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Review Of The Year 2001 - Part One
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January 2001
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Go to 2000 Season Review Part One and Part Two
Go to 2001 Season Review Part Two.
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Warren Patmore, Andy Lindegaard and Nick Crittenden lead the celebrations for Patmore's goal against Bolton
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The New Year sees Yeovil starting where they had left off the old - by beating Forest Green.... The Glovers stay 7 points ahead of 2nd-placed Ru$hden and have 2 games in hand.... A surprise in the FGR line-up however on New Year's Day with striker Alex Meechan, on loan at Huish Park only 2 days previously, wearing FGR's black-and-white stripes having signed an 18 month contract at The Lawn.... Reports suggest that Bristol Rovers have had a bid for Anthony Tonkin turned down.... Colin Addison says that he is well aware that Warren Patmore, Tony Pennock and Ben Smith are out-of-contract at the end of the season and that "they [the players] know how anxious I am to get things sorted"..... On the eve of the FA Cup 3rd Round tie at Bolton, Addo is announced as the Conference Manager of the Month for December.... 3,000 travelling fans watch the Glovers do themselves proud at the Reebok Stadium. Warren Patmore puts Yeovil into a shock lead on 25 minutes with John O'Kane equalising for Bolton on the stroke of half-time. Goal machine Michael Ricketts wins it for the Trotters deep into 2nd-half injury-time to leave Yeovil to concentrate on the League..... Er, and the FA Trophy still, not to forget the NVC Trophy.... And talking of the NVC Trophy, 3 days after the Bolton defeat the Glovers bounce back by knocking Kettering out of the NVCT quarter-final.... Work on the new roof over the home terrace begins at last after Yeovil are awarded a grant of £121,150 by the Football Stadia Improvement Fund.... Addo makes a double-bid for Peterboro striker Drew Broughton and midfielder Richie Hanlon.... Yeovil's finances for the previous year are published and a loss of £270,000 is revealed.... Conference club chairmen meet to finalise plans for pushing 2-up/2-down to the top of the Football League's agenda.... Addo plays down suggestions that he's unhappy about not being given a contract by the club.... On the eve of their FA Trophy match with Bath City, the Glovers are made 7-2 favourites to lift the Trophy - Bath are sent back to Twerton with a 2-1 defeat to think about, Simon Betts makes his Yeovil debut..... Due to the poor state of the Huish Park pitch, the Screwfix Direct Western League give permission for the Reserves to play their remaining home games at Taunton's Wordsworth Drive ground... Anthony Tonkin goes down injured with a stress fracture, he'll be out for at least a month.... Nationwide extend their sponsorship of the Conference to the end of the 2003-4 season.... The Glovers 100% winning home record goes with a 0-1 defeat to Southport.... Transfer target Drew Broughton signs for Kidderminster..... Chairman John Fry presents the accounts to a shareholders meeting, saying that the 5-Year Plan is now complete, with a new 3-Year Plan now on course, then criticises the local press for being unduly negative.... Yeovil defeat Hednesford 2-1 at Keys Park - they are now 4 points clear of Ru$hden at the top of the table, with 2 games in hand.... It's announced that Sky TV will cover the home match v Hayes in March on live television..... Tony Pennock is selected for the Wales semi-pro international v England in February, Warren Patmore and Terry Skiverton are picked for England.... The out-of-contract trio of Patmore, Pennock and Smith are still waiting for contract talks..... The home terrace is closed until the new stand is completed, it's hoped it will be finished in time for the visit of Ru$hden in April.....
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Warren Patmore heads home Yeovil's second goal against Forest Green on New Years Day
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February 2001
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James Bent, up at the Deva Stadium, Chester, where he scored Yeovil's goal in a 2-1 defeat
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The local press hit back at John Fry's criticism of 'negativity', accusing him of being a 'control-freak' for banning them from the previous month's shareholders meeting at Huish Park..... Former Glovers wing-back Murray Fishlock is set to begin running again following horrendous problems with injuries over the last two seasons..... Yeovil travel to Unibond League leaders Emley in the 4th Round of the FA Trophy and come away with a 4-2 win, despite keeper Tony Pennock being sent off. The Glovers face another trek oop north in the 5th Round, being draw away to Dr Martens League leaders Burton Albion..... Tony Pennock proves that he's not always being shown the red card by becoming a dad for the 3rd time, Alexander Anthony Pennock weighing in at 8lbs 9oz.... Defender Paul Steele joins Conference strugglers Woking on a month's loan.... Ladbroke's quotes Yeovil at a prohibitive (and plain daft) 1-7 on to win the Conference title. Ru$hden are good value at 10-3, while Southport are worth an each-way shot at 50-1.... Colin Addison tells the official site that he's hoping to make a new signing "very soon".... Meanwhile stories continue to appear in the media regarding the out-of-contract trio Patmore, Pennock and Smith and their on-going contract negotiations - according to the various stories, negotiations are, er, on-going.... The Glovers lose 2-1 at Chester to stay 3 points ahead of Ru$hden with 2 games in hand.... According to the Non-League Paper the Glovers and Boston are competing for the signature of Hereford winger Michael McIndoe. The paper also claims that Yeovil had an offer for Dover player Dave Clarke accepted the previous week but the player turned the move down, preferring to remain part-time.... The England v Wales non-league international featuring 3 Yeovil players, Tony Pennock for Wales, Terry Skiverton and Warren Patmore for England; ends in a 0-0 draw.... Yeovil break their transfer record by signing Michael McIndoe from Hereford for £25,000, plus another £5,000 should we gain promotion at the end of the season.... Two foreign triallists are taken on, ex-Cameroon international striker George Mouyeme-Elong and French midfielder Medeh Bahiou.... Cheltenham midfielder/defender Marcus Jones signs on a free transfer until the end of the season.... the Glovers begin selling 'mini-season-tickets' covering the final 9 home matches of the season.... Silly season starts early with rumours rife that former Glovers striker Owen Pickard, now at Dorchester, is on his way back to Huish Park.... Addo tells the Yeovil Express, "I'm hoping we can sort out a new agreement with Ben [Smith] by the end of the week, which would be great because it would be like signing a new player.".... Yeovil beat Boston United 2-1 at Huish Park to remain 3 points in front of Ru$hden with 2 games in hand.... Cameroon international striker George Mouyeme-Elong is refused a work permit by the Home Office, Addo is forced to let the player go and also releases midfielder Medeh Bahiou. Tragically the Frenchman is killed in a fatal car accident in France a few days later.... The Glovers lose 3-1 at home to Dagenham & Redbridge and also lose their lead at the top of the Conference for the first time in 5 months, going behind to Ru$hden on goal difference.... Plymouth striker Martin Gritton signs on a month's loan basis.... Talks are also held with Scunthorpe striker Darryn Stamp about the possibility of a loan.... Yeovil lose again, this time at Burton in the FA Trophy, 2-1 the final score. It's been a bad month for the Glovers, losing 3 out of 5 matches played.....
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Simon Betts gets Yeovil's second goal against Boston United in a 2-1 win
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March 2001
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Anthony Tonkin in action at Morecambe in a 0-0 draw
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Yeovil entertain Stevenage at Huish Park and dominate the game in terms of possesion and chances but still only come away with 1 point after a 1-1 draw. Ru$hden beat Woking 2-0 at home to go 2 points clear, but the Glovers still have 2 games in hand.... YTFC Press Officer Gregg Tesser quits, saying his workload is too great for a part-time post.... The NVC Trophy semi-final tie v Kingstonian is postponed because of a waterlogged pitch - the teams try to play the match again 24 hours later but the pitch is still too wet.... John Fry does his bit to rally the troops, telling Addo and the players via the Western Gazette, "There can be no more excuses.... We have met every single request on the footballing side and now we expect to see results." Great psychology, John.... Paul Steele has his loan spell at Woking extended for another month, and reserve-team striker Chris Giles is loaned out to Dr Marten's League side Weston-Super-Mare for a month.... Ben Smith has "agreed terms" on a new contract according to the club, but hasn't actually signed anything yet.... Again according to the club talks are still ongoing with Wazza and Tony Pennock.... It's reported on Ceefax that Ru$hden are unhappy with the timing of Yeovil's re-arranged match v Hereford, set to be the penultimate game of the season. Ceefax claims the Diamonds believe Hereford will be less than enthusiastic about winning at Yeovil, as the Bulls will benefit by an extra £5,000 if Yeovil win the league following the transfer of Michael McIndoe.... Ru$hden deny the claims outright.... Warren Patmore and Terry Skiverton are picked for the England non-league squad to play Holland later in the month..... Ladbrokes make Ru$hden 8-11 on favourites to win the Conference, Yeovil are now evens with Southport at 33-1.... Talks continue between representatives of the Conference, FA and Football League regarding the possibility of increasing promotion/relegation places between the Conference and Division 3.... The Glovers snatch defeat from the jaws of victory at Kettering, losing 2-1 despite being 1-0 up with 5 minutes to go and then being awarded a penalty.... Ru$hden are still 3 points ahead, Yeovil still have 2 games in hand.... Ben Smith pledges his future to Yeovil, telling the Western Daily Press, "Everything's sorted out and I've just got to sign the contract now.... You quite often don't realise what you've got until you've given it up and I didn't want that to be the case with me and Yeovil.".... The Glovers slip further behind Ru$hden following a disappointing 0-0 home draw with Nuneaton, whilst the Annies beat Kettering 2-0 to go 5 points clear at the top. Yeovil still have those 2 games in hand.... Rumours abound that former Glovers star striker Howard Forinton is coming back to Huish Park on loan..... Addo announces that contract talks with Wazza and Tony Pennock have been put on hold until the end of the season to enable everyone concerned to "concentrate on football".... Addo admits making enquiries about the availability of Howard Forinton, as well as the likes of Steve Brodie, Steve Claridge, Tony Cottee and David Kelly..... Sky Sports strike a deal with the Conference to show ten live matches next season..... The Glovers draw 0-0 at Morecambe but fall further still behind Ru$hden who grind out a 2-1 win over Kingstonian. 7 points is now the gap, though Yeovil still have 2 games in hand.... The Conference suggests the possibility that play-offs may be brought in for next season, and also contemplates the possibility of a European competition for leading non-league clubs across the continent..... Back in the real world Paul Steele is recalled from Woking after both Tom White and Terry Skiverton go on the injury-list..... Woking respond by making a £10,000 offer for the defender, but Addo turns them down..... Former boss Dave Webb offers £40,000 for striker Barrington Belgrave but Bazza turns Southend down, saying he wants to help Yeovil get promotion..... Wazza plays in the England non-league side's 3-0 win over their Dutch counterparts.... In a massive boost for the club Howard Forinton signs on loan from Peterborough for the rest of the season, though he signs too late to be included in the team to play Hayes.... In the first ever live televised Conference match, the Glovers beat Hayes 3-0.... The match at Huish Park v Ru$hden in April is made all-ticket..... The NVC Trophy match v Kingstonian is twice postponed, again..... One in, one out: Plymouth striker Martin Gritton returns to Home Park after his month's loan is up, he hasn't impressed the Huish Park faithful.... Experienced midfielder Martin Barlow is the next Huish Park recruit from Plymouth, signing on loan until the end of the season..... Ru$hden offer £20,000 for Warren Patmore, EWBAMBNET is told to stick his offer where the sun doesn't shine that Wazza is not for sale....
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Terry Skiverton puts Yeovil one up against Kettering, but it all ended in tears with a 2-1 defeat
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April 2001
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Barrington Belgrave in the big game against Rushden, which finished 0-0
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April starts in less than satisfactory fashion for the Glovers with a 1-1 draw at Dover whilst Ru$hden also mark time with a similarly uninspiring 1-1 draw at home to Leigh RMI.... The Annies remain 5 points ahead, but the Glovers still have 2 games in hand.... Off the pitch 3 players not picked for the Dover match spend the game in the bar, drinking. Colin Addison is less than impressed, fining Ben Smith, James Bent and Dave Piper for a "breach of club discipline".... It's announced that the Westland Stand will be opened for the crunch clash with Ru$hden, a near full house is expected for the match.... The Glovers pick up a vital 3 points at Kingstonian in a hugely entertaining 4-3 away win, but there's bad news after the match - Martin Barlow returns to Plymouth after picking up an injury in training and is expected to be out for the rest of the season. Meanwhile Howard Forinton is stretchered off with an ankle injury after scoring against the K's.... Ru$hden win 4-1 at home to Morecambe..... The Conference calls an emergency meeting of chairmen after more procrastination from the Football League over plans to introduce 2-up/2-down next season.... In yet another vital match for the Glovers, they play one of their games in hand over Ru$hden, but go down 2-0 at Doncaster. The Anniesare still 5 points ahead, but Yeovil now only have 1 game in hand. To make matters worse, striker Barrington Belgrave is sent off for violent conduct and will be suspended for the final 3 matches of the season.... Tickets for the home sections of Huish Park are sold out for the match v Ru$hden the following week..... Senior strikers Howard Forinton and Warren Patmore are ruled out of the vital Easter weekend games because of injury, Forinton hasn't played since he was stretchered off against Kingstonian.... Neither players appears to be immediately missed as the Glovers demolish Leigh RMI 6-1 at Huish Park, incredibly Ru$hden lose 3-1 at Hereford. Yeovil are now a mere 2 points behind the leaders with a game in hand, and the Northamptonshire club are the next visitors to Huish Park, which increasingly resembles a beach rather than a football pitch, such is the amount of sand the club are being forced to use to keep the pitch even halfway playable..... Football is put into perspective with the news of two deaths. Yeovil legend Alec Stock shuffles of this mortal coil aged 84, whilst 41-year-old Dorset ref Mike North, a familiar face at Huish Park, collapses and dies whilst officiating at the Southend v Mansfield match..... The Glovers travel in hope to Dagenham on Easter Monday but come away disappointed following a 2-0 defeat. Ru$hden draw 0-0 at home to Doncaster to go 3 points clear, Yeovil still have a game in hand.... The Conference, FA and Football League are back in talks over 2-up/2-down. Parachute payments for relegated clubs are the main sticking point.... At last, it's the big one! Yeovil entertain Ru$hden in front of the biggest ever Huish Park crowd, 8,868 packing the ground, though the Annies are unable to sell their full allocation, returning 800 tickets out of 1,700.... In the event the match is something of an anti-climax, the appalling pitch negating what football there is on offer and the 0-0 draw suits the visitors more than the home side in the end. The upshot is that Ru$hden are 3 points ahead with 3 games to play and a superior goal difference, Yeovil are 3 points behind with 4 games to play and an inferior goal difference - advantage Ru$hden.... Good news - the Youth Team are crowned as champions of the Southwest Counties Youth League for the 2nd year in succession.... The Glovers travel to Leigh with James Bent being the only available striker in the 19-man squad, Patmore and Forinton being injured and Belgrave suspended.... Yet again the team shows that whatever else may be at fault, there's nothing wrong with their heart and spirit, coming from behind to defeat RMI 3-2, defender Terry Skiverton taking the spare striker's role.... However Ru$hden also win, beating Telford 3-0 at home, to remain 3 points in front..... It's reported that the long-awaited re-structuring of the pyramid system of the non-league game could finally be getting somewhere - representatives of the Conference, Northern Premier, Isthmian and Southern Leagues are due to meet with the FA next month.... Yeovil travels to Telford for another 'must-win' game, again with James Bent as the only fit striker, and he's stretchered off at half-time. Defenders Skivo and Paul Steele play up front and Steele scores the winning goal as The Glovers keep the title race alive with a brave 2-1 away win.... The Glovers go into the final week of the season 3 points behind Ru$hden and with one game in hand - they simply have to beat Hereford in their next home game to take the title race to the last Saturday of the season, but even if they do it's still very much advantage Annies thanks to EWBAMBNET's men superior goal difference..... The NVC Trophy semi-final v Kingstonian finally goes ahead - Yeovil's Reserves are beaten 5-0 by the K's.... no-one cares!......
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Howard Forinton's diving header opens Yeovil's account in a stunning 4-3 win at Kingstonian
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May 2001
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Michael McIndoe in the last game of the season against Scarborough
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.... It doesn't get much worse than this! Yeovil had to beat Hereford to take the title race to the final Saturday of the season, but an injury-ravaged side went down 2-3 to the Bulls - of all teams! - to leave Ru$hden 3 points clear at the top with 1 game left for both sides.... But with the Annies having a vastly superior goal difference the title is theirs in all but name...... The next morning Colin Addison is heavily criticised on Radio Bristol by John Fry, the chairman accusing Addo of"failing" and saying, in effect, that if Dave Webb had stayed at the club then Yeovil would have been promoted..... Bradford's are announced as the club's new sponsors, they sign a 3-year deal..... John Fry repeats his criticism of Addo in the Western Gazette, and speculates as to whether the Glovers will remain full-time for next season.... A subdued Huish Park crowd watch The Glovers lose 0-1 to Scarborough on the final day of the season, Yeovil finish 2nd to Ru$hden, 6 points behind the Annies on 80 points, our best ever Conference finish.... Immediately after the match finishes Addo resigns, accusing John Fry of putting him in an "untenable position" and calling Fry's comments earlier in the week "disgraceful, inaccurate and hugely insulting".... It also emerges that the out-of-contract duo, Warren Patmore and Tony Pennock have only been offered 1 year extensions to their current part-time deals - in effect small pay-cuts! Wazza's contract offer arrives in the post, it turns out that no-one at the club is even prepared to negotiate face-to-face with him.... Unsurprisingly both 'offers' are rejected..... The deal agreed with Ben Smith the previous month but not actually signed by the player is withdrawn by the board and a lesser deal offered instead. No-one realises this at the time, but this means that the player is now entitled to leave the club on a Bosman should he so wish..... In the absence of a manager the board release Marcus Jones, Bradley Peters and, controversially, Gareth Risbridger as their contracts expire.... It never rains but it pours - John Fry claims that after crowd trouble following the game v Hereford that the Glovers have been ordered to police every home game next season, at a cost of £40,000.... Speculation begins as to who will be Yeovil's new boss, with former Bristol City and Portsmouth manager Tony Pulis being the early front-runner.... Conference fans unite to start the Fair Play For The National Game Campaign to push for increased promotion between the Conference and Division 3.... Warren Patmore begins negotiations with 4 other clubs, Ru$hden are said to be favourites to capture his signature, though Stevenage, Southend and Woking are all interested.... Tony Pennock is also talking to Ru$hden, as well as Oxford Utd.... The Non-League Paper claims Harry Redknapp will be the next Yeovil manager..... Former Glovers boss Graham Roberts criticises John Fry over the manner of Addo's departure, Fry threatens Roberts with a solicitors letter in return.... The club advertises for a new manager in the national press.... It seems that speculation about the possible re-structuring of the pyramid system of the non-league game is somewhat premature - following a meeting of the Conference, Northern Premier, Isthmian and Southern Leagues with the FA it's decided that further consultation is necessary.... Meanwhile the Football League restores the issue of 2-up/2-down to the agenda of it's AGM in June, meaning there will be a vote on the proposal.... Tom White is reportedly unhappy with his contract offer from the board, Terry Skiverton asks for a transfer..... The club receives over 40 'serious' applications for the manager's job, according to the press the applicants include Steve Claridge, Guy Whittingham, Kenny Hibbitt, Kevin Hodges, Graham Barlow, Tony Pulis and John McGinlay. The club say that they have drawn up a short-list of six but refuse to name names..... Following John Fry's assertion earlier in the month that no player would be sold or released without the new manager's consent, Paul Steele is sold to Woking for a "small fee", much to fans' consternation.... Gareth Risbridger joins Southend after being released by Yeovil.... Following Terry Skiverton's transfer request and criticism of the club from both Ben Smith and Tom White, chairman John Fry calls for "loyalty" from the players.... The managerial short-list is reduced to three, the front-runner being under contract elsewhere. The Gazette names Steve Claridge and Dave Webb as 2 of the candidates plus an unknown third party..... Other press sources claim Nigel Clough and Stuart Pearce are in the frame..... The FA agrees to finance parachute payments for relegated clubs from Division 3 to the Conference, though no firm details are as yet forthcoming. Optimism is now high for the possibility of 2-up/2-down coming in for next season.... Sky Sports say that the appointment of the new Yeovil manager is imminent.....
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It wasn't all doom'n'gloom - the Youth Team came home with the league title for the second season running
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June 2001
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Andy Turner (right) is Gary Johnson's first signing
Photo © Clarion 2000
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In a rare outbreak of common-sense, the Conference scraps the League Cup competition (formerly known as the NVC Trophy) for the new season.... After 6 years, 290 appearances and 140 goals, Warren Patmore leaves the club on a Bosman transfer, signing a 3-year deal with Ru$hden..... Out-of-contract midfielder Ben Smith follows him out of the club, signing a 2-year contract with Southend.... In the annual Conference Awards, Terry Skiverton, Darren Way and Nick Crittenden are picked in the Team of the Year.... The managerial shortlist is reduced to two men, one of whom is thought to be Barnet boss John Still. An announcement is said to be imminent.... The Youth Team complete a magnificent season by beating Forest Green Rovers 2-0 to win a
League and Cup double.... After 6 years and 319 appearances, goalkeeper Tony Pennock leaves the club on a Bosman free transfer, following Wazza to Ru$hden..... Ben Smith attacks the board for the way they backtracked over his contract offer, describing the club as a "rudderless ship", and added: "The club has got no leadership and everything seems to be falling apart.".... According to the Western Gazette the new manager is either Jimmy Quinn or Graham Barrow and an announcement is imminent.... The hot new rumour amongst the fans is that Stuart Pearce is the choice..... Out-of-contract Tom White is the latest player to talk about leaving, Stevenage are said to be interested in signing him.... Despite all the promises, the Football League Chairmen vote against introducing 2-up/2-down between the Conference and Division 3 for next season at the League's AGM. The excuse used is that the 'parachute payments' to relegated clubs on offer from the FA don't go far enough.... John Fry tells ytfc.net that the club's first choice of manager has now joined a Football League club after being on the verge of coming to Yeovil. The other man on the shortlist is currently on holiday.... The Non-League Paper comes up with yet another name for the Yeovil job - this time it's former Latvia manager Gary Johnson who's said to be in the frame.... Southend boss Dave Webb makes another offer for Barrington Belgrave, the club turn it down.... John Fry admits that Gary Johnson is a candidate for the vacant manager's job.... The Conference unilaterally announces that the team promoted to Division 3 from the Conference next season will be decided by the introduction of a play-off system with the top 5 in the table competing for the one promotion place, providing the top five have league-graded crowds that is.... The measure is introduced to try and spice up a season that tends to become too flat too early for too many clubs with nothing to play for..... The managerless Glovers are made 6-1 second favourites to win the Conference by Surreysports.... Rumours from reliable sources at Huish Park say that the identity of the man who pulled out of taking the vacant manager's job at Yeovil in favour of a league club is former Bradford City boss Paul Jewell, now at Wigan.... Over a month after the resignation of Colin Addison, the club appoints former Cambridge United, Kettering and Latvia manager Gary Johnson as the new Yeovil boss. He signs an initial 2-year deal.... Club captain Terry Skiverton withdraws his transfer request.... John Fry denies that Paul Jewell was ever considered for the Yeovil job.... Gary Johnson wastes no time in getting to work, signing left-winger Andy Turner on a free transfer from Rotherham, followed a few days later by striker Carl Alford for an 'undisclosed fee' (later said to be £10,000) from Doncaster....
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Gary Johnson is unveiled as the new Yeovil Town manager at a press conference
Photo © Clarion 2000
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Go to 2001 Season Review Part Two.
Go to 2000 Season Review Part One and Part Two
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