fouling.
Argyle managed to pull a goal back midway through the second half, when the midfield opened up a little too much, allowing one of their players space to run through and shoot, with a trailing wind taking the ball beyond Matt Cafer. But the Glovers held on, to record victory, and to get their season off to a flying start.
Final Score: Yeovil Town Under-18s 2 Plymouth Argyle Under-18s 1.
Scorers: Will Agbo (1-0), Will Agbo (2-0), Argyle Scorer (2-1).
Yeovil Town U18s: Matt Cafer, Elliot Nelson, Mitch Brundle, Curtis Hansford, Taran Singh Jheeta, Tommy Smith, Will Agbo, Aidan Chainey, Charlie Ware, Melchi Emmanuel-Wilkinson, Liam MacDevitt
Substitutes: Sol Carney (60 mins for Tommy Smith), George Russell (46 mins for Aidan Chainey)
Last season, Yeovil Town supporter Phil Parkhelped set up a Fantasy Football League that will benefit the Adam Stansfield Foundation. Because of the success of that league last season, Phil is inviting Glovers fans the chance to either renew their league membership, or for new fans to get involved. Phil's message is as follows:
"For those of you who play the PremierLeague.Com fantasy football game or who are interested in trying the game I just wanted to make you aware of the Adam Stansfield Foundation League.
We're set for the second season of the league, and Yeovil fan Paul Angulo will defend the title he won last season. It's good fun and a nice way of donating annually to the Adam Stansfield Foundation and remembering Adam who we cruelly lost two years ago yesterday.
Adam's brother Wayne helped me set this up, and their sister Andrea has arranged for trophies for the top 3 each year. Both have been very busy recently, with Andrea getting married, though I'll soon have details of prizes and pictures of last year's winner with the Trophy. The new season has crept up on us fast with the Euros and Olympics this summer.
To enter, please visit The Adam Stansfield Foundation Website and make a donation for £5.00. If you can leave a short message explaining that it's for the Adam Stansfield Foundation League (Fantasy Football) that would be great. You should be sent a 12 digit code within a day or so from Wayne, but if you want the code immediately feel free to email me (philpark18@hotmail.com) with your donation reference code (forward the donation receipt from Virgin Money if preferred) and I'll get the code sent over ASAP.
You can then select to join a league from the PremierLeague.Com website. For those new to the game that would like further details please email me and I'll happily provide information. You can register your team at any point and join the league by entering the code at any time, so providing you've donated you'll be entered and don't need to worry about entering the code immediately - your points will count from Week One.
The Foundation and Stansfield Family really appreciated last year's donations (44) and it would be great to match that and hopefully get over 50, and continue to grow this year on year. Feel free to tell your friends!
Apologies I don't have further details of prizes at this moment, and clearer instructions, but please bare with us and and I'll update shortly."
Any questions, then drop Phil an email at philpark18@hotmail.com and he will doubtless help you out!
As part of the build-up to the 2012-13 season, Yeovil Town's new striker Reuben Reid spoke to the BBC about his thoughts on the coming campaign. With questions from BBC Bristol reporter Ed Hadwin, Reuben's thoughts on his early time with the club can be read via the link below.
Yeovil Town salvaged a last minute draw in their final pre-season match, as they managed a 2-2 draw against Exeter City at Huish Park. In a fairly poor performance, the Glovers fell behind twice during the match as Scot Bennett and a John O'Flynn penalty put the Grecians deservedly ahead. But the best two moments of quality for Yeovil came in response - Ed Upson's first half shot from the edge of the box, whilst Reuben Reid netted his sixth pre-season goal in the final minute to get his side through all nine friendlies without defeat.
Yeovil went into the match still missing Gavin Williams (calf) and Rohan Ince (shin) but otherwise selected the first eleven that stands as the candidate players to commence the 2012-13 campaign on Tuesday when the League Cup First Round kicks things off against Colchester United. Otherwise, all other first team squad members were utilised, including four players from the Under-18s side, who commenced their season with a 2-1 win over Plymouth Argyle this morning.
The game got off to the worst possible start, when the Glovers conceded a fifth minute corner. Liam Sercombe put in the delivery, and defensive indecision allowed Scot Bennett the chance to poke the ball home from close range to put the Grecians a goal up early on.
The Glovers took a long while to get into their stride, and were often guilty of sitting back too much, playing the ball around their own half. That led manager Gary Johnson to leave his position in the stand midway through the first half, to bark out instructions in an effort to get his team to push up the field a bit more. Marek Stech was forced into a couple of good saves, but largely due to sloppy play from his team-mates rather than cutting edge football by Exeter.
Still somewhat against the run of play, the Glovers managed to grab an equaliser half an hour into the match. In their best play of the half, Ed Upson exchanged passes with James Hayter, before firing home a curling effort into the far corner of the net from the edge of the box. Even if Yeovil's quality had not shown before that goal, it certainly did when that one was netted.
The Glovers hadn't played well across the whole 45 minute period though, and so could have few complaints when the visiting side went ahead a minute before the break. Marek Stech brought down Guillem Bauza after he was put clean through on goal, and up stepped John O'Flynn who converted the spot kick off the underside of the crossbar for a 2-1 half time lead for the Grecians.
The second period opened in a similar low key manner, with Yeovil still not getting, or keeping, as much possession as they would like to. Keanu Marsh-Brown replaced Gozie Ugwu on the right wing, Nathan Ralph replaced Sam Foley on the left wing, whilst the introduction of Lewis Young saw a mini-reshuffle, as Luke Ayling switched from right-back to centre-back to fill the hole left by the substituted Richard Hinds, whilst Young took up the full-back position.
It took until around the 75th minute for the Glovers to land their best chance of the second period, as James Hayter's lob over Artur Krysiak was goal bound, but Grecians defender Pat Baldwin was on hand to clear the ball off the line.
Just when it seemed that a rather huff'n'puff 90 minutes was going to result in defeat, the Glovers got their Get Out Of Jail card, thanks to a Jamie McAllister free kick. He delivered it into the box, Luke Ayling's header dropped into the path of Reuben Reid and the striker was able to volley home for his sixth goal of pre-season. Not the best performance of Yeovil's pre-season schedule, but on the plus side, they managed to conclude a nine game set unbeaten, and now must take that into Tuesday's first competitive match when Colchester United visit Huish Park.
Yeovil Town: 1. Marek Stech 2. Luke Ayling 3. Jamie McAllister 4. Richard Hinds 5. Byron Webster 6. Dominic Blizzard 8. Ed Upson 9. James Hayter 11. Reuben Reid 14. Sam Foley 19. Gozie Ugwu
Substitutes: 7. Keanu Marsh-Brown (60 mins for Gozie Ugwu) 12. Gareth Stewart 15. Lewis Young (71 mins for Richard Hinds) 16. Nathan Ralph (68 mins for Sam Foley) 20. Curtis Haynes-Brown (88 mins for Dominic Blizzard) 18. Will Agbo 21. Charlie Ware 22. Liam MacDevitt 23. Mitch Brundle
Exeter City: 1. Artur Krysiak 4. Scot Bennett 5. Pat Baldwin 6. Danny Coles 7. Liam Sercombe 10. Alan Gow 11. Arron Davies 14. Tommy Doherty 16. Kevin Amankwaah 19. John O'Flynn 25. Jordan Moore-Taylor
Substitutes: 12. Jamie Cureton 18. Elliott Frear 21. Guillem Bauza 22. Jimmy Keohane 23. Aaron Dawson 26. Jordan Tillson 27. Jacob Kane 31. Elliott Chamberlain GK. Rhys Evans
Yeovil Town have published their starting line-up for their final pre-season friendly before the 2012-13 season begins. As expected they've chosen their strongest available line-up for the visit of Exeter City, with Rohan Ince (shin) and Gavin Williams (calf) still missing.
The line-up reads as follows:
Yeovil Town: 1. Marek Stech 2. Luke Ayling 3. Jamie McAllister 4. Richard Hinds 5. Byron Webster 6. Dominic Blizzard 8. Ed Upson 9. James Hayter 11. Reuben Reid 14. Sam Foley 19. Gozie Ugwu
Substitutes: 7. Keanu Marsh-Brown 12. Gareth Stewart 15. Lewis Young 16. Nathan Ralph 20. Curtis Haynes-Brown 18. Will Agbo 21. Charlie Ware 22. Liam MacDevitt 23. Mitch Brundle
Exeter City: 1. Artur Krysiak 4. Scot Bennett 5. Pat Baldwin 6. Danny Coles 7. Liam Sercombe 10. Alan Gow 11. Arron Davies 14. Tommy Doherty 16. Kevin Amankwaah 19. John O'Flynn 25. Jordan Moore-Taylor
Substitutes: 12. Jamie Cureton 18. Elliott Frear 21. Guyillem Bauza 22. Jimmy Keohane 23. Aaron Dawson 26. Jordan Tillson 27. Jacob Kane 31. Elliott Chamberlain GK. Rhys Evans
The final four players on the Yeovil bench are from Yeovil Town's Under-18s side, and all played in their season opener at Alvington this morning, and so could be on for their second match of the day.
Speaking ahead of the game, manager Gary Johnson has told the Western Morning News that he is hoping that his requests to shorten the grass on the Huish Park main pitch will have been carried out, having previously raised concerns about both the quality of the surface and the length of the grass:
"I am looking forward to a nice, sharp football match, which we will get against Exeter, so long as the surface is right – that is the only way we will get a fast, sharp football match. If that is right then we will have a match between two teams that will play the right way and it will be a good test for us. Otherwise we will have to lump it into the corners because the ball won’t be rolling properly."
In terms of Ince and Williams, Johnson has ruled out both from playing in Tuesday night's match against Colchester United, but hasn't entirely ruled out both from being available for next Saturday's League One against Coventry City just yet, although with both having missed plenty of recent training sessions, it seems that the substitutes bench is the most they can hope for.
Following the news earlier this week that Yeovil Town Ladies are moving to Wells City FC this coming league season, the club are happy to announce the girls will be playing their first match at the Athletic Ground tomorrow, Sunday 12th August, when they take on Wolves Women FC.
Wolves Women operate in the FA Women's Premier League Northern Division, having been promoted from the Midland Combination at the end of last season, so are in a similar situation to the Glovers. This should then prove a fine warm up to the league season, and should be an entertaining match for the supporters.
The match kicks off at 2.00p.m., and supporters are welcome to come along to support the girls. And with this being the first home match for Yeovil Town Ladies at Wells City, the club are offering the game at a special entry rate of just £1.00 for both adults and concessions.
Directions To Wells City: The Athletic Ground
Rowdens Road
Wells
Somerset. BA5 ITU
From the North & Southwest - Follow the A39 to Strawberry Way to roundabout. Follow A371 East Somerset Way, and take right turn into Rowdens Road. The ground is on the left.
From the East - Follow A371 from Shepton Mallet. After approximately five miles on East Somerset Way take left turn into Rowdens Road. Ground is on left.
Yeovil Town Ladies kick off their FA Women’s Premier League season next Sunday 19 August 2012 when they take on Lewes Ladies at the Athletic Ground in Wells, kick off at 2.00p.m.
Tomorrow may bring another pre-season friendly for Yeovil Town's first team, but for the Under-18s, they commence their 2012-13 campaign tomorrow. They start their South West Youth Alliance fixtures with a home match against Plymouth Argyle, that will take place at the usual Alvington venue.
Kick-off tomorrow is at 11.00a.m. and admission is free of charge, giving fans the chance to see both that match as well as the afternoon first team game against Exeter City at Huish Park, which will be the final one of the pre-season schedule.
South West Youth Alliance Fixtures: Exeter City vs Hereford United
Oxford United vs Bristol Rovers
Swindon Town vs Torquay United
Yeovil Town vs Plymouth Argyle
Yeovil Town have obtained secondary sponsorship today for the 2012-13 season. They are Italian restaurantTamburino who already have a partnership with Yeovil Town Ladies, in addition to regularly hosting 'team meals' for the men's and ladies' sides over the years. Their name will sit on the back of the 2012-13 home and away shirts, with the main club sponsor sitting on the front.
Meanwhile there's a little more detail on the main sponsorship deal announced earlier today, involving W&S Recycling. The club don't explicitly reveal the length of the contract, but describe it as for the 2012-13 season, which appears to mean that this is a twelve month sponsorship deal.
Their company website shows them as supporters of AFC Bournemouth - an advert on their 'Contact Us' page shows the Cherries as their 'first love' whilst they have provided partnership agreements, mainly with the club's Community Trust. The Glovers have indicated that negotiations with W&S Recycling's Geoff Thompson were done by Yeovil Town Vice Chairman Norman Hayward, who himself is a former Chairman and owner at Dean Court. However, we're not aware of a direct connection between the two parties apart from that.
League One side Portsmouth look to be heading for survival after the last of their high earners came off their wage bill today. Liam Lawrence, reported in the Portsmouth News to be on a contract worth £20,000 per week, has reached agreement to depart the club, meaning that all eight of their top earners have now left the club.
The 30 year old's departure from Fratton Park means that the club have now met the conditions that were attached to the CVA agreement set up by Portpin and prospective owner Balram Chainrai. Administrator Trevor Birch has now said he will aim to finalise his agreements with Chainrai, in a move that will aim to take the club out of administration, and satisfy the membership conditions laid down by the Football League:
"This means that we have now successfully completed agreements with all of the first team squad and met the major condition of the offer from Portpin, which formed the basis for the CVA proposal. We will now aim to finalise our discussions with Portpin with a view to completing the sale of the club as soon as possible. The intention is to push this through early next week in order to ensure that player recruitment can begin as quickly as possible for the start of the new season."
As Birch implies, the next big race for Portsmouth is to get themselves into a position where the Football League is willing to either lift their transfer embargo, or give them temporary dispensation, with Portsmouth's season opening up next Tuesday with a League Cup First Round match against Plymouth Argyle.
Once that is achieved, manager Michael Appleton should be able to turn his club full of 'trialists' into committed signings. The move out of administration will also mean the Football League will finally invoke the ten point penalty they levied as part of the terms and conditions they gave to Pompey as part of the reformed company's offer of membership.
Yeovil Town supporters will probably tell you that it's been on the cards since the 2009-10 season. At that time, a 17 year old Steven Caulker from Tottenham Hotspur swept the end of season awards after he featured in 46 matches for the Glovers, as part of a loan deal that gave him his first steps in competitive first team football.
Having played this summer in four matches for Team GB as part of the London 2012 Olympics, Caulker's impressive performances in an Under-23 squad have been enough to see him called up into the full England squad for the first time.
Manager Roy Hodgson has named a slightly experimental and youthful squad for the full international against Italy that will take place in Berne next week. The squad will meet up on Sunday evening before travelling to Switzerland on Tuesday, and will then take to the field next Wednesday at the Stade de Suisse for the international friendly.
Whether Caulker steps foot on the field or not, his recognition is proof once again that his career progression from a Spurs youth player into what will no doubt be full England caps given time, continues at a fast pace, despite him still being only 20 years old.
Goalkeepers: Jack Butland (Birmingham City), Joe Hart (Manchester City), John Ruddy (Norwich City).
Defenders: Leighton Baines (Everton), Ryan Bertrand (Chelsea), Gary Cahill (Chelsea), Steven Caulker (Tottenham Hotspur), Phil Jagielka (Everton), Kyle Walker (Tottenham Hotspur).
Midfielders: Michael Carrick (Manchester United), Tom Cleverley (Manchester United), Frank Lampard (Chelsea), Adam Johnson (Manchester City), Jake Livermore (Tottenham Hotspur), James Milner (Manchester City), Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (Arsenal), Jack Rodwell (Everton), Ashley Young (Manchester United).
Forwards: Andy Carroll (Liverpool), Jermain Defoe (Tottenham Hotspur), Daniel Sturridge (Chelsea), Theo Walcott (Arsenal).
Yeovil Town have confirmed their new shirt sponsors for the 2012-13 season. They are W&S Recyling of Poole who provide services for both local authority and private recycling of waste. Based in the Nuffield Industrial Estate, they describe themselves as follows:
"A long established & well respected recycling company, operating in all market sectors, ranging from individual site requirements through to major regional and mainland recycling contracts. Local Authority Contracts and private commercial requirements are covered by our comprehensive services."
As yet, there is no contract length revealed. However, Geoff Thompson and Tony Knowles were present at Huish Park this morning on behalf of the company to agree the contract deal.
Those who tuned into ITV's Daybreak show this morning hoping to see Yeovil Town featured on national television will have been rather disappointed. Although the Glovers were mentioned in the introductions for the show, with a still shot of their 'topless' team group, the feature itself never appeared.
It transpires that the transmission van sent by ITV broke down, and so the recording could not be transmitted back to their London studios. As a result, the broadcast never happened, leaving Glovers fans stuck watching some less than interesting alternative programming.
The club are still due to feature on regional programme The West Country Tonight where the footage that was originally intended for broadcast will still be used.
Yeovil Town Ladies have been drawn in Group One in this season's FA Women's Premier League Cup, after the Football Association provided the schedule for the group stages of the competition this morning. The draw, made at Wembley Stadium, has pitched the Glovers in a group of five teams as follows:
Group One: Cardiff City Ladies FC, Portsmouth FC Ladies, Queens Park Rangers LFC, Reading FC Women, Yeovil Town LFC.
The group stages consist of six separate groups, with all bar one group playing two home matches and two away matches against the other sides in their group. The top two clubs in the group stages automatically qualify for the knock-out stages, along with the four best third placed teams.
Yeovil Town Ladies have added in their Cup Group fixtures to their main 2012-13 fixture schedule and will play their four matches as follows:
02/09/2012 : Cardiff City LFC (Home)
14/10/2012 : Reading FC Women (Home)
04/11/2012 : Queens Park Rangers (Away)
25/11/2012 : Portsmouth Ladies (Away)
All Yeovil Town Ladies home fixtures will take place at Wells City FC this season, unless specifically notified.
Yeovil Town striker James Hayter has said that there is an obligation for him and other experienced players to help his younger team-mates through the coming season. The 33 year old is the second oldest player on the Glovers books in a squad that contains many players that have only a small handful of appearances between them.
With well over 500 appearances in the Football League for AFC Bournemouth and Doncaster Rovers, and having achieved promotion from League One whilst on Donny's books, Hayter has had a long and varied career, and he told BBC Somerset that it is up to himself and others to lead the line:
"There's a couple of older lads, but the rest are quite young here. It's up to us older ones who are a bit more experienced, to help them along. There's a couple of us who have had a couple of promotions and things, so we know what it takes. So it's up to us to help them, and hopefully push the club along."
Hayter explained that it was not necessarily about explicit leadership, but by doing the right thing and showing an example to younger players of how they should behave and perform whilst they were on the club's books:
"First and foremost you've just got to lead by example and do what you think is right. You hope others will follow. If not and you think you need a word with someone then you'll do that as well. Hopefully we're all quite approachable, so I think if any of the younger lads do need any help then they can come and have a chat with us and we'll help them all we can."
Early betting odds for the 2012-13 season placed Yeovil Town in a familiar spot as one of the rank outsiders for the division, with only Walsall tending to attract wider odds. Hayter said that those sort of predictions didn't bother him, as he had experienced so many seasons where his clubs had been defying the odds:
"I've had that with most of my career. With Bournemouth we were always underdogs. With Doncaster when I first got there, we obviously got promoted to the Championship, but then we were a small fish in that league. But we managed to stay there for a few years and punch above our weight. Hopefully that can be similar here. There's not too much expected of us as it is 'only Yeovil' as some people look at it like that. But hopefully we can surprise a few people this season."
So far this season the Isle of Wight born striker has managed three goals, with the team as a whole managing 21 goals in eight matches. The acid test will be how the team cope against League One opposition, but for now, Hayter is happy with how things have panned out from a scoring point of view:
"We haven't found that a problem at all. We've scored quite a few goals in pre-season. We're unbeaten as yet, and we've had some good games. We've scored some good goals, and hopefully we can continue that into the season."
Yeovil Town are to feature on national television tomorrow morning. The Glovers will feature on ITV's Daybreak programme, who have visited Huish Park this week, in the wake of the club's decision to hold their team photo-shoot 'topless' on Monday, in the hope of finding a new club sponsor.
The show runs from 6.00a.m. until 9.00a.m. on the ITV1 channel. Scheduling on such programmes is 'live' and therefore subject to change, but the club currently expect the piece on Yeovil Town to be run around 7.30a.m. You may be wise to put the TV on in the background though or keep an eye on Twitter for any indications of the article being run.
League One side Portsmouth are showing signs that they will end the week with the issues surrounding their over-inflated player wage bill much clearer, after their highest earner agreed to leave the club.
Israeli player Tal Ben Haim had been exposed by administrator Trevor Birch as having a salary of £36,000 a week, plus an image rights deal that put him on earnings greater than a number of League One clubs entire playing budgets. He has now left the club, leaving Liam Lawrence as the last of Pompey's big earners left on their books, although Kanu is still aiming to have his situation resolved through a tribunal.
Birch expects Lawrence's situation to be resolved today, beating a deadline of tomorrow that had been set in order to finalise the purchase of the club. With that prospect now in mind, Birch is now looking for prospective owners Portpin to push through their plans:
"We expect to make an announcement on Liam Lawrence’s future later today and, whilst the situation with Kanu has not yet been resolved, we are cautiously optimistic about our prospects. The progress that we have made over the past 24 hours means that there is now a much better prospect of meeting the conditions of the CVA, completing the sale of the club and avoiding liquidation. As a result, we will now push on with our negotiations with Portpin, with a view to finalising a deal in the next few days."
Pompey's other race against time relates to their ability to register players with the Football League. The over-sized wage bill, combined with extreme doubt over whether they'd be able to start the new season, has meant that the League currently have placed them under a transfer embargo.
The Hampshire club are due to commence their fixtures next Tuesday with a League Cup First Round tie against Plymouth Argyle at Home Park, but currently do not have enough players to fulfil the fixture. The common belief is that most of Portsmouth's pre-season trialists are in fact committed signings, but that the paperwork cannot be put through until the Football League give the green light. Whether the League will agree to temporary dispensation, isn't clear at this stage.
The Football League have published details of payments made by clubs regarding Football Agents for the 2011-12 season. Over the twelve month period covering July 1st 2011 until June 30th 2012, Yeovil Town paid out a total of £8,720 to Agents as part of transfer dealings relating to players.
The League have also published details of how many player Contracts were registered by the Glovers during the 2011-12 season. Overall, the club registered 15 new players, and initiated 18 loan transfers across the season. There were four updated contracts, whilst three contracts with the club were cancelled - one of those would have been Kelly Youga.
In comparison with other League One clubs, Hartlepool United were the only club to not make any payments to Football Agents. Only Walsall (£7,398) and Exeter City (£5,500). At the other end of the payment scale, Sheffield Wednesday were the biggest spenders, forking out £332,620, whilst Charlton Athletic spent £265,170. Overall across the whole division League One clubs spent a total of £1,930,836 on Football Agents.
In comparison with the 2010-11 season, the League One figure has dropped slightly, with £2,347,749 having spent during that campaign across the division. For Yeovil Town, payments are up slightly from £6,000 during the 2010-11 season.
Across the whole Football League, a total of £21,672,010 was spent - significantly up on the 2010-11 figure of £16,658,976 and a huge increase from the £12,739,867 two years ago.
With those sums spiralling against the League's wishes to control spending within football, Chairman Greg Clarke has a bit of explaining to do. He cites the fact that much of the spending has been done by a 'top end' of clubs, specifically mentioning West Ham United's payments of £4,314,270 to Football Agents:
"While £21m is a lot of money leaving the game, it should also be noted that a considerable amount of this total has been spent by a small number of clubs. In fact, almost a fifth of the overall figure was spent by one club alone.
"Where such spending forms part of a sustainable business plan it shouldn't be of great concern and supporters should be encouraged to see our clubs committing themselves to the new Financial Fair Play regulations that will take effect across all three divisions in the new season. In time, these rules will require clubs to be more circumspect with regard to their spending and may help reduce the costs incurred in this area."
Yeovil Town midfielder Gavin Williams will miss the start of the 2012-13 Season, after his manager conceded that there was no hope in him getting fit for the start of the campaign. The Welshman, who is one of the most experienced members of Gary Johnson's squad, has missed the last three pre-season friendlies with a calf muscle problem, but the initial prognosis was that he just needed to be rested.
Johnson has now revealed that the 32 year old will now be out for up to two weeks, meaning that he will miss at least the first two competitive fixtures and putting his availability down to around the away trip at Brentford towards the end of the month. Speaking to this week's Western Gazette, Johnson said that a small tear had been found in the calf that resulted in him having to reshuffle his plans:
"He has got a slight tear in his calf and he will be ten days to two weeks."
The Glovers boss has also hinted that the starting line-ups in the last two friendlies against Newport County and against Stoke City are his current Plan A, pointing out that even the likes of Keanu Marsh-Brown, who missed the second of the South Wales matches, would struggle to justify a place in the team because others had jumped in ahead of them:
"The lads that get injured now are going to find it difficult to get in, like Keanu Marsh-Brown who had a sore groin at Newport. The lads played well at Newport so he didn't get a chance against Stoke."
Despite only having a squad of eighteen players, Johnson remains confident that he can cover any gaps left by injured players, pointing out that all sixteen of his outfield players are capable of performing in alternative positions. At present there's no firm indication of when Chelsea defender/midfielder Rohan Ince will be returning to the club, following his shin injury at Newport, although his problem was not thought to be too serious.
On Tuesday night, Yeovil Town drew at home to Stoke City in their eighth pre-season friendly. The match at Huish Park saw a Reuben Reid penalty cancelled out by a Kenwyne Jones header during the second half. At the game, Glovers fan Kurt West witnessed events and has posted a Taff's Gloversblog entry, giving his thoughts on the game, and in addition a bonus video blog, created just after he got home from the match.
View both via the link below, and feel free to post your own views at the foot of the main blog.
Yeovil Town Ladies have announced that the club's first team will be playing their home league matches at Wells City's Athletic Ground for at least this coming season. The club have been playing at Sherborne Town's Raleigh Grove for the past two years, but have made the move across the county ahead of their move back to the FA Women’s Premier League. Like Raleigh Grove, the Athletic Ground has excellent facilities, but with a far superior playing surface the club have opted for this move, allowing them to play the standard of football required for operating successfully at the higher level.
Speaking today, Glovers’ joint manager Nigel Williams spoke of his delight in finalising the club’s new home:
"Having been looking for a home pitch since the end of last season, I am very pleased we have linked with Wells City. We would have liked to have stayed in the Yeovil area, but pitches are at a premium and the standard we have risen to required a good standard of playing surface.
"Obviously it would be great to play at Huish Park, but that was not an option. We will continue to work with Sherborne Town to look at how we can help bring their surface up to standard, but in the meantime we are grateful for the welcome we have received from Wells. We hope that our supporters will travel that little extra to watch us this season."
Fellow manager Sarah Lawler is also sad to be leaving Sherborne, but is excited about the move to the Athletic Ground, and the possibilities it will present the team playing on an excellent pitch:
"Although it is a shame we will be moving further away from the Yeovil area to play our home games this coming season. Wells City FC are absolutely fantastic and are by far the best venue available to us that complies with the FA Premier League ground grading in Somerset.
"We have listened to the players on the matter of trying to improve the home ground facility, and as a result for the short term this means a move away from Sherborne for the league fixtures. Sherborne will be working hard to bring their pitch up to standard in the next couple of seasons, so we hope to bring our league games back to this venue in the future, provided the surface improves.
"Our relationship with them is excellent, and we are planning on playing some cup games out there this season, but the priority must be the league and in order to fulfil our ambitions as a team the players need to have confidence in the surface they are playing on.
"As a team we like to keep the ball down and play good football, and playing our league games at Wells we will allow all the hard work the players put into training on Tuesday and Thursday nights to pay off on a Sunday. Our league away record last year was fantastic, but when we played at Sherborne last season in what should have been our home advantage we simply did not perform as well due to the surface.
"Wells City FC have an excellent set up, and we will work in partnership this season to promote Girls and Women’s Football in the area. The club also has a thriving female section much like ours, and we hope to attract players, families and football supporters from this area to come and watch us play."
The club realise that the move to Wells will mean supporters have to travel a little further, but as Lawler explained the club really appreciate the fans loyalty, and hope they will enjoy watching good football on a good pitch:
"We were really lucky to have had a good following of Yeovil Town supporters over the past two seasons at Sherborne, and I want to thank every supporter that backed us. I would like plea to those people who have followed us battle our way back into the FA Women’s Premier League to come and watch us at Wells City, so that we can show them how we want to play football against excellent opposition, making a real advert for Yeovil Town and Women’s Football.
"A lot has changed from the first time we were in the Premier League in 2010/11, from the management, professionalism and the players. What has to be the most noticeable change is the style of football we encourage our side to play. Given that this is the most significant change in the club and it being a key element to our success in the last season, the pitch that we play on must be the number one priority to get right to give the players every confidence in competing in this league. We believe this team will do that, and the decision we have made has been to help them enhance their game so that they can enjoy this season and the challenges it will bring us. Personally I am really excited, and I cannot wait for the season to kick off."
The Yeovil Town Ladies Reserve Team will continue to play their home matches at the Somerton Sports Ground.
Yeovil Town's opening League One opponents Coventry City have more or less sold out their away allocation for their first competitive match at Huish Park. The Sky Blues travel to South Somerset on Saturday 18th August for the opening league game of the 2012-13 season and will be bringing close to 2,000 supporters to the club.
According to Coventry's club website, as of Wednesday lunchtime, they had just 65 tickets left of an allocation totalling 1,950 available tickets. Despite them playing at third tier level for the first time since 1964, the Sky Blues have fully sold out their 1,500 terrace places, and were just left with a small number of seated tickets in the Screwfix (East) Stand from their 450 allocation, and so will bring a full allocation later this month.
The Coventry away following should guarantee a crowd of at least 5,500 at Huish Park on the opening day of the League One season. For 2012-13 pre-match and matchday ticketing information follow the link below.
Yeovil Town Chairman John Fry has admitted that he is frustrated at the lack of progress in the club's ongoing attempts to remove the restrictive covenants that exist on the Huish Park site. In an article in the Sunday Independent, Fry believes that whilst those remain in place, his club will be unable to move foward in their plans to develop the stadium and surrounding land.
The covenants on the land at Huish Park are restrictions include restrictions on what developments can be carried out on the land, and were largely drawn up as concessions to various parties at the time planning permission was granted for the stadium around 1989. The two key ones at stake, to our knowledge, are that Huish Park's 26 acres are designated for 'sports' purposes only, with the rights to that covenant held by South Somerset District Council. The other relates to the restrictions on the sale of alcohol on the land, and is held by Abbey Manor Group, under the terms that saw The Arrow pub built 20 years ago.
Fry doesn't explicitly state which covenants are causing him concern, but accuses unnamed parties of not sharing the club's dreams. He also claims the current problems are preventing the club from having their own training ground, or facilities for Yeovil Town Ladies to play on:
"It is very frustrating. We are up there with the best-run clubs in the country and have done things the proper way. But we need people to be helping us. There are restrictive covenants on Huish Park that need to be lifted to help us develop.
I don't want this to seem like a threat, but there are people who don't share our dreams. For instance, we haven't even got a training ground. There are no decent pitches in Yeovil. Our Ladies team as been promoted but they have had to go to Wells City to find a pitch to play on. We should be looking for a sports facility for Yeovil, and the local council admits this, but we need people with a will to make it happen."
The addition of the main 'site usage' covenant was supported by former Yeovil Town Director George Smith in a letter to SSDC in the year 2000. As a result, the club's plans to build a Food Store on the Huish Park land are likely to be heard by SSDC's Regulatory Committee, with the latest date for the application to be reviewed being October 2012.
Fry believes there are 'ongoing issues' within the Council and has brought in local MP David Laws to resolve them. He claims that the sale of the Huish Park land is needed in order to work within FIFA regulations, and to deal with the £500,000 he wants to spend on the main stadium pitch, which unable to stage a pre-season friendly against Plymouth Argyle this summer due to problems with it being match ready. The Glovers Chairman feels that he is encountering too many problems along the way:
"How do we move forward with a restrictive covenant on the site? I seem to spend all my time going through hoops and hurdles. It has to be progression or die. There are ongoing issues with the South Somerset District Council and we have had a meeting with our MP (David Laws) who can see our position and has been helpful. All clubs need money to work within FIFA's financial fair play rules.
We need to spend £500,000 on the pitch and I know it's a tough world out there. I have the dream to take the club higher. Fans don't want relegation battles every season, but to realise the dream we have to generate money. We have not gone to the council to ask for money, and I don't intend to, but we must get rid of that legal millstone around our necks."
League One side Bury are looking for a new manager just before the 2012-13 season starts after they lost their first team manager Richie Barker today. The 37 year old has taken up the vacant post at Crawley, signing a two year contract at the Broadfield Stadium, replacing Sean O'Driscoll who shocked the League One newcomers by heading to Nottingham Forest before taking charge of a competitive fixture.
O'Driscoll's departure has triggered a chain reaction that has led to Bury's loss - the Shakers have cited Barker's wish to move down to the South as being behind the move, saying that after discussions "it became clear that the primary factor in Richie's decision to leave was his desire to be closer to his young family on the South Coast."
Bury have placed Peter Shirtliff in temporary charge of their first team, with Ben Futcher as his caretaker assistant manager.
Yeovil Town maintained their pre-season unbeaten run tonight, as a 1-1 draw against Premier League side Stoke City saw them draw in their eighth practice match. A goalless first half burst into life during a ten minute period just after the break, as Reuben Reid's penalty opened the scoring after Byron Webster was fouled in the box. Then the Potters grabbed their equalising goal through Kenwyne Jones as his backpost header saw the visitors level to give them their second draw in the West Country in 24 hours, having also played Torquay United last night.
The Glovers went into the match missing two key players, as Rohan Ince continued treatment on a shin injury back at parent club Chelsea, whilst Gavin Williams missed his third consecutive match with calf muscle problems. For Stoke City, former loan pair Asmir Begovic and Marc Wilson got the chance to start against their former club, although there was no place for the likes of Rory Delap, Peter Crouch and Robert Huth in a relatively strong Potters starting line-up.
Both sides had their chances during the first period, with Ryan Shawcross almost putting into his own net from a Reuben Reid cross, whilst James Hayter headed over the bar. Stokes best chance came via trialist Sebastian Boenisch who forced a terrific save out of Marek Stech, after Stoke's Jamie Ness and Glenn Whelan had combined to good effect down the channel following a free kick. Reading loanee Gozie Ugwu was once again playing as a winger, and he showed that he knew how to drive at the full-back with an excellent run, but his final ball to Reuben Reid was poor and the two sides went in at the break without beating the keepers.
Three minutes into the second period, Yeovil Town got a shock breakthrough after Ryan Shawcross fouled Byron Webster in the box, giving the Glovers the chance of a spot kick to open the scoring. Up stepped Reuben Reid and although Asmir Begovic guessed the right way, he couldn't get his hand to the ball, with the penalty kick putting Yeovil Town 1-0 up against Premier League opposition.
Unsurprisingly Stoke came back at them - with Ryan Shotton's cross-cum-shot clipping the crossbar as he sought out Kenwyne Jones. However, nine minutes after the Yeovil opener, Sebastian Boenisch got in down the left flank, and his deep cross into the box, and Jones planted an excellent header home on the back stick, with the Glovers perhaps guilty of losing their marker as Stoke levelled the game.
Both sides made a series of second half substitutions, although with Yeovil only having four available outfield substitutes, their options were a little more slender as legs on both sides tired somewhat. In the dying stages, Cameron Jerome could have won it as he tried to stab a loose ball home but couldn't get his tow on it, then Danny Higginbotham blasted well wide of the target in the final minute.
Overall, a good performance from a Glovers side that tired a little in the second period, but did not look overawed by their Premier League opposition. Reuben Reid got the sponsors man of the match, not only for his penalty, but for leading the line well. With six of the ten outfield players getting through 90 minutes, with a near first choice eleven competing, the Glovers are timing the end of their pre-season schedule well.
Yeovil Town: 1. Marek Stech
2. Luke Ayling 4. Richard Hinds 5. Byron Webster 3. Jamie McAllister (c)
19. Gozie Ugwu 6. Dominic Blizzard 8. Ed Upson 14. Sam Foley
9. James Hayter 11. Reuben Reid
Yeovil Substitutes: 7. Keanu Marsh-Brown (71 mins for James Hayter) 12. Gareth Stewart 15. Lewis Young (71 mins for Luke Ayling) 16. Nathan Ralph (80 mins for Jamie McAllister) 20. Curtis Haynes-Brown (80 mins for Sam Foley)
Stoke City: 1. Asmir Begovic 5. Sebastian Boenisch 12. Marc Wilson 17. Ryan Shawcross 20. Matthew Upson 26. Matthew Etherington 6. Glenn Whelan 18. Dean Whitehead 9. Kenwyne Jones 19. Jonathan Walters 30. Ryan Shotton.
Stoke Substitutes: 8. Jamie Ness (25 mins for Matthew Etherington) 33. Cameron Jerome (46 for Marc Wilson) 40. Wilson Palacios (60 mins for Dean Whitehead) 32. Diego Arismendi (60 mins for Glenn Whelan) 24. Rory Delap (65 mins for Jonathan Walters), 23. Michael Tonge (71 mins for Kenwyne Jones), 3. Danny Higginbotham (71 mins for Sebastian Boenisch)
Yeovil Town have named their starting eleven that will take on Premier League side Stoke City at Huish Park tonight. They go into the match missing midfield pair Rohan Ince (leg) and Gavin Williams (calves) who are both receiving attention on the treatment table. However, Byron Webster has recovered from a rib injury and is able to take his place in the starting line-up.
As expected for Stoke City, former Glovers loan keeper Asmir Begovic lines up against his former club - the inclusion of another ex-loanee Marc Wilson is more of a surprise, given that he played 90 minutes against Torquay United last night. England striker Peter Crouch is at Huish Park but is not in their starting line-up.
Yeovil Town: 1. Marek Stech 2. Luke Ayling 3. Jamie McAllister (c) 4. Richard Hinds 5. Byron Webster 6. Dominic Blizzard 8. Ed Upson 9. James Hatyer 11. Reuben Reid 14. Sam Foley 19. Gozie Ugwu
Yeovil Substitutes: 7. Keanu Marsh-Brown 12. Gareth Stewart 15. Lewis Young 16. Nathan Ralph 20. Curtis Haynes-Brown
Stoke City: 1. Asmir Begovic 5. Sebastian Boenisch 12. Marc Wilson 17. Ryan Shawcross 20. Matthew Upson 26. Matthew Etherington 6. Glenn Whelan 18. Dean Whitehead 9. Kenwyne Jones 19. Jonathan Walters 30. Ryan Shotton.
Stoke Substitutes: TBA.
Looking ahead to tonight's match, which is the club's first against higher league opposition this year, midfielder Ed Upson sees the game against the Potters as a good benchmark to see how strong the Glovers squad really is:
"They'll be a good team, obviously, as they're Premier League, and so it will be a good test for us to see where we're at in our pre-season. Obviously we're doing well, so it will be a good test and we can really go for it."
Striker Reuben Reid agrees, recognising that so far the club have played five sides outside the Football League, and two more in the division below them. He therefore sees the match against Stoke as a night where the team will need stick to their gameplan:
"We've played lower league teams so far, so obviously it's going to be a very good test for us, against a Premier League side. So everybody will be up for it. But don't count us out not to give them a good game. If we stick to our gameplan and do what we do well, and all the players come to the table, then it should be a good game."
Officials for Yeovil Town's opening competitive game of the 2012-13 season have been published by the Football League. Due to the London 2012 Olympics, the season opens with a League Cup First Round match against Colchester United which will take place on Tuesday 14th August 2012 at Huish Park, with a 7.45p.m. kick-off.
The referee in charge of the game will be Simon Hooper (Wiltshire). Mr Hooper was promoted to the Football League in the summer of 2008, and we've had him six times as the man in the middle.
The earliest occasion was October 2008, when a 0-0 draw with Leyton Orient saw him a little too trigger-happy in terms of stopping the game and failing to play advantage for both teams. We also weren't too happy about him missing a fairly blatant penalty shout for an off the ball foul on striker Scott Rendell. That was his first match at League One level, so some allowances should be made for his lack of experience at that time.
Next up was the August 2009 trip to play Huddersfield Town, where he was a late replacement as referee. He awarded us a penalty that day, and although we went on to lose the game, anyone who awards a spot kick to an away team at a stadium the size of the Galpharm deserves credit for a brave decision.
The third encounter was the November 2009 1-1 draw against Charlton Athletic. In a game played in atrocious weather conditions, Mr Hooper sent off Charlton's Sam Sodje half an hour into the game for a professional foul. Another brave decision, but to our (biased) eyes, the correct one. We had no other comments about his handling of the match.
Mr Hooper was at Huish Park for the September 2010 game against Southampton and we were a little less enthused about his brave decision-making. To be fair he had a decent game overall, and did give us one penalty for a trip on Gavin Williams, but it was his earlier decision to not award a spot kick for a foul on Andy Williams in the box that had us grumbling during the game.
Moving on to January 2011, he took charge of the home match against Milton Keynes Dons. During this match, he sent off Jean-Paul Kalala for an off the ball incident involving ex-Glover Michael McIndoe. No complaints about the Kalala decision, although our (extremely biased) opinion was that McIndoe should have walked with him. However, we did feel that the whole situation that had been brewing for the previous 84 minutes was partly the responsibility of a referee who wasn't doing enough to diffuse situations.
Mr Hooper's most recent visit to Huish Park was for manager Gary Johnson's first 'proper' game in charge for his second spell, having returned to the club at the start of that week. No complaints here about Mr Hooper's performance ... except that he failed to finish the match! He suffered a second half hamstring injury and had to leave the field.
Mr Hooper will be assisted by Robert Ellis (West Midlands) and Andrew Bennett (Devon). The Fourth Official will be Derek Eaton (Gloucestershire).
Yeovil Town manager Gary Johnson admits that tonight's visitors Stoke City will present a very different sort of test for the club's eighth pre-season friendly, as they prepare for the start of the 2012-13 season. Whilst the club have so far had seven matches against lower league opposition - with just two teams from the Football League - they will come up against a Potters side that last season competed in the Europa League, playing twelve matches last season at that level.
Speaking to BBC Somerset, Johnson believes that his side will still be able to stick to their own 'brand' of football, as they aim to keep up their on the deck passing style. However, he admits that a lot will come down to how his team cope when the visiting side gain possession:
"It's good that we've got a Premier League side coming down to Huish Park. I want us to be able to show our football against that type of opposition, because in my opinion if you've got a football team, then they can play against any opposition. It's when the opposition have the ball that you're in trouble. So we've got to make sure that we're nice and sharp, and nice and solid - and to make sure that we're committed, so that when they've got the ball, we try to get it back quickly."
Whilst recent summers have been dominated by the club bringing in large numbers of trialists, and the list of contracted players only known late on, this year Johnson has brought in a different ethic - forming a squad of eighteen players early on that has contained just two loan players. He said that bringing in those players at the start of the pre-season schedule has added to the excitment he feels in what he is working on:
"I got the tingle when I started getting the group together, early on in pre-season. We did get them in early enough, so that we did a lot of work with them as a group. There's no excuses now if we're not ready enough as a team, when the season comes round."
So far, the club have managed five wins and two draws in their seven pre-season friendlies, giving the potential chance to go through all nine matches unbeaten before the season starts. Gary admits that would be nice, but says that's not the be-all and end-all of the situation:
"Obviously we've got just a week or so to go now, and two pre-season friendlies to go, and it would be nice to keep our unbeaten record going. It's not necessarily the results that show whether it's gone well. It's whether you can see your shape, your pattern in your team and in your players. We've got that, we think. We've just got to get that fine-tuning now - that last little bit of work, that makes them match-ready for three points."
Tonight's match at Huish Park kicks off at 7.45p.m. with tickets still available from the Ticket Office.
With tonight's visitors Stoke City playing a pre-season friendly last night against Torquay United, the team that they will send to Huish Park will no doubt be influenced by that line-up.
The Potters fielded a strong line-up at Plainmoor, but made ten substitutions during the match, suggesting that they will probably do the same tonight. Former Yeovil Town loanee Marc Wilson played a full 90 minutes down in Devon, suggesting that he will not be involved in tonight's game. However, goalkeeper Asmir Begovic - the other player with Glovers connections - did not feature at all, giving hopes that he will be lined up to start against his old club.
Last night, Stoke gave a trial to former Werder Bremen left-back Sebastian Boenisch and manager Tony Pulis has indicated he is likely to feature in tonight's game as well, as he is short of match fitness. The Potters also are hoping that they can still draft in Wolverhampton Wanderers winger Michael Kightly, who they are trying to agree a transfer with. However, Robert Huth is highly unlikely to feature in tonight's match, despite missing the trip to Plainmoor - he has gone to hospital with a virus.
The most likely scenario is that in addition to goalkeeper Begovic, that the bulk of Stoke's starting line-up tonight would be selected from those on the substitutes bench at Plainmoor. Last night's line-up in Devon is shown below. In terms of the game itself, Torquay drew 1-1 with Stoke, after a late Billy Bodin equaliser grabbed a draw for the home side. Stoke's goal was unwittingly scored by former Glovers trialist Aaron Downes, who deflected the ball into his own net just before half time.
Stoke City (starting line-up vs Torquay United): 29. Thomas Sorensen 5. Sebastian Boenisch 6. Glenn Whelan 12. Marc Wilson 17. Ryan Shawcross 19. Jonathan Walters 20. Matthew Upson 25. Peter Crouch 26. Matthew Etherington 30. Ryan Shotton 40. Wilson Palacios
Substitutes: 3. Danny Higginbotham (62 mins for Ryan Shawcross) 8. Jamie Ness (52 mins for Matthew Etherington) 9. Kenwyne Jones (46 mins for Peter Crouch) 11. Mamady Sidibe (62 mins for Ryan Shotton) 18. Dean Whitehead (52 mins for Glenn Whelan) 23. Michael Tonge (62 mins for Sebastian Boenisch) 24. Rory Delap 28. Andy Wilkinson (62 mins for Matthew Upson) 32. Diego Arismendi (62 mins for Wilson Palacios) 33. Cameron Jerome (46 mins for Jonathan Walters) XX. Carlo Nash (62 mins for Thomas Sorensen)
Yeovil Town manager Gary Johnson laid his club's problem out bare this morning, as part of the club's annual photo shoot. With the Glovers having yet to find a first team shirt sponsor for the 2012-13 season, the first team squad were asked to turn out for the team group with something missing - their shirts!
Johnson's logic was "no shirt sponsor - no shirt" as the players (but mercifully not the management staff) went topless for their team photo in the hope that the publicity gained would result in someone getting in touch with the club.
As reported last month, last season's sponsors Jones Building Contractors have declined the opportunity to extend their deal, and so the club have been wearing unsponsored shirts during all of their pre-season friendlies so far. Johnson told BBC Somerset that the club had received interest from prospective sponsors, but they were holding out for the right bidder. He joked that he'd insisted that he was one of the few to keep his own shirt on during the photo shoot:
"It was my idea for the staff to keep their shirts on! Yes, it was (my idea). I think there's been a lot of interest from sponsors. But we feel that we're going to have a successful season. So obviously we need to make sure that the sponsors are paying the right sort of sponsorship money to be on our shirt. If we haven't got a sponsor at the moment then you can't wear the shirt."
Johnson explained that he dropped the hint to the players that they would be asked to 'strip off' for Monday morning's session. However, claimed that his players reaction was to head down the gym to tone themselves up for the occasion:
"I just felt that the boys have been working out over the last couple of days in preparation, and did a few press-ups before! It just highlights really that we are still looking for a sponsor. It's a little bit tongue-in-cheek of course; it's not serious. A few of the lads look okay and a few of them look like they need to get in the gym a bit more!"
Those wishing to put the shirt back on the players backs should get in contact with Glovers Commercial Manager Dave Linney on 01935 847872 or email him at dlinney@ytfc.net
Tomorrow evening's Premier League opponents Stoke City will be splitting their first team squad over the coming couple of days as they play two matches in the South-West on consecutive days. Tony Pulis is taking his squad down to Devon tonight to face League Two side Torquay United tonight, and will then travel back to Somerset the next day for Tuesday evening's fixture at Huish Park.
That means that those who land on the bench or do not feature in the Monday evening game at Plainmoor will be more likely to start at Huish Park, and so we should get a better idea of their line-up once the game in Devon has been played. The Potters have just returned from a three game tour in the USA, playing sides from Columbus, Orlando and Kansas, returning to the UK on Friday. Pulis has told his club's website that he expects the Gulls and Glovers to pose very different tests:
"Both Torquay and Yeovil are in the final stages of their pre-season, so they will really be up for it. They will want to produce a good performance against Premier League opposition to set them up nicely for the start of their League campaigns. They will provide us with a big test and the cooler conditions will no doubt mean that the pace of the games will be different to those in the States."
As yet, Stoke have had a fairly low key summer in terms of transfers, with 21 year old midfielder Jamie Ness the only major arrival, from Glasgow Rangers. Right-back Ben Glasgow is another signing, with the 18 year old coming in from Arsenal on his first professional contract. They are currently trying to sign Wolverhampton Wanderers winger Michael Kightly but it's doubtful as to whether that deal will be completed by tomorrow.
Heading out the other way, defender Danny Collins has gone to Nottingham Forest, defender Jonathan Woodgate has signed for Middlesbrough, striker Ryan Brunt has joined Leyton Orient on loan, whilst Walsall have grabbed midfielder Florent Cuvelier for six months.
Tomorrow's match kicks off at 7.45p.m. with tickets available on the day at the following tariffs:
Visiting Stoke City supporters should note that the Copse Road Away Terrace will not be open for tomorrow night's fixture. Away supporters will instead be housed in the Screwfix (East) Stand. All three home sides of the Huish Park ground will be open for Yeovil Town supporters.
As far as the Glovers team is concerned, they are expected to be without Chelsea loanee Rohan Ince, who is back at Stamford Bridge following a leg injury, whilst trialist James Clarke has been let go. Three other players will require fitness tests, with Gavin Williams (calf), Byron Webster (ribs) and Keanu Marsh-Brown (groin) having sat out the last pre-season friendly with knocks.
Yeovil Town have decided against offering Oxford City defender James Clarke a new contract. The 22 year old had been on trial at the club, playing in pre-season friendlies against Hereford United, Llanelli AFC and Newport County, separated by a gap caused by a minor injury.
According to the Western Daily Press, manager Gary Johnson has decided against a contract on the basis that Clarke would be better off seeking a club that can offer him more guaranteed first team football.
Meanwhile, defender/midfielder Rohan Ince has temporarily returned to parent club Chelsea, and was not present for this morning's annual first team photo. At present his injury - following a tackle in last Friday's match at Newport County - is not thought to be serious, but for the moment he is back at Stamford Bridge receiving treatment.
Last Friday, Yeovil Town travelled to play Newport County in a pre-season friendly match. The Glovers won the match 3-1 thanks to goals from Reuben Reid, Nathan Ralph and Gozie Ugwu.
The Conference National side have published a nine minute YouTube video highlights package and you can watch the clip online via the window below.
Yeovil Town manager Gary Johnson has said that he may send Rohan Ince for an X-ray tomorrow if there are still concerns over the tackle he sustained in Friday night's match against Newport County. With the first team squad having returned from their week in South Wales, their final fixture was marred by the Chelsea loanee failing to complete the fixture at Rodney Parade - limping off after a poor tackle by County player Max Porter.
Johnson has told today's Sunday Independent that he felt the tackle was excessive, and that although they don't yet know the damage, Ince's immediate reaction to it gave cause for concern:
"It was a poor tackle and we don't know how bad the injury is yet. It was a poor challenge for a pre-season friendly, however competitive you want it to be. The lad caught him on the shin and his leg went numb, which makes you fear the worst."
The Glovers boss said that with the new 2012-13 season due to kick-off in around 10 days time with a League Cup match that there were obvious concerns, and that he was likely to send him to have a scan if there was still discomfort on Monday morning:
"We'll keep our fingers crossed that he's fit and available for the start of the season, but he's in a bit of pain. He'll probably go for an X-ray to check it out but we have to wait for it to settle down first. I really hope he's okay because he's going to be a big player for us and we're going to need him."
Ince may well be joined in the X-ray unit by defender Byron Webster, who has sore ribs after suffering a knock in last Tuesday's match at Llanelli. Other players who missed the Newport County game are less of a concern - Keanu Marsh-Brown (groin) and Gavin Williams (calves) were both omitted but Johnson says that they were more 'resting' because of soreness, rather than suffering from serious problems.
Former Yeovil Town right-back Lee Peltier has left Leicester City after one season with the Foxes. The former Huddersfield Town defender made 47 appearances in the Championship last season, but has now agreed a three year contract with Leeds United, signing for an undisclosed fee. Huddersfield themselves had been interested in taking back the 25 year old for a second spell, but instead he has penned a deal with their Yorkshire rivals.
Former Yeovil Town striker James Walker has found himself a new club this week, signing for Conference South side Eastbourne Borough. The 24 year old has been snapped up after being released by Dover Athletic at the end of last season.
Fairly remarkably, this is Walker's 12th club, despite being aged just 24 years old. Since his loan spell with Yeovil Town during the 2007-08 season, that appeared to be pitching his career on an upward climb, his £200,000 transfer to Southend United failed to ignite, and he has since worked his way through Hereford United, Gillingham, Leyton Orient and Woking before spending the 2011-12 season with Dover.
Following Friday night's 3-1 win over Newport County at Rodney Parade, Yeovil Town manager Gary Johnson spoke to local journalist Chris Spittles about the game. In an interview for BBC Somerset, Gary's post-match thoughts can be read via the link below.
Yeovil Town completed their week in South Wales tonight, with a 3-1 win over Newport County that continues their good pre-season form. Having played seven fixtures, all against lower league opposition, the Glovers have clocked up five wins and two draws, and gained victory tonight thanks to two first half goals from Reuben Reid and Nathan Ralph, whilst Reading loanee Gozie Ugwu got his fourth in pre-season as he netted in the second period, with Newport's goal coming late on from the penalty spot as Andy Sandell converted after a handling offence.
The first half saw a somewhat experimental starting line-up with trialist James Clarke getting another chance to impress as a centre-back. The line-up saw Gozie Ugwu and Nathan Ralph tried out as wingers, whilst Ed Upson rested his legs on the bench. There was only one player missing, with Gavin Williams still out with a calf injury - Dominic Blizzard got his first pre-season outing as he recovers from a broken hand.
The game's opening goal came from Nathan Ralph's advanced position on the field, as his cross into the box gave Reuben Reid the chance to finish from close range with quarter of an hour gone. Overall the first half was played at a slightly slow pace at times, with Yeovil passing well, but without serious end product, even if Gozie Ugwu should have extended Yeovil's lead when his header on goal was blocked. County's chances were rarer, with Mike Flynn having the best chance for the home side.
Yeovil doubled their lead when former Newport County hero Sam Foley crossed into the box, and Nathan Ralph was on hand to head powerfully home, just as the game went into first half injury time. Foley got an excellent reception from the home supporters, and even received a Fair Play Award from the club prior to kick-off, but did not allow room for sentimentality once he got on the pitch.
Half time brought a significant reshuffle with four players coming on at the break and a series of substitutions. Luke Young came on as a right-winger, allowing Gozie Ugwu to go up front, whilst the introduction of Ed Upson and Rohan Ince allowed Sam Foley to move out onto the left wing. The substitution of Richard Hinds and Jamie McAllister allowed Nathan Ralph to drop deep down to left-back, whilst Curtis Haynes-Brown took a central position.
Within five minutes of the restart, Yeovil went further ahead, with Reading loanee Gozie Ugwu getting his fourth pre-season goal. Collecting a Rohan Ince pass, he controlled it well, beat his marker and confidently fired home to set up a 3-0 scoreline.
The second half had a higher tempo to it, with the Glovers looking a more organised unit and midfield pairing Ed Upson and Rohan Ince powering forward at times. With five minutes to go though, that organisation was disrupted somewhat as Max Porter's tackle on Ince left the Chelsea man in pain and needing to leave the field, looking distinctly unimpressed by the situation.
Perhaps surprisingly Yeovil played out the remaining time with just ten men rather than make another substitution, or reintroduce any of the substituted players. During that time, the home side pulled a late goal back - Jefferson Louis' shot was handled by James Clarke, gifting Newport a penalty. Andy Sandell took it, and scored past Gareth Stewart to give the Exiles a late consolation on the night.
Yeovil Town: 12. Gareth Stewart
2. Luke Ayling, 4. Richard Hinds, 18. James Clarke, 3. Jamie McAllister (C)
19. Gozie Ugwu, 6. Dominic Blizzard, 14. Sam Foley, 16. Nathan Ralph
9. James Hayter, 11. Reuben Reid.
Substitutes: 1. Marek Stech, 7. Keanu Marsh-Brown, 8. Ed Upson (46 mins for Dominic Blizzard), 15. Lewis Young (46 mins for James Hayter), 17. Rohan Ince (46 mins for Richard Hinds), 20. Curtis Haynes-Brown (46 mins for Jamie McAllister).
Yeovil Town have selected their squad for tonight's trip to Rodney Parade that sees them play their seventh pre-season friendly of the 2012-13 campaign, with Conference National side Newport County their opponents. Gavin Williams (calf) and Byron Webster (ribs) are absent from tonight's squad, however Luke Ayling (foot) is able to return to the side.
The most welcome sight in the line-up is that of midfielder Dominic Blizzard who takes part in his first pre-season friendly of the season, having broken his hand in training.
There is a bit of juggling about for tonight's line-up with Marek Stech and Ed Upson sitting this one out, and also the hint at either a new formation, or a few new ideas of where players could play, with a 5-3-2, 4-3-3 or a diamond formation possible to construct out of the starting line-up, with three forwards selected along with two left-backs. The eleven that start read as follows:
Yeovil Town: 12. Gareth Stewart
2. Luke Ayling, 4. Richard Hinds, 18. James Clarke, 3. Jamie McAllister (C)
19. Gozie Ugwu, 6. Dominic Blizzard, 14. Sam Foley, 16. Nathan Ralph
9. James Hayter, 11. Reuben Reid.
Substitutes: 1. Marek Stech, 7. Keanu Marsh-Brown, 8. Ed Upson, 15. Lewis Young, 17. Rohan Ince, 20. Curtis Haynes-Brown.
Tonight's match though is all about Sam Foley's return to Newport County. Having spent three and a half years with the South Wales side, this is his first chance to say goodbye to their fans and the playing squad, having signed for the Glovers over the summer. He has told the South Wales Argus today that he didn't expect this situation to develop, but is relishing his return:
"I had absolutely no intention of going anywhere and I certainly didn’t think at the end of the game at Wembley that it would be my last performance for County. I would have stayed on but there was a lot of interest from Yeovil and suddenly I was faced with the chance to move to a League One club. It was a great move for me, a chance to prove myself at that level.
"Not many players get to say a proper goodbye like I will and I am relishing it. I’ve got so many friends at the club and had such a great rapport with the fans. This game is an absolute bonus for me. As soon as it was announced I was buzzing and I am really hoping to get some game time."
Premier League side Southampton have transfer-listed three of their players, including former Yeovil Town loan signing Ryan Dickson. The 25 year old joins strikers Lee Barnard and Jonathan Forte who have been all told they can find new clubs.
All three are still under contract at St Mary's Stadium, and so will need to agree severance deals with the club, but the implication is that with the Saints having been promoted back to the top flight that they do not form part of their future plans. Boss Nigel Adkins has said told BBC Radio Solent that there is already interest in the players:
"It's fair to say that (they can leave). There has been interest in them because they are of good quality. We want to try and do it early enough for them and I know their agents have been working actively. They are fit but they need to play football as well so everyone is working very hard to create a win, win situation. There has been interest in them because they are of good quality and I would imagine as the month progresses something more concrete will materialise."
All three had played in Southampton's pre-season friendly against Sholing on Tuesday night, in what was meant to be an outing for their Under-21 side, and thus have been separated from the Saints first team squad already.
Glovers manager Gary Johnson did say earlier in the summer that he would be keen on the idea of signing Dickson, but doubted that he could afford his wages. With Jamie McAllister, Nathan Ralph and Curtis Haynes-Brown all able to play left-back and McAllister likely to take the captaincy for the 2012-13 season, this probably isn't a priority position for the Glovers to fill - and with a severance deal needed, may not come cheap. With Brentford stating they are aiming to sign a left-back within the next week, it's much more likely that Dickson would be looking for a return to his former club.
Yeovil Town play the second and last of their matches in South Wales tonight, when they make the trip to Rodney Parade, to take on Conference National side Newport County. As the seventh of a nine game pre-season friendly schedule, the club are now moving into the final couple of weeks before the season starts on August 14th, and this will be the final match on the road.
This will be third time a Glovers side have taken on a County first team side - with all three taking place at different grounds! Back in September 1988, the club's one and only competitive league match came at Somerton Park, just before the original Newport club went bankrupt. That 1-1 draw was later expunged from the seasonal records. Back in 2001, Gary Johnson took a pre-season side to Spytty Park - one of several venues the reformed club have used - with the Glovers coming out with a 3-2 win.
Newport now find themselves playing at Rodney Parade for this season - home of Newport Gwent Dragons and Newport Rugby Club. This is an 11,000 capacity stadium with just over 2,500 seats, and has staged full rugby union international matches in the past. This is a town centre ground, and is situated on the east side of the River Usk. If you're coming in via public transport, the railway station is on the opposite side of the river to the ground, but is easily walkable.
Assuming you're travelling from the East, take Junction 25a from the M4, then take the first exit off the motorway roundabout onto Heidenheim Drive (A4042). Go through a set of traffic lights and take the first exit off the flyover. Stay in the left-hand lane and take the second exit off the roundabout. At the next roundabout take the first exit across the River Usk, then at the next lights bear right onto Chepstow Road. Then take the first right onto Cedar Road, then the next right onto Corporation Road. Then take the first left onto Graffton Road and you'll find the ground on your left hand side.
Note that there is no spectator car park at the stadium, and most of the adjacent roads have a residents only parking scheme in place. So you either need to find street parking further away, or try one of the town's public car parks. The nearest car park is on Chepstow Road, but it's small and therefore may sell out on matchdays.
Admission prices are as follows:
Adults: £12.00; OAPs and Students: £10.00; Under-16s: £5.00.
As usual if you're going to tonight's game and want to write anything about it, or keep other supporters up to date with your views, drop us an email, or tweet us at @ytfcciderspace where matchday updates will be collated.
Yeovil Town's plans to build a Food Store at Huish Park appear to be under threat from expansion plans for the town's Quedam Shopping Centre. The freehold owners UBS Triton have written to South Somerset District Council, via their planning advisors Iceni Projects objecting to the club's supermarket plans on the basis that they have similar town centre proposals lined up.
UBS Triton have had long-standing plans to expand the current Quedam Centre lay-out and plan to use land surrounding Vincent's Car Centre in Market Street to expand the shopping centre into that area. In their letter to SSDC, UBS's objections - recorded in this week's Western Gazette - are largely in line with SSDC's planning department report on the application. However, the key problem for the football club is that UBS have their own plans for a supermarket within that expansion. Their letter states:
"UBS is presently formulating proposals for the (Vincent's Garage) site which would include an anchor food unit. The intention is to bring forward a detailed planning application as soon as possible, but in any event, within the next 12 months. The redevelopment of the Vincent's Garage site would incorporate structural and aesthetic changes to the Quedam Centre, and would conclusively read as an extension to the Centre."
The argument presented by UBS is that their site fits more rationally into the Government's National Planning Policy Framework, which requires local councils to perform a 'sequential test' which assesses the suitability of town centre locations for retail outlets ahead of out of town outlet. They claim that allowing the Huish Park proposals to proceed ahead of theirs would result in a "significant loss of investment (that) would undermine the performance of the Quedam centre and Yeovil town centre as a whole, and in turn, (affect) retailer and customer confidence."
Yeovil Town's planning advisors MWA have previously claimed that there are no suitable town centre locations for a supermarket within the town, and therefore that permission should be granted for an out of town store. At the time MWA's argument was that the Vincent's Garage site would not be available until 2016, and potentially required road junction improvements and compulsory purchase orders to be realised. The test of whether Vincent's Garage is a suitable location will therefore be a crucial one, regardless of whether UBS realise their overall plans.
Yeovil Town manager Gary Johnson has confirmed that he still has room in his playing budget if he decides to take on Oxford City defender James Clarke. The 22 year old had been on trial at the club, playing in the opening pre-season friendly against Hereford United but did not appear in the four games that followed, due to an injury picked up after that match.
On Tuesday night, the former Oxford United trainee reappeared as a half time substitute against Llanelli and he is part of the squad who are spending the week in South Wales, suggesting that Johnson is quite keen on him. The Glovers boss has told this week's Western Gazette that this is certainly on his mind, although admits Clarke has a few other options as well:
"He was injured and he left us for a week to get rehabilitation and a bit of treatment. He has just come back in time for this tour so he joined us for the two games. We have got to see a little bit more of him. There are a lot of clubs interested in him at the moment but he would like to join us more than anybody else so we will have to wait and see."
Johnson had previously spoken of targeting a squad of eighteen players to start the season, and achieved that with the six month loan deals for Reading striker Gozie Ugwu and Chelsea midfielder Rohan Ince. However, since then Anthony Edgar has left the club, allowing the out of favour player to come off the club's wage bill. Hence, it could be that this has opened up enough money to make way for Clarke to come in.
The Glovers travel to Rodney Parade tomorrow in the last day of their stay in South Wales where they will take on Conference National side Newport County, with midfielder Sam Foley returning to his old club. They will take a check on Luke Ayling (foot) and Gavin Williams (calf) who missed Tuesday night's game at Llanelli, whilst Byron Webster (ribs) picked up a knock in that game. Today the team went white water rafting, as a team bonding exercise, perhaps taking their inspiration from the 2012 Olympics!
Yeovil Town's partnership with American Artificial Turf company Blue Sky International has unsurprisingly been killed off. After BSI had struck a deal with League Two side Port Vale, the Glovers announced a £1.25 million commercial deal with the firm last October that would give them a new artificial pitch, combined with ten years worth of pre-season tours to the USA and Caribbean.
All the warning signs were that this deal was on shaky ground, when BSI pulled out of their deal with the Valiants last December, establishing a chain of events that eventually saw them go into administration in March of this year.
Having kept silent on the issue for the last ten months, Yeovil Town have released a statement to this week's Western Gazette that confirms the deal is dead. However, they suggest that the problems are caused by the inability to find a suitable location for the artificial surface to reside:
"Yeovil Town FC and Blue Sky International have reached a mutual agreement to cancel the sponsorship agreement which provided for the installation of an artificial playing surface for use by the local community. Problems identifying and acquiring a suitable location for the surface and the lack of progress with the Huish Park site has led both parties to conclude the project cannot proceed at this time."
The inability to locate a plot of land for an artificial pitch to be implemented could be relevant to the club's Food Store application. Back in March, South Somerset District Council and Government body Sport England advised the club that they needed to provide replacement pitches as well as land that was accessible to the community. In the four months that has passed, no further application has been made by the club to cover this gap, and the above statement would suggest that the search for land has so far been unsuccessful.
League One side Tranmere Rovers have completed the signing of former Yeovil Town winger Abdulai Bell-Baggie. The 20 year old Sierra Leone player has signed a twelve month contract at Prenton Park, having featured in a series of pre-season friendlies on the Wirral.
Having played under Rovers boss Ronnie Moore during a loan spell at Rotherham United, the two parties are already familiar with each other. Moore told his club's website that he saw the former Reading trainee as a bit of a crowd-pleaser:
"He’s done well since he has been here, he’s been lively and quick and he likes to take people on. He’s a very attacking player who will twist and turn and give defenders a headache and I think he’ll be a real crowd favourite. I’m delighted he has agreed to join us."
During his time at Huish Park, Bell-Baggie failed to clock up a first team appearance, spending the first half of the 2011-12 season on the club's books. Since then he's been playing for Hayes and Yeading United and Salisbury City, but now gets an opportunity to work his way back into the Football League.
Yeovil Town have changed ticketing arrangements for next Tuesday evening's home pre-season friendly against Premier League side Stoke City. The original plan was to have all four sides of the ground open for this fixture. The Copse Road Away Terrace will now no longer be opened for the match, with all visiting supporters housed in the Screwfix (East) Stand.
The change to arrangements would suggest a lower than expected uptake on tickets for the game from Potters fans. The game is to take place on Tuesday 7th August at Huish Park, with a 7.45p.m. kick-off. For full ticketing prices on that and other fixtures, follow the links below.
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