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Review Of The Year 2000 - Part One
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January 2000
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The new year/century begins badly for Yeovil Town FC, with the desperately
sad news that former player Paul Muir - a Yeovil lad born and bred, whose
father George himself played for the club - has died in hospital after being
attacked in the street the previous summer.... Murray Fishlock plays
against Dover but has to come off injured with back trouble....
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Murray Fishlock departs from the Dover pitch with a chronic back injury
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Acting manager
Steve Thompson has a reported bid of £25,000 turned down by
Woking for defender Michael Danzey, plus the K's knock back a
reported offer of £40,000 for midfielder Gary Patterson.....
Thommo is also turned down by out-of-favour Cardiff striker
Dai Thomas (he of 'Panorama' fame), so a lucky escape for Yeovil
there.... Matt Hayfield is injured, out for 4 weeks.....Yeovil receive
£10,000 from Birmingham after Jerry Gill makes his 10th
appearance for the Blues.....Rumours abound that David Webb is to be
appointed as Director Of Football......Thommo increases his bid
for Michael Danzey to £30,000, but Woking say 'no' again....
transfer-listed midfielder Phil Simpson undergoes an operation on damaged
ligaments.....Warren Patmore is voted 'Player of the Millenium' by
readers of the Clarion....
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Adrian Foster's brilliant diving header opens the scores in Yeovil's FA Trophy against Stevenage
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The Gazette reports that work on the new
terrace roof will start in May, chairman John Fry agrees with the
Gazette.....The YTFC Youth Team win the SW Counties Youth League title
after a 2-2 draw at Bournemouth, a superb achievement.....2 London men are
charged with the murder of Paul Muir..... Former Glover
Steve Browne takes over as Slough Town boss, whilst
Graham Roberts is appointed as manager of Hertford Town.......
Webb for Director Of Football rumours are even more rife,
Brentford fans appear for the first time on the Ciderspace Forum,
warning against his appointment......Tony Pounder becomes a dad for the
first time.... On the field it's a good month for The Glovers, winning 3
out of 4 Conference fixtures and knocking Stevenage out of the FA Trophy
by 2-1..... Kiddy take the lead at the top of the Conference for the
first time in the season, but Rushden are still clear favourites with
the bookies at 5-4, with the Harriers at 5-1......
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February 2000
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Reports indicate that Yeovil are interested in signing Bashley midfielder
Wade Elliot.....Injured midfielders Steve Stott and
Matt Hayfield are reported as being on the road to recovery.....
It turns out that Wade Elliot has been recommended to the club by
Dave Webb.....
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Warren Patmore reels away in delight as he scores a farcical rebound goal at Bedford in the FA Trophy
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Reserve team player Anthony Tonkin plays for
British Universities v an FA XI...."The Glovers must go up this year"
says Chairman John Fry to the Gazette..... YTISA launch their
Independent Barmy Army fanzine, first issue sells out.....Thommo
tells the Gazette that he's not interested in buying Wade Elliott
as he hasn't even seen him play.... David Webb finally joins the club on
a non-contract basis as 'Football Advisor'.... The Glovers beat
Bedford 4-0 away from home in the 4th Round of the Trophy and are drawn
at home to holders Kingstonian in the 5th Round...... Wade Elliott
signs for Bournemouth for £5,000......A week after joining the club
as 'Football Advisor', Dave Webb leaves, John Fry saying: "Dave
feels we are on the right track, and frankly can not see in which area he can
help at the moment".... At the top of the Conference Kiddy are
gaining momentum and pulling out a 6-point lead over Rushden. Yeovil
are 3rd..... Despite putting out a strong team The Glovers are humiliated by
Taunton Town in the quarter-finals of the Somerset Premier Cup,
being thrashed 5-1.....Youth Team coach and Yeovil Legend Stuart Housley
dyes his hair blond in recognition of his team winning the title....
Matt Hayfield returns from injury.....Warren Patmore is picked for
the England semi-pro squad to play Italy in Padova,
Rob Cousins is put on stand-by.... After a couple of days of
'will-he, won't-he?', left-sided wing-back Matt Hale signs for Yeovil
from Weymouth for £10,000..... Paul Muir's funeral takes
place at St John's Church in Yeovil..... After many delays and a few false
starts the club finally launch their Official Website onto the waiting world....
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Warren Patmore battles with Gary Patterson, but the Glovers go out of the Trophy to Kingstonian
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It's a poor month for The Glovers on the pitch - a solitary win at
Bedford in the Trophy at the start of the month is followed by a run of
4 defeats and a draw and the month ends with Yeovil crashing out of the Trophy
as well, The K's winning 1-0 at Huish Park in front of 3,330, with
reports of crowd trouble afterwards further spoiling the day.... John Fry
denies saying that the team "must" go up this season, saying that the
quote was meant more as an aim to achieve, or something like that.....
The Glovers are still 3rd in the Conference table, 6 points behind
leaders Rushden and 2nd-placed Kiddy but manager Thommo
is not optimistic, saying "it would be a miracle if we won the league
now".....The YTISA haven't given up yet though, offering the team
a bonus of £1,000 for a party if they win the league this season.....
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March 2000
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John Fry pledges that the Yeovil fans who caused trouble against
the K's will be identified and banned for life..... Wazza wins
his 4th semi-pro cap in England's 1-1 draw in Italy,
Rob Cousins comes on as an 80th minute substitute to earn his 1st cap....
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Matt Hale makes his debut at Northwich, but the season reaches a new low with a truly awful 3-0 defeat
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Former Bristol City youngster Ellis Wilmot signs for Yeovil until
the end of the season.....Former Glovers head coach Colin Lippiatt
returns to Kingfield and replaces Brian McDermott as Woking
manager.... On the pitch Yeovil lose 3-0 at Northwich and draw 1-1 at
Rushden, but the Conference title now looks out of reach for this season.....
Out of the blue (geddit?) Dave Webb is appointed manager and
Steve Thompson is demoted to Webb's assistant. Webb announces that the
club will start the transition to becoming a full-time outfit immediately....
Thommo's assistant, Terry Cotton is released....Matt Hayfield is
the first player to feel the wind of change, also being released. He teams up
with Colin Lippiatt at Woking.... Tony Pounder follows him
out of the door, with Steve Stott, Jason Eaton, Kevan Brown
and Paul Tisdale all being told they can find new clubs....
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Look who's waiting in the wings ... David Webb watches Thommo's last game in charge, knowing he's taking over on Monday
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Webb's watches Thommo's last game in charge at home to Doncaster,
the Glovers losing 3-1....By
coincidence, his first game in charge is also against Doncaster, at Belle Vue this
time....The Glovers, featuring the likes of Anthony Tonkin,
Paul Steele, Andy Lindegaard, Glenn Poole and
James Bent gain revenge, winning 3-0.....Wazza is picked again for
the England semi-pro squad for their game v Holland,
Rob Cousins joins up as sub.... Kevan Brown signs for
Woking on a free transfer and Steve Stott has his contract
cancelled by Yeovil - he too signs for Woking until the end of the
season.... The Sunday Independent reports that work on the proposed
new roof over the home terrace due to start in May could be put on hold....
Rushden & Diamonds are reported as making 3 seperate offers for
striker Warren Patmore before the transfer deadline, all of which were
rejected by Yeovil....Phil Simpson and Jason Eaton have their
contracts terminated by mutual consent, Eaton signing for Newport County....
League chairman are reported to have agreed 'in principle' that 2-up/2-down
between the Conference and Div 3 should be introduced, maybe in time for next
season - they set up a working party to study the implications....
Glenn Poole becomes the first player to sign a full-time contract....
Webb brings in a 19-year-old winger/striker from Plymouth Argyle on a
month's loan - Barrington Belgrave arrives at Huish Park.....
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April 2000
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Panic at the club as reports suggest that Paul Tisdale has been
playing all season as a wrongly-registered player leading to suggestions that
Yeovil could have up to 18 league points deducted - luckily it turns out to be
an April Fools prank by an irresponsible website..... When asked by the
Gazette to give details of Dave Webb's contract, John Fry
refuses, saying it's "nothing to do with the public"....
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Barrington Belgrave arrives on the scene and scores his debut goal at Hereford
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Rob Cousins is the latest player whose future at the club is regarded
as unsure.... Woking boss Colin Lippiatt says that he tried to
sign full-back David Piper but was turned down by Yeovil, and admits to
'forgetting' to sign Tony Pounder before the transfer deadline, saying
that the former Yeovil winger's availability had "slipped his mind"....
Murray Fishlock has an appointment with a specialist to try and solve his
debilitating back problem......The Huish Park crowd's favourite referee (not),
Dorset's Mike North is promoted to the Football League list.... Stadium
manager and former reserve-team boss Terry Rowles leaves the club
'by mutual consent'.... Central defender Terry Skiverton becomes the
2nd player to sign a full-time contract at the club....
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Local lad Andy Lindegaard is part of the new wave of youthful Yeovil, and scores his debut goal against Hednesford
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Fellow central
defender Chris Sparks is transfer-listed....Goalkeeper
Tony Pennock is called up by the Wales semi-pro team for the match
against England in May....The YTISA have their request to present
their Player of the Season Trophy on the pitch at Huish Park turned down by the
club..... Better news on the pitch as The Glovers go unbeaten all month,
winning 3 games and drawing 4..... Barrington Belgrave returns to Home
Park after the end of his loan period, David Webb refuses to comment on
speculation regarding the player's future....
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May 2000
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Left-back Anthony Tonkin and striker James Bent become the
latest recruits to the club's full-time revolution.... An auction of sporting
memoribilia raises £1,500 for the Erection 2000 fund, but it's all
gone quiet as to when work will actually go ahead on the new roof over the home
terrace.... In the penultimate game of the season Colin Lippiatt's
Woking visit Huish Park and include 4 former Glovers in the side - The
visitors spank Yeovil 3-0 to stave off the threat of relegation.... Central
defender and favourite crowd scapegoat Dean Chandler is released on a
free transfer, as is Ellis Wilmot.....
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Controversy as the YTISA are forced to present their Player of the Season at Morecambe's ground. Tony Pennock gets the nod
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The YTISA finally present
their Player Of The Season trophy to winner Tony Pennock at the final
game of the season at Morecambe, but there are rumours that
Pennock and Webb are not seeing eye-to-eye.... The Glovers finish
7th in the table, 21 points behind title-winners Kidderminster....
Paul Tisdale is released on a free....The G&WSC;'s POTS trophy is
won by Terry Skiverton..... Rob Cousins is finally released by
Yeovil as his part-time contract expires and he refuses a full-time deal.....
A war of words erupts between the YTISA and John Fry over the
club's refusal to allow the ISA to present their POTS trophy to
Tony Pennock.... The Glovers make an enquiry about Andover striker
Andy Forbes but are rebuffed.... Former Glovers' Steve Stott and
Phil Simpson sign for Slough.... Rumours around Huish Park suggest
that midfielder Jamie Pitman is unhappy with the full-time deal offered
to him by Yeovil and is holding out for more money... Keeper Tony Pennock
makes his debut for Wales in the 1-1 draw with England at Llanelli,
striker Warren Patmore misses the game through injury....
GKN Westland donate £50,000 towards the
Erection 2000 Appeal Fund, but there's still no start date for work on
the new terrace roof.... Midfielder Ben Smith signs a full-time contract
at Yeovil, and Barrington Belgrave is reported to be having discussions
with Dave Webb....
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The season ends at Morecambe with a 1-1 draw, with more youthful talent on display from James Bent
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The row between the club and the YTISA rumbles on, with all 3 local
papers being more or less critical of the club's stance.....
Andy Lindegaard and Youth Team striker Chris Giles both sign
full-time contracts, but midfielder Jamie Pitman, recently voted as the
YTFC Internet Fans Player Of The Season, refuses Yeovil's offer of a full-time
contract and signs a part-time deal with - you guessed it - Woking....
Yeovil get their man however when Physio Tony Farmer signs a full-time
contract.... John Fry attracts more criticism on the internet and in the
local press when he downplays GKN Westland's £50,000 donation to
the E2000 Fund and says work on the new roof may not begin for 5 years!....
Wing-back Matt Hale's future at the club is the subject of speculation
despite him only having signed a couple of months previously following his
refusal of a full-time deal... Youth Team goalkeeper Chris Weale signs
a full-time contract and full-back Dave Piper becomes one of Webb's
Chosen Few when he signs a new 2-year part-time deal with the club....
First-choice keeper Tony Pennock holds clear-the-air talks with Webb but
is disappointed not be offered a new deal to replace his existing part-time
contract.... The future of Warren Patmore is said to be next on the
manager's agenda.... Meanwhile former Glovers boss Steve Rutter is
appointed to England manager Kevin Keegan's scouting staff prior to the
Euro 2000 tournament..... Rumours suggest that Yeovil are interested in
signing 3 of Dorchester's out-of-contract players, striker
Danny O'Hagen, and midfielders Roy O'Brien and
Martin Sullivan being the names mentioned in the local press.....
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June 2000
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A quiet start to the month with rumours that Bristol City duo
Matt Hewlett and former Glovers maestro Mark Shail are interesting
Yeovil being the only thing to break the summer torpor.....
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Rob Cousins bows out of Huish Park after four highly successful seasons, and teams up with Dave Norton at Forest Green
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Until former Glovers
utility player Rob Cousins signs for Conference rivals Forest Green
Rovers that is, closely followed by Yeovil target Martyn Sullivan
who prefers FGR's offer of part-time football to Yeovil's full-time contract
offer.... Rumours suggest that former Plymouth youngsters Barrington
Belgrave and defender Jon Ashton have been offered contracts by The
Glovers..... Warren Patmore is the only YTFC player picked in the annual
Conference Team of the Year Awards.... There's speculation on the internet that
the top 8 Conference clubs will be offered places in next season's
Auto-Windscreens Shield competition - that would include Yeovil, who finished
7th.... Mark Shail signs for Conference champions Kidderminster....
John Fry announces the formation of the Official Supporters Club,
an organisation intended to incorporate all the various clubs and organisations
that use Huish Park, all except the YTISA that is.... Former Glovers star
Neil "Psycho" Coates is appointed manager of Dorset Combination side
Shaftesbury... Yeovil unveil their new kit for the following season...
Transfer target Jon Ashton signs for Exeter City and
Dorchester frontman Danny O'Hagen also says no to The Glovers
contract offer, citing 'too little money on offer' as the reason for saying
no.... Big changes are proposed in the boadroom by the club, intended to
"streamline the decision-making process" says John Fry, though
details are sketchy as yet... The Gazette claims that Yeovil turned
down a £90,000 offer from Rushden for striker Warren Patmore
on transfer deadline day.... The Commanding Officer at HMS Heron, Yeovilton
agrees to let the club use its facilities for full-time training next season...
With the likes of Rushden and Doncaster signing new players and
spending big money prior to the new season, the local press and fans are getting
restless over the lack of new signings at Huish Park.....
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Go to 2000 Season Review Part Two
NOTE: : Photos 2, 4 & 6 © Western Gazette
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