From Welton to Latvia (via Yeovil)

Andrejs Štolcers (right) played 36 time for Yeovil Town in the 2004/5 season
 & 81 times for Latvia between 1994 and 2005.

Somer Valley FM football commentator Ian Nockolds made his International debut on Monday night, covering Yeovil Town's friendly match against Latvia. Ian's return to Huish Park marked a key milestone in the community broadcaster's footballing journey, a ground he first visited in May 2010 to cover Welton Rovers' Somerset Cup win.

"The Somerset Cup Final was the first match I commentated on. It was also the first live game Somer Valley FM had ever covered. Welton were playing Bridgwater in the final and I felt we had to be there, even if we didn't have a clue what we were doing! I don't remember much about the game, other than the fact that Welton won on penalities and I lost count of the score! I covered the game with Matt Clifford from the police control room, as we couldn't get any internet access in the press box. Pete Helmore worked miracles to get us on air and keep us on air. It was a real landmark for our radio station."

Earlier this season Ian travelled back to Huish Park when Radstock Town were the visitors.

"I think Adrian Hopper (Yeovil Town Press Officer) thought I was winding him up when I asked if it was ok for Somer Valley FM to cover the game."

Championship side Yeovil Town have endured a difficult start to their league season and Glovers' Manager, Gary Johnson, used the county cup game as an opportunity for many of his first team players to get a confidence boosting win.

"The Yeovil game was an incredible experience for me, my first opportunity to commentate on professional players at a professional club. The listener figures we had that night, as well as the feedback on twitter, was incredible.

The Yeovil press team had been so welcoming on the night that I started keeping an eye out for Yeovil's results. I saw the Latvia game advertised on Facebook and wondered whether there was any media interest. My email must have come at just the right time, because within minutes Adrian called me to ask whether I was interested in covering the match."

International sides playing Football League opposition is something of a rarity. However, Latvia and Yeovil share a common connection in the form of current Glovers' Manager Gary Johnson, who managed the international side between 1999 and 2001. As well as providing a much needed work out for both teams, the friendly also represented an opportunity to further cement the good relations that exist between  the Somerset club and the Baltic nation.

Ian was joined in the commentary box by Andrejs Štolcers, a former Latvian international and Yeovil Town player. The match finished one nil to Latvia, thanks to a 75th minute goal fromValerijs Sabala. The win arrested a torrid run of form for the visitors, who, following a three nil defeat to the Republic of Ireland on Friday, have managed only one win in their last eleven games.

The Glovers currently find themselves rooted to the bottom of the Championship. Having failed to score in either of their last two league games, their failure to score against Latvia, rather than the loss itself, proved the greatest concern for the Manager, ahead of their crucial clash with Doncaster Rovers on Friday night.

From the glamour of the International commentary box, Ian returns to Southern League action on Monday, November 25th, when he joins Paulton Rovers for their trip to Clevedon Town.

"Yeovil v Latvia is an experience I will never forget. Adrian, Jim (Healey, Assistant Yeovil Press Officer) and Andrejs were fantastic and so welcoming. I hope the Yeovil fans enjoyed our commentary, not quite what they are used to I know! I probably only got the chance because no other commentator was crazy enough to take on names like Alans Siņeļņikovs or Eduards Višņakovs!

On a serious note, I wouldn't have had the confidence to approach Yeovil if it hadn't been for the experience and support I've received from Somer Valley FM. I've worked with some incredible people, Luke Barnes, Dom Chambers, Simon Wellington and so many more. The support we've had from Welton, Paulton and Radstock with our commentaries has been incredible.

Yeovil Town have been impressed with the games we've covered for them and there are going to be some exciting opportunities for our younger volunteers, that I'm working on with the Club. But I wouldn't have got the chance to cover this game if I wasn't for Radstock Town and the expereince I've gained from covering Western League and Southern League football. It's our local clubs we cover every week on the Sports Show and that’s never going to change. The better I get, the better our teams will sound. That’s why I do it.