28th August 2015

Have you ever wondered who exactly talks you through your pre-match entertainment at Huish Park?

In the build up to this weekend’s fixture with Oxford United we take a look at the man who has a much bigger involvement with Yeovil Town that just reading out the team sheets.

Dave Linney is the voice of YTFC on a match day, but he had a pretty decent playing career of his own, not just representing the green and white army in Somerset, but also the yellow and blue army of Oxford United.

Dave Linney was born in Birmingham in 1961, he was spotted playing county level football in the midlands and had plenty of professional football options as he was growing up.

He noted in an interview with the Western Gazette in 2013 that he had offers from Coventry, West Brom and Wolves, but as he was “born and bred Birmingham” he couldn’t turn down a chance to join his boyhood club.

Coming from a family of blues fans he was over the moon sign apprentice forms with Jim Smith at St Andrews and learned his craft before spending a couple years as a pro.

A stalwart in the developmental system there, he would play mostly for the reserves and youth sides but did make one appearance for the full side, against Stoke City, in 1982.

It would be his only game in the big time, he would find himself released and heading to join Saturday’s opponents, Oxford United.

In signing with Oxford, he also resigned with Jim Smith, the man who had given him a chance at the Blues.

The following season he would play 40 times for Oxford, 38 of those would see him complete the full 90 minutes.

It was after a couple of injuries that he found himself on the move again, this time to Yeovil Town on a part time deal. He would play football and help out behind the scenes at the same time.

Linney took on a role in the commercial department, some 30 years later he is now in charge of that entire operation on a daily basis.

If you want your child to be a mascot, you call Dave, if you want your company’s logo to adorn the green and white shirt… Dave’s your man.

His career on the pitch included a childhood dream to play for the club he supports and a successful stint with Oxford under an esteemed manager like Jim Smith, but when the football stops, to build a successful affiliation with another side of the game takes some doing and Dave has done just that here at Huish Park.

The interview in the Western Gazette noted Linney’s excitement at the league clashes with his first club Birmingham and on Saturday he gets chance to complete the set with a visit to the Kassam Stadium.

If you want to contact Dave regarding any commercial aspect of the club you can do by calling 01935 847872 or dropping him an email on dlinney@ytfc.net.

Tickets for the fixture against Oxford will be available for fans travelling on the day or if you want to think further ahead click HERE to purchase tickets for the upcoming home games in September.