The 1956/57 season was a poor one by Yeovil Town's high standards. The team plunged to sixteenth place in the Southern League, which was won by Kettering Town, whilst a 4-1 semi-final defeat in the Southern League Cup at Tonbridge in March left the rest of the season very flat. The Club did share the Somerset Professional Cup, however, drawing 3-3 against Bristol City.

In the F.A. Cup, Yeovil won 3-1 at home to Glastonbury in the Fourth Qualifying Round to earn a home meeting with fellow giant-killers Peterborough United, who won 3-1 in front of 10,575 people.

The opening game of the season at Huish was the Reserves against Bristol City Colts, Yeovil winning 7-2 before a crowd of 3,036 paying £178!! Even so, early season concern was expressed at the falling off in 'gates', the average for the first three first team home games having dropped from 5,844 to 4,854, costing the club £50 per match, though the Reserves were still averaging over 2,000 per game.

Meanwhile, supporters in Dorset raised a petition to the Western Gazette for the inclusion of Yeovil Town news in their North Dorset edition of the newspaper. The editor of the Gazette, Mr. Lanham, gave his assurance that coverage would be given in future in the North Dorset edition.

The club continued its policy of playing Football League clubs in friendly floodlit matches during the season, visitors being Wrexham, Bournemouth and (Leyton) Orient. The annual games against Boston United for the Supporters Club's Cup again took place, Boston retaining the Cup 4-2 on aggregate.

During the autumn complaints were received from residents in Park Gardens of supporters urinating behind the north stand. The board instructed the police to prosecute any further offenders without warning!

By the end of January, 1957, the team had dropped to four from bottom of the table and it was announced that Ike Clarke's contract would not be renewed at the end of the season. This decision was met with mixed feelings by the supporters. However, Ike stayed until the end of the season.

Players who appeared in the first team during the season were as follows: Goalkeepers: Bird, Fowler, Kiernan (signed from Southampton); Full-backs: Dominey, Elder, Warren, Smith (Reading); Half-backs: Edwards, Nagy, Topping, Robshaw (Tonbridge), McAlone (Weymouth); Forwards: Fraser, Fiddler, McKay, Clarke, Deplidge (Bradford PA.), Gaillard (Weymouth), Long (Reading), Alexander (Reading), McCaffery (Worcester C.), Tapscott (Wrexham), Miller (Swindon Town) and Gifford.

Gaillard was leading goalscorer with 23 to his name, followed by Fiddler (22) and McKay (21). Guiidford city 42 is n 13 68 49 47

Following Ike Clarke's departure, former Exeter City boss Norman Dodgin was appointed manager, Dodgin never actually took charge of a Yeovil Town team, for he left before the 1957/58 season started to take up a similar position at Barrow, who were then a Football League side.

One other major change occurred at the end of the season, the Chancellor of the Exchequer announcing that, from 6th May, Entertainment Tax on all outdoor sports would be abolished. As far as the Club was concerned, this would save 3d on every 1/9d paid to pass through the turnstiles.

Link: 1956-57 First Team Fixtures And Results.

Link: 1956-57 First Team Scorers.