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Charity match should unite the Yeovil Town family once again
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WELCOME to this special 12-page preview pull-out looking ahead to a very special football match taking place at Yeovil Town FC on Saturday, May 14.
The YTFC Legends v South West Legends game will take place nearly 20 years to the day when Yeovil Town won the FA Trophy at Villa Park in 2002.
That day out at the home of Aston Villa on May 12, 2002, will still be vividly remembered by all those who were there.
One of the defining moments of that game was when Yeovil Town golden boy Adam Stansfield scored the Glovers’ second goal in the 2-0 success over Stevenage Borough.
And, yet, just eight years later in 2010 the club was plunged into mourning when Stanno, who was by then plying his trade at Exeter City, had died at the age of just 31 after a bravely fought battle with bowel cancer.
Another former Yeovil Town player Kevin Gall who played a leading role in helping the Glovers to win the Nationwide Conference in the 2002-03 season, plus well-known supporter Abby Carter, were busy arranging to put on a charity game in Stanno’s memory to coincide with the tenth anniversary of his passing in 2020.
The Covid-19 pandemic and subsequent restrictions meant that the game had to be postponed, but two years later and a lot of work in between and that charity game is now all set to take place.
The YTFC Legends team features plenty of familiar faces – players who could be classed as Yeovil Town legends.
Meanwhile, the South West Legends team also features plenty of well-known names and is being managed by Darren Sarll who recently left Yeovil Town to become boss at National League rivals Woking.
May 14 is all set to be a fantastic day and whatever the result – the main winner will be the Adam Stansfield Foundation which was set-up in Stanno’s memory.
The day should also unite the Yeovil Town family.
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YTFC CHARITY LEGENDS MATCH - MAY 14, 2022 - SOUVENIR PREVIEW A trip down memory lane with Yeovil Town players of yesteryear
A FANTASTIC squad of former Yeovil Town players has been assembled for the charity match which will take place at Huish Park on May 14.
The majority of the players come from the FA Trophy, Nationwide Conference and League Two winning teams dating from 2001-05 when Gary Johnson was manager, Steve Thompson was assistant manager and Terry Skiverton was captain.
All three will be back on May 14 alongside a host of other well-known names from those years, along with the likes of Nathan Jones and Chris Cohen who played leading roles in Yeovil’s successful season of 2006-07 which culminated in League One Play-Off Final defeat to Blackpool at Wembley Stadium. But just by looking at the photos on these two pages here you can see a huge wealth of talent and fans who were able to share and enjoy in those glory years will see the names and have individual memories of that golden period in the history of the Glovers.
The vast majority of the players that feature in the Yeovil Town Legends squad played with Adam Stansfi eld during his time at Huish Park.
The Yeovil Town Legends v South West Legends match kicks-off at 2pm.
A Yeovil Town FC Fans XI v Exeter City FC Fans XI match kicks-off at 10.30am.
Tickets are available now from Huish Park or go to www.ytfc.net – all of the money raised from ticket sales will go to the Adam Stansfi eld Foundation.
Tickets are priced from just £8 for adults aged 16 and over.
News about the South West Legends team can be found on Page 49.
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YTFC CHARITY LEGENDS MATCH - MAY 14, 2022 - SOUVENIR PREVIEW Stanno's name lives on in Adam Stansfield Foundation
THE family of Adam Stansfi eld was completely stunned and overwhelmed by the amount of support which was displayed by football fans following his untimely death on August 10, 2010, at the age of just 31.
Support came from football fans all over the country, not just from the clubs he had played for during this career.
The family became very aware that people wanted to do charitable and fundraising activities in Adam’s memory and they decided that Adam’s death should not be in vain and in September 2010 the Adam Stansfi eld Foundation was formed.
The aim of the of Foundation is the promotion of community participation in healthy recreation for the benefi t of children and young people up to the age of 16 residing in Devon, Herefordshire and Somerset by the provision of grants and facilities for playing football.
It also looks to promote awareness of bowel cancer in the quest to save the lives of people in the UK and beyond.
For more news about the Adam Stansfi eld Foundation please go to www. adamstansfi eldfoundation.com .
For more news and information about bowl cancer please go to www. adamstansfieldfoundation.com/bowelcancer/ .
MEMBERS of the Yeovil College ladies football team are thrilled to showcase their fi rst squad photograph in their new kits.
“We are beyond excited to share the new Yeovil College sports kit in association with The Adam Stansfi eld Foundation,” said a college spokesman.
“The Foundation’s aim is to help give young people the unique opportunity to develop life skills, through the power of football and to assist them in their goals of living the dream. The Foundation also hopes to highlight and raise awareness of illnesses caused by bowel cancer.” CREWKERNE Rangers Under-10s have sent a massive thank you to the Adam Stansfi eld Foundation for the donations of these new footballs in readiness for next season.
A team spokesman said: “Not only does the Adam Stansfi eld Foundation raise valuable bowel cancer awareness, they raise funds to help children like Riley and his teammates develop, grow and most importantly enjoy playing the game they love with their mates.”
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YTFC CHARITY LEGENDS MATCH - MAY 14, 2022 - SOUVENIR PREVIEW Adam's FA Trophy goals paved the way for further Yeovil Town glory
EVERY single Yeovil Town fan who was at Villa Park on that glorious day in May 2002 will remember ‘that’ goal by Adam Stansfi eld which clinched the FA Trophy (writes Yeovil Press editor Steve Sowden).
I am sure that all the supporters have cast their minds back every now and again to that occasion over the past 20 years - whether it was in 2010 when it was fi rst announced that Adam had tragically lost his battle against cancer at the age of just 31 or now as we look forward to the YTFC Legends match being played in his memory.
I was fortunate to have watched Stanno make all of his 67 appearances and 27 goals for Yeovil during his time at Huish Park from 2001-04.
On paper a record of 67 games and 27 his fi rst goal for the Glovers in a 3-1 win at Northwich Victoria on December 1, 2001.
But it was in the following fi ve months which became Stanno’s and helped to etch his name in Yeovil Town folklore.
Yeovil’s glorious FA Trophy run started at Tiverton Town, just down the road from Stanno’s old stomping ground of Elmore, and he netted two in a 3-1 win in the Third Round.
The following round saw Yeovil given a tough draw at home to Doncaster Rovers at Huish Park and the Glovers were heading out of the competition before Stanno equalised with a 79th minute goal to take the game to a replay.
The Fourth Round replay on February 23, 2001, is a game that any Yeovil fan who was there will never forget.
Adam Stansfi eld celebrates FA Trophy Final success on May 12, 2002, with team-mate Andy Lindegaard. Photo courtesy of the late Martin “Badger” Baker of Ciderspace.
goals is not all that impressive, but there have been many Yeovil fans in recent days who have labelled Stanno a Glovers’ legend and I tend to share that view.
Adam was brought to Yeovil by the then manager Gary Johnson who had obviously spotted something he liked in the young lad from Elmore FC.
He made his debut for the Glovers on a cold Friday night at Southport and Yeovil fell to a 3-0 defeat in the Nationwide Conference. It was hardly a dramatic entrance for Stanno – but I remember that I was impressed by his terrifi c turn of pace.
He quickly settled into the side; scoring
Yeovil found themselves 3-0 down with little more than half-an-hour to go before they launched an incredible fi ghtback. Colin Pluck (now Colin Miles) made it 3-1 and then substitute Carl Alford made it 3-2.
Stanno then scored twice in the 79th and 86th minutes to give Yeovil an astonishing 4-3 lead only for Doncaster to hit back and equalise.
The game was heading for extra-time before Yeovil captain Terry Skiverton blasted home a winner in the 89th minute.
It was an incredible match and with hindsight you could say that Yeovil’s
Adam Stansfi eld scores the second goal for Yeovil Town in their 2-0 FA Trophy Final success over Stevenage Borough at Villa Park on May 12, 2002. Photo courtesy of the late Martin “Badger” Baker of Ciderspace. name was probably already on the Trophy that season after that stirring comeback to snatch victory when they had been staring at defeat.
Stanno scored again in the Fifth Round as Yeovil beat Canvey Island 2-1 at Huish Park and then netted the fi rst in a 2-0 Sixth Round win at Northwich Victoria.
Seven goals from Stanno and Yeovil were through to the Semi-Finals of the Trophy for the fi rst time in 30 years. Yeovil clinched a place at Villa Park for the Final with a 5-2 aggregate win over Burton Albion, although Stanno failed to score in those two matches.
But he saved his best until last and the fi nal itself when he sent thousands of Yeovil fans in the Holte End wild with delight when he scored a wonderfullytaken goal to put the Glovers 2-0 up against Stevenage Borough. It led to Stanno being named man-of-the-match and him giving a rather ‘excitable’ interview live on Sky just moments after the fi nal whistle.
It was Stanno’s day.
A few days before the Villa Park treat I and other members of the media had joined up with the Yeovil players for a tour of the stadium.
Sports psychologist Mark Layder had told the players to ‘visualise’ about what it would be like on the day of the fi nal itself; Stanno had visualised scoring in front of the Holte End. It was during that day that I coined the phrase ‘Keep the Faith Brothers’ with regards to the Glovers and having visualised what it would be like to win the Trophy, I was never more certain that Yeovil were going to be victorious when the big day arrived. Twenty years on and Stanno’s goal at Villa Park in the fi nal is, without question, one of those real iconic moments in Yeovil Town’s history. News of Stanno’s death in 2010 was hard to take. It still feels almost surreal that a player you can still visualise in your mind scoring that goal at Villa Park has now not been with us for 12 years and to have died so young is just so very tragic. The biggest tribute I can pay Stanno is the fact that had it not been for his goals in that FA Trophy run of 2001-02, Yeovil might not have gone on to enjoy further glory in the following years. The Trophy win, launched by that terrifi c comeback at Doncaster Rovers, was the catalyst for further success to come the Glovers way. Rest in peace Adam.
TO DISCUSS YOUR PERSONAL REQUIREMENTS CONTACT ADAM ON 01935 849559 OR CALL AT SHOWROOM AT NORTHOVER, ILCHESTER BA22 8LD | WWW.APKITCHENS.CO.UK
YTFC CHARITY LEGENDS MATCH - MAY 14, 2022 - SOUVENIR PREVIEW Adam's goals turned FA Trophy dream into a reality
IT does not seem possible that Yeovil Town’s never to be forgotten FA Trophy success of May 12, 2002, is now 20 years ago and that Adam Stansfi eld, such a key part of that wonderful team, died just eight short years later after that glorious day out at Villa Park when the Glovers beat Stevenage Borough 2-0 to win the Trophy for the fi rst time.
Adam scored eight goals in the Trophy run of that season – including the decisive second goal in the fi nal victory at Villa Park.
Yeovil Press editor and owner STEVE SOWDEN covered all of the games in that glorious cup year of 2002 for a local media outlet.
“Adam was an absolute revelation having only just joined Yeovil earlier in that 2001-02 season,” said Steve. “It was a real pleasure to watch him and he is one of those strikers who every time he got the ball you thought he was going to score.
“The fact that he scored the allimportant second goal at Villa Park was a perfect way for Adam to stamp his name into Yeovil’s history. It was so apt that he scored what was really the decisive goal in Yeovil winning the Trophy that season.”
Steve added: “Adam might not have broken any records during his stay at Yeovil Town and his spell at Huish Park wasn’t all that long. But, boy o boy, he made one heck of an impression while he was here and he will always be remembered for that FA Trophy success of 2002.
“Winning the FA Trophy seemed almost like an impossible dream and although it was an overall team effort, Adam’s goals certainly turned that dream into a reality.”
Yeovil Town players and staff celebrate at Villa Park. Photo courtesy of the late Martin “Badger” Baker of Ciderspace.
YEOVIL TOWN’S TRIUMPHANT FA TROPHY SEASON OF 2001-02
THIRD ROUND January 12, 2002 Tiverton Town 1, Yeovil Town 3 Yeovil’s goal scorers: Adam Stansfi eld (two), Carl Alford.
FOURTH ROUND February 19, 2002 Yeovil Town 1, Doncaster Rovers 1 Yeovil’s goal scorer: Adam Stansfi eld.
FOURTH ROUND REPLAY February 23, 2002 Doncaster Rovers 4, Yeovil Town 5 Yeovil’s goal scorers: Colin Pluck (now Miles), Carl Alford, Adam Stansfi eld (two), Terry Skiverton.
FIFTH ROUND March 5, 2002 Yeovil Town 2, Canvey Island 1 Yeovil’s goal scorers: Adam Stansfi eld, Nick Crittenden.
SIXTH ROUND March 16, 2002
Northwich Victoria 0, Yeovil Town 2 Yeovil’s goal scorers: Adam Stansfi eld, Carl Alford.
SEMI-FINAL FIRST LEG April 6, 2002 Yeovil Town 4, Burton Albion 0 Yeovil’s goal scorers: Kim Grant, Nick Crittenden, Michael McIndoe, Chris Giles.
SEMI-FINAL SECOND LEG April 14, 2002 Burton Albion 2, Yeovil Town 1 Yeovil’s goal scorer: Carl Alford. Stationery_Business Cards 23/05/2014 12:07 Page 1 FINAL Played at Villa Park Yeovil Town 2, Stevenage Borough 0 May 12, 2002 Yeovil’s goal scorers: Carl Alford, Adam Stansfi eld.
Yeovil Town skipper Terry Skiverton plants a kiss on the silverware before lifting the FA Trophy. Photo courtesy of the late Martin “Badger” Baker of Ciderspace.
Yeovil Town fans enjoying the big day out at Villa Park 20 years ago on May 12, 2002, for the FA Trophy Final with Stevenage Borough. Photos courtesy of the late Martin “Badger” Baker of Ciderspace. Yeovil Town fans enjoying the big day out at Villa Park 20 years ago on May 12, 2002, for the FA Trophy Final with Stevenage Borough. Photos courtesy of the late Martin “Badger” Baker of Ciderspace.
Stationery_Business Cards 23/05/2014 12:07 Page 1
Yeovil Town fans enjoying the big day out at Villa Park 20 years ago on May 12, 2002, for the FA Trophy Final with Stevenage Borough. Photos courtesy of the late Martin “Badger” Baker of Ciderspace.
