Patmore predicted Skiverton long haul

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YEOVIL Town goal-scoring great Warren Patmore claims he predicted Terry Skiverton's testimonial soon after the former club captain joined the club.

Patmore was already a firm favourite with fans when Skiverton arrived at the club from Welling United in the summer of 1999.

The physical striker already knew of Skiverton's capabilities on the pitch because of Nationwide Conference clashes.

However, it was not long before the pair struck up a rapport off the field of play as they roomed together on away days.

Their South East roots meant they also had something else in common and regularly they would travel to games with fellow Londoners Ben Smith and Dean Chandler.

And it was on one of these journeys that Patmore, who scored 109 games in 225 appearances for the Glovers, looked into the future.

Patmore said: "I remember saying to him with Ben Smith and Dean Chandler 'I will guarantee Skivo that you will meet a girl down here, settle down, have kids and you will have a testimonial'.

"I said that to him on a car trip and he said 'Do not be so daft Waz, I am not going to do that'. I have not seen him for a year but when I do I will have to say 'I told you so, I told you that you would settle here'."

Patmore left the Glovers for Rushden & Diamonds after the conclusion of the 2000-1 season, when the Nene Park outfit beat Yeovil to promotion to the Football League.

Skiverton also had the opportunity to join his former team-mate at Rushden having handed in a transfer request at Huish Park. But Skiverton opted to stay.

Patmore, aged 37, said Skiverton will not regret not making the switch and will look back at his Yeovil career with pride.

"We did not win the Conference, we were runners-up when I left," said Patmore. "I wish I had stayed at the club. Gary Johnson came in and I know him very well so I wish I had stayed.

"I was only at Rushden for three months. I hated it and left to join Woking.

"Terry had most of his success as a player and captain when Gary Johnson came in.

"When you get an opportunity to move on you weigh it all up and think about your family.

"But I believe Terry will look back when he is old and grey thinking 'I was captain when we won the Conference and League Two and I kept the club up as manager'.

"You never know, he could have gone on to Rushden and moved again but I am really pleased he has earned his testimonial. I hope he is going to get his hair cut, get smart and pull on his boots."

Patmore said that Skiverton's attitude as captain made it obvious that it would only be "a matter of time" before he became manager.

"I played against him when he was at Welling and you could see there was something about him and I was pleased when Colin Lippiatt brought him to the club," said Patmore.

"Off the field he is a fun guy to be around and there is a bit of banter but on the field you can see why he is captain.

"His effort, determination and passion to win games and captain the team made it only a matter of time before he became manager.

"If he can take his captaincy and the way he is on the pitch then I think he will do very well. I am thoroughly pleased that he has got the job.

"You could see that there was the element that he wanted to win things and he had a real passion for it.

"That is why I think he will do very well as a manager because with his man-management of the players he knew when to gee up someone and he knew when to put an arm around someone and tell them 'You can do it'.

"That is what you want from any captain and he has definitely got that in him, as he has proved it during his time at the club.

"Some players do not take to the captain that well but he had 99 per cent respect from the players he played with."

Patmore is now boss of Toolstation Western League Premier club Wellington.