David Cameron Walker

Archive for the ‘Yeovil Town’ Category

The Return of The King

Tuesday, February 14th, 2012

After being rock bottom of the league table at Christmas last season, many Yeovil Town fans feared relegation, and it took an amazing run of form in January and onwards to keep the Glovers in League One in a much more healthy position of 14th. ‘Time to push on’ we thought, ‘next stop, play-offs’, ‘all hail Terry Skiverton.’

After having finished level on points with Charlton Athletic and above Sheffield Wednesday, it would have been the most extreme of optimists to expect Yeovil to match those two sides again this time around. What we didn’t expect was more or less a repeat prescription of a lackluster first half to the season.

We have left ourselves a hole to dig out of again, but this time Chairman John Fry is not willing to rely on a miraculous set of results that saw us good last season. After all, just five of the squad remain from that which went to Plymouth at the start of last January, and the shortcomings due to the loss of Dean Bowditch, Andy Welsh and Nathan Smith have been evident, as has the lack of a regular goalkeeper – five is the count so far this season.

Something, it was felt, needed to be done. So, to the return of Gary Johnson. Idolised from his first stint as manager, Johnson holds hero status having taken the club from the Conference to League One, picking up the FA Trophy on the way as a result of flowing, passing, football.

Great! A buzz has returned to the club. Over a 1,000 more people came through the gates for Johnson’s homecoming as he is set the task of securing League One football for the eighth consecutive season.

But what of the man who’s job he took? The man who kept Yeovil in the league on a less than shoestring budget, had to rely on loans and the total overhaul of his squad every season. The guy who captained the side through all our success under Gary Johnson, and holds cult hero status in Somerset. The fella who attracted the likes of Dean Bowditch, Paul Huntington and Stephen Caulker to the club, has he just been binned?

No, and thank the Lord that he hasn’t.

The fact that we have relied on loans the last few years as well as the club allowing contracts to run out has meant that we have seen a ridiculous amount of different faces pull on the green and white stripes of Yeovil Town. This has meant, for me and many fans, it has been very hard to get behind the team. You don’t know who is going to play, you don’t know who some of the people are, you can see that, in some cases, they are not willing to fight for the club .

I remember when I used to watch Yeovil play, I knew who was going to start. Chris Weale would be in goal, Lee Johnson and Darren Way would be in the centre of the park, Michael McIndoe and Kevin Gall would provide pace and width and at the back, week in, week out would stand Terry Skiverton, skipper.

Skiverton has been appointed assistant manager to Gary Johnson, and his decision to stay just underlines his commitment and love for the club. Yeovil Town need people like Skivo at the club, someone to relate to, someone to get behind and someone to fight of the club. A big part of Yeovil staying up last season was the overriding passion that he showed to the players, supporters and the board.

To my mind, he still has a huge part to play in where the club will be in the future. Gary Johnson will provide a more professional, experienced head to set the specific wheels in motion to get Yeovil going again.

However, what if Johnson keeps us up, betters Skiverton’s previous best finish of 14th, takes us to the play-offs next season, as Russell Slade did? I have very few doubts in my mind that if a bigger club comes sniffing, as Bristol City did the first time round, Johnson could be easily lured away with the offer of potential Premier League football, taking our prized assets with him.

Johnson has recently talked of his desire of managing in the Premier League, “be it with Yeovil Town or another team”. The latter, I presume, is the most likely.

Where do Yeovil turn to then? I have a prediction, Terry Skiverton.

Skivo is not yet done taking this club forward, he is a young manager who was thrust into very difficult circumstances and I believe the next two or three seasons working with Gary will help him no end in learning what things need to be done, and how, in order to manage a successful team.

A lot of this is hypothetical, of course, but I believe that the move by the board to team Gary and Terry together, as apposed to one or the other, is the right decision and one which will see us move on positively as a club.

And if the time comes when Yeovil need Skivo again, I have no fears he will answer that call.

But for now it is time for our new/old manager to put points on the board, bring people through the turnstile and take Yeovil Town up the league.

And I, for one, cannot wait.

Viva La Gary Johnson revolution part II.

Written by Ryan Peasland, We Are Going Up’s Yeovil Town Blogger

Ryan tweets at @rpeasland

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Town down but not out

Friday, October 28th, 2011

Rotten luck, rubbish refs, plenty of suspensions, loans galore and it’s the same old story for Yeovil Town. Fifteen games in and the Glovers find themselves languishing in the ghastly doom and gloom at the bottom of League One.

Yeovil have seen home game after home game break their own lowest league attendance records as the club pay the price for a bad run of form and what is an awkwardly Northern league. Manager Terry Skiverton has also had to contend with a treatment table which has seen more bums than a Miss Somerset competition and has even had to bring loans in to cover his loans!

As well as propping up the rest of League One, Yeovil also sit bottom of the Fair Play league or, if you like, top of the bad boys league. Right back Luke Ayling is the least disciplined player in the league with six yellows and one red to his name, as well as an FA charge hanging over his head for being less than complimentary to the referee who gave him his marching orders.

However one would think there is a big black cloud hanging over Huish Park and that I’m going to be negative about the club’s chances of survival, well you’re wrong.

Peering through green-and-white-tinted glasses as a fan, there are small signs that Skiverton can do what he did last year and perform a turnaround in the second-half of the season. Long-term injury lay-offs Gavin Williams and Jonathan Obika are making progress towards comebacks in November and December whilst Paul Huntington, Steve Maclean and Alan O’Brien will soon join the rest of the returning players searching for fitness.

As good as some of the football has been against the bigger sides in the division, the Glovers have fallen short to the ilk of MK Dons, Sheffield Wednesday, Sheffield United and Preston North End. There was a sense of ‘we huffed and puffed, did alright, but they have got a bigger team, bigger squad, better players, more money, better manager, bigger stadium, larger city blah, blah, blah. Just wait until we play the likes of Scunthorpe United, Bury and Carlisle United.’

That is when things started to get grizzly. Both Carlisle and Bury came to Huish Park, scored three goals and took all three points which lost the side a lot of support and confidence. A very small fraction of the green and white army have decided that the regime is to blame and that Skiverton should leave in order to keep his club legend status in tact.

Skiverton makes mistakes and he can sometimes be tactically naiive, but no-one else would do this job with as much passion and full-bodied endeavour to keep the club alive, thriving and in League One. It could be said that Skivo’s job is possibly the safest in English football. While managerial heads roll around the country from teams in Yeovil’s position and higher, the club’s chairman comes out with a rallying cry to get behind the manager. In a statement, chairman John Fry said: “Last season Terry and his team finished in the second highest position in the history of the club. United we stand, divided we fall, so let us all pull together in the same direction and back Terry and his team.”

Where else would you see this type of support from a team in the relegation zone?

Injuries and suspensions have made for an unstable back four leading to high number of goals conceded. Even loanee goalkeeper Jed Steer was injured and had to return to parent club Norwich City. However, a more steely resistance has been instilled in the last few games, with the loan of West Ham ‘keeper Marek Stech and the addition of a much needed, big, no-nonsence, strong, experienced centre half in the form of Darren Purse.

Some may have been surprised to see the ex-Premier League defender down in Somerset but having grown up with the gaffer in London, Purse is a real solid addition to the squad and one which supporters would love to have for longer than a month.

It’s hard to imagine Skiverton will be sacked, not because the board are happy with mediocrity but because I believe he will turn things around. The returning players will be like new signings in January though the club’s restricted budget will mean a reliance on loans once more.

Last season the club were bottom and as good as dead at Christmas, but a new year turnaround saw them achieve a 14th place finish. If they are not bottom at Christmas this year, we can only assume it will be a mid-table finish for Town, right?

Relegation is not an option for the Glovers if they want to re-develop parts of the ground, but it is going to be another hard season. The team needs fans and the fans need the club. This writer remains confident we will be seeing League One football at Huish Park next season. I am not happy with mediocrity and certainly don’t enjoy a relegation battle every year, but a struggling club needs more support than a high-flying one and I will take positivity into every game played. At least we have a club to support, fans of Plymouth Argyle have sweated over the existence of theirs for months.

All Yeovil have to do is be more consistent, stay fit, score more goals, concede less, entertain the fans and start picking up three points from the likes of Huddersfield Town and Charlton Athletic. Easy.

Written by Ryan Peasland, We Are Going Up’s Yeovil Town Blogger

Ryan tweets at @rpeasland

 

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Out of Luck Skivo’s Rallying Cry

Tuesday, September 13th, 2011

Seven league games in and just the one win chalked up for Yeovil Town and the Green Army, but excuse us, if you will, for continuing in our optimism.

Amongst the opponents so far have been MK Dons, Sheffield United and Preston North End and from what I saw I would suggest that all three will be fighting toe-to-toe for a place in the Play-offs come the end of the season.

Town were not disgraced in any of those performances, just the single goal deciding each tie with Yeovil’s spirit and guts not quite converting into points on the board. No more spirit was shown than in the seven-goal thriller away to Preston. North End, by all accounts, could have, should have, been about 7-1 up but for some desperate defending and a good few extra licks of paint on the woodwork.

It was a fair old trip from Yeovil to Preston, add to that some Friday night traffic on the M6 and I managed to stroll up to my seat just as the teams emerged from the tunnel. Yeovil showed that night what they will need to show throughout the season; a steely resolve and a willingness to fight for the badge. Were it not for a fine one-on-one save by Preston’s Turner, then Kieran Agard could have robbed North End of two points and taken one back to Somerset.

The reason for my continued optimism is not just blind faith. I do believe in what Terry Skiverton is trying to do at the club and I believe that he has been handed some rotten luck. Injuries; every club has injuries, but in a small squad on a shoestring budget knocks and niggles have a big effect. Skiverton believes he has entered his worst period of injuries since he took over at the club and he’s not wrong.

Nathan Jones realised he was playing with a broken shoulder, only for his deputy Curtis Haynes-Brown to perform well but get sent off. New signing Bondz N’Gala has played just two league games before being ruled out along with Obika who could need surgery. Gavin Williams who’s damaged his knee ligaments and Andy Williams join new recruits Dominic Blizzard and Kerrea Gilbert on the treatment table.

That bad luck continued during the transfer window as Skiverton endured a frustrating time. Two main players were courted as Skivo tried to make deals which fell through come deadline time. Chelsea starlet Conor Clifford was offered a loan deal to Somerset, which would have been just the type of player we need. He has captained the Chelsea youth side to F.A Youth Cup victory and represented Ireland at under-21 level. Clifford was loaned to the West Country last year as he fought for the cause at Plymouth Argyle; combative, confident and a goal-scorer from midfield, Skivo missed out on a real gem.

The second target was a permanent deal for Norwich City’s Oli Johnson who is no stranger to the Green Army having made 17 appearances on loan last year. Skiverton revealed that he was prepared to part with some significant money to purchase the Premier League side’s starlet, but it wasn’t enough to reach Norwich’s valuation.

As well as waiting for Skivo’s luck to turn I have also been buoyed by some early-season positives. Before the season I highlighted the emergence of young Ed Upson as an exciting prospect and perhaps key to Yeovil’s performance. He has shown already that he can break up play as easily as creating it and he is becoming a combative force in the centre of the park. Anthony Edgar is another that will emerge and improve as the season goes on, his driving runs from midfield really eases the pressure on the Yeovil back line and he is not afraid to shoot at any opportunity, highlighted by is sumptuous volley against Preston.

Keeping hold of Paul Huntington through the transfer window was a real coup for the Yeovil manager having reportedly held of interest from a number of rival clubs. I hope that we do not end up in the situation at the end of the season, as we did last, where Huntington will be able to walk on a free, only time will show a) Yeovil’s team and business management and b) Paul’s dedication to the club.

Yeovil entertain Wycombe Wanderers before Sheffield Wednesday are the visitors to Huish Park and the gaffer has issued a rallying cry to the ‘floating supporters‘ of Yeovil Town, expressing that “I really want the supporters to come out, I know it’s a difficult time but I’m asking them to come, we’re going to try and put on a good performance for you.”

I personally will be going to the Wycombe game – but if the performance isn’t there, it’s not the end of the world, so long as we take all three points. I hope that there will be a time over the next fortnight where something will click, and we will start turning performances into results and Yeovil Town will sneak up the table before the early gap to the play-offs becomes much bigger.

Written by Ryan Peasland, We Are Going Up’s Yeovil Town Blogger

Ryan tweets at @rpeasland

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We Will Never Forget Stanno

Friday, August 12th, 2011

This week has been a reflective one for fans of Exeter City, Hereford, Yeovil and Elmore as we remembered on Wednesday the passing of striker Adam Stansfield one year ago.

I wasn’t at the Ipswich League Cup game when most Exeter City fans found out that Stansfield had lost his fight with bowel cancer. I cannot imagine how the collective group of Exeter fans felt at that time but when I received a text informing me of the terrible news the feeling was one of shock.

Stansfield was just 31 and anyone who has seen him play will tell you that his physical fitness was second to none. He became a fans favourite for covering every blade of grass and running his heart out all match for the cause. The amount of running he did in a game was phenomenal.

About two weeks before his untimely death someone posted on Facebook that his condition was terminal and the response was a mixture of deep anger and utter disbelief. A lot of fans were understandably angry that someone would publicly post what was at the time a vicious rumour, none of us thought it would be proved right so soon.

On Wednesday fans of his former clubs got together on Twitter to pay tribute by attempting to trend the hashtag #WeWillNeverForgetStanno. Unfortunately it didn’t trend but the amount of messages posted about him that day really showed the shock at which his death caused around the football community with tweets from fans, his former colleagues and current and former top flight footballers. The tweet that got me the most was the one with a YouTube link to BBC footage of Stansfield’s funeral. I had taken the decision not to attend the funeral as I didn’t feel I had earned the right to be there and I felt I didn’t want to face the emotion of the day in what had been a fairly difficult year on a personal level. I watched the footage for the first time and it really brought me to my knees to see the outpouring of public emotion from the Exeter City and football community.

Thankfully Adam Stansfield’s legacy is still alive today in the form of the Adam Stansfield Foundation who raise money to give aspiring young footballers in the South West regardless of club allegiance the opportunities to play at a young age that benefitted Stansfield so much.

The club held a collection for a cancer charity at the understandably emotional game between Exeter and Yeovil where Stansfield had made his name. Fans once again displayed the huge Stansfield 9 shirt over the Big Bank and chanted about him as I believe Exeter fans will always do.

Stansfield always had time for the fans and was often to be found signing autographs or just chatting to the fans after games. I met him after the victory parade for Exeter’s promotion to League Two – he was humble and talkative and more than happy to have his photo taken with me, he even tried to jump up to reach my height.

Stansfield will never be forgotten by those who were lucky enough to see him play. The club retired the number 9 shirt for 10 years as a mark of respect. The next player to wear that shirt will have boots that are literally impossible to fill.

More details about the Adam Stansfield Foundation are available at adamstansfieldfoundation.com where you can show your support by buying wristbands or badges.

 

Written by Ian Bond, We Are Going Up’s Exeter blogger

Ian tweets at @bondyecfc

 

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The Tweeting Terry Skiverton

Friday, August 5th, 2011

At this moment, all around the country, football fans are getting excited about the new season and how they expect to improve on last term. For Yeovil fans there seems to be more of a sense of relief that they even have enough players to travel to Brentford on August 6th. With Sam Williams, Martin Gritton, Craig Calver and ostracized defender Stefan Stam allowed to leave the club, contract offers went out to seven other glovers and after a few weeks of ‘umm-ing and ahhh-ing’, just youngster Billy Gibson put pen to paper.

Loan players all returned from whence they came leaving Terry Skiverton with just five contracted players plus right-hand man Nathan Jones. With the loss of top scorer Dean Bowditch and top assist-maker Andy Welsh, Skivo had some work cut out for him and the Huish Park rumour mill kicked into full flow.

Part of Skiverton’s plan is to reduce the amount of loan players each season and to recruit players on contract that can do the job for Yeovil Town. Improving on last year in that aspect shouldn’t be too hard with about 16 loanees through the doors in 2010-2011 (forgive me if I lost count). The task at hand has been to add to a squad of five players with little money after letting the clubs biggest assets leave for free at the end of their contracts. First through the door was a familiar face as Gavin Williams returned for his fourth spell at Huish Park. ‘Super Gav’ has been hampered in recent seasons by niggling injuries but a fit and energetic Williams can be one of the best players in League One and an absolute steal on a free contract, a sentiment echoed by the gaffer: “On his day … he is definitely one of the most talented players in this division.”

Skivo’s recruitment methods hit the national news over the summer after he revealed he was taking tips about who to buy from his Twitter followers. Yeovil fans, not to mention supporters from Premier League and Championsip teams became Town’s scouting system which led to the signing of former Arsenal academy and Everton striker Kieran Agard, a move that has been dubbed the first ever ‘Twansfer’ after the suggestion came from one of Skiverton’s Twitter scouts.

After Plymouth Argyle’s downfall and the expiration of some player contracts, Skivo wisely sniffed out a few players for trial to give the club a new lease of life and snatch a bargain at the same time. Big Bondz N’Gala became the next addition to the contracted players and fellow Pilgrims Steve MacLean, Jim Paterson and Rory Fallon all made the journey from Devon to try and earn a contract. MacLean put pen to paper to join new signings Anthony Edgar and Dominic Blizzard as Skiverton’s metaphoric boat started to fill up and get ready for the next voyage. Negotiations with Paterson fell through and Fallon is yet to be offered a deal.

A busy period for the management team continued as QPR youngster Max Ehmer became the first loan signing of the season after impressing in the second half of last term, joined by Curtis Hayes-Brown. Bucket-loads of players have been on trial over the summer in the green and white stripes including maverick journeyman Bas Savage and striker Diarra Tiemoko who scored three goals in two games but wasn’t offered a contract because he was unfit – surely he can get fit, he scored three goals! For Yeovil! One of which was past David James!!

Joining the trialists have been a number of goalkeepers with Yeovil having no stopper on the books other than the goalkeeper coach. Skiverton has done rather well over the last couple of seasons bringing in ‘keepers on loan with successful stays for Stephen Henderson, John Sullivan and Alex McCarthy. The tried and tested method was put to use again when the second loan of the season Jed Steer joined from Norwich. Steer is just 18 which could be seen as a gamble by many people and could still prove to be, yet in the pre-season build up he has shown capability in all aspects of his game and commands his back four vociferously.

Phew! I think that’s the squad updated, with the possibility of more to come, and fans are starting to get excited about the prospects of the new squad in a new kit attacking a new season. Bookmakers across the board have once again highlighted Yeovil as favourites to be relegated come the end of the season, yet they have been proved wrong by Skivo many times before and he will fight to do so again. Write the Glovers off at your peril and don’t waste your pound by sticking a bet on because with the stability of having more contracts than loans, strong additions to the back line, the return of a super hero, a bit of youthful exuberance, the emergence of players like Ed Upson (that is his real name) and a (metaphorical) boat load of optimism Yeovil will not get relegated.

It is about time that Yeovil took themselves to the next level and aimed for a top half finish again, as Russell Slade did when he reached the play-off final. The overall aim must be to reach the play off places but top half would be a step in the right direction and one that Skiverton as a manager should be prepared to take.

Written by Ryan Peasland, We Are Going Up’s Yeovil Town Blogger

Ryan tweets at @rpeasland

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