It is crunch time for Yeovil Town over the next week with a game at Leicester City tomorrow followed by a tough home clash with Peterborough United and an FA Cup replay at Stockport County.
The Glovers started the season with a wafer thin squad and a season of toil looked on the cards, which has proved to be the case thus far. They currently sit just two points clear of the relegation zone but a win at Leicester in this rearranged fixture would catapult them to 14th in the League One table.
This would be an excellent achievement for a side that is battling against the odds with the likes of Leeds, Leicester and MK Dons flexing their muscles at the summit of League One. However, Terry Skiverton has seen it all before during his long career in the West Country that has seen the Glovers climb from the second tier of non-league all the way to League One. In fact, it could have been even brighter two years ago when Yeovil reached the League One play-off final only to come unstuck at the final hurdle.
The club has been nursing a hangover ever since and survival appears to be the name of the game in Somerset this season and that task will be made easier with the likes of Skiverton in the heart of their defence. Givemefootball.com's Ian Clarkson spoke exclusively to Skiverton ahead of their trip to Leicester but first asked him to relive his FA Cup goal against Stockport last Saturday.
CAN YOU TALK US THROUGH YOUR GOAL LAST WEEKEND?
It was a typical far post header from a centre half after a cross that was hung up nicely for me to attack. I would like to tell you something different but I have scored around 46 goals in my career and I think three have come with my feet. That probably sums me up as a player!
IT LOOKS AS THOUGH IT IS GOING TO BE A REAL BATTLE FOR YEOVIL THIS SEASON?
It has been quite tough and I think the credit crunch is affecting everyone. Football is a luxury for people to come and watch so I think crowds have been affected and it played a part in our budget for this season. It is proving to be a challenge but our form has picked up recently, which is a good sign.
IS SURVIVAL THE MAIN AIM THIS SEASON?
At present, anything other than survival would be a bonus but there is no reason why we shouldn't be looking to finish in mid-table. However, it is an extremely tight league so if we can string a run of results together who knows where we can finish? If you are in mid-table by March then you can give it a real go during the last six weeks and perhaps sneak into the play-offs.
HOW HAS THE SEASON GONE FOR YOU PERSONALLY?
The season has gone okay so far. I have played most of the games aside from an injury and I managed to pass my UEFA Level l3 Coaching Certificate last summer. I currently manger Yeovil's Under 15s at our centre of excellence and it is a great experience. Whatever the result on Saturday I find it really enjoyable to get involved in the game on a Sunday and it is giving me an iron in the fire for when I finally stop playing in a couple of years. I am really enjoying my football at present.
IS LEAGUE ONE AS HIGH AS A CLUB LIKE YEOVIL CAN ASPIRE TO?
I think if we had been promoted through the play-offs to the Championship a couple of years ago it would have been a real struggle. We possibly might have come down with all sorts of records in terms of points! You have got to show a level of consistency to play in this division and I think League One is a realistic level for Yeovil to be playing at. There is a motto at this club that reads 'small club - big heart' and I think that is very true. We have to work harder than the rest as we are often playing against the odds when you look at the likes of Leicester and Leeds.
YEOVIL CONTINUE TO PUNCH ABOVE THEIR WEIGHT THOUGH?
For us to be competing against these clubs is an achievement but we are not about to give it up. I am one of the players who has won his way up to this level through a series of promotions at Yeovil and I am not about to give it up easily. When I look back at my career I don't want to have a relegation on my CV.
THIS IS A CRUCIAL TIME FOR THE CLUB ISN'T IT?
We have got some big games on the horizon and we need to pick up points early if possible. The Christmas period is hectic and can shape a steam's season so if we have points in the bag going into that stage then we will be in a decent position. The manager has been getting into us and made a couple of acquisitions recently, which have boosted the squad. Gifton Noel-Williams and Gareth Owen have arrived and the extra competition for places has been reflected in our results. Our squad is getting bigger and more experienced and hopefully we can keep pushing forwards.
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