The 2014–15 season was the 12th season in the Football League played by Yeovil Town Football Club, an English football club based in Yeovil, Somerset. Their relegation from the Championship in the 2013–14 season meant an immediate return to League One.
Manager Gary Johnson signed ten players before the close of the summer transfer window. The season started poorly with two consecutive league defeats and despite a brief improvement in form in late August and September, Yeovil remained in the relegation zone from October until the end of the season. The club's poor form led to the departure of Johnson in February, but his replacement Terry Skiverton could not arrest the Glovers plight and after six consecutive league defeats was replaced by Paul Sturrock. His first match in charge saw Yeovil's back-to-back relegation to League Two confirmed.
The club reached the third round of the FA Cup, losing to Premier League side Manchester United having beaten Crawley Town and Accrington Stanley in the preceding rounds. Yeovil were eliminated in the first round of both the League Cup and the Football League Trophy, losing to Gillingham and Portsmouth respectively. James Hayter and January signing Gozie Ugwu were the club's top scorers with 5 goals each, with all of those coming in the league.
Background
The 2013–14 season saw Yeovil compete in the second tier of English football for the first time in their history following promotion to the Championship via the 2013 Football League One play-off final. Despite starting the season with victory at Millwall on the opening day, the club only won eight league matches all season being relegated with a match to spare. The club finished bottom of the league seven points from safety having suffered the first relegation in 19 years. Despite relegation in the league Yeovil reached the fourth round of the FA Cup for only the third time in the club's history losing 2–0 to Premier League side Southampton.
The end of the season featured a large turnover of players with four being released, including club captain Jamie McAllister, defender Joey Jones, midfielder Rubén Palazuelos and forward Reuben Reid. Six players were offered new contracts goalkeepers Chris Dunn and Marek Štěch and defender Byron Webster rejected the offer of new contracts, while James Hayter and Seth Nana Twumasi signed new contracts with the club. Defenders Calvin Brooks and Nathan Ralph were invited back for pre-season training while Luke Ayling rejected a new contract.
Review
Pre-season
The squad returned for pre-season training on 1 July. The first day of pre-season saw the squad joined by six new signings, former Yeovil youth team goalkeeper Chris Weale returned to the club from Shrewsbury Town, Polish goalkeeper Artur Krysiak joined Yeovil from Exeter City, former Liverpool defender Jakub Sokolík, ex-Southampton centre-back Aaron Martin, former Crewe Alexandra striker A-Jay Leitch-Smith, and Jamaican international defender Nathan Smith returned to the club three years after leaving for Chesterfield all signing two-year contracts. The players were joined on 3 July by Carlisle United midfielder James Berrett signing a two-year contract having rejected a new deal from the Cumbrians. On 8 July, Yeovil full-back Luke Ayling joined fellow League One side Bristol City after the two clubs agreed an undisclosed compensation fee. The same day saw the club sign Bristol City right-back Brendan Moloney following the cancellation of his contract signing a two-year contract with the Glovers. The club announced that local Italian restaurant chain Tamburino would become the new Main Stand sponsor at Huish Park.
On 9 July, the club confirmed that defender Seth Nana Twumasi had signed a new one-year contract prior to the team's first friendly of pre-season against Frome Town. Yeovil ran out 6–1 winners thanks to two goals from both Leitch-Smith and Kieffer Moore and a goal each from Sam Hoskins and Sam Foley. Yeovil confirmed the signing, on 11 July, of Cardiff City defender Ben Nugent on loan until 4 January. Yeovil's second pre-season, on 12 July, friendly saw them travel to Basingstoke Town but despite a Sam Hoskins goal they were held to a 1–1 draw against their Conference South opponents. Yeovil's third pre-season friendly saw them face Conference National side Torquay United, despite goals from Leitch-Smith and French trialist Kamel Chergui the club were held to a 2–2 draw. On 19 July, Yeovil faced Championship side Reading in their first home friendly. A Pavel Pogrebnyak goal gave Reading an early second half lead before Yeovil equalised through "Trialist B", later revealed to be Achille Campion, as the Glovers earned a 1–1 draw. Yeovil's second home pre-season friendly, on 22 July, saw them beat non-league side Bristol Rovers 2–0 thanks to a brace from Leitch-Smith.
On 27 July, Yeovil suffered their first pre-season defeat losing 4–1 at home to Championship side Cardiff City despite leading 1–0 at half-time thanks to another Leitch-Smith goal. The club bounced back from their defeat with a 2–1 victory away at League Two side Plymouth Argyle with goals from Liam Davis and Sam Hoskins. Prior to their friendly victory the club announced their squad numbers for the new season and included former non-contract defender Calvin Brooks indicating that he had been offered a contract for the new season. The 1 August, saw Yeovil announce local taxi firm Radio Cabs as the new sponsor for the Away Stand at Huish Park. Following a brief training camp in Cornwall, Yeovil's penultimate friendly saw them face Truro City as part of the Cornish club's 125th Anniversary celebrations. Goals from trialist Simon Gillett and former Truro forward Kieffer Moore earned Yeovil a 2–1 victory. Yeovil completed their pre-season with a visit to Dorchester Town on 4 August. Hat-tricks from James Hayter and Sam Hoskins along with goals from Seth Nana Twumasi, Matteo Lanzoni and Sam Foley saw Yeovil run out 9–0 victors. On 7 August, the club confirmed the signing of former Nottingham Forest midfielder Simon Gillett on a two-year contract, and the following day confirmed that defender Nathan Ralph had signed a six-month contract extension. Forward Adam Morgan, on 8 August, signed for Scottish Premiership side St Johnstone on a five-month loan deal until mid-January 2015. On the same day manager Gary Johnson announced versatile midfielder Joe Edwards as his captain for the forthcoming season.
+ Pre-season match detailsDateOpponentsVenueResultScoreF–AScorersAttendanceFrome TownAW6–1Leitch-Smith (2), Hoskins, Moore (2), Foley475Basingstoke TownAD1–1Hoskins315Torquay UnitedAD2–2Leitch-Smith, CherguiReadingHD1–1Campion1,153Bristol RoversHW2–1Leitch-Smith (2)1,498Cardiff CityHL1–4Leitch-Smith2,018Plymouth ArgyleAW2–1Davis, Hoskins1,735Truro CityAW2–1Gillett, Moore342Dorchester TownAW9–0Twumasi, Lanzoni, Hayter (3), Hoskins (3), Foley789
August Yeovil's League One season started with a home fixture against fellow relegated side Doncaster Rovers, on 9 August, Yeovil lost the game 3–0. On 12 August, Yeovil faced Gillingham in the first round of the Football League Cup losing 2–1 at home with only a Simon Gillett goal to show for their efforts and a red card for Seth Nana Twumasi compounding a miserable evening. Yeovil then travelled to Gillingham in the League on 16 August, an early Kieffer Moore penalty miss saw the club suffer a 2–0 defeat their second in five days. On 19 August, Yeovil earned their first victory of the season away at Walsall, courtesy of goals from James Hayter and Kevin Dawson leading Yeovil to a 2–1 win. On 23 August, Yeovil faced Scunthorpe United at home despite Kieffer Moore giving Yeovil the lead, a late equaliser from former Glover Paddy Madden held Yeovil to a 1–1 draw. Italian defender Matteo Lanzoni left the club, on 28 August, after his contract was terminated by mutual consent after six months with the club, later that day joining League Two side Cambridge United. Yeovil ended the month with another 1–1 home draw this time against Barnsley on 30 August.
September
Transfer deadline day saw Yeovil bring in Wolverhampton Wanderers midfielder Jack Price on a one-month emergency loan deal as cover for the injured Simon Gillett. On 2 September, Yeovil faced League Two side Portsmouth in the first round of the Football League Trophy at Huish Park. Despite a good first half, Yeovil lost the match 3–1 with left-sided player Nathan Ralph scoring the club's consolation goal. On 6 September, Yeovil travelled to Bradford City and secured a 3–1 victory courtesy of a first-half brace from defender Aaron Martin, and a first goal for the club from A-Jay Leitch-Smith. Yeovil's four game unbeaten run in the league came to an end away at Coventry City, on 13 September, in a 2–1 defeat with Sam Foley grabbing the Yeovil goal. Following the match, Yeovil signed Blackburn Rovers goalkeeper Jake Kean on a one-month loan deal. Kean made his Yeovil debut against bottom club Crewe Alexandra, on 16 September, the visitors opened the scoring through Billy Waters but they only led for ten minutes with substitute Kieffer Moore earning Yeovil a draw. On 19 September, forward Sam Hoskins joined Conference Premier side Barnet on a short-term loan deal. The following day, Yeovil faced Peterborough United at home and earned their first home victory of the season and first clean sheet courtesy of a late goal from Jamaican international Joel Grant. Young defender Calvin Brooks joined Southern League Premier side Weymouth on an initial one-month loan deal on 26 September. On 27 September, Yeovil travelled to Crawley Town but lost 2–0 due to a brace from Marvin Elliott.
October On 2 October, Manchester City striker Jordy Hiwula joined Yeovil on loan until 5 January. The 4 October, saw Yeovil face Milton Keynes Dons at Huish Park, MK Dons won the match 2–0 thanks to two second-half goals against a ten-man Yeovil side following Ben Nugent's dismissal for a second bookable offence. On 11 October, Yeovil travelled to Port Vale and lost the match 4–1 with an Aaron Martin goal the only thing to show for Yeovil's efforts as the club slipped back into the relegation zone of League One. Following the match, Yeovil signed Crystal Palace defender Ryan Inniss on a youth loan for an initial month. Inniss made his debut in an improved performance, on 18 October against Swindon Town. Despite James Hayter giving Yeovil a first-half lead a goal from former Glover Andy Williams earned Swindon a 1–1 draw. The following week saw Yeovil lose 2–0 away at Sheffield United, followed by a 3–0 home defeat to Rochdale which saw the club drop to 23rd in League One. On 27 October, Yeovil were drawn at home to Crawley Town in the first round of the FA Cup.
After a month which brought just 1 point from 5 league matches, the end of the month saw a high turnover of players, with goalkeeper Jed Steer signing on loan from Aston Villa and defender Stephen Arthurworrey signing on loan from Fulham both until 31 January, while right back Jordan Clarke joined from Coventry City until 5 January with Yeovil topscorer Aaron Martin moving in the other direction. While defender Jakub Sokolík joined Southend United on a 28-day loan deal.
November