The Exiled Robin

A fair bit has happened to Yeovil since we last played them. A national television appearance and certainly little shame in their huge FA Cup tie with Manchester United, followed just a few weeks later by Gary Johnson paying the price for their season-long flirtation with the relegation zone. Meanwhile City have gone on and on, with our visit to Wembley later this month the reason for this re-arranged fixture. Stu Radnedge caught up with Leeds-based Glover Ben Barrett for his typically humourous take on the situation at Huish Park ahead of the final match in our mini-series against the bottom four. “Last time I did this, I said that 500 words wouldn't be quite enough to describe the goings on at Huish Park this season, the truth is, that three months down the line, this email could turn into a dissertation-length ramble if I'm not careful. Right, let's keep this simple, I'm a positive bloke, I love being a Yeovil fan, but my word - this season sucks. ...

Precisely one year after Bristol City went into Christmas bottom of the league, we enter the 2014 festive season the maximum  number of places higher; top of the pile. However, a once relatively substantial lead has been largely eliminated and for the nuetrals, if there are many that watch league one, an enthralling second half to the season lies ahead with the top four separated by just a single point. In the absence of any real competition from the blue lot north of the river, and setting aside a more traditional ‘M4 derby’, the Yeovil fixture was one many City fans would have sought out when the fixtures were released in the summer, and for once the computer didn’t disappoint. The only disappointment is that if it were not for the reduced capacity, this local derby, with City flying high, would have almost certainly attracted a capacity bank holiday crowd, meaning a lesser atmosphere and circa £200,000 lost revenue. Throw in the fact that it’s the return of Gary Joh...

League One club Yeovil Town swept to an expected comfortable win against their non-league neighbours in a friendly last night, which left both managers praising their clubs management for getting the fixture arranged. A goal in each half from striker Ajay Leitch-Smith sealed the win for the Somerset side who used last night’s occasion to ease into their more serious upcoming pre-season programme.  Leitch-Smith said afterwards “It’s always great to score a goal whoever you’re playing. The fact it’s a local non-league side doesn’t make a difference to me, it will just give me more confidence when we start facing better opposition". Chirpy Glovers boss Gary Johnson was pleased with his side’s performance, stating “Whoever you play you’ve still got to go out and perform and win. It doesn’t matter whether it’s Manchester Untied or a local smaller outfit like Bristol Rovers, you’ve still got to turn up and we did that tonight”.   Ex-Bristol City boss Johnson - who is lo...

Luke Ayling made the short journey up the M5 earlier this month, joining Steve Cotterill’s mini summer revolution at Ashton Gate and at the same time ending Brendan Moloney’s relatively short stay in BS3. Ayling was one of Yeovil’s better performers in their ultimately unsuccessful first season in the Championship, but he’s made the move in an apparent attempt to bounce back at the first attempt. Yeovil fan and soon-to-be-married (to a ‘Dirty Leeds’ fan) Ben Barrett gave us this insight on a Huish Park hero who served his time well in Somerset. “When Yeovil Town fans favourite Luke Ayling left to join Bristol City this week, to say I had mixed feelings would be an understatement. Let’s get the rivalry bit out of the way, City are a rival, have been for a while, and for as long as the blue half of your city are pottering about in non-league always will be.  Not just geographically, but also, both sides have ambitions to be at the top of League One this season, so yes, los...

As Oldham Athletic become the latest side to try and end Bristol City's remarkable unbeaten start to the season (in November!!!), here's a reminder of the exclusive interview I carried out with Latics boss Lee Johnson earlier in the year: An extra-special 'Inside Line' feature this week as Lee Johnson, the manager of Saturday's opponents Oldham Athletic, speaks exclusively to The Exiled Robin. Lee was a virtual ever present in the City side that settled and then got promoted from league one last time around, and then continued to play a significant role in helping us reach the play-off final at Wembley, coming so close to reaching the promised land of the Premier League. However his time in BS3 wasn't always smooth. Accusations of favouritism from his manager - and Dad - Gary and the lack of the all-action throwing-himself-into-tackles displays that some fans see as essential led to Lee receiving a fair amount of stick and his name was an almost const...

City’s most successful manager in a generation finds himself back where he made his name He’d often wait.   Letting the initial cheers on the final whistle subside and pausing whilst the players walked towards the tunnel, milking the deserved acclaim, shaking each one of them by the hand as they made their way off the pitch.   Then, this short, round, lovable, chirpy Cockney would start making his way over.   Occasionally he’d break into a little jog and as he got nearer the wide, delighted but cheeky grin became more evident and told you all you needed to know.   He’d tease the fans, pulling his arm back slightly before letting it rest back by his side.   Again and again whilst the fans’ “Woooooahs” reached a crescendo and then the big arching swing of the arm, back as far as he could manage before launching into a ferocious upper-cut punch of the air as the fans cheered and he was lauded, smothered in adulation by the long-suffering supporters. Poss...