The 2016–17 season was the 14th season in the Football League and the second consecutive season at the fourth tier of English football played by Yeovil Town Football Club, an English football club based in Yeovil, Somerset.
It was manager Darren Way's first full season in charge, and he signed fourteen players on permanent and loan contracts before the close of the summer transfer window. 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. 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.
The club 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. Ivorian striker François Zoko finished as the club's top goalscorer with thirteen goals, with eight of them coming in the league.
Background
The 2015–16 season saw Yeovil compete in the fourth tier of English football following their successive relegations from the Championship and then League One. The season started poorly with the club suffering a series of injury crises and only winning two league matches by the end of November. With a third consecutive relegation a real possibility the club sacked manager Paul Sturrock, and replaced him with first-team coach Darren Way. After his appointment, Yeovil's form improved including a run of four consecutive 1–0 wins in March and eight clean-sheets in nine matches and safety was confirmed with four matches to spare as Yeovil finished the season in 19th place. Yeovil reached the third round of the FA Cup, for the third consecutive season for the first time in the club's history, losing in a penalty shootout to Carlisle United. The club also reached the southern area semi-finals of the Football League Trophy, losing to Oxford United.
The end of the season saw Way release eight players, including Jack Compton, Jordan Gibbons, Simon Gillett, Shaun Jeffers, Marc Laird, Leroy Lita, Jakub Sokolík and Chris Weale, while the club terminated the contracts of Mark Beck and Wes Fogden a year early. Six players were offered new contracts by Darren Way, defender Nathan Smith and Ivorian striker François Zoko agreed new one-year contracts, while goalkeeper Artur Krysiak, Ryan Dickson and Omar Sowunmi all agreed two-year contract extensions. Defensive midfielder Ben Tozer verbally agreed a new contract subject to him passing a medical after recovering from an operation on his knee. but later rejected the offer to sign for Newport County.
Review Pre-season
The squad returned for pre-season training on 1 July. The first day of pre-season saw the arrival of three new signings, attacking midfielder Otis Khan joined from Barnsley on a free transfer signing a one-year contract, forward Tom Eaves also signed for a year having been released from Bolton Wanderers, while defender Liam Shephard rejoined on a six-month loan deal from Swansea City. The following day Yeovil confirmed two further signings, former West Bromwich Albion full-back Josh Ezewele, and midfielder Joe Lea from Southampton both on one-year contracts. On 8 July, Yeovil confirmed the signing of winger Ryan Hedges on a six-month loan deal from Swansea City.
Yeovil's first friendly of the season saw them travel to Southern League Premier side Dorchester Town, on 12 July. Yeovil's squad included eight trialists, and one of those former Norwich City forward Jamar Loza scored the only goal in a 1–0 victory. One of those eight trialists former Leicester City goalkeeper Jonny Maddison became the club's seventh signing, on 14 July, joining on a one-year contract. On 16 July, Yeovil played their second pre-season friendly a home fixture against Championship side Bristol City, and suffered a 2–1 defeat with Tom Eaves scoring Yeovil's goal.
Yeovil then travelled to South Wales for a short training camp, where on 18 July they faced a Merthyr Town side managed by former Yeovil midfielder Gavin Williams. A goal from Swansea loanee Liam Shephard was enough for Yeovil to record a 1–0 win. Yeovil then played two behind closed doors friendly matches against under-21 sides from Swansea City and Tottenham Hotspur. Yeovil then traveled to Salisbury, on 26 July, and welcomed new trialist form Luton Town midfielder Alex Lawless, a brace from Ryan Hedges and another goal from Tom Eaves saw Yeovil run out 3–2 winners. On 29 July, Lawless joined the club signing a one-year contract after a successful trial. Yeovil completed their pre-season schedule with a 2–1 victory over League One side Swindon Town, courtesy of another goal from Eaves and winger Otis Khan. On 1 August, last season's joint top goalscorer Ryan Bird left the club after Yeovil decided to terminate his contract to allow him to join National League side Eastleigh. On 5 August, Yeovil made the loan signings of midfielder Matt Butcher and winger Tahvon Campbell from Bournemouth and West Bromwich Albion respectively, while the club also completed the free transfer of defender Bevis Mugabi from Southampton.
+ Pre-season match detailsDateOpponentsVenueResultScoreF–AScorersAttendanceDorchester TownAW1–0Loza560Bristol CityHL1–2Eaves1,677Merthyr TownAW1–0ShephardSwansea City U23sAW5–0—Tottenham Hotspur U23sAD1–1Khan—SalisburyAW3–2Hedges (2), Eaves691Swindon TownHW2–1Eaves, Khan888
August Yeovil started their League Two season at home against Notts County, on 6 August. The Glovers started the match well with Kevin Dawson scoring his first goal in almost two years, and winger Otis Khan scoring on his debut to earn Yeovil a 2–0 victory. Yeovil then traveled to League One side Walsall in the first round of the EFL Cup and won 2–0 after extra time, with Matthew Dolan scoring a goal from inside his own half. On 13 August, Yeovil confirmed the signing of former Swansea City youth player Kyle Copp on non-contract terms subject to international clearance, later that day Yeovil drew 1–1 away at Luton Town with Tom Eaves scoring his first goal for the club. On 15 August, young attacking midfielder Ollie Bassett received his first call up to the Northern Ireland under-19 side for a training camp. Yeovil's unbeaten start to the season came to an end, on 16 August, with a 1–0 defeat against Mansfield Town despite their opponents playing with 10-men for 81 minutes.
On 20 August, Yeovil slumped to a second consecutive 1–0 defeat losing at home against Morecambe. Yeovil then traveled to Everton in the second round of the EFL Cup, on 23 August, but were outclassed by their Premier League opponents losing 4–0. On 24 August, Yeovil announced the extension of Ryan Hedges and Liam Shephard's loans from Swansea City until the end of the season, Hedges was also called up for the Wales under-21 side for two 2017 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification matches. Later that day the club also confirmed that Kyle Copp had finally received his International clearance and was eligible to play, while defender Bevis Mugabi received his first call up to the Uganda national football team for their friendly against Kenya and their 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualification match against Comoros, but Mugabi was subsequently withdrawn from the squad with the club citing the short notice of the call-up as the reason for his withdrawal.
On 25 August, Yeovil confirmed the signings of former Notts County striker Izale McLeod until the end of the season and Bournemouth attacking midfielder Ben Whitfield on loan until 3 January. On 27 August, Yeovil suffered a third straight league defeat losing 4–1 against Doncaster Rovers, with Ryan Hedges scoring Yeovil's consolation goal. Yeovil ended August with their first match in the group stage of the EFL Trophy against Portsmouth, a high-scoring affair saw Yeovil win 4–3 with a brace from Tom Eaves and first goals for the club from Izale McLeod and Bevis Mugabi.
September Yeovil began the month with a 3–0 home defeat against Blackpool, a defeat which saw the club slip into the relegation zone. On 10 September, despite taking the lead against Hartlepool United through Matt Butcher Yeovil suffered their fifth consecutive league defeat losing 2–1. Youth team graduate Ollie Bassett joined Southern League Premier Division side Dorchester Town on a one-month loan deal, on 13 September, after not having made an appearance in the first month of the season. On 17 September, Yeovil traveled to Leyton Orient and aided by the return from injury of captain Darren Ward ended their losing streak and recorded their first away win of the season courtesy of a goal from top scorer Tom Eaves.
Whilst on loan at Dorchester, Bassett received another call up to the Northern Ireland under-19 squad for their 2017 UEFA European Under-19 Championship qualification matches in early October. On 24 September, former Yeovil manager Gary Johnson returned with his new side Cheltenham Town visiting Huish Park. A fast start saw Yeovil take a 2–0 lead after 16 minutes through goals from Otis Khan and Darren Ward and despite a fightback from Cheltenham further goals from Matthew Dolan and Tom Eaves gave Yeovil a 4–2 victory. Yeovil's final match of September saw them fall to a 1–0 defeat against bottom of the table side Cambridge United.
October The start of October saw Yeovil travel to league leaders Plymouth Argyle but suffered a second consecutive defeat losing 4–1 with the Glovers consolation goal from their captain Darren Ward. Yeovil then faced League One side Bristol Rovers in their second round robin match in the EFL Trophy but after having been reduced to ten-men when substitute Kevin Dawson was dismissed for a second bookable offence, Yeovil earned a 0–0 draw before losing 5–3 in a penalty shootout, for an extra bonus point. The following day Yeovil faced Clevedon Town in the first round of the Somerset Premier Cup, but a Yeovil side made up entirely of their youth team scholars lost 1–0. On 8 October, Yeovil recorded their second consecutive home victory with a Ryan Hedges goal enough to see the Glovers record a 1–0 victory over Wycombe Wanderers. Yeovil then followed this up with two more 1–0 victories over Newport County and Crewe Alexandra.
During October, midfielder Joe Lea joined Dorchester Town on a month's loan deal, and was joined by Ollie Bassett who returned to the Dorset club for a second spell. Yeovil ended the month with a 0–0 draw against Grimsby Town, recording a fifth consecutive clean sheet in all competitions. Having overseen an upturn in Yeovil's fortunes in the month of October, with three victories, one draws and a defeat, along with four clean sheets, manager Darren Way was nominated for the EFL League Two Manager of the Month award, but was beaten by eventual winner Keith Curle.
November On 4 November, Yeovil's under-18 side defeated Newport County 1–0 in the first round of the FA Youth Cup. The following day Yeovil faced National League side Solihull Moors in the FA Cup first round. Despite taking a 2–0 lead with goals from Ryan Hedges and Otis Khan, after the sending off of midfielder Kevin Dawson, Solihull fought back to earn a replay. Yeovil then traveled to the Madejski Stadium for their final group stage game in the EFL Trophy to play Reading U23s, second half goals from substitutes Tom Eaves and François Zoko secured qualification to the second round of the competition.