Mark Cooper was appointed as Yeovil’s new boss following ex-Gulls manager Chris Hargreaves’s short tenure in charge, and despite being unable to maintain Town’s National League status last term, the backing of the new regime at Huish Park appears to already being paying dividends in the sixth tier. As a player, Cooper featured for the likes of Birmingham City, Exeter City and Fulham, before in 2004 he made the switch to management with then Conference side Tamworth. However it wasn’t until his second management position that Cooper experienced promotion as a manager, as he guided Kettering Town to the Conference North title, who were clear at the top by 17 points. A short spell in the Championship with Peterborough United followed, before Cooper spent 16-months at Darlington, winning the FA Trophy during his tenure with the Durham Club. In July 2013, Cooper took the helm at Swindon Town and secured an 8th place finish during his first season and just one year later, guided the side to the League One Play-Off Final. Following his departure from Swindon in October 2015, Cooper went on to enjoy much success during a 5-year stint managing Forest Green Rovers. He guided the Gloucestershire Club to the Football League for the first time in their history, and tallied 101 wins during his time at the Club. A stint at League Two outfit Barrow preceded Yeovil securing his signature on a two and a half year deal back in October 2022. How have they been doing? Clear at the top of the National League South by 7 points, Yeovil have been enjoying their 2023/24 campaign. Currently on 83 points accumulated from 25 wins, 8 draws and 7 defeats in their 40 games played, the Glovers have only so far this season tasted defeat on two occasions at Huish Park, with both defeats coming in March at the hands of Chippenham Town (1-3) and Welling United (0-1). It seems Coopers’ side have picked themselves up since though, registering a draw against Slough (0-0), before putting an end to Braintree Town’s 14 game unbeaten run with a 1-0 victory last Saturday. Played for Both 
Frank Nouble’s arrival at Plainmoor last spring was seen by many as a last throw of the dice in United’s battle to escape the National League drop, and although the side ended up falling just short on the final day of the season, Nouble so nearly provided the catalyst for a remarkable late survival act. With his remarkable career seeing him represent a whole host of Clubs throughout the UK – and a brief spell in China, to boost – Frank’s experience and presence in the Torquay dressing room prompted an almost Lazarus-like turnaround in The Gulls’ fortunes, with his three goals in nine games doing little justice to his successful spell on the English Riviera. Having spent almost the entirety of his career in the EFL, with the likes of West Ham, Ipswich Town and Coventry City to name a few, Nouble signed on for the challenge of National League South for 2023/24, but this time with The Glovers, rather than the The Gulls. So far this campaign, the 32-year-old has scored 11 goals in 44 appearances for the Somerset side. Player to Watch...Read more
