The word 'legend' is often used term in football and in describing Terry Skiverton in relation to Yeovil Town it is a more than apt description.
Since he first arrived at Huish Park in 1999 from Welling United, the one-time Chelsea trainee would go on to make 382 appearances for the Glovers in all competitions over the next decade. During this time, he would serve under six different managers (Colin Lippiatt, Dave Webb, Colin Addison, Gary Johnson, Steve Thompson and Russell Slade). Skiverton would also win the FA Trophy (2002), the Conference title (2003) and the League Two title (2005) - as he became a key figure in an era that Yeovil Town went from being non-league hopefuls to realising their potential by becoming a Football League club.
He was also part of the Glovers' side that reached the League One play-off final in the 2006-07 season, where Yeovil were beaten 2-0 by Blackpool after memorably beating Nottingham Forest over two legs in the semi-finals. In addition to this, Skiverton was also named in the PFA League One team of the season.
In February 2009, he was named as player-manager, with left-back Nathan Jones appointed as his assistant, following the departure of Russell Slade. Skiverton steered the club away from relegation from League One in the 2008-09 season. In the following the 2009-10 campaign, he made excellent use of the loan system to bring in the likes of Steven Caulker and Ryan Mason from Tottenham Hotspur as the Glovers finished 15th in League One in his first full campaign in charge.
After officially retiring as a player in the summer of 2010, Skiverton remained in charge until January 2012 when he was demoted to assistant manager as Gary Johnson returned to Huish Park for a second spell in charge.
While working under Johnson, who Skiverton had won the FA Trophy as well as the Conference and League Two titles under as a player, Yeovil defied the odds to reach the Championship, as they beat Brentford 2-1 in the League One play-off final after defeating Sheffield United in the semi-finals.
However, their stay in the second tier of English football proved to be a brief one as the Glovers were relegated after just one season (the 2013-14 campaign). In February 2015, Skiverton briefly took over the managerial reins again following Johnson's dismissal for a 13-match spell before Paul Sturrock was appointed as manager and Skiverton reverted to being assistant manager again.
He continued as assistant manager under Sturrock's successor, his former teammate Darren Way. Under Way, the Glovers avoided being relegated from the Football League - but their 16-year stay in the Football League came to an end at the end of the 2018-19 campaign.
On their return to non-league football, Skiverton combined the role of academy manager with working as assistant to Darren Sarll as the Glovers looked to bounce back to the Football League. In their first season working together they reached the play-offs in 2019-20, where they were beaten by Barnet at the first eliminator stage in a season that was cut short by the coronavirus pandemic.
The following 2020-21 campaign was marred by tragedy following the tragic death of club captain Lee Collins and Skiverton leaves Huish Park with Yeovil occupying 11th place in the National League.
Fans of a certain age won't be able to remember the club without his involvement with it, and in an era where players are more transcient, it is likely that the Glovers may never see his like again.
