The 2017–18 season was the 15th season in the Football League and the 3rd consecutive season at the fourth tier of English football played by Yeovil Town Football Club, an English football club based in Yeovil, Somerset.
Manager Darren Way was starting his second full season in charge, the club signed thirteen players on permanent and loan contracts before the close of the summer transfer window, although one was released without having made an appearance. After losing their opening game by a record 8–2 scoreline away at Luton Town. The club's league season had few highpoints as they spent all but one week of the season in the lower half of the table, the Glovers did record their record away victory in the Football League in April with a 6–2 win at Coventry City. Despite indifferent form safety was confirmed with two matches to spare as Yeovil finished the season in 19th place.
In cup competitions Yeovil had more success reaching the fourth round of the FA Cup for only the fourth time in their history, beating two League One sides to get there, before losing at home to eventual runners-up Manchester United. In the EFL Cup the Glovers lost in the first round against Championship side Wolverhampton Wanderers, while in the EFL Trophy the club reached the semi-finals, losing to Shrewsbury Town having beaten three League One sides to reach that stage. Ivorian striker François Zoko finished as the club's top goalscorer for the third consecutive season with fifteen goals, thirteen of which he scored in the league.
Background
The 2016–17 season was the club's second consecutive in the fourth tier of the English football league system, it was Darren Way's first full season in charge as manager. After winning their opening game, Yeovil lost six of their next seven matches leaving them in the relegation zone in September before an improved run of form, including eight matches unbeaten saw the club rise into the play-offs after a 5–0 victory against Crawley Town in December 2016. This though was the highpoint of the season as Yeovil only won three of their final 27 matches as the club slid dangerously towards the relegation zone, but safety was confirmed with one match to spare as Yeovil finished the season in 20th place. In cup competitions, Yeovil were knocked out in the first round of the FA Cup, losing to non-league side Solihull Moors in a replay, while the Glovers progressed to the second round of the EFL Cup losing to Premier League side Everton. The club also reached the quarter-finals of the revamped EFL Trophy, losing to Luton Town.
The end of the season saw Way release six players, including, Ollie Bassett, Tom Eaves, Brandon Goodship, Alex Lawless, Joe Lea and captain Darren Ward. Nine players were offered new contracts by Darren Way, defender Nathan Smith agreed a new one-year contract, while forward François Zoko, winger Otis Khan, defenders Bevis Mugabi, Tom James and keeper Jonny Maddison also agreed new two-year contracts. Midfielder Kevin Dawson rejected the offer of a new contract to sign for fellow League Two side Cheltenham Town and reunite with former manager Gary Johnson. Defender Alex Lacey rejected the club's offer of a new two-year contract and signed for League One side Gillingham. Meanwhile, midfielder Matthew Dolan rejected the club's offer to sign for fellow League Two side Newport County.
Review Pre-season
The first day of pre-season saw the arrival of four new signings, winger Rhys Browne, son of ex-Glover Steve Browne, joined from Grimsby Town for an undisclosed fee signing a two-year contract, midfielder Jake Gray also signed a two-year contract for an undisclosed fee from Luton Town. Meanwhile, Connor Smith joined following his release from Plymouth Argyle, and Guadeloupean international defender Stéphane Zubar signed a one-year contract after rejecting an offer of a new contract at local rivals Weymouth. On 4 July, Yeovil confirmed their fifth signing of pre-season with midfielder James Bailey signing a two-year contract after leaving Carlisle United, prior to Yeovil's first friendly of pre-season, the club confirmed the signing of Southampton striker Olufela Olomola on loan until January 2018.
Yeovil's first friendly of the season saw them travel to local rivals, Southern League Premier side Weymouth, on 11 July. Yeovil's squad included nine trialists, goals from Otis Khan and Bevis Mugabi earned the Glovers a 2–1 victory after former Yeovil striker Brandon Goodship had given Weymouth the lead. On 14 July, Yeovil completed their seventh signing of the season with young defender Keston Davies joining on loan until the end of the season from Swansea City. Davies made his first appearance the following day in Yeovil's first home friendly against Championship club Bristol City, on 15 July. Three goals in six first half minutes saw Yeovil succumb to a 3–1 defeat with Olomola scoring a consolation goal. Yeovil then traveled to South Wales for a short training camp, where on 19 July they faced Welsh Football League Division One club Llanelli Town, and recorded a 2–0 victory over their Welsh opponents with goals from Khan and François Zoko. On 22 July, Yeovil faced local side Frome Town in a friendly organised as a benefit match for local semi-professional footballer Jamie Mines, who suffered serious injuries following an electrical shock at work. Despite falling behind to their Southern League opponents goals from Nathan Smith and Rhys Browne earned Yeovil a fourth victory of pre-season. After a successful trial Yeovil confirmed the signing of Brazilian former Derby County midfielder Alefe Santos on a two-year contract. Yeovil then entertained League One club Bristol Rovers and suffered their second 3–1 defeat of pre-season with Nathan Smith scoring the Glovers only goal. On 28 July, Yeovil confirmed their ninth signing of pre-season with former Swansea City right back Daniel Alfei signing a two-year contract following a successful trial. Yeovil then traveled to Tiverton Town for their penultimate friendly of pre-season an entertaining match saw a brace from Connor Smith and goals from Zoko and Alefe Santos as the Glovers ran out 4–2 winners. Yeovil completed their pre-season schedule with a 3–1 defeat against Premier League side Bournemouth, with Swansea loanee Keston Davies scoring for the Glovers. Following the Bournemouth match, summer signing James Bailey was announced as Yeovil's new captain for the 2017–18 season replacing the released Darren Ward. Prior to the first competitive game of the season, Yeovil completed the signing of Sam Surridge on loan from Bournemouth until the end of the season.
+ Pre-season match detailsDateOpponentsVenueResultScoreF–AScorersAttendanceWeymouthAW2–1Khan, Mugabi729Bristol CityHL1–3Olomola2,636Llanelli TownAW2–0Khan, Zoko381Frome TownAW2–1N. Smith, Browne474Bristol RoversHL1–3N. Smith1,351Tiverton TownAW4–2C. Smith (2), Zoko, Santos261BournemouthHL1–3Davies3,473
August Yeovil started their League Two season away against Luton Town, on 5 August. Despite taking the lead through an Otis Khan free kick, Yeovil suffered a record 8–2 defeat the heaviest opening day defeat in the Football League for 55 years, with François Zoko scoring the Glovers second consolation goal. After falling to their joint record Football League defeat on the opening day, the players agreed to refund the 258 fans who traveled to watch the team at Luton. On 8 August, Yeovil confirmed that centre-back Stéphane Zubar had been released from his "month-to-month" contract due to injury, without having made a competitive appearance. Yeovil then traveled to Championship club Wolverhampton Wanderers in the first round of the EFL Cup, a much improved performance saw Yeovil suffer a 1–0 defeat to exit the competition.
Yeovil then faced Accrington Stanley in their first home match of the season, a brace from Southampton loanee Olufela Olomola and a second goal of the season from Zoko saw Yeovil recover from falling behind to record a 3–2 victory. On 16 August, Yeovil completed the signing of versatile forward Jordan Green on a free transfer from Bournemouth. Yeovil then traveled to newly promoted Forest Green Rovers, early goals from Olomola and an Otis Khan penalty saw Yeovil take a 2–0 lead, after Forest Green pulled one back Zoko scored to give Yeovil a 3–1 lead but the Glovers collapsed in the second half to lose the match 4–3.
On 21 August, having conceded 14 goals in their first three league matches Yeovil moved to sign defender Sid Nelson on loan from Millwall until January. The signing of Nelson had an immediate impact with Yeovil recording their first clean sheet of the season in a 2–0 victory over Coventry City, on 26 August, with Rhys Browne scoring his first for the club and Olomola scoring his fourth of the season. On 29 August, Yeovil rounded off the month with a trip to Exeter City for their first match in the EFL Trophy group stages. The Glovers secured a 3–1 win with all the goals coming in the second half, a goal from Sam Surridge, his first for the club, was followed by goals for Rhys Browne and Otis Khan. Deadline day saw Yeovil complete the signing of Bournemouth midfielder Matt Worthington on loan until January.
September Yeovil began September with a 2–0 defeat away at Crawley Town, followed by a goalless draw at home against Cheltenham Town. On 12 September, Yeovil faced Morecambe but despite taking a 2–0 lead through goals from François Zoko and Sam Surridge, Yeovil failed to see the game out and succumbed to a 2–2 draw. The Glovers then traveled to Grimsby Town and suffered an eighth successive away defeat in the league despite Zoko's fifth goal of the season. On 23 September, Yeovil faced bottom of the league side Port Vale but were held to a 1–1 draw with Otis Khan rescuing a point. After eight consecutive defeats away from home in the league Yeovil traveled to Chesterfield and won 3–2, after early goals from Olufela Olomola and Khan gave the Glovers a two-goal lead before being pegged back to 2–2 scored a last-minute winner from captain James Bailey. Yeovil ended the month with a visit from Colchester United where Yeovil's unbeaten home record came to an end with a 1–0 defeat.
October After a stuttering start to the season it was reported that manager Darren Way had invited former Tottenham Hotspur manager Harry Redknapp to join the club in a voluntary advisory role. On 7 October, Yeovil suffered another away defeat this time away at Newport County losing 2–0 with both goals coming from corners taken by former player Matthew Dolan. After suffering a knee injury in Yeovil's 1–1 draw with Port Vale in September, it was confirmed that right-back Daniel Alfei had been ruled out for the season after rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament. On 11 October, Yeovil's under-18 side faced Bishop Sutton in the first round of the Somerset Premier Cup and won 1–0 with a late goal from Neville Nzembela. The following day saw the club announce the engagement of football consultant Mark Palmer of Insight 63 Ltd in a new advisory role.
Yeovil then faced Crewe Alexandra and picked up their first home win since August with goals from Rhys Browne and Olufela Olomola enough to secure a 2–0 victory. The club then slipped to a sixth defeat in seven away league matches with a 2–1 defeat at Cambridge United, on 17 October. On 21 October, an Otis Khan goal rescued a late point for Yeovil at Barnet in a 1–1 draw. Yeovil returned to Huish Park for the first of three consecutive home matches, on 25 October, the Glovers faced Chelsea U23s in the group stage of the EFL Trophy, winger Rhys Browne scored for the second home game in a row as the match ended 1–1 in normal time. Yeovil then picked up a bonus point after a 5–3 victory in the 'ABBA' penalty shootout. After the game, Darren Way confirmed that the club had employed former U18 manager Jamie Shore as a new first team coach.