Yeovil Town award first goal scorer of the season a sack of spuds
It's to honour a club tradition that goes back 90 years.
Yeovil Town’s first scorer of the season Josh Sims is awarded a sack of spuds by a local greengrocer, reviving a 90-year-old tradition.
As Yeovil Town Football Club celebrates its 130th anniversary, one of its most interesting historical traditions is being brought back to life.
Josh Sims officially scored their first goal of the season, in a 2-1 win over Brackley on 20 August.
Before their game against Gateshead on Monday (25 August)- who beat the Glovers 4-3 with a 90+8 minute winner- Josh was then awarded the illustrious sack of spuds.
The prize originally started in the 1934–35 season, when a local greengrocer awarded a bag of potatoes to the first player to find the net.
That season, Yeovil Town stormed to the third round of the FA Cup, facing Liverpool, and striker Tom McNeil– the recipient of the potatoes– scored an astonishing 64 goals.
Now, 90 years later, history is being honoured and hopes rekindled thanks to Alan Sheppard and Nick and Chris Wakely, greengrocers from South Petherton and lifelong Yeovil Town fans.
“It worked for the club all those years ago,” said Alan.
“So why not try it again? If these spuds can spark another league triumph or an FA Cup run, I’ll be happy!”
The initiative comes from the Yeovil Town FC Heritage Society, which is marking the anniversary with a series of celebratory events and storytelling projects.
“It’s a brilliant idea– wonderfully quirky, but with real historical roots,” said Michael West, spokesperson for the Heritage Society.
“We’re proud to keep the stories of our club alive in creative and memorable ways.”