Episode Summary
Hosts
Graham Dunn, Jamie Rooney
David Coates
Guest(s)
Release Date
20 February 2025
Duration
78 min
In this episode of By Far The Greatest Team, Graham Dunn and Jamie Rooney are joined by David Coates from Gloverscast to relive one of the most remarkable fairy tales in English football — Yeovil Town’s rise from League One to the Championship between 2012 and 2014.
Under the astute and inspiring leadership of Gary Johnson, Yeovil achieved the unthinkable: a small Somerset club, rooted in part-time beginnings and non-league folklore, reached the second tier of English football for the first time in their 118-year history.
The discussion charts Yeovil’s journey through the 2012–13 promotion campaign, culminating in an unforgettable playoff final victory at Wembley, where goals from Paddy Madden and Dan Burn sealed their place among the elite. The hosts explore the team’s chemistry, the tactical simplicity that maximised effort and unity, and the sheer determination that powered them through adversity.
Yeovil’s lone Championship season (2013–14) was short-lived but symbolic. Facing clubs with budgets ten times their own, they battled with dignity and resilience, earning admiration across the football world. For a club whose legend began with FA Cup giant-killing, this was the moment they became giants themselves — if only for a fleeting, magical spell.
It’s the story of belief, loyalty, and community — and proof that football’s greatest dreams can come true, even in Somerset.
Takeaways
Yeovil’s famous FA Cup giant-killing tradition carried into league football
Transition from part-time to full-time professionalism in the 2000s
Gary Johnson’s leadership was pivotal across both of his spells
The 2013 Wembley playoff final victory sealed Championship promotion
Financial limitations shaped Yeovil’s rise and eventual struggles
Gary Johnson’s legacy remains central to the club’s identity
Yeovil Town 2012–2014: The Somerset Dream
Few stories in English football capture the spirit of the underdog like Yeovil Town’s rise between 2012 and 2014.
From non-league obscurity to the Championship’s bright lights, the Glovers’ journey was one of ambition, heart, and togetherness. Under Gary Johnson, Yeovil blended tactical discipline with belief. The 2012–13 League One campaign became a fairytale, culminating in a thrilling 2–1 playoff final victory over Brentford at Wembley, with goals from Paddy Madden and Dan Burn. For the first time in their history, Yeovil stood among giants.
Their single season in the Championship (2013–14) may have ended in relegation, but the experience was unforgettable. Facing clubs like Leeds United, Nottingham Forest, and QPR, Yeovil’s small-town squad earned respect for their effort and defiance.
Beyond tactics and results, this was about identity. Yeovil carried forward their reputation as FA Cup giant-killers into the professional era, proving that belief can bridge almost any gap. Players like Madden, Upson, and Ayling became folk heroes, embodying a team that dared to dream beyond its limits.
For a club once known only for shocking the big boys, this was their turn to stand tall among them. The Somerset Dream remains one of English football’s most uplifting modern stories — a reminder that greatness isn’t always measured in survival, but in the size of the dream itself.
Main Topics
Iconic Moments
Gary Johnson’s leadership and tactical philosophy
The 2013 League One playoff triumph at Wembley
Key players and their influence on the team’s unity
The realities of competing in the Championship
Yeovil’s enduring connection with its community and FA Cup heritage
2013 Wembley playoff final win vs Brentford (2–1)
Paddy Madden’s top-scoring season in League One
Championship debut victory over Millwall
Emotional support from fans throughout the campaign
Gary Johnson’s return and redemption story
Notable Manager
Gary Johnson
Notable Players
Paddy Madden, Dan Burn, Ed Upson, Byron Webster, Luke Ayling, Marek Štěch, James Hayter, Joe Edwards, Sam Foley, Nathan Ralph, Kevin Dawson, Joel Grant
Style of Play
4-4-2, Counter-Attacking, Direct, High Work Rate, Compact, Resilient
Under Gary Johnson, Yeovil Town’s style of play was a masterclass in pragmatism and unity. Built on collective work rate and direct transitions, Johnson’s approach was designed to amplify effort over ego — a formula that made Yeovil’s underdog rise possible.
Typically lining up in a 4-4-2 or 4-4-1-1, Yeovil relied on quick counterattacks, disciplined defensive lines, and strong organisation. Centre-backs like Byron Webster and Dan Burn provided aerial dominance, while full-backs Luke Ayling and Nathan Ralph offered energy and width. In midfield, Ed Upson and Sam Foley balanced industry and creativity, feeding wide players who broke forward at pace.
Up front, Paddy Madden’s relentless movement and finishing made him one of the Football League’s standout strikers, supported by the experience of James Hayter and the unpredictability of Joel Grant. Marek Štěch’s reliability in goal added calm in chaos.
Johnson’s tactical philosophy prioritised team spirit and self-belief over possession statistics. Yeovil pressed high when needed, defended in numbers, and played to their strengths — heart, hunger, and togetherness. Their football was not always glamorous, but it was exhilarating in its honesty.
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