Yeovil Town Football Club

As Yeovil Town FC resumed life in non-league football in August 2019, after several seasons of decline following the single Championship season in 2013-14, perhaps it was an opportune moment to look back at a happier time, when The Glovers first became members of the Football League, in 2003.

The club had its origins in the early 1890s, with what eventually became the modern Yeovil Town beginning in 1895. After a few decades in various leagues in and around the West Country and half a century in the Southern League, Yeovil were founder members of the new major non-league division in 1979 (then known as the Alliance Premier League, later the Football Conference), where they became a fixture, other than several periods relegated to the Isthmian League.

Despite this gradual ascent of the English football pyramid, Yeovil’s main claim to national fame was through their giant-killing exploits against higher-league opposition in the FA Cup. This peaked in the 1948-49 FA Cup campaign when they beat mighty Sunderland of the First Division at home in the Fourth Round on 29 January 1949, 2-1 after extra time (there being no replays in the immediate post-war period). Though thrashed away in the Fifth Round 8-0 by Matt Busby’s Manchester United, then 4^th in the First Division, Yeovil had permanently imprinted its name on FA Cup history.

The turn of the millennium saw an upturn in Yeovil’s league fortunes, with the team finishing as runners-up in the Conference in 2000-01. Gary Johnson took over as manager in June 2001, and the following season was also successful, with a third-place finish and victory in the FA Trophy Final over Stevenage in May 2002.

So there were genuine grounds for optimism as the 2002-03 season began in August 2002, especially after a successful pre-season campaign. Following a shaky start, with a home draw and an away defeat in the first two games, Yeovil settled into their stride, winning five games in a row, and on 28 September (Gary Johnson’s birthday!), they reached first place, which they retained for the rest of the season. Losing only two more games, they ran away with the Conference title, guaranteeing promotion to the Third Division (now League 2) of the Football League for the first time.

Both honours were confirmed on Saturday 12 April 2003 when challengers Chester City failed to win at home against Woking. Yeovil celebrated by crushing Doncaster Rovers away 4-0 that evening. They finished the season with a record 95 points from 42 games, 17 ahead of their nearest challengers, and with an impressive goal difference of +63.

The Glovers opened their very first Football League season 16 years ago this month, on Saturday 9 August 2003 with a 3-1 away win at Rochdale, with Kevin Gall having the honour of scoring their first FL goal. It was a creditable initial season, finishing 8^th and just missing a play-off spot on goal difference. Ironically, Doncaster, so easily beaten by Yeovil on their title-winning day the previous April, had been promoted with them through the play-offs the previous season, and won the 2003-04 Third Division title.

Those wishing to wallow in these halcyon days, especially the 2002-03 promotion season, should read Brendan Owen’s personal journey Yeovil ‘til I die; the 108-page official pictorial review, Champions, and (available in the Somerset Heritage Centre in Taunton) a 20-page Yeovil Express souvenir supplement.