That’s the way to drum up support!
FROM the Pet Shop Boys to the White Stripes to Chas & Dave, music history is littered with two-piece bands.
And now Yeovil Town have their own answer to those duos in the form of Andy Dover and Steve Monk.
Dover and Monk might not have the musical gravitas of a Lennon and McCartney but they deftly combine the role of superfans with creating a memorable atmosphere – following Yeovil to every game, home and away, with their bass drums in tow.
The pair have known each other for 27 years and started following the Glovers because Dover’s daughter Ebony is a firstteamer for the WSL 2 side.
And after being unimpressed with the atmosphere at the ground for her first few games, the duo took matters into their own hands.
“I went to watch my daughter’s first Yeovil game at home and it was too quiet – I could have watched a Lassie film during the game at the same time,” said Dover.
“It certainly wasn’t good enough for me, so I asked the club if I could start up the Yeovil Town Ladies band to create a better atmosphere and they said go for it.
“At the minute there’s only really me and Steve although occasionally we have one other drummer.
“I drum when the game is going on, so if they’re attacking down the wing, I play an attacking African beat for example.
Notoriety
“The team love it and that’s why I do it. We’ve had a few people who don’t like it but you can’t please everyone!”
Dover has played as part of the England band at Wembley in the past and convinced long-time friend Monk to travel down from his home in Birmingham to join him at Yeovil games.
They drum for the full 90 minutes each game and their actions have unsurprisingly garnered them an element of notoriety in the Women’s Super League – although they insist that most rival fans enjoy the atmosphere they bring.
They are now keen to add a brass section to the band to enable a greater variety of music and are also hoping to get sponsored to travel to games.
And Monk admits he would welcome more members simply to allow some rotation.
“Both of us keep going for the full 90 minutes – as soon as the players come out of the tunnel we get going,” he explained.
“It would be great to have a trumpet because it’s fantastic when we get some of the fans singing. “Donny Belles fans were particularly great as were Reading’s and Watford’s as well. Most clubs have accepted it and enjoyed it, so it’s
great.”
Both men are adamant that the players love the atmosphere generated by their drumming and it has certainly done Yeovil’s performances on the pitch no harm whatsoever.
The Somerset club have punched above their weight somewhat to lie third in WSL 2 with promotion to the top tier still a possibility.
And while his ambitions include taking on the might of the England band at Wembley, Dover says the drumming has already led to some memorable experiences.
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“My favourite game was probably Watford away,” he added. “I’m actually a Watford fan myself and followed them all through the 80s.
“They’ve got a good set of supporters and because I’m a Watford fan, I jumped right in the middle of them and started singing and drumming. We had a great time.
“I’d love to play at the next women’s game at Wembley behind the goal, opposite the England fans.
“I’d like to go down the other end and go against them. I’ll be on my own but that doesn’t bother me and it would be a great advert for me to get a brass section for the band as well.”