Match Preview
Yate Town v Melksham Town
Pre-season friendly
Saturday 19th July 2025 – kick-off 3.00pm
Be there to support YOUR local club.
As Yate Town prepare for the coming season in the Southern League Premier South, following their promotion at the end of last season, Melksham Town are the visitors to the South West Interiors Stadium for the Bluebells second pre-season friendly. This will be the first chance to see the new signings at the South West Interiors Stadium that manager Darren Mullings has made, with Dan Ball, Rex Mannings, Dave Sims-Burgess, Dayle Grubb and Matt Britton added to the squad and many of last seasons players still involved. One player who has departed is Will Christopher (pictured) who will be in the Melksham Town squad. Will made 32 appearances plus 12 substitute appearances in all competitions for the Bluebells last season, scoring 4 goals, having signed last summer from Cirencester Town.
Darren Mullings gave most of his squad a good run out at Corsham Town on Monday evening and will welcome back Lloyd James, who was unavailable for this game. Saturday’s game will also allow the manager to look further at a number of trialists.
Form Guide:
Melksham have played a couple of pre-season friendlies, losing 0-4 at home to Swindon Town last Saturday and they then beat Shepton Mallet 4-1 at home in mid-week.
Last season Melksham Town finished in 8th place in the Southern league Division One South.
Recent meetings:
The clubs met three times last season. The first being in the FA Trophy Third Qualifying Round, when the Bluebells won 3-0 at the South West Interiors Stadium, with Lucas Tomlinson opening the scoring, Ross Stearn scoring his first goal for the club and Oli Jenkins scoring the third in the 90th minute in front of a crowd of 527.
Both League fixtures ended in 1-1 draws. The game at Melksham, at the end of November, saw Henry Sady put the home side in front but Ross Stearn equalised with an acrobatic overhead kick with 530 watching this game. In March the points were shared again with Henry Sady again on the scoresheet when he put Melksham in front in the first half, but Nick McCootie equalised in the second half (pictured below) in front of another good crowd of 634.
Match day information
Admission prices for pre-season friendlies:
Adult: £10
Concessions: £5
Youth (12 to 18): £3
Children (Under 12 accompanied by an adult): £1
The left-hand turnstile is for CARD payments and programmes can also be purchased at this turnstile
The right-hand turnstile is for CASH payments.
Please arrive early to ease congestion.
All U-11’s entering the ground must be accompanied by an adult.
The bar is open from 1.00pm
Turnstiles open: 1.00pm
Programmes: We will be selling a 4-page photocopied programme for 50 pence. Programmes can be purchased outside the ground, at the left-hand turnstile and at the club shop.
Visit the club shop
The club shop is open on match days, where you can buy a whole host of new club merchandise, including shirts, tops plus the new Championship mug.
The club shop will be open before the game, at half time and after the game.
Tracey, who will also be selling match day programmes and 50/50 tickets.
And, don’t forget to visit the clubhouse for that pre-match and post-match drink and chat.
Other information
· We welcome St Nick’s Under 9s as our mascots for the afternoon.
PARKING
There is plenty of space is available but if you are parking on the roadside, or once the car park is full, PLEASE CAN YOU PARK WITH CONSIDERATION TO THE CLUB’S NEIGHBOURS.
· Please do NOT park in Addlings (a new road near the end of Lodge Road) as the estate roads are tight and there is limited parking for residents
· The Fox pub car park is for patrons only
· If you park over on the trading estate, please make sure that you are aware of any parking restrictions that may be in place.
Food and drinks are available inside the ground.
Please note that the South West Interiors Stadium is a NO dogs ground (apart from guide dogs).
Yate Town FC website: www.yatetownfc.co.uk
Next up:
The Bluebells are home to Bristol City U18 on Tuesday evening 22nd July, with a 7.45pm kick-off.