The last ten years has seen Yeovil Town undertake a remarkable journey.
A decade ago, the Glovers-famed for their FA Cup giant-killing feats-won the Nationwide Conference title to end their 108-year wait for league football.
Since then, their journey has continued in an upward trajectory as they lifted the League Two two years later and a prolonged spell in League One has followed.
Now, Yeovil, Somerset’s sole football league representatives, are 90 minutes away from a place in the Championship with only Brentford standing in their way.
After seeing off Sheffield United 2-1 on aggregate in the semi-finals, the Glovers will head to Wembley on Sunday feeling confident of beating the Bees. They can also point to their two league victories over the West London side, which the Somerset side won 3-0 and 3-1.
The mastermind of their success this season has been the returning hero Gary Johnson who, after embarking on his second spell in charge at Huish Park in January 2012, has assembled aside of assorted cast-offs for a combined sum of £15,000, which covered the signing of one player-striker Paddy Madden.
Following a successful loan spell from Carlisle United, Madden made his move to the Glovers permanent during the January transfer window and has never looked back as he topped the League One scoring charts with 22 goals in 35 appearances.
Other names worthy of a mention in dispatches are Czech goalkeeper Marek Stech, who joined on a free transfer from West Ham United and is being tipped for a move back to the Premiership in the future, on loan central defender Dan Burn, who could force his way into contention at his parent club Fulham in seasons to come, central midfielder Ed Upson, scorer of the Glovers’ winner against Sheffield United, and experienced striker James Hayter who has proved to be an excellent foil for Madden.
It will be the second time that Yeovil have played in a League One Play-Off final. The last time was in 2007 when Blackpool provided the opposition and came out on top and they won 2-0 before winning promotion to the Premiership three years later.
However, the Glovers will face Brentford in Sunday’s final as equals and after spending much of the season punching above their weight, their 4th place league finish is their highest league finish to date, they are just one knock out blow from reaching a place they never thought they could possibly find themselves-the Npower Championship.
