SKIVERTON LEAVES YEOVIL

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. 

 

SIX TALKING POINTS FROM TORQUAY UNITED VERSUS DAGENHAM & REDBRIDGE

 1. Asa Hall's opener amongst the fastest Torquay United goals of all-time. 

It would probably come as no surprise to anyone who witnessed it that skipper Asa Hall's opening goal for the Gulls, which he scored after 19 seconds when he headed home Dan Martin's cross, is one of the fastest in the club's history. It was marginally slower than Jordan Chapell's strike after 18 seconds at home to Portsmouth in the 2013-14 season, but not as quick as Kalvin Kalala's effort after just ten seconds away to St Albans City in the 2018-19 campaign, when United won National League South. However, none of those goals were scored as swiftly as Pat Kruse's unfortunately own goal against Cambridge United in the 1976-77 season after eight seconds!

2. Harry Perritt signs off with an impressive display in midfield. 

After missing a number of games for compassionate reasons, central defender Harry Perritt returned to the Gulls' starting line-up for the final match of his loan spell from Accrington Stanley in the centre of midfield. Perritt was deployed by United manager Gary Johnson as a holding midfield alongside Asa Hall in a 4-2-3-1 formation - and it was a role that he performed well in as he ended his loan stint on a high. 

3. Shaun MacDonald impressed again between the sticks. 

Once again United keeper Shaun MacDonald made a number of important saves to keep the opposition at bay. At the start of the second half, MacDonald palmed a strike from Daggers' striker Junior Morias behind for a corner, and three minutes later he pulled off a one-handed save to deny Dagenham midfielder Mohamed Sagaf. With eight minutes to go, his reflexes were called upon to deny Sam Ling, the son of former Gulls manager Martin Ling, which played a crucial role, along with his other saves, in securing a point for United. 

4. Stephen Wearne shows promise on debut. 

Early in his reign as Torquay United manager, Gary Johnson loaned a number of players from Bristol City where his son Lee was in charge at the time, including Saikou Janneh, Connor Lemonheigh-Evans, Opi Edwards and Robbie Cundy. Since Johnson junior became manager of Sunderland the stream of loan players between the Stadium of Light and Plainmoor hasn't flowed as strongly, with only Sweden Under-21 international Benji Kimpioka and the recent arrival of attacking midfielder Stephen Wearne. 

Wearne showed plenty of promise on his debut against Dagenham & Redbridge and forced a couple of smart saves from Daggers' keeper Elliot Justham in the first half.

5. Absentees.  

What was also notable yesterday was that the Gulls achieved their result with a number of absentees. Central midfielders Armani Little and Tom Lapslie were both absent, as were Chiori Johnson and new signing Joe Felix. All four could potentially all return for United's next fixture against Altrincham on January 22. 

6. United maintain strong home form. 

Despite feeling slightly disappointed that they only managed to draw with Dagenham and Redbridge in the end, Torquay United can take some comfort by the fact that they have maintained their improved home form. After losing their first three home fixtures of the campaign (against Altrincham, Woking and Grimsby Town), United have only lost one of their last eight home National League fixtures - a run which reads: played eight, won six, draw one and lost one.

FA CUP THIRD ROUND PREVIEW 2021-22

Birmingham City versus Plymouth Argyle

For the second season in a row, Plymouth Argyle find themselves travelling to Championship opposition in the third round of the FA Cup - as they prepare to face Birmingham City at St Andrews. 

The Pilgrims defeated Huddersfield Town at this stage of the competition in the 2020-21 campaign, and they will be looking to add the Blues to a list of their cup scalps which includes Sheffield Wednesday and Rochdale. Since their second round victory over Dale, Argyle have changed managers as assistant boss Steven Schumacher replaced the Preston North End bound Ryan Lowe last month, and Schumacher now embarks on his first FA Cup tie as a manager. Schumacher has also recently added Bristol Rovers coach Mark Hughes to his backroom staff, which follows the arrival of former England Under-19 coach Keith Downing. 

In addition to this, it might also be the first glimpse for many of the 'Green Army' to see January transfer window signing Alfie Lewis, a former West Ham United Under-23 midfielder who arrives at Home Park from League of Ireland side St Patrick's Athletic. 

Referee Rebecca Welsh will also become the first female official to take charge of an FA Cup tie.

Yeovil Town versus AFC Bournemouth

In the wake of two successive defeats to Torquay United over the festive period, Yeovil Town return to the FA Cup action - aiming to add another chapter to their proud record in the competition. 

The Glovers' victory over League Two side Stevenage was their 21st victory over Football League opposition - and a 22nd over the Championship leading Cherries would rank alongside their greatest cup results. 

Remarkably the two sides last faced each other in the 2013-14 season in Yeovil's one and only campaign in the Championship. They also won promotion from League One in the previous 2012-13 season - Bournemouth as runners-up and the Glovers as Play-off winners. 

Yeovil 's former Cherries pair Joe Quigley and Matt Worthington are also set to face their former club. 

GULLS COMPLETE FESTIVE DOUBLE OVER GLOVERS

Exactly ten years to the day that they completed their first double over Plymouth Argyle in over 40 years, Torquay United sealed their first ever league double over Yeovil Town. 

After beating the Glovers 3-0 at Plainmoor on Boxing Day, the Gulls showed real bouncebackability to come from behind after a stunning 35-yard strike from Jordan Barnett gave Yeovil the lead on 65 minutes. 

The Gulls then rallied as Connor Lemonheigh-Evans equalised in the 77th minute directly from a corner, with some assistance from the Glovers' debutant keeper Dillon Barnes, who joined after Grant Smith's red card on Boxing Day, who attempted to palm it away. 

In the dying minutes of the game, United's QPR loanee Sinclair Armstrong, who came off the subs bench in the 59th minute, had a goal disallowed as the Gulls pressed on in search of a winner. 

With one minute remaining, United finally found that all-important second goal as Armstrong played the ball inside towards Lemonheigh-Evans, whose chipped pass found Armstrong's fellow sub Dan Holman, who drilled home an angled finish to send the 1,044 Gulls' fans in the Huish Park away end into raptures. 

FAREWELL TO 2021

Well, if anyone predicted that Torquay United would lose a play-off final on penalties after their goalkeeper scored an last gasp equaliser in injury time, then I think Nostradamus would like his glasses back. 

However, that was the exact scenario when the Gulls faced Hartlepool United in the National League play-off final at Ashton Gate - the home of manager Gary Johnson's former club, Bristol City - last June. United's Brazilian goalkeeper Lucas Covolan emulated his fellow compatriot Allison, who did the same for Liverpool, when he headed the Gulls level against the Pools in the 95th minute. While Covolan did help to force the game into extra time, and saved two penalties in the following sudden death shoot out, United fell to a 5-4 loss on penalties - thus ensuring that they remain in the National League. 

If you found the idea of a keeper scoring from open bizarre enough, the same could also be said for Joe Lewis' goal in their 5-0 win over Wealdstone in October. The former Wales Under-21 centre back, who was also one of United's four successful spot-kick takers in Bristol, won the ball inside inside his own half before rushing the full length of the pitch to score with a shot from 25-yards - not a goal which would be typically by a central defender. 

Elsewhere, across the South West there was the sad news of the tragic death of Yeovil Town captain Lee Collins in late March. The inquest into his death returned a verdict of suicid after Collins, who had previously appeared for Port Vale, Northampton Town and Forest Green Rovers amongst others, was found dead in his hotel room by Glovers' assistant manager Terry Skiverton.

Plymouth Argyle now have a new manager after Ryan Lowe left Home Park to take charge of Preston North End. Lowe was replaced by assistant manager Steven Schumacher, who takes on his first job in senior management. 

In 2021, Tiverton Town joint-manager Martyn Rogers announced that he would be standing down from his position from the Southern Premier South side, only to return to his role a few months later. 

All of these events, of course, happened against the continuing back drop of a Covid-19 pandemic - which hopefully we will see the beginning of the end of as we head into 2022. 

As well as the death of Lee Collins, we also said goodbye of a number of other figures who served the game in the far South West with distinction. Collins' namesake Tony Collins, the first black player ever to have appeared for Torquay United, who also led Rochdale to the 1962 League Cup final, died in February. 

Former Plymouth Argyle manager Derek Ufton and one-time Torquay assistant manager Alan Slough passed away in the following March. In April, former Gulls loanee Alan McLoughlin, who scored the goal that took the Republic of Ireland to the 1994 World Cup left us April, as did ex Exeter City manager Colin Appleton. 

In July, former England international Paul Mariner, who played for and managed Plymouth Argyle succumbed to a brain tumour. His death was followed in the same month by another ex-England international who managed in Devon in former Exeter City manager Terry Cooper. 

These are all people who added to the game and helped to bring joy to the teams that they played for and managed, and perhaps that's what we need to remember about football as we head into 2022 - that it's a game to be enjoyed.

600 NOT OUT FOR MOXEY

When a definitive history of professional football in the South West is eventually compiled, it will contain a number of favourable paragraphs devoted to Torquay United defender Dean Moxey. 

After making his debut for his hometown club Exeter City as a teenager, Moxey, who turns 36 next month, went on to appear at Championship level for Derby County, Crystal Palace (who he would also feature for 20 times in the Premier League) and Bolton Wanderers over a number of years. 

He returned to St James Park for a second spell with the Grecians before joining Gary Johnson's Gulls in the summer of 2020, for whom he made his 600th senior appearance for in their recent 2-1 defeat to Eastleigh. 

It is a journey that started for Moxey in the 2003-04 season, when he made his debut on October 18, 2003 against Accrington Stanley. He was one of a number of youngsters who were thrown into the Grecians' first team by then manager Eamonn Dolan due to the financial situation at the club which had arisen following their relegation from the Football League in 2003.

In the following 2004-05 campaign, he started to make a name for himself as he scored with a 45-yard strike against Doncaster Rovers in the second round of the FA Cup, which helped to set up City's memorable tie with Manchester United in round three. The Grecians famously held the Red Devils to a goalless draw at Old Trafford before losing the replay 2-0 at St James Park, and Moxey would feature in both matches. 

Over the next few years, Moxey would remain an integral part of the Grecians under Alex Inglethorpe, and then under his successor Paul Tisdale and was part of the City side who would win back-to-back promotions between the Conference and League One between 2007 and 2009 before joining Derby County in the summer of 2009. 

Several strong seasons with the Rams earned him a move to Crystal Palace, who he helped to win promotion to the Premier League in the 2012-13 campaign under the guidance of Ian Holloway. His solitary season in the top-flight saw him make 20 appearances for the Eagles before he was on the move again, this time to Bolton Wanderers. 

While with the Trotters, he helped them to win promotion from League One in the 2016-17 season before he rejoined the Grecians. On returning to where it all began, he featured in two League Two Play-off finals - against Coventry City in 2018 and Northampton Town in 2020 - before he signed for Torquay United in the summer of 2020. 

In his first season at Plainmoor, he helped the Gulls to reach the 2021 National League Play-off final, where they were beaten on penalties by Hartlepool United. After starting out playing on the left wing or at left back, Moxey is currently appearing at centre back for United - and he is passing on the experiences he has gained throughout his lengthy career onto the Gulls' young pros.

SIX TALKING POINTS FROM TORQUAY UNITED VERSUS YEOVIL TOWN

1. Joe Lewis was imperious in the heart of United's defence. 

Not for the first time this season, Joe Lewis was imperious in the heart of the United defence. The former Wales Under-21 international stood up to the physical threat posed by Yeovil centre forward Adi Yussuf incredibly well with a highly disciplined display - as had he been booked he would have earned himself a fifth yellow card and a one-match suspension. This is due to the fact that the Gulls are yet to reach the cut-off point of 23 games for players who receive five yellows, which they are due to reach when they face Dagenham & Redbridge on January 8, 2022. 

In addition to this, Lewis capped off a memorable display by heading home Connor Lemonheigh-Evans' cross in the 86th minute to score his fourth goal of the season - which makes him United's second highest scorer of the 2021-22 campaign.

2. Armani Little produced a disciplined display in the centre of midfield. 

Like Lewis, central midfielder Armani Little was also treading the disciplinary tightrope after four bookings, but it was a challenge that Little came through with flying colours. With Asa Hall only deemed to be fit enough to be named on the subs bench, there were more defensive responsibilities being heaped on Little's shoulders as he formed a central midfield pairing alongside Tom Lapslie, in addition to captaining the side on the day. However, it was a test that Little came through with flying colours as he kept possession well and always looked to play the simple pass when it was on. 

3. Lo-Everton's sending off proved to be a turning point

The ultimate turning point in the match came in the 65th minute when Yeovil attacker Sonny Blu Lo-Everton was dismissed for an off-the-ball incident with United midfielder Tom Lapslie. Watford loanee Lo-Everton appeared to kick out at Lapslie in a similar manner to which David Beckham kicked out at Diego Simeone when England played Argentina in the 1998 World Cup in France. Referee Scott Jackson initially hadn't seen the incident but after consulting with linesman Matt Eva then opted to issue a red card. Up until that point, the match had been fairly even, with Yeovil making a strong startto the second half.

In his post-match interview, Glovers' boss Darren Sarll described Lo-Everton's actions as 'petulant' - and Sarll also saw his side reduced to nine men after the final whistle after goalkeeper Grant Smith received a straight red card. 

4. Jack helps to spark Gulls into life. 

Exeter City loanee Jack Sparkes picked the perfect moment to score his first goal for the Gulls since arriving on loan from St James' Park. Sparkes found the back of the net with a volley from the edge of the area, which took a deflection off Yeovil left-back Morgan Williams that took it past Glovers' keeper Grant Smith. After appearing as a right wing-back for United in their last home match against Stockport County, despite being left-footed, Sparkes featured on the left-hand side of the Gulls' midfield on Boxing Day.

5. Moxey and Wright once again prove that there is no substitute for experience. 

Despite being two oldest players on the pitch at 35 and 37 respectively, Dean Moxey and Danny Wright were two of United's top performers against Yeovil. Moxey formed a solid central defensive partnership with Joe Lewis and proved why he reached the Premier League earlier in his career with Crystal Palace with some of the balls which he played out from the back. Meanwhile Wright used all his positional sense and know how to deal with Yeovil centre back combination of Max Hunt and Luke Wilkinson, winning numerous flick-ons and knock downs for his younger colleagues. He also showed why he was such a big miss during his absences through injury in the 2020-21 campaign.

6. Only five survivors from their 6-1 win a year earlier featured. 

A year ago, United routed the Glovers 6-1 in front of a limited crowd at Plainmoor, however only five players who featured for the Gulls on that occasion lined-up against Yeovil. They were goalkeeper Shaun MacDonald, experienced defender Dean Moxey, midfield duo Armani Little and Connor Lemonheigh-Evans and striker Danny Wright. Right-back Ben Wynter, who scored United's opening goal, missed out on that occasion through injury.