The 1925 AGM was not precisely the very best and most constructive within the membership’s historical past. It additionally confirmed how priorities had modified within the membership. Pre-war it was seen that so long as the membership made a revenue and run it is books accordingly then regardless of the outcomes on the sector, the membership might maintain it is head excessive. How instances had modified! The membership reporting a working lack of over £586,leaving the membership over £800 within the pink. Southern league {and professional} soccer was not coming low-cost.

Chairman Mr Farr, who had just lately been having a confrontation within the press concerning attendances figures, put the loss right down to the terrible climate the earlier season. Director Mr Dodge argued in opposition to him and accused the shortage of attendances on the ‘well-known truth within the city that gamers exhibiting an absence of effort in some video games’ Supervisor, Jack Gregory felt the comment was uncalled for and argued that every participant gave their all every time they walked on to the pitch. 

The supporters membership, charged with elevating vital income for the membership, had been on the lookout for extra inintive methods to get some further coffers. It will appear tradition was the way in which ahead because the Palace Theatre was booked and a West Finish play was placed on, the abbreviately named E & E. O. It is not documented the way it went down in entrance of the soccer supporters of Yeovil, nevertheless it flopped within the West Finish! A enjoyable honest was additionally organised on the pitch for every week,  after the primary two days which had been effectively attended it poured down for the remainder of the  week. The spotlight of the honest being a person who scored a most 27 pins in 3 balls at skittles and walked out of Huish with a reside pig! 

On the taking part in entrance, James Gardiner had impressed Bristol Rovers of their earlier seasons FA Cup match and was transferred to them, Rovers promising a match at Huish as half cost. Watts, Jack Gregory’s first signing left for Dartford. An indication of the monetary instances had been gamers coming in, all native gamers from just like the likes of Shaftesbury and Beaminster. Nonetheless one participant that caught the attention of many when signing for Yeovil was Billy Haywood. Simply two seasons beforehand Haywood scored on his debut for Chelsea in opposition to Aston Villa in entrance of 60,000. The earlier season he’d been at Halifax City. Together with Haywood, Silvester was signed from Sunderland. 

Earlier than the season had began, the membership determined to hearken to the followers and cut back season ticket costs and lowered admission to 3d to the Enclosure. The amateurs competing within the Western League Div 2 and Dorset League and the skilled wing of the membership within the Southern League West and Western league. Confusingly each leagues holding largely  the identical groups. 

1925-26, acquired underway with the same old follow match at Huish, a match effectively attended with the monies going to the native hospital charity fund. A mix of native gamers, even from the Yeovil league thrown in with gamers equivalent to Hayward and Haywood. 

Wales can be the vacation spot for the opening Southern League matches because the Glovers made the ferry journey from Weston Tremendous Mare. First up was Barry, it wasn’t the beginning the Glovers wished. Discovering themselves 2-0 down in entrance of 2000 Welshmen, at half time. Solely a Hayward wind assisted shot halfway via the second half giving any pleasure. The opening facet for the 1925-26 season being. 

Vallis, Day, Could, Abbott, Gallon, Gregory, Pidgeon, Silvester, Scott, Haywood, Hayward 

After a day sightseeing, the Glovers travelled 30 miles North to play Ebbw Vale. Ebbw Vale and Yeovil had a mutual appreciation relationship. When the Glovers took the sector 3000 applauded the Somerset boys. 2000 of them paying and 1000 of them sat freed from cost in a pure grandstand that surrounded the bottom. The identical eleven gamers as in opposition to Barry took the sector this time taking part in a extra attacking recreation. With the brand new offside rule, two gamers had been allowed between the attacker as an alternative of three beforehand. Yeovil took benefit of it and performed it effectively, but nonetheless solely returning with a 1-1 draw with Jack Gregory scoring. 

5 days later, Yeovil performed their third away match in every week. This time a visit to Weymouth, the place the native rivalry between the 2 golf equipment, a rivalry that also final at present, was beginning to take form. The Glovers’s followers had been effectively represented on the Rec, Weymouth’s previous floor. It was an finish to finish recreation that lastly noticed Johnny Hayward win it for Yeovil 4-3. Sadly the thrill was an excessive amount of for one Weymouth fan, a warfare pensioner, who fell over the ropes and died of a coronary heart assault on the bottom, regardless of the very best efforts to revive him by the Cosham Fireplace Brigade who had been on vacation and determined to absorb the match. 

The matches got here thick and quick, three video games got here in every week after the Weymouth match, on the Monday, a 2-2 draw at Swindon reserves . Thursday a 1-1 draw at dwelling to Bristol Metropolis reserves  and Saturday once more at Huish a Western League fixture with Weymouth, producing a tremendous 3-1 victory with teenage scoring sensation Harry Scott with a brace. 

The comparatively respectable begin to the Southern League fixtures got here to a crashing halt in opposition to Plymouth Argyle reserves at House Park. A 4 hour practice journey, with out Gregory and Gallon, a penalty that by no means was, luck being on the Plymouth facet, the Yeovil media regarded for any excuse for the 4-1 defeat. Small session coming in Billy Haywood scoring his first purpose for the membership. 

When Plymouth got here to Yeovil a couple of weeks later they remained undefeated and victory appear to be only a formality for the Devonians. Yeovil determined a change of tactic was so as and bypassing midfield performed the lengthy ball. It labored, in an thrilling match, targets from Gregory and Silvester inflicted Argyle’s first Southern league defeat of the season. Sadly, the sport was marred by a critical damage to Argyle’s exterior left, Wallace. In a problem with Yeovil full again Day, he acquired a knee to his stomach which resulted in him being stretchered to the altering room. While there, Wallace collapsed unconscious and was rushed to Yeovil hospital, not regaining consciousness till 11pm that evening. Fortunately after a few days he was effectively sufficient to return to Plymouth. In doing so he heaped reward on the care the Yeovil membership and the hospital had proven him. Additionally saying that he did not maintain the Yeovil defender any mallice and it was a whole accident. One 12 months later the same damage at Yeovil wouldn’t have such a contented ending.

Wallace – Badly injured at Huish

Every week later one other fascinating incident passed off when Swindon City Reserves arrived at Huish. With the scores 1-1 within the second half a telegram arrived for Ing within the Swindon defence. His Sister-in-law had been taken severely in poor health and he needed to return dwelling instantly, which he duly did. 

When the Glovers visited St James Park, Exeter they had been in good type after the Plymouth and Swindon outcomes in opposition to greater positioned opposition, Exeter Reserves appeared like a comparatively straightforward match. So relaxed had been they, they determined to play younger Radford a striker from the reserves – an area Exeter lad. They had been in for a shock when the crew sheet confirmed the Grecians had determined to play eight gamers who had featured of their Division three facet that season.. It confirmed. Yeovil had been torn aside on entrance of 3000, the 6-0 scoreline might have been doubled. 

After the earlier seasons FA Cup success the membership had been exempt to the 4th Qualifying Spherical. The draw had not been type, a troublesome journey to Plainmoor, Torquay. The GWR placed on a particular practice leaving Pen Mill at 11.00am, priced at simply 25 shillings. Surprisingly solely 300 Yeovil followers took up the provide they usually took their place in Torquay’s largest attendance at the moment of 5000. Rain fell closely all through, darkish clouds made visibity poor. Yeovil had been over run within the first half discovering themselves 3-0 down earlier than a Hayward penalty pulled one again simply earlier than half time. It is the way it stayed, the Yeovil backs of Day and Could being known as out for the defeat, each unable to cease the Torquay wings. ” they had been obliged to return to wence they got here, sadder and wiser males” as one Torquay journalist poetically described it. 

Younger Harry Scott, nonetheless solely 17 years previous, spent his time away from the pitch working at Petters and as soon as every week touring to a London to complete his training. The Newton Abbott lad was a formidable, clever and effectively liked younger man and seen as one of many hottest prospects within the South-West. Jack Gregory conscious that the lights of the profession  nice Johnny Hayward had been beginning to dim, noticed Harry Scott as a pure alternative. Bedding him in slowly between reserves and first crew. In mid-December 1925 Bathtub Metropolis arrived at Huish for a Southern League match, Gregory choosing Scott in the midst of the assault and placing Hayward out extensive. Scott was unplayable, by half time he’d scored a hat trick as Yeovil retired to the wood altering room. He was not completed, including two extra within the second half. His fourth might solely be described because the petulance of youth. After nipping in entrance of the Bathtub keeper, he held the ball on the purpose line, inviting a problem from the Bathtub full again, as the total again rushed in, Scott pulled it again with the only of his boot and because the defender kicked skinny air, Scott calmly facet footed it into the web. The Yeovil followers had been stated to be too shocked at this talent to have fun. The match had proven to Gregory that Scott was prepared, his apprenticeship beneath Hayward was completed and for the remainder of the season he can be an ever current. 

Harry Scott

Off the pitch the Supporters Membership had been nonetheless taking a look at new methods to boost funds, an all evening Christmas  dance was organised on the Meeting Rooms, dancing to the Blackmore Vale orchestra. The all evening dance completed at 1.00am. 

It was a white Christmas Day in 1925, the gamers awoke and headed by charabanc to the Lambridge Floor, Bathtub Metropolis’s floor earlier than shifting to Twerton Park in 1932. When arriving they discovered the pitch a couple of inches deep in snow and unplayable. The referee although thought in any other case and known as for 2 baggage of soot to make use of to mark out the traces so play might begin. They hunted excessive and low, but not an oz. of soot might be discovered – match deserted. Boxing day noticed Swindon City Reserves arrive, the fourth time they’d met in three months within the two aggressive leagues., this match being within the Western League. Scott once more exhibiting why he was now the main participant at Huish, scoring two and successful a penalty that Hayward transformed in an thrilling 3-3 attract entrance of over 3000. 

Huish was getting a repute for fairly a hostile place to return and play, with a piece of the bottom by no means shy to voice their dissent at opposition gamers, the referee and even their very own gamers in the event that they felt they had been less than the job. In opposition to Plymouth Argyle and repeated within the native press, the board determined to jot down an open letter asking for followers to cease these remarks. Beginner gamers had complained that it took away their confidence to carry out and the barricking of away gamers had penalties when Yeovil performed at opposition grounds. 

Additionally introduced was that player-manager Jack Gregory had prolonged his contract for one more two seasons. 

Now considered the premier membership in Somerset, the Glovers had been slowly being pushed for that title by Taunton United. After they arrived at Huish in early February 1926, it proved that the tide in direction of the county city was slowing shifting in it is favour. Gregory deciding to make use of the match to place in a goalkeeper named Parker on trial from Weymouth. Though reportedly having a good recreation. Alas, Taunton defeated the Glovers 1-0, a purpose coming halfway via the primary half from George Hunt, extra prominently recognized for his prowess within the cricket discipline for Somerset. Parker regardless of his efforts within the Yeovil purpose was despatched again to Weymouth. 

George Hunt – Taunton United FC and Somerset Cricket Membership

Every week later one other journey to Wales noticed the Glovers journey with a really weakened facet, Hayward and Pidgeon out injured. The Mushrooms as Mid-Rhondda United had been recognized, nonetheless ought to have been a detailed recreation, giving the welshmen had been beneath the Glovers within the Southern League standings. By half time Yeovil had been 4-0 down , defending once more being classed as weak, Yeovil faired higher within the second interval, solely conceding two extra in a 6-0 defeat. 

The embarrassing defeat at Mid-Rhondda appeared to kick the Glovers into motion as they determined to go on an eleven match unbeaten run. Beginning in opposition to Barry every week later, with Yeovil 1-0 down at half time the Huish crowd it could appear had dismissed the earlier letter within the Western Gazette concerning barracking and weren’t greatest happy with the providing in present. The second half was a distinct ball recreation with Hayward’s expertise and Scott’s youth proving the right mixture each scoring to present Yeovil a 3-1 victory. First rate outcomes adopted with victories over Torquay and Plymouth Argyle Reserves within the Western League. Bristol Rovers Reserves turned up at Huish in a Thursday afternoon solely to search out Johnny Hayward merely at his greatest, because the ageing participant scoring all 4 in a 4-0 victory. 

There was just one match although that Glovers followers wished to win most. The Somerset derby and return match away to Taunton United. Many Yeovilians made the trek to the County city to present Taunton its highest attendance of the season of over 1400. Yeovil took no possibilities by any means and produced their strongest facet to regain County delight, which they duly did. First half targets from Jim Gallon and Tom Edwards gave the Glovers a 2-0 lead on the break. Taunton pressed and pulled one again within the second half earlier than Hayward, scoring his fifth purpose in three days completed the job off to nice cheers. 

Mockingly, the unbeaten run got here to an finish in opposition to Mid-Rhondda, the crew they final misplaced in opposition to, at Huish. In a tough fought recreation on a heat day, the Welshman successful by the odd purpose in three. The winner coming simply 5 minutes earlier than the tip. 

William Maynard had been one of many unique Yeovil gamers, lengthy earlier than the Casuals had been fashioned. His love of the affiliation recreation grew to become one of many driving forces to push the formation of an impartial affiliation membership within the city away from it is joint Rugby membership liason. He later grew to become a effectively liked and revered  president of the membership. A profitable businessman, he on events had paid excellent membership money owed to permit the membership to proceed in it is early days enabling it to carry it is head excessive. In April the information got here in of his demise within the city aged 74  . A person who with out his early involvement likely would have meant the membership failing. Even in his last 12 months he’d been a daily at Huish cheering on his beloved Glovers. 

William Maynard

The season got here to a gradual finish, lifeless rubber video games the place even the native press did not appear greatest fascinated by reporting. All performed at in entrance of substandard crowds. It ended because it began in Wales, away to Pontypridd, younger Radford up from the reserves scoring in a 1-1 attract entrance of some hundred. 

The season, just like the one earlier than can greatest be described as mediocre. Nonetheless, with the earlier season cup run saved curiosity and welcoming funds going. The membership completed half manner within the Southern League Western Part and simply above midway within the Western League. The reserve facet hadn’t faired any higher, ending second from backside within the Western League second division and simply above half manner within the Dorset league. Reserve video games being watched within the low a whole lot in opposition to the likes of Portland Reserves and Westbourne Athletic. 

It might solely get higher – or might it? 

Pleased days.