Welcome to the latest instalment of the Gloucester Groundhopper blog.
For this instalment, we drove down the M5 to watch Yate Town take on Tiverton in the Southern League Premier Division. Lodge Road hosted a game that was crucial to both teams' seasons.
An Interview With Yate Town supporter, Gary Webb:
GG: How long have you supported Yate Town?
GW: About 40 years ago, I began playing for Yate Town reserves, which is where my love for the club began. I played for a few local clubs before taking up refereeing. When I finally hung up my boots, I returned to the Bluebells, inviting my son to come and watch.
GG: How has Yate Town made an impression on the league?
GW: We definitely overachieved last season, so after losing our manager and entire squad, this season was all about maintaining our status. Our budget is likely one of the smallest in the league, so we're fighting for every point.
GG: Who is Yate's star performer?
GW: The truth is that we are a developing team, and with injuries, it has been difficult for any one player to stand out. Despite allowing a number of goals, our goalkeeper Martin Horsell has been outstanding, and we always have a goal in us with Kyle Tooze up top.
GG: Could you please provide an overview of non-league football?
GW: I enjoy non-league football and will watch any game, regardless of league or standard. There are a number of local leagues in the Bristol area, and the standard in the Yate area is very high. I believe that the south west is a good breeding ground for players, but I find it frustrating that few players from this region go on to become full-time professionals.
GG: Who is your all-time favourite player?
GW: As a Yate fan, I enjoyed seeing Tony Court in goal. He began playing in the early 2000s. Great shot stopper, a little eccentric and hot-headed at times, but always entertaining.
Last season, as a member of the staff, I had a great relationship with Andy Hannah, another Keeper who checks all the boxes for a great keeper but is as crazy as a box of frogs.
GG: What is the best football match you've ever seen as a Yate supporter?
GW: We've been very fortunate, winning many cup finals and most recently a playoff final at Lodge Road. But for me, it was the FA Cup replay win over Dover last season. It was at Lodge Road under the lights. A nearly full house. We scored late in the game to advance to the FA Cup first round proper. All of the fans ran onto the field, and we celebrated late into the night in the clubhouse.
GG: Which manager has left the most memorable memories?
GW: Many of the older fans will never forget Pete Jackson. Taking over the club in the 1980s. He made significant progress in moving the club from the county league to the top flight. Rich Thompson and assistant Lee Barlass were probably the most successful managers in the early 2000s, winning promotion and a number of senior Gloucestershire cup finals. Last season, Paul Michael won many new fans with his dynamic attacking style of football, which included a number of outstanding away victories.
GG: Who is the biggest team to play at Lodge Road?
GW: Last year's FA Cup first round match against Yeovil Town was our biggest game at Lodge Road. It was a disappointing result because the conference team easily defeated them 5-0. But it was a fantastic occasion for Yate supporters.
GG: How do Yate like to play?
GW: So far, the season has been disjointed, and the way we set up and play is dictated by who is available due to injury or suspension. Your objectives are always guaranteed. If everyone is fit and available, I think 4-3-3, with plenty of pace in the wide areas, but we've experimented with a variety of formations.
GG: What is a funny Yate Town story?
GW: They travelled to Yate for last season's replay against Dover (1st Game). We had a full house. Both teams went outside to warm up, and then one of the flood lights blew a fuse. A number of requests for electricians were made. The referee had no choice but to call the game off. The lights came back on as the Dover team got changed, but they refused to play. They boarded their bus and drove away. We had the last laugh when we beat them a week later in the second replay.
Its All In The Name
Yate Town's nickname is The Bluebells. This is due to the large amount of Bluebell flowers that grow in the woods in the area. The team also play in blue.
Some Notable People From Yate:
JK Rowling- Harry Potter Author
Cole Skuse- Footballer
Tony Grubb- Golfer
Luke Hedger- Motorcyclist
Donovan Wilson- Footballer
Some Notable Former Players
Tyrone Mings
Matt Green
Stuart Fleetwood
Grant Horton
Graham Withey
An interview with Yate Town supporter, Ricky Hemmings:
GG: Could you tell us a little bit more about Yate Town?
RH: The Yate Rovers football club was founded in 1906. Yate joined the Gloucestershire County League in 1968 and was renamed Yate Town the following year. We are now a member of the Southern League Premier South.
GG: Do you recall your first game?
RH: My parents used to take us down on Sunday afternoons so my father could play cards, and from there I was always out trying to get on the pitch to play.
GG: Can you tell us something interesting about Yate?
RH: JK Rowling's first address was 109 Sundridge Park in Yate, South Gloucestershire, UK.
GG: Can you share your thoughts on non-league football?
RH: Personally, I believe that in good places in the UK, I would rather give my money to non-league clubs such as Yate and when I travel to away games because I believe they need it more. There's a lot of money in the game, and I don't see it getting to smaller non-league clubs that might need it, which is a shame. I believe we could do better.
GG: What does Yate Town mean to the people who live there?
RH: I think it's great for community because everyone is welcome and there's a real family feel to the place. I take my boys there all the time and they love it, as do my wife and daughter. It's great for families and everyone else who attends because it's nice to catch up with people you don't see every day and have the added bonus of watching decent football while having a beer and banter. The bartenders are excellent, and the food is delicious. Like any club, there are many people who volunteer their time to make match days and away trips run smoothly. Without them, there would be no club. These people are vital to our club and many others across non-league, and they are the heartbeat of all non-league clubs. Thank you very much.
GG: What are the club's short term goals?
RH: I believe the goal this year is to remain in the league. Under Peter Beadle, we were all over the place in pre-season, with players coming and going, and that continued into the league, with players playing out of position. We now have John Rennell and Paul Tovey, who have seemed to steady the ship a bit, brought in a couple of players, and the team appears to be bonding and the results have been better.
GG: What is your favourite memory as a Yate Town supporter?
RH: Easy, reaching the FA Cup first round vs Yeovil Town after defeating Dover Athletic 1-0 last season, the atmosphere was absolutely class. 1600 fans packed the South West interiors stadium, but it was great for the community as a whole. We eventually fell 5-0. Yeovil simply had too much quality in the end, but it was still a memorable night for our fans and club.
GG: Who would you sign if you could only sign one player for the club?
RH: Lionel Messi is the best player I've ever seen play the game.
GG: What is your favourite aspect of being a football fan?
RH: It's nice for me to get away from the stresses of everyday life......nothing beats going to football with your mates, whatever level you watch away days a great crack. Recently, we had 50+ Mexicans dressed up in sombreros and ponchos from Merthyr Town FC at Yate Town. They had a great time, and so did we watching them absolutely brilliant.
GG: Who are the best players to play for Yate Town?
RH: Who are the best players? I'll keep this local in mind: Tyrone Mings, who played for Yate after being released by Southampton. He's a prime example of being released but never giving up, as he now plays regularly for Villa and England. It's never too late for kids to realise their dream of becoming a professional footballer. Great players who have played for the club over the years include Gary Hewlett, Richard Thompson, Tyrone Mings, Mike Davis, Pete Jackson, Mike Wyatt, Paul Metherington, and Jay Lewis. Guesty and Dave Sims, on the other hand, we need you two back lol.
Against? This year, I'll stick with Scott Laird and Dale Grubb from Weston-super-Mare, two very good players.
GG: Why should people visit Yate Town?
RH: Yate Is Great! Why not lol?
A History Lesson From AFC Finners
Yate Town began in 1906 as Yate Rovers. They won the Gloucestershire FA Junior Cup in 1914, but disbanded for a time in the 1930s. In 1933, they reformed as Yate YMCA and joined the Bristol & District league. They were promoted to division three in 1948 and to division one in 1955. In 1958, shortly after joining the Gloucestershire County League, they changed their name to Yate Town. Yate would join the Bristol Premier Combination in the 1960s.
Yate were admitted to the Hellenic League in 1983, and were promoted to the Premier Division in 1985. The 1980s brought them joy as they moved to their current home of Lodge Road, and also won consecutive Premier Division titles in 1988 and 1989, completing a double with the Gloucestershire Challenge Trophy in 1989. With their second championship, they were promoted to the Southern Division of the Southern League.
They avoided relegation due to a league restructure, but finished last in the newly renamed Western Division in 2000, and were relegated back to the Hellenic Premier League. In 2005, Yate was promoted back to the Southern League. They won the Gloucestershire Senior Cup the following year and spent the next four seasons in the Southern League before being relegated in 2009. They won the Senior Cup again in 2011, and for the first time in their history, they advanced to the first round of the FA Cup, where they were defeated 3-0 by Cheltenham Town.
They were promoted back to the Premier Division South after defeating Cinderford in the playoff final in 2013, and they won the Gloucestershire Senior Cup again in 2022. After finishing seventh in the Southern League Premier Division South that same year, expectations are high as they look to climb the pyramid.
Honours
🏆 Hellenic League Premier Division (Champions: 1987–88, 1988–89)
🏆 Bristol & District League Division Five (Champions: 1947–48)
🏆 Gloucestershire Senior Cup (Winners: 2004–05, 2005–06, 2010–11, 2021–22)
🏆 Gloucestershire Challenge Trophy (Winners: 1988–89)
🏆 Gloucestershire Junior Cup (Winners: 1913-14)
Matchday: Yate Town 0-0 Tiverton Town
We travelled to Yate on what was a chilly January afternoon. We went straight to the ground and parked up, then headed to the nearby pub, The Fox, for a bit of food. I had the Southern Fried Chicken burger which was sublime. We then headed back over to the stadium.
We paid the man on the turnstile, who looked remarkably like Albert Einstein, £7 to enter. We then took our customary walk around the ground. There are three stands that make up the ground, one behind the goal, then two down the one side of the pitch. I think it's a good ground for the level that it's at, however it would need significant improvements should the club wish to go any higher in the footballing pyramid.
We then went in the clubhouse, where the Tiverton Town players were playing a game of darts. Both the Tiverton Town fans and the players were extremely engaging and really happy to chat, which was lovely, despite one of the Tiverton players saying we looked like Jack Black and Smithy from Gavin and Stacey. The Yate Town contingent were also very helpful, and very welcoming, apart from the odd one or two who were incredibly rude in my opinion. The clubhouse had two major talking points, the signed Geoff Hurst England shirt, which was amazing to see, and the lovely smelling toilets.
There is a small food stand that sells pork baps (with stuffing) and a few other items. However due to the fact that we had already eaten, we didn't indulge in the food at the ground. There appeared to a decent variety and it was reasonably priced.
Sadly, at this game the atmosphere was lacking somewhat. Neither fanbase made a large amount of noise, but then again, you don't expect flares at this level of football. I also think the quality of the game, and the dropping temperatures had an impact on this also.
Teamsheet
Yate Town
Manager: John Rendell
Martin Horsell
Liban Ibrahim
Jack Stanley
Calvin Dinsley
Darren Mullings
Toby Raison
Zak Drew
Ben McLean
Kyle Tooze (c)
Leighton Thomas
Ross Staley
Substitutes
Alex Lambert
Ioan Richards
Tom Richards
James Byrne
Brandon Oputeri
Tiverton Town
Managers: Martyn Rogers & Scott Rogers
Lewis Williams
Niall Thompson
Craig Woodman
Ed James
Jamie Richards
Matt Britton
Tom Purrington
Dylan Jones
Olly Mehew
Lucas Vowles
Kane Simpson
Substitutes
Louis Morison
Ollie Saunders
River Allen
Scott Rogers
Josh Jones
The game was fairly even throughout the entirety to be honest. The first chance of the game fell to Yate, who worked the ball well, and eventually found Ben McLean, who's shot was blocked then Ross Staley fired over. Yate then had another great chance, this time from Leighton Thomas who could only place a header wide of the goal.
The second half was just as even. Tiverton had the first chance when Kane Simpson raced through on goal, only to be stopped by Yate goalkeeper Martin Horsell. Tiverton nearly nicked it at the end, when a corner met the head of Jamie Richards, who's effort was cleared off the line, onto the bar, then cleared. It finished 0-0 in a hotly competed Southern League match.
Scores On The Doors
Atmosphere: 4/10
Food and Drink: 5/10
Stadium: 5/10
Welcome: 6.5/10
Overall Experience: 7/10
GG
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