User:Ytfc23/YTFC Sandbox/2006–07

The 2006–07 season was the fourth season in the Football League and the second consecutive season at the third tier of English football played by Yeovil Town Football Club, an English football club based in Yeovil, Somerset.

Background
The 2005–06 season was the club's third season in the Football League and first at the third tier of English football. It was manager Gary Johnson's fifth season in charge before his departure in October 2005 for West Country rivals Bristol City, his assistant Steve Thompson replaced him and oversaw the rest of the campaign. In spite of inconsistent form the successfully avoided relegation with a game to spare and finished their first season in League One in fifteenth position. The club released seven players at the end of the season, including Welsh striker Kevin Gall, while four players rejected new contracts including top scorer Phil Jevons and goalkeeper Chris Weale who both joined Gary Johnson's Bristol City.

Three further players were offered new contracts with defender Scott Guyett and midfielder Andy Lindegaard agreeing new one-year contracts, while captain Terry Skiverton agreed a one-year contract extension until the summer of 2008. While the club also handed professional deals to three members of their under-18 title winning side, with Craig Alcock, Thomas Clarke and Jake Smeeton all entering the first team squad after agreeing their first professional contracts. The summer also saw Chairman John Fry purchase David Webb's 92% share in the club for a significant, although undisclosed sum, to become majority shareholder at the club as well as Chairman and Chief Executive.

Pre-season
Despite leading the team to safety, manager Steve Thompson was demoted back to his role as assistant manager, while his assistant Kevin Hodges left the club, with chairman John Fry hiring Grimsby Town manager Russell Slade on a three-year contract. Following Slade's appointment, the club confirmed the appointment of John Milton as football general manager, and Jim Joyce as the club's new physio after departure of Glen Schmidt to Bristol City.

The squad returned for pre-season training on 28 June. The first day of pre-season saw the arrival of seven new signings, midfielder Chris Cohen signed for an undisclosed fee from West Ham United after a successful loan spell, while goalkeeper Steve Mildenhall and DR Congo international Jean-Paul Kalala followed Slade from Grimsby. Defender Terrell Forbes signed a two-year contract after his release from Oldham Athletic, he was joined by former West Ham United goalkeeper Darren Behcet, and former Southend United striker Wayne Gray. Finally, Irish youth international midfielder Stephen Maher signed from Dublin City on a free transfer. Yeovil also had three bids for Aldershot Town winger Gary Roberts, worth up to £50,000, rejected by the Conference side. While midfielder Paul Terry agreed a new one-year contract.

Yeovil's first friendly of pre-season saw them travel to Eastleigh and record a 3–1 victory with goals from former West Ham United winger Ishmael Welsh and a brace from Daniel Webb. The club then departed for a mini pre-season tour of Cornwall, and recorded a 5–0 victory against Bodmin Town, before concluding the brief tour with a 6–1 win against St Blazey. On 18 July, Yeovil faced Conference side Exeter City in their first home friendly of pre-season with goals from Chris Cohen and Gavin McCallum helping the Glovers to a 2–0 win. Yeovil suffered their first defeat of pre-season, on 21 July, losing 2–0 to Premier League club Portsmouth, and then suffered a second 2–0 defeat four days later away at Championship club Plymouth Argyle. On 28 July, Yeovil confirmed that trialist Ishmael Welsh had joined the club signing a two-year contract, and that defender Kevin Amankwaah had turned down the offer of a new contract and had joined Swansea City for an undisclosed fee in the region of £250,000. Yeovil concluded pre-season with a pair of victories over local non-league sides, with 3–0 win away at rivals Weymouth, followed by a 1–0 victory with a fringe side against Tiverton Town. The final build up to the season opener saw Yeovil confirm the signings of former Derby County striker Lee Morris on a month-to-month contract, and Kevin James on loan from Nottingham Forest.

August
Yeovil's season began with a first trip to The New Den to face Millwall, a debut goal from Wayne Gray earned Yeovil a creditable 1–1 draw. On 8 August, Yeovil played out a goalless draw against Bournemouth in their first home match of the season. Yeovil secured a first victory of the season with a 2–1 win against Carlisle United, on 12 August, with goals from Chris Cohen and Ishmael Welsh.

March

 * Cranie, Tonkin & Welsh
 * Cranie, Tonkin & Welsh

Match results
League positions are sourced from Statto, while the remaining contents of each table are sourced from the references in the "Ref" column.

Football League Trophy
Yeovil received a bye to the Second Round of the Football League Trophy.

Squad statistics

 * Source:


 * Numbers in parentheses denote appearances as substitute.
 * Players with squad numbers struck through and marked † left the club during the playing season.
 * Players with names in italics and marked * were on loan from another club for the whole of their season with Yeovil.
 * Players listed with no appearances have been in the matchday squad but only as unused substitutes.
 * Key to positions: GK – Goalkeeper; DF – Defender; MF – Midfielder; FW – Forward