Club Profile
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Overview
Yeovil Town Football Club is a professional association football team based in Yeovil, Somerset, England. The club currently competes in the National League, the fifth tier of English football, following their triumph in the 2023–24 National League South. Their home matches are held at Huish Park, a ground opened in 1990 on the site of a former army camp, and named after their previous stadium, Huish, which was notable for its steep 8-foot pitch slope. The team is commonly known as “the Glovers,” reflecting Yeovil’s historical prominence in glove-making during the 18th and 19th centuries.
History
The origins of football in Yeovil trace back to 1890 when Yeovil Football Club was founded, sharing a ground with the local rugby side. In 1895, the current club was established as Yeovil Casuals, playing at Pen Mill Athletic Ground. By 1907, the club adopted the name Yeovil Town and briefly became Yeovil and Petters United after merging with Petters United, before reverting to Yeovil Town ahead of the 1946–47 season.
Yeovil earned early recognition in the 1948–49 FA Cup, famously defeating Sunderland 2–1 in the fourth round before falling 8–0 to Manchester United. Between 1955 and 1973, they won the Southern League three times and finished as runners-up twice, making several unsuccessful bids for election to the Football League. They were founding members of the Alliance Premier League in 1979 but faced relegation to the Isthmian League in 1985, regaining promotion to the Conference in 1988.
In the 1990s, the club experienced managerial changes and fluctuating fortunes, including a relegation in 1995 and a return to the Conference in 1997 with a record 101 points. Gary Johnson’s appointment in 2001 led to winning the FA Trophy in 2002 and promotion to the Football League in 2002–03 after a dominant Conference campaign. The club climbed to the Championship in 2013 but suffered consecutive relegations, eventually leaving the Football League after the 2018–19 season.
Yeovil returned to non-league football, with ownership changes including takeovers by SU Glovers Limited and later the Hellier Group. In May 2025, Prabhu Srinivasan’s Inflection Holdings acquired the club, becoming the owner and chairman, with plans to relocate first-team training to the SGS WISE Campus in Stoke Gifford.
Competition Performance
Yeovil has a history of notable successes in non-league and lower-league competitions. Early victories include multiple Southern League championships and league titles in local competitions before World War II. The club won the Isthmian League in 1987–88 and 1996–97 and lifted the FA Trophy in 2002.
Promoted to the Football League in 2002–03, Yeovil won the League Two title in 2004–05 and reached the Championship for the first time after the 2013 League One play-off final. They spent just one season in the second tier, returning to League One and then League Two following successive relegations. Yeovil has also enjoyed a reputation as FA Cup “giant-killers,” most famously defeating Sunderland in 1949, and later hosting high-profile ties against Manchester United.
Recent seasons saw the club in the National League, with a fourth-place finish in 2019–20 curtailed by the pandemic, relegation to the National League South in 2023, and an immediate return to the National League as champions in 2023–24.
Stadium
Yeovil initially played at Pen Mill Athletic Ground before moving to Huish, which became famous for its 8-foot slope across the pitch. In 1990, the club relocated to Huish Park, constructed on a former army camp site, retaining the historic name. Huish Park has served as the club’s home ever since and was purchased by South Somerset District Council in 2022, with Yeovil continuing as tenants under a leaseback arrangement. The club’s first-team training is set to relocate to SGS WISE Campus in Stoke Gifford ahead of the 2025–26 season.
Identity
The club is known as “the Glovers,” a nod to Yeovil’s glove-making heritage. Over the years, Yeovil’s identity has been shaped by their status as a non-league powerhouse, FA Cup giant-killers, and a team with strong community ties. Ownership has occasionally influenced their identity, including Gary Johnson-era successes and more recent transitions under Scott Priestnall, the Hellier Group, and Prabhu Srinivasan. Supporters have historically been local, with a reputation for passionate backing during cup runs and league campaigns.
Rivalries
Yeovil’s principal rivalry is with Dorset club Weymouth, with matches often requiring significant policing due to intense fan clashes. A secondary historic rivalry exists with Somerset neighbours Bath City, although the competitive edge has waned in recent decades. During their Football League tenure, Yeovil fans also considered Bristol Rovers, Bristol City, Exeter City, Swindon Town, and AFC Bournemouth as minor rivals, largely influenced by geography and league proximity.