SEASON PREVIEW # LEAGUE ONE

If you were to turn the clock back ten years, Gary Johnson was plotting Yeovil Town’s promotion to the Football League after winning the FA Trophy in 2002.

Fast forward to 2012 and Johnson, who returned to Huish Park to succeed Terry Skiverton midway through last season, has assembled a squad which contains a mixture of youth and experience.

In strikers James Hayter and Reuben Reid, the Glovers have a strike partnership which is capable of scoring goals in League One. Reid has led a somewhat journeyman career since he left Plymouth Argyle in 2008 with a career that has seen him take in spells at Rotherham United, West Bromwich Albion and Oldham Athletic amongst others.

However, a hat-trick against the Pilgrims in the Glovers’ 5-0 win over the Devon side illustrates that the Bristol born, but Somerset educated (he is a former pupil of Millfield School), has the potential to fill left by the departure of last season’s leading scorer, Andrew Williams, to Swindon Town.

Elsewhere, the Glovers have also acquired their first full-time number one choice keeper since 2009 in the form of Czech Marek Stech, who was one of several on loan custodians used by Yeovil last season, who joined the club permanently following his release by West Ham.

Loan signings Rohan Ince and Gozie Ugwu, signed from Chelsea and Reading respectively, will be looking to draw inspiration from some of the Glovers previous short term signings in recent seasons, such as Steven Caulker, Ryan Mason, Andros Townsend and Shaun MacDonald.

One person who will be looking to make a big impression this season is Johnson himself.

Since he first left Huish Park in 2006 to take charge of Bristol City, who he guided to the brink of the Premiership in 2008, Johnson has had a mixed career.

His spell at Ashton Gate, which included a promotion from League One in 2007, was followed by indifferent spells at Peterborough United and Northampton Town, but, since returning to the West Country, Johnson has reminded the football world that he is still a canny operation in the lower leagues.

In recent seasons, the Glovers have found themselves competing against a number of ‘fallen giants’, such as Leeds United, Leicester City, Norwich City, Charlton Athletic, Southampton and Sheffield Wednesday.

However, this season, Npower League One will be a more level playing field as the only clubs fitting the aforementioned criteria being Sheffield United; last season’s losing Play-Off finalists, Coventry City and Portsmouth. Though due to Portsmouth’s current financial troubles, they are not expected to be amongst the division’s front-runners.

This could open up opportunities for smaller clubs like Yeovil to challenge for a top half finish, or depending on form and injuries, they could emulate the achievements of their 2006-07 side who, under the guidance of Russell Slade, reached the Play-Off final.