Yate Town FC began life as Yate
Rovers in 1906. In 1946 they were reformed and were
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.
Last season 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
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