SOUTHERN LEAGUE > Club Profiles
Profile: Yate Town FC
Updated: Wednesday 9th July 2008, 07:20am GMT
Welcome to the profile page for Yate Town Football Club
Club Formed: 1906 (as Yate Rovers, Yate YMCA - 1946, Yate Town - 1969)
Affiliated FA: Gloucestershire Football Association
Nickname: The Bluebells
Manager: Richard Thompson
Chairman: Peter Jackson | Secretary: Terry Tansley (07875-272-126)
Ground: Lodge Road (capacity: 6,745) - pictured above
Address: Lodge Road, Yate, Bristol, BS37 7LE | Tel: 01454-228-103
Nearest Train Station: Yate (1 mile from ground)
Home Colours: White shirts, navy blue shorts, white socks
Away Colours: Navy blue shirts, white shorts, navy blue socks
Official Website: www.yatetownfc.com | Email: admin@yatetownfc.com
History of Yate Town Football Club (from: www.yatetownfc.com)
Yate Town FC began life as Yate Rovers in 1906, and Rovers won the Glos F.A. Junior Cup in 1913-14. World War One then intervened, and although Rovers reformed after the war, they later disbanded, probably in the early thirties.
In 1933-34 season Yate Y.M.C.A. was formed and they entered the Bristol and District Division 5 under the captaincy of Arthur Gould. Goalkeeper Frank Boulton, one of four brothers in this team, later played for Arsenal.
The team was promoted to Division 3 at the end of the following season. After the Second World War, they reformed, still known as Yate YMCA, playing in the Bristol and District League and the Avon Premier Combination. Yate YMCA were amongst the founders of the Gloucester County League in 1958 and the following year they dropped the YMCA from their title in favour of Town.
A major step forward in the clubs progress occurred in 1983 when they obtained membership of the Hellenic League and moved on to the first step of the non-League pyramid system.
Promotion to the Premier Division was soon accomplished when at the conclusion of the 1984/85 season Yate Town finished runners-up behind Pegasus Juniors in Division One. The following season they won the Hellenic Premier League finishing the campaign unbeaten at home. That successful formula continued into the 1988/89 season when they retained the Championship crown, losing just one league game. A second prize was obtained in the shape of the Gloucestershire Challenge Trophy. In the quest for further soccer prestige, Yate Town obtained election to the Southern League, Southern Division in 1989.
Yate Town moved to their present ground in Lodge Road in 1984 having previously played at Yate Aerodrome (1954-1960) and Sunnyside Lane (1960-84) to prepare for the higher standard of football. Covered accommodation was erected in 1987 and floodlighting in 1988.
The 1993/94 season was disappointing as Yate finished second from bottom in the Midland Division. Luckily relegation was avoided but restructuring of the Southern League meant that the club was switched back to the Southern Division after three seasons in the Midland.
The 1994/95 season, their first in the Southern Division, saw Yate make a terrible start which lead to long serving manager, Pete Jackson, being relieved of his duties. The appointment of former Bristol Rovers favourites Ian Alexander and Phil Purnell, as Manager and Assistant, led to an immediate upturn in fortunes. The club enjoyed an excellent end of season run which saw them finish in sixteenth position. They again reached the final of the Gloucester Senior Cup losing on penalties after extra time to Cheltenham Town. Improvement continued in the 1995/96 season with a young squad enjoying their best campaign for a long time, finishing in the top half of the Southern League.
The club celebrated its Golden Jubilee in season 1996/97. During the 1997/98 close season John Freeguard was appointed Manager but after obtaining just two victories from seventeen games he resigned and was replaced by Martin Durnell, Manager of Yates very successful Youth Team, assisted by Club Captain Danny Iddles. Despite these changes the Club still finished in the basement spot, but as before, relegation was avoided due to the restructuring of the Southern League. The 1998/99 season a young side finished 20th in the Southern League.
The 1999/2000 season saw Yate Town return to the Midland Division for the first time for six seasons due to the regionalisation of the Midland and Southern Division into Western and Eastern Divisions. Unfortunately they finished well adrift and were relegated to the Hellenic League. Manager Martin Durnell resigned and was replaced by former players Gary Hewlett and Richard Thompson who became Joint Player Managers. After a poor start to the 2000/01 season Yate Town enjoyed a long run of victories that saw them finish in third place in the league.
The following two seasons saw Yate finish third and second behind eventual champions North Leigh. North Leigh did not take up the promotion place available so Yate were again returned to the Southern League level of non-league football. After a poor start to the 2003-04 season, Yate improved and consolidated Southern League status by finishing in sixteenth position.
Yate enjoyed their most successful season in 2004-05. They finished Runners-up in Division One West, and secured promotion to the Southern League Premier Division for the first time. Additionally, they won the Glos F.A. Senior Challenge Cup for the first time in their history, beating Bristol Rovers 2:0 in the final at the Memorial Stadium. They had previously defeated Bristol City and Forest Green Rovers en route to the final.
Town exceeded all expectations 2005-2006 season, their first in the Premier Division. Despite another poor start, they finished in a highly creditable sixth position, and also retained the G.F.A. Senior Cup when beating Cheltenham Town in the Final.
In 2006-2007 Yate were again challenging for a play off spot for much of the time, but were badly hit by injuries in the final few weeks, which led to a poor run of results, and Town finished in a mid table position. Last season Yate continued to establish themselves as a Premier Division Club, and finally finished in an encouraging tenth position.
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