Yeovil Town F.C.

Yeovil Town Football Club is a professional association football club based in the town of Yeovil in Somerset, England. The team competes in the National League, the fifth level of the English football league system, after winning the 2023–24 National League South title. The club's home ground is Huish Park, built in 1990 on the site of an old army camp. That stadium is named after their former home, Huish, known for its pitch, which had an Template:Convert sideline to sideline slope. The club's nickname "the Glovers" is a reference to the history of glove-making in the town of Yeovil, which became a centre of the industry during the 18th and 19th centuries.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Founded in 1895, the club initially joined the Somerset Senior League and competed in a multitude of leagues up until the outbreak of World War II. During this time they won titles in the Southern League, Western League, Bristol Charity League, Dorset District League and Somerset Senior League. They played in the Southern League after the war ended, winning the championship in 1954–55, 1963–64 and 1970–71, before becoming members of the Alliance Premier League from 1979 to 1985. They spent the next three years in the Isthmian League, and were promoted into the Conference after finishing as champions in 1987–88. Relegated in 1995, they were promoted again two years later after winning another Isthmian League title. Yeovil won the 2002 FA Trophy final and secured a place in the Football League after winning the Conference in 2002–03 under the stewardship of Gary Johnson. They then won the League Two title in 2004–05, before reaching the Championship with victory in the 2013 Football League One play-off final in Johnson's second spell as manager. However they suffered consecutive relegations, and were relegated once more following the 2018–19 season, ending their 16-season spell in the Football League.

Yeovil are one of the most successful non-league teams in the FA Cup, having defeated major Football League teams, most famously Sunderland in the fourth round in 1949, before going on to play in front of more than 81,000 spectators away at Manchester United in the next round. For some years, as the only Football League side in Somerset, they have had few local rivalries as the club climbed the divisions in the 2000s, though their most notable is the derby shared with Dorset side, Weymouth.

History

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Non-League football

Chart showing the progress of Yeovil Town FC in League and Non-League football from 1988 to present

Yeovil Football Club was founded in 1890, and shared its ground with the local rugby club for many years. Five years later, the current club was founded and named Yeovil Casuals and started playing home games at the Pen Mill Athletic Ground. In 1907 the name Yeovil Town was adopted, which on amalgamation with Petters United became Yeovil and Petters United.<ref name="man">Template:Cite web</ref> The name reverted to Yeovil Town before the 1946–47 season.

The club came to national attention as 'giant-killers' during the 1948–49 FA Cup,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> in which they defeated Sunderland 2–1 in the fourth round, in front of a record home attendance of 17,000. They were defeated 8–0 in the following round by Manchester United.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Between 1955 and 1973 they were champions of the Southern Football League three times, and runners-up twice.<ref name="talk">Template:Cite web</ref> During this period, Yeovil Town applied for election to the Football League on a number of occasions, coming within a few votes of being elected in 1976.<ref>Football League Division 4 1975–76 Template:Webarchive</ref> In 1979 the Glovers were founder members of the new national non-league division, the Alliance Premier League. In 1985, they were relegated to the Isthmian League. Yeovil won that championship in 1988 and returned to the Conference.

Yeovil's Huish ground in 1983.

There was success in the Bob Lord Challenge Trophy in 1990 and three years later Yeovil finished fourth in the Conference, their best finish ever.<ref name="talk"/> In January 1995, former Weymouth and Spurs player Graham Roberts was appointed manager, but demotion back to the Isthmian League soon followed. Yeovil secured promotion back into the Conference in 1997 after winning the Isthmian League with a record number of points – 101.<ref name="talk"/>

Colin Lippiatt became manager for the 1998–99 season and brought Terry Skiverton to the club as a player. Gary Johnson took over as manager in June 2001 and Yeovil won the FA Trophy in his first season in charge with a 2–0 victory over Stevenage Borough in the final at Villa Park – the club's first major trophy.<ref name="talk"/> Yeovil Town earned promotion to the Football League in the following season, by winning the Football Conference by a record 17 points margin, accumulating 95 points and scoring 100 goals, remaining unbeaten at Huish Park. Their team included many top players, some of whom went on to play Premier League football. Notable players include Gavin Williams who moved to West Ham United, Lee Johnson, Chris Weale, Darren Way and Adam Lockwood.

Reaching the Football League

Yeovil's first game in the Football League was a 3–1 away win over Rochdale. The Glovers finished their first season in eighth position, and reached the third round of the FA Cup before losing 2–0 at home to Liverpool. Before the game the club released a record sold only in shops in the town: "Yeovil True" reached No. 36 in the UK Singles Chart.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The following season Yeovil finished as champions of League Two with 83 points, earning promotion to League One. During the season the club was sold by Jon Goddard-Watts to David Webb, who took over the role of chief executive from chairman John Fry.

At the beginning of the 2005–06 season manager Gary Johnson left Yeovil for Bristol City. He was replaced by his assistant Steve Thompson and Kevin Hodges was appointed as his number two. At the season's end Thompson was demoted to first-team coach and he was replaced by Russell Slade. Around this time John Fry had bought all Dave Webb's share of the club, becoming Yeovil Town's new owner.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> They again reached the fourth round of the FA Cup and were drawn away against Charlton Athletic, then in the Premier League, to whom they lost 3–2.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Yeovil flag at Wembley Stadium in 2007.

Yeovil finished the 2006–07 season in fifth position, qualifying for the League One play-offs. In the semi-final Yeovil beat Nottingham Forest in the two-legged match 5–4 on aggregate, after losing the first home leg 2–0.<ref>Yeovil 0–2 Nottingham Forest  – BBC Sport</ref><ref>Nottingham Forest 2–5 Yeovil  – BBC Sport</ref> Yeovil met Blackpool at Wembley Stadium in the final, but were beaten 2–0.

The 2007–08 was less successful, as Yeovil finished 18th in League One with 52 points. Russell Slade continued as Yeovil manager into the 2008–09 season, but he left the position in February 2009.<ref> Template:Cite news </ref> After one game with assistant manager Steve Thompson acting as caretaker manager, club captain Terry Skiverton was announced as manager until the end of the 2009–10 season, with Nathan Jones as his assistant.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The duo kept Yeovil in League One, with safety secured following a 1–1 draw at Tranmere Rovers.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Skiverton and Jones helped Yeovil avoid relegation in the following two seasons, but a poor start the 2011–12 campaign prompted a change of manager. On 9 January 2012, the club announced the re-appointment of Gary Johnson, with Terry Skiverton becoming assistant.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The Glovers went on to again achieve safety, finishing 11 points clear of the relegation zone.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Yeovil made their best ever start in the 2012–13 season, picking up 10 points from their first four games. Yeovil finished the 2012–13 season in fourth place, reaching the League One play-offs. They reached the final on 6 May 2013 after a 2–0 home victory against Sheffield United, overturning a 1–0 loss at Bramall Lane in the first leg. On 19 May 2013, Yeovil defeated Brentford 2–1 in the League One play-off final at Wembley, reaching the second tier for the first time in their history.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Striker Paddy Madden, who netted the opening goal against Brentford at Wembley, finished as the league's top scorer.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Yeovil spent one season in the Championship and, despite enjoying memorable victories over Nottingham Forest, Sheffield Wednesday and Watford, suffered immediate relegation back to League One.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The club's struggles continued the following season, although the club did earn a lucrative FA Cup tie against Manchester United, which they lost 2–0 despite a "gallant challenge".<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Manager Gary Johnson was eventually replaced by Paul Sturrock as Yeovil suffered another relegation, returning to League Two for the first time in 10 years.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Following a poor start to the 2015/16 season, Sturrock was sacked and replaced by Darren Way, initially in a caretaker role before being named permanent manager.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Way was able to lead Yeovil to safety as they finished their campaign 19th in the table.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> During Way's tenure as manager, Yeovil equalled their record for heaviest Football League defeat with an 8–2 loss to Luton Town on the opening day of the 2017–18 season,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> although they also recorded their highest Football League victory under his leadership with a 6–0 win over Newport County in September 2018.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The club also enjoyed another FA Cup tie with Manchester United in January 2018, however they lost 4–0 to José Mourinho's side.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Return to non-League football

Yeovil's 16-year stay in the EFL came to an end when they were relegated during the 2018–19 season, following a 2–2 draw with Northampton Town.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Darren Sarll was unveiled as the club's new manager in June 2019<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and a takeover of the club by a consortium led by Scott Priestnell and Errol Pope was announced in September 2019.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> On 22 April, the 2019–20 National League season was ended with immediate effect due to the coronavirus outbreak, with the Glovers fourth in the table.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In May 2022, South Somerset District Council completed the purchase of Huish Park and its surrounding land for £2.8 million from Yeovil Town's owner Scott Priestnall, with the football club becoming tenants of the council through a leaseback arrangement.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In February 2023, it was announced that SU Glovers Limited, a company publicly fronted by Matt Uggla and former England rugby union international Paul Sackey, was in the process of completing a takeover of the majority shareholding of Yeovil Town Football and Athletic Club Limited.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> It was confirmed (ultimately prematurely) that former majority shareholder and chairman, Scott Priestnall, would no longer be involved with the football club.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In April 2023, the club was relegated to the National League South.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> On 2 May 2023, it was reported that the SU Glovers takeover would not be proceeding;<ref name="BBC-02May2023">Template:Cite news</ref> on 13 May 2023, Yeovil was taken over by a local company, the Hellier Group.<ref name="BBC-13May2023">Template:Cite news</ref>

At the end of the 2023–24 season, Yeovil secured an immediate return to the National League after winning the National League South title.<ref name="NLS champions">Template:Cite news</ref>

On 29 May 2025, it was announced that entrepreneur Prabhu Srinivasan had completed the takeover of the club from former owner Martin Hellier after Srinivasan's family office, Inflection Holdings, acquired all shares previously held by the Hellier Trading Group, with Srinivasan becoming owner and chairman.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Ahead of the 2025–26 season, the club confirmed that their first-team training operations would be relocating to the SGS WISE Campus in Stoke Gifford ahead of the new season.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Recent seasons

List of recent seasons, including league division and statistics, cup results, top scorer and average league attendance

Season	League									FA Cup	FA Trophy	Other		Top scorer		AverageTemplate:Efn attendance
	DivisionTemplate:Efn	P	W	D	L	F	A	Pts	Pos			Competition	Result	Name	Goals
2020–21	Template:Sort	42	15	7	20	58	68	52	16th	R2	R3	Template:Sort dash	Template:Sort dash	Template:Sortname	14	1,593Template:Efn
2021–22	Template:Sort	44	15	14	15	43	46	59	12th	R3	R4	Somerset Premier Cup	W	Template:Sortname	11	2,378
2022–23	Template:Sort Template:Down-arrow	46	7	19	20	35	60	40	22nd	QR4	R3	Somerset Premier Cup	QF	Template:Sortname Malachi Linton Matt Worthington	5	2,730
2023–24	Template:Sort Template:Up-arrow	46	29	8	9	81	45	95	1st	R2	R2	Somerset Premier Cup	R2	Template:Sortname	16	3,916
2024–25	Template:Sort	46	15	11	20	51	60	56	18th	QR4	R3	Somerset Premier Cup	R2	Template:Sortname	8	3,200

Rivalries

Template:Further Yeovil have their fiercest rivalry with Dorset club, Weymouth, which has been described as intense.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Often when the two clubs meet, a large police presence is required to separate the two sets of fans.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In October 2021, fans reportedly clashed before and after the game in Huish, with mounted police and dog units being called into action.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The 2020–21 National League season marked the first league encounters between the club and Weymouth since the 1988–89 Football Conference season.

The club also shares a minor historic derby with fellow Somerset club, Bath City, with Yeovil playing them 274 times.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Albeit since the turn of the century, the majority of any animosity dissipated heavily. Hereford United were also seen as rivals, before their dissolution in 2014, due to both clubs being fairly well matched during their time in non-league ranks.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> During the club's time in the EFL, Yeovil fans considered both Bristol Rovers and Bristol City to be rivals. In August 2009, Yeovil played Exeter City for the first time in the league, and both clubs have shared a rivalry since, with the match often being billed as a Westcountry Derby.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Swindon Town and AFC Bournemouth were also considered somewhat rivals due to geographical proximity.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Players

First-team squad

Template:Updated<ref name="First Team">Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Template:Fs start Template:Fs player Template:Fs player Template:Fs player Template:Fs player Template:Fs player Template:Fs player Template:Fs player Template:Fs player Template:Fs player Template:Fs player Template:Fs player Template:Fs player Template:Fs mid Template:Fs player Template:Fs player Template:Fs player Template:Fs player Template:Fs player Template:Fs player Template:Fs player Template:Fs player Template:Fs player Template:Fs player Template:Fs player Template:Fs end

Club management

Template:Updated<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Corporate hierarchy

Position	Name
Owner / chairman	Prabhu Srinivasan
Executive chairman	Stuart Robins
Club secretary	Kirstie Baker

Coaching staff

Position	Name
Manager	Template:Flagicon Richard Dryden
Assistant manager	Template:Flagicon Jerry Gill
Goalkeeping coach	Template:Flagicon Matthew Gould
Lead sports therapist	Template:Flagicon Joe McFarlane
Head of recruitment	Template:Flagicon Jamie Hedges
Academy manager	Template:Flagicon Jamie Phillip
EPDP and U19s manager	Template:Flagicon Matt Percival

Managerial history

Years Manager 1923–28 Template:Flagicon Jack Gregory 1928–29 Template:Flagicon Tommy Lowes 1929–33 Template:Flagicon David Pratt 1933–35 Template:Flagicon Louis Page 1935–38 Template:Flagicon Dave Halliday 1938–46 Template:Flagicon Billy Kingdon 1946–49 Template:Flagicon Alec Stock 1949–51 Template:Flagicon George Paterson 1951–53 Template:Flagicon Harry Lowe 1953–57 Template:Flagicon Ike Clarke 1957 Template:Flagicon Norman Dodgin 1957–60 Template:Flagicon Jimmy Baldwin 1960–64 Template:Flagicon Basil Hayward 1964–65 Template:Flagicon Glyn Davies 1965–67 Template:Flagicon Joe McDonald

Years Manager 1967–69 Template:Flagicon Ron Saunders 1969–72 Template:Flagicon Mike Hughes 1972–75 Template:Flagicon Cecil Irwin 1975–78 Template:Flagicon Stan Harland 1978–81 Template:Flagicon Barry Lloyd 1981 Template:Flagicon Malcolm Allison 1981–83 Template:Flagicon Jimmy Giles 1983 Template:Flagicon Mike Hughes 1983–84 Template:Flagicon Trevor Finnigan 1984 Template:Flagicon Steve Coles 1984 Template:Flagicon Ian MacFarlane 1984–87 Template:Flagicon Gerry Gow 1987–90 Template:Flagicon Brian Hall 1990–91 Template:Flagicon Clive Whitehead 1991–93 Template:Flagicon Steve Rutter

Years Manager 1994–95 Template:Flagicon Brian Hall 1995–98 Template:Flagicon Graham Roberts 1998–99 Template:Flagicon Colin Lippiatt 1999–2000 Template:Flagicon Steve Thompson 2000 Template:Flagicon David Webb 2000 Template:Flagicon Steve Thompson 2000–01 Template:Flagicon Colin Addison 2001–05 Template:Flagicon Gary Johnson 2005–06 Template:Flagicon Steve Thompson 2006–09 Template:Flagicon Russell Slade 2009 Template:Flagicon Steve Thompson 2009–12 Template:Flagicon Terry Skiverton 2012–15 Template:Flagicon Gary Johnson 2015 Template:Flagicon Terry Skiverton 2015 Template:Flagicon Paul Sturrock

Years Manager 2015–19 Template:Flagicon Darren Way 2019 Template:Flagicon Neale Marmon 2019–22 Template:Flagicon Darren Sarll 2022 Template:Flagicon Charlie Lee 2022 Template:Flagicon Josh Staunton 2022 Template:Flagicon Chris Hargreaves 2022–25 Template:Flagicon Mark Cooper 2025 Template:Flagicon Richard Dryden 2025 Template:Flagicon Danny Webb 2025 Template:Flagicon Richard Dryden

List of chairmen

The following men have been chairman of the club's Board of Directors:<ref>Template:Cite news </ref>

Years Chairman 1923–25 E.J. Farr 1925–27 E.P. Wrinch 1927–29 W. Stanley Johnson 1929–31 W.J. Farthing 1931–33 Stanley H. Vincent 1933–36 George E. Fox 1936–38 Stanley Gates 1938–48 H.A. Smith 1948–62 W.H. Farthing 1962–66 S. Pinder

Years Chairman 1966–69 G.E. Templeman 1969–71 S. Norman Burfield 1971–74 I.B. Rendall 1974–82 David J. Hawker 1982–91 Gerry A. Lock 1991–96 Bryan W. Moore 1996–2019 John R. Fry 2019–23 Scott M. Priestnall 2023–25 Martin Hellier 2025– Prabhu Srinivasan

Honours

Yeovil celebrating their promotion to The Football League at Huish Park on 19 April 2003.

Source:<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

League

• League One (level 3)
  • Play-off winners: 2013
• League Two (level 4)
  • Champions: 2004–05
• Conference (level 5)
  • Champions: 2002–03
• National League South (level 6)
  • Champions: 2023–24
• Isthmian League (level 6)
  • Champions: 1987–88, 1996–97
• Southern League
  • Champions: 1954–55, 1963–64, 1970–71
• Southern League (Western Section)
  • Champions: 1923–24, 1931–32, 1934–35
• Western League
  • Champions: 1921–22, 1924–25, 1929–30, 1934–35
• Bristol Charity League
  • Champions: 1921–22
• Dorset District League
  • Champions: 1908–09
• Somerset Senior League
  • Champions: 1896–97, 1901–02, 1912–13, 1920–21

Cup

• FA Trophy
  • Winners: 2001–02
• Conference League Cup
  • Winners: 1989–90
• Southern League Championship Cup
  • Winners: 1971–72, 1976–77
• Southern League Cup
  • Winners: 1954–55, 1960–61, 1965–66
• Isthmian League Cup
  • Winners: 1987–88
• Isthmian Championship Shield
  • Winners: 1988–89
• Western League Cup
  • Winners: 1958–59
• Somerset Premier Cup
  • Winners (25): 1929–30, 1930–31, 1932–33, 1934–35, 1937–38, 1938–39, 1946–47 (jointly with Bath City), 1947–48, 1949–50, 1950–51, 1953–54, 1954–55, 1955–56, 1956–57 (jointly with Bristol City), 1961–62, 1962–63, 1964–65, 1968–69 (jointly with Frome Town), 1972–73, 1975–76, 1978–79, 1996–97, 1997–98, 2004–05, 2021–22 (record)
• Forse Somerset Charity Cup
  • Winners: 1910–11, 1912–13

Club records

• Most consecutive wins in all competitions: 14Template:Efn 14 November 2023<ref name="14th win">Template:Cite web</ref>
• Most overall appearances: Len Harris, 691 (1958–72)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• Most goals: Johnny Hayward, 548 (1906–28)<ref name=":0">Template:Cite web</ref>
• Most league goals: Dave Taylor, 284 (1960–9)<ref name=":0" />
• Record attendance Football League at Huish Park: 9,527 vs. Leeds United, 25 April 2008 (League One)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• Record attendance all time: 17,123 vs. Sunderland, 29 January 1949 (FA Cup fourth round)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• Longest serving player: Len Harris, 14 years (1958–72)<ref name=":0" />
• Longest serving manager: Billy Kingdon, 8 years (1938–46)<ref name=":0" />
• Highest league finish: 24th Championship, 2013–14 season<ref name=":0" />
• Highest transfer fee received: £1,200,000, Arron Davies and Chris Cohen, Nottingham Forest, July 2007<ref name=":0" />
• Highest transfer fee paid: Undisclosed (five figure sum), Pablo Bastianini, Quilmes Atlético Club, August 2005<ref name=":0" />
• Highest victory in the Football League: 6–0 vs. Newport County, 15 September 2018<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• Heaviest defeat in the Football League: 0–6 vs. Stevenage, 14 April 2012, 2–8 vs. Luton Town, 5 August 2017<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Yeovil Town W.F.C.

Template:More After the merging of Bridgwater Town and Yeovil United (previously Yeovil Town Ladies) into Bridgwater United W.F.C. in 2021,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> the return of Yeovil Town's Women's Football Club (YTWFC) was announced in January 2023.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In June, players from Sherborne Town Ladies and Ilminster Town Ladies were signed to the team ahead of the 2023-2024 season,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> as well as coaching staff from both clubs joining the team.<ref name=":1" />

In September 2023, Yeovil Town W.F.C. joined the Somerset County Women's League,<ref name=":1">Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> playing in Division One,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> with homes games at the Somerton Recreation Ground.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In January 2024, the women's team reached the top of the division after winning 10 consecutive games.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Coaching staff

As 17 July 2025<ref name=":1" />

Position	Name
Manager	Dave Court
Assistant manager	Matt Bennett
Goalkeeping coach	Tony Rich

External links

• Template:Official website
• Template:BBC football info
• Yeovil Town news from Sky Sports
• Template:Fchd