It’s the summer of polling it seems, and once again, at the Gloverscast we’ve completed the most comprehensive survey of Yeovil Town FC supporters out there. For the third year in a row we asked supporters to score how they feel about issues on the pitch and off the pitch on a scale of 1-7.
Who took part?
This year, 387 supporters completed the survey – down on the 552 and 499 from the previous seasons. More than half of respondents (54%) were over 45 years old and 90% were male.
What did they tell us?
One of the major developments at the club since Martin Hellier’s takeover last summer has been the improvement to the facilities and match day experience, and that is coming through clearly in the data. We’ve seen a jump of nearly 2 points on the match day experience, customer service and atmosphere and a nearly 3 point jump in Huish Park being ‘well looked after’.
There’s also been an improvement in the perception of the food and drink offering and value for money. With the quality of food increasing to 4.47 vs 3.15 and drink to 4.85 from 3.53. Supporters also think they’re getting better value for money than previous seasons, with the average score 4.34 out of 7, compared to 3.15 and 2.88 in 2022/23 and 2021/22.
In other areas off the pitch, supporters have recognised the improvements made. Supporters feel communication has significantly improved, feel more valued and proud of the club. There is also a recognition that the club has made more effort in the community in the last 12 months.
Areas where there has been improvement, but the score is average is around listening, and who to contact.
On the pitch
Of course, it was a championship winning season for the Glovers and that is reflected in the scores with support for the job Mark Cooper and the job he did.
And if any wasn’t sure, Jake Wannell was voted as player of the season – again.
The Future
Looking to the future of the club, supporters are narrowly more optimistic than they were last season (we surveyed just after Martin Hellier took over.)
Supporters Groups
When we surveyed in 2023, the Glovers Trust had just hosted the meeting at Johnson Park about the creation of a supporters group that represented all supporters. In the survey last year, the support for a group that represents all supporters scored 5.76 out of 7 and that support has held up this year with a score of 5.38.
78% of supporters surveyed aren’t part of any group and those who aren’t also support the idea of one group with a score of 5.32.
In Conclusion
We are a much happier bunch than we were in the last two seasons and with good reason. On the pitch we’ve won the National South at the first time of asking and off the pitch, the match day experience is night and day compared to previous seasons. Huish Park has had investment which has seen the creation of The Ciderspace, the upgrading of the Alec Stock Lounge and corporate facilities and those changes are clearly impacting how people feel about the club.’
I am most surprised that the support for a single supporters group has held up, showing that even in these good times the supporters of the club would welcome an organisation that represents them and they can be a part of.
As Yeovil head back into National League after one season, the strides the club has taken has made it nearly unrecognisable from the club 12 months before and that is clear in the numbers.
OK great positive reading…