PART THREE
SEASON 1924-1925 : THE F.A. CUP LEGEND BEGINS
Having won the Western Section of the Southern League under Jack Gregory the previous season, the early days of the 1924/25 campaign saw Yeovil & Petters United travelling to play Peterborough United – who had won the Eastern Section in the 1923/24 season – in the final of the competition only to lose by four goals to two.
Yeovil also slipped down the table during the season, finishing in eleventh place with 40 points from 38 games. Swansea Town Reserves won the section with 54 points, finishing above Plymouth Argyle Reserves on goal average. It was in the that the Club really made an impact – at the same time starting the tradition for outstanding cup-fighting qualities that has lasted until the present day.
In the Preliminary Round at Huish, Westbury United were again routed (this time 9-1) with Clevedon following them to Huish to lose 5-1. Yeovil travelled to Warminster Town in the 2nd Qualifying Round and won 3-1, then to Taunton for a 2-1 win in the 3rd Qualifying Round. So to the 4th Qualifying Round and a home draw against Division 3 (South) side Bournemouth and Boscombe United on 22nd November.
On 15th November, 1924 Yeovil played their first ever game against a Football League team beating Bournemouth and Boscombe 3-2 at Huish before a crowd of 5,500. Receipts for the game were £304.9s.0d, entertainment tax of £49.10s.6d was payable and match expenses amounted to £19.10s.6d, leaving a balance of £117.14s.0d profit to each club.
Having reached the First Round Proper of the competition for the first time, Yeovil were favoured by another home draw, this time against Bristol Rovers. Before the tie against Rovers, additional terracing was added at the Bruttons End and toilets were installed. Admission charges were increased by 6d. to cover the costs. In what appears to have been a rough game played before 6,600 people, Yeovil lost 4-2 and finished the game with only eight players due to injuries.
An extract from the following week’s programme states: “The fickle goddess turns her back on us and we, in consequence bid ‘goodbye’ to the Cup competition once again. Our only consolation lies in the fact that we have had the pleasure of treading the ‘Wembley’ road this season for the longest period in our career. This is a matter for satisfaction at least, if the manner in which we terminated our journeying is not. From reports and opinions on all hands it appears there were also critics besides ourselves who hold the view that our exit from the competition is somewhat premature, but this is the fortune of war and football.”
“We thank our numerous friends for their expressions of regret at our passing and agree with them that it is extremely hard luck to be beaten in the national competition by a team competing in a higher sphere, but who, on their showing last week, do not own to possessing the fundamental principle of the game – sportsmanship. With regard to their skill, we also agree with our sympathisers that our boys have nothing to learn from our Bristolian friends and we venture to say that had the ground been on the light side, even allowing for the casualties we sustained, the Rovers would not have seen which way our lads went.”
“We observe that our late opponents are drawn to play at home in the next round against our near neighbours, Weymouth, and we think they will require to put up a better game than was the case last Saturday.”
Also in 1924 the supporters’ club was formed and three tea urns were purchased and installed at Huish.