Gregory, born in Birmingham was nicely revered within the soccer group at massive. A confirmed striker who had beforehand performed for West Bromwich Albion and had been QPR’s main goalscorer simply two years earlier than in Division three South. He did not waste anytime, he signed his contract and instantly set out on a 3 week tour of the Midlands to hunt for gamers. 

The signings got here thick and quick Warren arrived from Coventry, he’d performed largely for his or her reserves and had scored in opposition to the Glovers beforehand. John Thompson, a tall, robust, no nonsense centre half was introduced in from Harlesden City. Watts got here in additionally from QPR, a former group mate of Gregory’s, once more a powerful, robust tackling full again. Harry Pidgeon a ahead signed from Southend, though had beforehand been at QPR with Gregory. Pidgeon additionally bringing his brother to play for the newbie group within the Western League. 

In further, the membership had been looking and scouting the realm for the amateurs, Russell got here from Westham, a membership close to Weymouth, and Striker, Radford from Friernhey FC in Exeter. Nevertheless, rumours began arising that legendary striker Fred Hayward was leaving, so as to add insult to damage the hearsay was he was signing for Weymouth. Fortunately, Glovers’s followers sighed with reduction when he signed on at Huish. 

Gregory’s new aspect began the Southern League Western Division with a house fixture with Bristol Metropolis reserves, the reigning champions. A sizeable crowd of 3400 turned out to see the Glovers run out in a brand new package of full inexperienced shirts and white shorts, transferring away from their conventional inexperienced and white stripes. The match was misplaced 2-1, though these gathered may see a marked enchancment on the performances of the earlier season. Thompson at centre half and participant supervisor Gregory being significantly singled out. They had been proper to be optimistic concerning the efficiency, it will be 4 months till Yeovil noticed one other within the league as they set on a run unprecedented up to now within the membership’s historical past. The group for the opening match :

Vallis, Watts, Might, Abbott, Thompson, Gregory, Gardner, Warren, Pidgeon, Hayward, Bruzas. 

The 2 groups met once more per week later at Ashton Gate, a match which was to provide a sign for what was to return. A managed, disciplined strong efficiency noticed the Glovers brush apart the Champions 4-1. Bristol journalists placing the consequence right down to poor defending and Yeovil not absolutely deserving the margin of victory. After a 3-2 pleasant win in opposition to Charlton Athletic reserves, St James Park Exeter was subsequent on the league fixture. In a match described as ‘Brawn v Brains’ the brains being Gregory’s aspect. One other wonderful 3-1 victory with left again Watts scoring his fourth penalty in three league video games. Once more the Exeter press dismissing the defeat as not a real reflection of the match. 

Frome, only a few seasons earlier than had been the Glovers equal. These days had been gone as they headed to Huish for the preliminary spherical of the FA Cup as rank underdogs. Regardless of a spirited efficiency by Bryant within the Robin’s purpose, Yeovil, with once more an unchanged group comfortably received 2-0, Harold Pidgeon scoring his first objectives of the season. The Frome followers goading the house assist with ‘ you possibly can beat us at soccer however by no means at water polo’. 

It wasn’t typically present Worldwide footballers graced the Southern League, nevertheless when Llanelly arrived at Huish, the Welsh males’s ranks included Jack Marshall the present Scottish Worldwide left again. The talk of Hayward v Marshall being brazenly mentioned throughout the week earlier than the match little question. Regardless of having such a category participant, Llanelly determined to play the one again recreation to start out with, an early type of the offside entice. The ways did not go down nicely and triggered the ire of the Huish devoted. It labored, at half time the rating being 0-0. Nevertheless, within the second half, Llanelly determined that assault was the perfect defence and solely a wonderful show in purpose by Jack Vallis saved them at bay. Yeovil ultimately breaking and scoring twice by Hayward. To guard their lead the Glovers determined to comply with their opponents earlier one, and turned to the one again system, a lot to the merriment of the devoted because it ended 2-0. All current although praising Jack Marshall’s good show at left again for Llanelly, he could not cease Hayward although! Marshall after the season emigrating to the USA and changing into one of many first promoters of ‘soccer’ within the nation.

A visit to the Principality in opposition to Bridgend, noticed Yeovil proceed their wonderful league type coming from a purpose down at half time to win 4-1. Nevertheless, most followers had been looking for revenge on Welton Rovers, who the Glovers had been drawn in opposition to within the subsequent spherical of the FA Cup. Welton the earlier season had defeated the Glovers at West Clewes through the use of a tactic of kicking the ball out of the small floor at each alternative to waste as a lot time as attainable when main 2-1, even their followers joined in! A report crowd of 1800, half of them from Yeovil, at West Clewes noticed ‘The Shamrocks‘ as Yeovil had been being referred to due to their all inexperienced shirts, go behind earlier than half time. Rovers refraining on the earlier season’s ways and utilizing brute and agression. Yeovil had been all at sixes and sevens as they gave away a penalty to make it two nil, Vallis fortunately saving. It was the signal for Yeovil to take management, inside a couple of minutes Thompson had equalised and when Warren scored the winner for Yeovil, the Glovers’s followers let off fireworks and commenced communal singing with instrumental backing.  Revenge had been taken! 

A 1-0 win at residence in opposition to Exeter Metropolis Reserves made it 9 wins in a row for the Glovers. It lead them into the subsequent spherical of the Cup a tricky match at Huish with fellow Southern leaguers, Torquay United. A tough fought, finish to finish match on a blustery day noticed the Glovers come from behind to attract 2-2. The reply being on the next Wednesday afternoon.  Once more a good recreation in entrance of 2300 at Plainmoor, noticed United take an early lead just for Johhny Hayward to tug it again earlier than half time. It wasn’t to be although, with a penalty for a hotly disputed  handball, United earnt the best to play Aberdare within the subsequent spherical. For Yeovil, the cliche of ‘concentrating on the league’ which they duly did. Once more, the Glovers went on a run 9 wins out of 9. 

Regardless of the wonderful begin, Yeovil nonetheless solely discovered themselves in fifth place come Mid-November. Primarily by Cup matches that noticed the Glovers having performed solely eight league video games in comparison with the 12-15 of the groups above. High of the league Plymouth Argyle Reserves had been subsequent with again to again video games residence and away. At House Park, Yeovil had the assist of the Yeovil faculties group who had narrowly been overwhelmed 1-0 by Plymouth boys within the morning. An personal purpose and one by Watts gave the Glovers a deserved 2-1. Every week later at Huish, in one of many finist footballing matches seen on the bottom, Yeovil defended strongly and attacked at velocity ensuing within the double over Argyle in a 3-1. 

A mini Welsh tour taking in Ebbw Vale and Llanelly introduced residence most factors with no purpose conceded. After Bridgend had been overwhelmed simply earlier than Christmas it was the membership’s twelfth league received in a row. They discovered themselves third within the league, one level behind the highest, with seven video games in hand, conceding simply eight objectives within the league up to now. Eastville, Bristol would see if it will be 13. A good few Yeovil followers, travelled on Christmas Day and swelled the gate to 4000. Rovers twice took the lead, nevertheless quick counter attacking soccer noticed Pidgeon rating to make it 3-2 and most factors from 13 matches. The subsequent day, Rovers reserves travelled to Huish and have become the primary group to wrestle some extent of the membership because the opening day of the season in a 3-3 draw. 

Yeovil’s succes on and off the sphere was not going unnoticed with cities reminiscent of Taunton and Weymouth voicing the want to go the ‘Yeovil route’ and develop into a restricted firm and the employment of an bold player-manager. Media within the South-West rightly declaring that crucial a part of the success was having a enterprise mind and ahead trying chairman reminiscent of Yeovil had in Ernest Farr. Johnny Hayward, now 36, had already scored twenty-two objectives within the season, which made one Bristol correspondent articulating that he go to Bristol Metropolis. 

Like all wonderful runs after all it could not final eternally. For Yeovil match quantity fourteen on the run was at Ninian Park,  in opposition to  Cardiff Metropolis reserves,on a pitch described as a quadmire after heavy rain. Cardiff raced right into a two purpose lead halfway by the second half earlier than Hayward scored two in fast succession. His second described as one of many most interesting photographs and objectives seen at Ninian Park all season. Yeovil  searching for the win had been undone within the final two minutes after a mixup between Vallis in purpose and the defence allowed Metropolis to attain a easy faucet in. 

Even with being prime of the league with many video games available, when Torquay visited the Yeovil Press had been nonetheless erring on the aspect of warning. United, earlier conquerers of the Glovers within the FA Cup, had performed even much less video games than Yeovil and had been seen as the primary rivals for the Championship. Torquay arrived with a sixteen yr outdated striker, Harry Scott, a participant that only a few months later could be amongst the Yeovil ranks. With Hayward out injured, younger Radford was chosen from the reserves. A yr earlier than he’d been battling within the Exeter league, it was a giant step up. An exhilarating match befell, Torquay going one-up earlier than a brace from Harry Pidgeon gave the Glovers a 2-1 lead. Torquay hit again, as younger Scott calmly chipped Jack Vallis within the Yeovil purpose. Each groups attacked searching for the winner. With ten minutes left on the clock and making his Southern league debut, Radford rating from an acute angle on the Queens Road Finish to ship the followers wild. Even essentially the most pessimistic had been beginning to imagine that the Championship was in it is grasp. Every week later at Pontypridd the doubters returned once more after a 2-0 defeat in a snowstorm. 

A sign of the rising rivalry between Yeovil and Weymouth was a glorified pleasant match organised between the 2 in help of Weymouth hospital, with the Weymouth Charity Cup on supply and to be performed on the Recreation floor, Weymouth. Regardless of having a tough and match in opposition to Bristol Metropolis reserves three days later, Yeovil performed a full power aspect. Performed on a Wednesday afternoon, many Yeovil followers nonetheless travelled to observe in a crowd of 2000. Rivalry put apart, the Weymouth aspect, in because of the Glovers for taking part in for such a superb trigger, performed carrying the previous Inexperienced and White stripes shirts of Yeovil. The Glovers received the match 2-1 with objectives from Thompson and Gardner a lot to the delight of the Yeovil followers as they noticed the cup introduced to them by their very own chairman, Mr Farr. In returning to Pen Mill station crowds had gathered to nice the gamers and witnessed Yeovil followers hanging out the home windows with the cup aloft. Glorified pleasant or not, any win over Weymouth was a delight. 

The marketing campaign continued, Swansea City had been defeated 5-1 at residence. Pontypridd arrived at Huish, nonetheless with an outdoor likelihood of overtaking Yeovil for the league title. The press had been extra within the referee appointment, William Russell from Swindon. Mr Russell had simply been appointed to officiate on the FA Cup closing between Newcastle and Aston Villa, two weeks later. Pontypridd duly achieved the double over  of the Glovers with a 1-0 win. The consequence leaving Yeovil two factors forward on the prime of the league with nonetheless video games in hand. The pessimistic press once more got here to the entrance ” What concerning the championship” turned their headline. As for Mr Russell he had a wonderful cup closing. 

William Russell referee on the 1924 Cup closing

Easter got here with its normal flurry of video games, first Bathtub Metropolis away. Fifteen charabancs – a bone shaking early bus, took a convoy of Yeovil followers to the Roman metropolis. With Bathtub combating to not obtain the picket spoon within the league a straightforward match was anticipated-it was not. Bathtub fought arduous and Yeovil’s Edwards acquired a heavy deal with leaving him just about a passenger for the remainder of the sport. Harry Pidgeon lastly broke the impasse simply earlier than half time, Bathtub’s gamers and followers screaming that he was in an offside place. The second half confirmed the tenacity of the group, combating for each ball with a water tight defence. 5 minutes earlier than the top from a Gregory free kick, Stan Abbott rose into  crowded field to move the second for Yeovil. When Mr Small the Bristol referee blew the ultimate whistle the Yeovil followers celebrated enthusiastically. Extra importantly the perimeters instantly under them had all drawn. A win three days later would safe the Southern League Western title. Their opponents once more being Bathtub Metropolis. 

Prayers had been so as, with an invite from the Vicar of Barwick Church to the gamers, commitee and followers to attend a particular service at his little church. He wasn’t anticipating all of the gamers, committee to be accompanied by 300 followers to show up on the day. After the service, everybody took benefit of the wonderful climate and walked again to Yeovil accompanied by the Petters brass band. 

The match at Huish was nealy a carbon copy of the match at Bathtub, this time Bathtub being diminished to 10 males after a heavy deal with. With a packed Grandstand and terraces, Yeovil once more produced a wonderful brief passing recreation. With Bathtub additionally needing a win an open recreation was performed. Bathtub stubbornly defended with Adam’s in purpose protecting out Yeovil assaults to maintain the rating at 0-0 at half time. Johnny Hayward, the veteran, the hero of Yeovil, now 36, turned the savior. With dazzlin  shut footwork he dribbled across the Bathtub defence earlier than calmly inserting it past Adams. From then on the consequence was in little question, Bathtub seemingly realising they’d by no means get previous the rock defence of Yeovil. With fifteen minutes remaining, Warren headed in a George Bruzas cross to complete the match off. The ultimate whistle signalled the top of the match and that 

YEOVIL AND PETTERS UNITED – SOUTHERN LEAGUE WESTERN CHAMPIONS 1923-24

Yeovil and Petters United – 1923-24

After two away journeys to Ebbw Vale, received 4-1 and Torquay United, drawn 0-0, the Southern League season got here to an finish. A season that began with mass pessimism and ended with Yeovil and Petters being lauded all through the South-West as congratulations got here from golf equipment throughout. Jack Gregory astutely had a system he needed to play, fast brief passing backed up with a no nonsense defence and introduced the gamers in to do the job. The group roughly stayed the identical eleven all by the season, solely replacements being introduced in by accidents. They’d performed with out worry and with seeing themselves on a par with any membership they arrive throughout. 
 

To mark the achievement Coventry Metropolis’s full first group was invited to play in a pleasant within the final recreation of the season. Fred Day, the native lad who now commanded the defence, acquired a silver clock from the the chairman earlier than the match. Given after a group from all of the gamers to commemorate his latest wedding ceremony. Fred thanked all and remarked how they’d all turned shut associates all through the season and hoped it will proceed for a lot of a yr. Yeovil enjoying ‘fairly soccer’ swept apart their Division 3 rivals with objectives from Pidgeon and Hayward scoring twice. 

It was the top to an historic season, the perfect but within the membership’s historical past. Within the 5 seasons because the finish of the warfare the membership had grown extremely, the query now being how lengthy may that development final and the way far may they go. 

Joyful days.