1989 opened with Guy Whittingham scoring as regular as clockwork, nine goals coming from as many games including a 'hat trick' against Telford United in a 4-1 win. Two weeks later they returned to Huish and trounced Yeovil by the same score in the FA Trophy, sadly for Yeovil, Whittingham was cup-tied. His goal scoring feats were pulling the scouts to Huish and an offer was made to buy him out of the army and with it a contract, which was by far the most lucrative ever offered to any player in the history of the club, which still stands to this day (1997).

Mickey Spencer arrived in February from Wokingham Town Photo © 2003 Ciderspace

In February his army mate, Mickey Spencer, bought himself out of the army and signed from Wokingham, he was followed by Peter Conning from Weymouth for £13,000 and Mark Shail, who Yeovil paid Worcester City a compensation fee of £5,000. Yeovil also made an enquiry for Robbie Carroll at Fareham but the £20,000 fee asked ended any further interest for the time being. Guy Whittingham was still scoring goals but Yeovil were missing the services of Mike Doherty who took no further part in the campaign following an injury at Barnet in November. Who knows what might have happened with these two playing together as the strike force!

Also during the month, Martyn Grimshaw moved back to Bath City for a fee of £5,000. A week later the non league transfer record was smashed following the £40,000 move of Garry Abbott from Enfield to Barnet who were going well at the top of the league. Second placed Maidstone, not to be outdone, signed Ken Charley from Fisher Athletic for £35,000.

Martyn Grimshaw, pictured scoring against Bromley, left the club in February Photo © 2003 Ciderspace

On 21st March 1989, and after a wait of just over 20 months, the result of the Public Enquiry was made known. The Department of Environment had at long last granted planning permission to develop Huish. The move to Houndstone was now on. Concern however was expressed that due to the long delay building costs had escalated and there would have to be cut backs on the original plans for the new stadium.

The 1988/89 Players of the Season - Neil Cordice and Steve Rutter.

March also brought the news that the club would start a YTS scheme at the start of the following season, with four places available for up and coming youngsters.

Neil Cordice won the Supporters' Club 'Player of the Year' award and Steve Rutter the Western Gazette 'Merit Mark Trophy'. On a sadder note, Newport County were expelled from the League after going bankrupt and had failed to fulfil their home fixture against Enfield.

The curtain came down on the first season back in the GM Vauxhall Conference with Dave Linney's Testimonial game against Bristol City on 8th May 1989. Yeovil had finished ninth in the league, the highest position in Senior Non League football for a decade. Just after the end of the season the directors visited Scunthorpe to get ideas from the new stadium.

STATISTICS FOR SEASON 1988/89

Played 50, Won 20, Drawn 12, Lost 18. Goals for 94. Goals Against 83.

First Team Appearances: (Maximum 50, substitutes in brackets) Neil Cordice 48, Jeff Sherwood 46, Steve Rutter and Andy Wallace 42, Tiv Lowe 34 (4), Garry Donnellan 32 (4), Jimmy Quinn 32 (1), Paul Randall 25 (12), Len Bond, Gerry Pearson and Guy Whittingham 23, Mike Doherty 22, Steve Tapley 21 (5), Bob Iles 18, Martyn Grimshaw 16 (8), Denny Mundee 15 (3), Peter Conning and Micky Spencer 12, Tony Ricketts 11 (3), Mark Shail 10, Mel Gwinnet 9, Paul Thorpe 8 (11), Paddy McCarthy 8 (2), Archie Stevens 7, Richard Thompson 6 (2), Keith Tonge 1 (3), Chris Townsend 1 (2), Peter Copeland 1, Phil Ferns 1 (1), Paul Meare (2), Paul Muir (2) and Darren Shepperd (1).

First Team Goalscorers: 18 Guy Whittingham, 12 Paul Randall and Mick Doherty, 10 Andy Wallace, 6 Martyn Grimshaw and Micky Spencer, 5 Garry Donnellan and Jimmy Quinn, 3 Neil Cordice and Gerry Pearson, 2 Paul Thorpe, Paddy McCarthy and Keith Tonge, 1 Jeff Sherwood, Steve Rutter, Tiv Lowe, Denny Mundee, Peter Conning, Mark Shail, Archie Stevens and one own goal.

League Attendances: The average home attendance increased by 6.8% to 2,395 per game and once again the local derby against Weymouth attracted the highest gate, 3,691.