The birth of Yeovil Casuals Association football club 1895-96

The speed that Bond and his committee of men had worked was nothing short of phenomenal. Yeovil Casuals had in the space of three weeks, formed and were now playing their first match in the 11th September 1895, away to Salisbury Swifts, on the Victoria Park ground. A match watched by a fair number of spectators in a 4-3 win for the Swifts. 

The team for the historic game were:

Fox, Suggs, Bond, Moon, Brooks, Jesty, Sumption, Stoodley , Stone, Davis, Mold 

Jesty was a former player of the Yeovil Rovers with Stoodley coming from the Congregational Swifts. Mold, the son of Edwin Mold, the publican of the Pall Tavern and another former Rovers player. Goalkeeper, Fox coming up from the previous seasons second XI. 

A decent pitch had been found, behind the Pen Mill Hotel, previously played on by Yeovil Juniors, who became another team swallowed up by the Casuals. Described as pleasantly located and picturesque. With the addition of the Pen Mill station so close it was a world away from the bog of Hendford with broken glass spread all over. The newly formed rugby club deciding to continue with usage of West Hendford. Pen Mill at this time was nothing short of two goals with ropes around the uneven pitch. One goal situated at the hotel end and the other, down the slope, described in many reports as the Camborne end. Slowly over the next twenty-five years it would grow to be quite the little stadium. 

It wasn't long before the fledgling club were making use of their new surroundings. A practice match was organised between the captain and the sub-captain's teams. Bond v Sugg. One important introduction being the first time the club had used goal nets. For the winners the added incentive of a football donated by Mr. Bunce of The Beehive. A mixture of the previous seasons team, and players of the now defunct Rovers and Congregational Swifts teams made up the twenty-two players. Suggs's team winning by a goal to nil. The spectators departing through the Pen Mill gates, which are still in situ today, 130 years later, were impressed with the offerings. 

The original gates to the Pen Mill stadium, still there today. 

The Casuals started like a bomb, although being only friendlies two consecutive 6-1 wins over Frome and Dorchester Athletic a world away from the dismal efforts the year before. The Oxford Varsity man and fans hero, Vassall playing in both games in stifling heat in front of a large attendance.

Wincanton was visited on the 5th October, the former Somerset junior league champions, it would be a serious test for the new Casuals side. Although it would be without Vassall not being able to travel from Oxford for the match. In a mostly a one sided game, in which Yeovil had two goals 'chalked off', yet Wincanton finished with a satisfactory 0-0 draw. It wasn't long before the Casuals recorded their first Senior league victory, a week later Midsomer Norton, the Junior Cup holders, were despatched back to North Somerset with a 3-2  defeat. 

If any confidence was to be had in the new club's performance and chances of finally becoming Somerset champions, it was soon knocked away. The introduction of November also introduced the club's first defeat, away to Street 2-1. An equally hard fought match in front of a large crowd including a large contingent of Yeovil fans who had travelled by train. 

It didn't get better, three more defeats in a row, the harshest being against the old enemy from Wells, in a match started late with the second half played in semi-darkness. Wells, winning 4-3, after being 4-0 ahead at half-time. An excellent report of the match dated 20th November 1895 from the Wells Journal is well worth the read. 

With the lack of League matches in December, two just being played a draw against Paulton and a shocking 6-0 reverse at Radstock, friendlies took over for the month. East Coker was visited with Vassall appearing for the Coker side, to even things out, Casuals scraping a 3-2 win. The highlight of the never ending list of friendlies was the visit of Old Plymouthians. Enthusiastically described in the local press as 'one of the best teams in the West of England'. A sizeable and excited crowd saw Yeovil pull off a 4-1, which was considered the best performance ever by a Yeovil association team. Incidentally Old Plymouthians are still in existence to this day. 

Making his debut in the Plymouthians match was the wonderfully named John William Strode-Batten, in his time with the Casuals he alternated between a goalkeeper and defender.

An Oxford Scholar, born into wealth as were many Yeovil players at the time. The Casuals were seen by many to be a team of 'toffs' especially by opponents in the mining towns of. North Somerset.

He later went onto have a distinguished Army career rising to the rank of Leutenant and fighting in the South African Boer War.

With the outbreak of the first World War, he became one of the first troops to set foot into battle, and mentioned in despatches for his selfless bravery.

He unfortunately was killed in action on 25th October 1914, being shot through the heart while on his was from the trench to confer with his Commanding Officer. He was aged 39.

John William Strode-Batten (1875-1914)

January 1896 started with a visit by the  'arrogant' Weymouth. In an extraordinary match, Yeovil outplayed their Southern rivals, and at the break were leading by an incredible 5-0. Vassall showing his talents  again and being almost unplayable. A game of two halves is the only way to describe it with Weymouth coming back to draw 5-5 by the time the final whistle was blown.  On the 29th of February Radstock came to town, which ended up being the labelled the Battle of Pen Mill for the crowd disturbances thst took place. A match that needs a blog posting on its own! It can be read here

The Casuals were going well in March, and had given a debut to Bob Wyatt a farmer from Maiden Newton. Wyatt had to receive  special permission to play as he lived outside the five mile rule, which made players liable to live within five miles from the HQ, in Yeovil's case The Pen Mill Hotel. One other factor of Bob Wyatt was he was nearly eighteen stone! In the next few seasons he was to become a firm fans favorite, his party piece using his massive frame to shoulder barging  opposition keepers, into the net. Perfectly legal. 

The season was drawing to a close, the Casuals performing well at home and unfortunately the same old problem of previous seasons of not being good travellers prevailing again. 

Finally the Casuals finished third from bottom of the league, a league of seven teams, with Street crowned champions. The Casuals time would have to wait. 

If Senior football had been a struggle, the Casuals 'A' team had been experiencing a fine year in Somerset Junior football and had become the first Yeovil team to reach a county final where they would travel to Street to meet a very strong Radstock side. A crowd of over five-hundred, most from Yeovil, watched Yeovil reserves hold on for a 1-1 draw against a near nonstop barrage from the Radstock attack. A reply was hastily arranged at Wells a week later. Fans wishing to watch the reply were urged to contact Mr. Whittaker  the treasurer at the Pen Mill so he could make travel arrangements for them all. 

Many took up the offer. A week later confident Yeovil Reserves put in a great performance to bring the first silverware  back to the club. As expected large crowds had gathered outside the telegraph office, to hear the Yeovil lads had won 3-2. When the train from Wells arrived at Pen Mill Mass crowds had gathered. A reception was continued at the Full Moon Hotel. Situated in Wine street. A few days later a 'free and easy', basically a big party, was organised at the Pen Mill by first team captain Fred Bond for the Reserves to celebrate their success.

Yeovil Reserves 1896, Somerset Junior Cup winners. 

The AGM of the club, had also changed being held immediately after the season instead of waiting until September when the season was upon them. Fred Bond, announced a profit of £11 on the season, a season regarded as the most successful in Association history in the town. It was decided that the colours of Green and White were to be adopted permanently. 

The Casuals were well and truly in its way. 

Happy days. 

* for more seasons and stories check the archive