Yeovil Town unveiled a redesigned club crest a couple of years ago, with the designer explaining the thinking behind it:

“The design, inspired by the glove-making heritage of Yeovil, brings to life the football club’s unique nickname – The Glovers. The typography displayed within the design is a nod to past typefaces, with the two colours – green and white – not only streamlining the identity, but enabling Yeovil Town to own these colours in English football, as one of the few clubs to play in them.”

To which some might quietly respond:

“Hmmm…”

Cooper Returns to The New Lawn

Mark Cooper is back at The New Lawn, this time as Yeovil Town manager. It’s his second return to the dugout since leaving FGR in 2021, after five years in charge.

After a brief spell at Barrow, Cooper took over at Yeovil in 2022.

In last season’s New Year’s Day clash, Rovers snatched a stoppage-time winner through Ryan Inniss, after Kyle McAllister had levelled from the spot late in the second half. Yeovil brought the biggest away following of the regular season — and faced the largest home crowd too (excluding, in both cases, the Southend play-off).

Mark Cooper led Rovers into the EFL in 2017.

Yeovil finished 18th in the National League last season, with 56 points and 15 wins, ending just four points above the drop zone. They were flanked in the table by fellow newly promoted sides Braintree Town (17th) and Boston United (19th) — with only Tamworth, who finished 10th, truly standing out among the National League newcomers.

With an experienced manager like Mark Cooper at the helm, this was a somewhat underwhelming campaign for a club of Yeovil’s stature. However, off-field issues appear to have played a significant role. Tensions behind the scenes eventually led to a change of ownership shortly after the season ended.

The club is now owned by a company led by a Dubai-based businessman, who claims to have “built one of the largest multi-sports youth platforms in India and the Middle East.” The new regime is expected to bring fresh direction and ambition to a club that reached the Championship in 2013–14.

Yeovil have made a handful of summer signings so far. Winger James Daly has joined from Harrogate Town, while centre-back Kyle Ferguson, who impressed on loan last season, has signed permanently from Rochdale. One potentially standout signing is forward Junior Morais, who arrives from Notts County. While his career path – 13 clubs in as many years – might suggest a journeyman, his return of 27 goals across two spells at Dagenham & Redbridge between 2021 and 2024 shows he knows where the net is. If he finds form, he could prove a real asset.

Up front, there’s a familiar face for Rovers fans: Tahvon Campbell has joined from Solihull Moors. He previously had a brief loan spell at Yeovil back in 2017 while on West Brom’s books.

Joining the backroom staff is another familiar face, Stroud-born Richard Dryden, who has worked with Mark Cooper at several clubs, including FGR during 2020–21, and now comes in as First Team Coach.

Behind the scenes, Yeovil have shortened the length of their pitch, which was previously the largest in the division, and moved into new, high-quality training facilities — all signs of a club looking to reset and move forward.

All that said, the Glovers started the season slowly, with a 0 – 0 draw with Hartlepool Utd.

The most obvious Forest Green link at Yeovil is manager Mark Cooper (see above), but there’s also a familiar face on the pitch: his son, Charlie Cooper.

Charlie played for FGR between 2016 and 2019, initially on loan from Birmingham City, making 46 appearances and scoring once. Between 2018 and 2023, he had spells with six different clubs, including two loan moves, before reuniting with his father at Yeovil in 2023.

Since then, he’s made over 90 appearances for the Glovers, adding two goals to his tally.

Tahvon Campbell made 18 appearances for Rovers under Mark Cooper during the 2018–19 season, scoring three goals. Since then, he’s turned out for nine other clubs, including five loan spells.

He found form at Solihull Moors in 2024/25, scoring nine goals, and clearly did enough to catch Cooper’s eye once again, earning a move to Yeovil this summer.

Campbell on signing for Yeovil

Another former Rover now at Huish Park is midfielder Jacob Maddox. He made 18 appearances for FGR between 2023 and January 2025, before making the switch to Yeovil earlier this year.

Jed Ward, on loan from Bristol Rovers to Forest Green Rovers for much of last season; on loan from Bristol Rovers to Yeovil Town as this season begins

Yeovil Town play at Huish Park, built in 1990 on the site of a former army camp. The Somerset club is nicknamed the Glovers, a nod to Yeovil’s history as a glove-making centre.

The club reached the EFL for the first time in 2002, beginning a 16-year stay that included promotion to League One in 2005 and a single season in the Championship in 2013–14. Since then, it’s been a tougher journey, with four relegations dropping them to the National League South in 2023. They bounced back quickly, winning promotion to the National League in 2024.

Despite the ups and downs, fan support has stayed strong. Yeovil’s attendance averaged 3,215 last season — the fifth-highest overall in the National League. The club had set a record for National League South attendance the year before.

Yeovil also boast a very active supporters’ association. For all the latest news and insights, check out gloverscast.co.uk — a great resource for fans and visitors alike.

Ryan Inniss’s injury-time strike won Rovers the game when they last met Yeovil at The New Lawn, on New Year’s Day.

Parking is available in the adjacent school car park, just a short walk from the stadium. Spaces cost £15 per car and must be booked in advance by calling 0333 123 1889 (11am–2pm, Monday, Thursday and Friday) or by emailing reception@fgr.co.uk.

Alternatively, you can use the Park and Ride service from Renishaw (Bath Road, Nailsworth, Stroud, GL5 5EY). It opens at 12:30pm on matchdays and costs £5 per car (card only).

If parking on surrounding streets, please be considerate of local residents.

The Green Man bar and Fan Zone will be open pre-match for food, drink, and live music, with bands performing before each game. Both will also be open at half-time, while the Green Man stays open after the final whistle, showing live Sky Sports games. This season, the Gym Bar also returns for East Stand ticket-holders.

The New Lawn is a cashless stadium — card only, except for Rovers Raffle tickets, which can be bought with cash or card.

Hospitality details and offers:

The FGR Shop will be open in the Fan Zone, East Stand concourse, and the Carol Embrey Suite.

A free digital matchday programme will be available online before each home game. Keep an eye on the club’s social media channels for the download link ahead of kick-off.