Page 24 - Yate Town FC v Weston super Mare 221122

In Town today Weston super Mare F.C.

2017-2018 season didn't get off to a particularly good start, with the Seagulls losing
their opening three league games. Weston started to pick up some form as they
headed into September, playing Wealdstone memorably off the park in a 5-1 victory
at the Woodspring. Weston's form continued to improve largely thanks to the form
of Dayle Grubb, and manager Marc McGregor picked up the November Manager of
The Month for the National League South. Grubb departed for Forest Green Rovers
at the start of January, and an inconsistent spell during the second half of the
season saw the Seagulls' playoff push fall away as the season approached the final
months. Backup goalkeeper Liam Kingston was the Somerset Premier Cup semi-
final hero, saving a spot-kick in a penalty shootout over Bath City. In May 2018,
Weston won the Somerset Premier Cup against Paulton Rovers after going 2-0
down, with Tristan Plummer scoring the winner in added time to cue dramatic
scenes on the pitch and in the stands.
Scott Bartlett was appointed manager during the close season and has
remained with us during the covid period. We now look forward to a successful
season 2021/22

Max Harris - Max began his career with Hereford FC and spent time with Pegasus
Juniors, before making a few appearances for the Edgar Street outfit. He secured
a move to Oxford United, with loan moves to Staines Town, Abingdon United, AFC
Totton and Oxford City following. A move to Cheltenham then came about in 2020,
with subsequent loan moves to Cinderford Town and Redditch United. Max moved
to Weston on loan in October 2021 and kept 12 clean sheets in 33 games, before
rejoining on loan for the 2022-2023 season.

Luke Purnell - The experienced keeper progressed through the academy system
at the Seagulls under Ryan Northmore and gained sporadic first-team experience
before leaving in 2010. He spent time with Barnstaple Town and Bridgwater United,
before returning to Weston in 2013. Managing to dislodge Lloyd Irish as the No.1,
he established himself within the side and has gone on to make over 300
appearances for the club since coming back to his hometown.
Sam Avery - ‘Avo’ has spent his entire career in the non-league game having come
through Gloucester City’s Academy. He got his first taste of senior football in county
football before spending two spells with Bishops Cleeve and a couple of years with
Shortwood. In 2014, he returned to Gloucester and was eventually made captain,
before he joined the Seagulls in January 2021.

Jason Pope - The defender came through the Exeter City academy and first spent
the 2015-2016 season on loan at The Optima. He made the move permanent that
following summer and spent the next three years with the club before leaving for
Hereford FC in 2019. He moved on to Bath City for the 2020-2021 season, before
returning to Weston in May 2021.