South Gloucestershire | Archive | 2005 | August | 5
From the Gazette, first published Friday 5th Aug 2005.
YATE Town host Conference National side and near neighbours Forest Green Rovers in their final warm-up match for the new season for what promises to be a very entertaining game.
Forest Green manager Gary Owers, who incidentally currently lives in the Yate area, will be playing what he considers his first choice side and both managers will be looking to fine tune ahead of the season start-up.
Yate manager Richard Thompson said: "I will be running the rule over players this week and on Saturday hopefully I'll have a better idea of how the squad is shaping up."
These are exciting times for Yate after a highly successful last season which saw them gain automatic promotion from the Southern League Western Division, win the Gloucestershire Senior Cup for the first time, in addition to having a good FA Trophy run.
With Yate competing for the first time in its history in the Southern League Premier Division, there will be many exciting local derby games against Bath City, Team Bath, Gloucester City, Chippenham Town, Cirencester Town and Mangotsfield United which are sure to attract large gates at Lodge Road.
Of course, the overall standard of football will be higher with the likes of Tiverton Town, Banbury United and Merthyr Tydfil all coming to Lodge Road, but Thompson is confident his side will be up for the challenge that the new season presents.
He has largely kept with last season's successful side, most of whom have experience at this level. Midfielder Tommy Callinan has been released and striker Richard Kear has gone to Gloucester City, but Thompson has brought in long time Mangotsfield player Danny Hallett, a versatile left sided defender or midfield player. Paul Metheringham is welcomed back to the squad after his broken leg, sustained last season against Bristol City in a Gloucester Senior Cup match.
Yate's league season will commence on Saturday, August 13, with a home game against Banbury United and a large crowd is expected.
This season, Yate Town are offering sponsorship on a raffle basis. Companies have bought tickets at £100, with the winner sponsoring the home and away kit for the whole season.
There is still opportunity for other interested organisations to obtain tickets, and they should contact any club official before the draw takes place at the Forest Green Rovers match, probably at half-time, this Saturday.
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