TERRY SKIVERTON TESTIMONIAL: It was a great day for the club (From Somerset County Gazette)

TERRY SKIVERTON TESTIMONIAL: It was a great day for the club

10:12am Wednesday 8th July 2009

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YEOVIL Town fans have spoken about how much they enjoyed Saturday's testimonial match for player-manager Terry Skiverton.

Supporters commenting on the Green Room fans forum - which can be accessed by clicking on the link in our "related articles" section on this website - have said that it was a great occasion.

It was a Yeovil day, for Terry and his family, former players and the fans and we were privileged to be part of the party

Well-known Yeovil fan Don Gibson

A number of well-known football names such as John Terry, Dennis Wise, Tore-Andre Flo and Gus Poyet were all mentioned as possibly playing in the match to celebrate Skiverton's decade at Huish Park.

But none of them materialised - but that certainly did not devalue the occasion as fans were able to say "hello" again to a number of ex-Yeovil players who have been big favourites down the years.

The two representative sides were managed by former Yeovil managers, Colin Lippiatt and Gary Johnson, who both provided great team and club spirits during their times at Huish Park.

And it was the "spirit" of the occasion on Saturday which prompted well-known Yeovil fan and local dentist Don Gibson, better known as Lector on the Green Room forum, to write poetically about the day.

"For me the club had that old feeling back again and it was magical," he said.

"Before the game I thought that perhaps it was a mistake not to play a traditional game against a 'big' name team. Probably fill the stadium, but run the risk of another "Everton" of a few years ago when the reserves were sent to play.

"I was wrong though. It would have been nice to see a full house there for Skivo but the truth is it didn't matter.

"The unadulterated joy and positivity of the day couldn't have been recreated any other way.

"And that isn't a pun but to have Darren Way come onto the pitch was the icing on the cake."

And Don added: "I have seen first hand the bond between Skivo and Darren throughout Darren's recovery.

"I was visitng Darren in Yeovil District Hospital when Skivo came in on one of his visits.

"The genuine affection was wonderful to see. We all saw the same affection at the end of the game."

Don went on: "Gary Johnson was his old self, wonderful bloke with such a great sense of humour.

"Colin Lippiatt, however, was his equal and the in-match 'Setanta' like commentaries were hilarious.

"Unfortunately, some players who really wanted to be there were not given permission by their clubs.

"I'm sure that Chris Weale, Chris Cohen, Arron Davies and Michael McIndoe were upset because I know how much they wanted to be involved."

And Don added: "No John Terry, Flo, Poyet, Zola, Wise, Cundy amongst others for various reasons. But to tell the truth, it didn't matter, in fact I would go further to say that their attendance might have lessened the day like gatecrashers of a private party.

"It was a Yeovil day, for Terry and his family, former players and the fans and we were privileged to be part of the party."

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