Taunton Town has confirmed the appointment of Gary Johnson as their new First-Team Manager, marking an exciting new chapter for the club. Johnson, 70, brings over four decades of managerial experience, having previously led clubs including Bristol City, Torquay United, Cheltenham Town, and Yeovil Town to notable successes.
Johnson began his storied career in 1986 with Newmarket Town and has since managed eleven clubs. He is well-known in the South West football circuit, famously guiding Yeovil Town into the Football League and subsequently to the Championship in 2013. His five-year tenure at Bristol City saw the club promoted to the Championship in the 2006/07 season. Johnson also celebrated league triumphs with Cheltenham Town, winning the National League title in 2015/16, and with Torquay United, securing the National League South title in 2019.
Expressing enthusiasm about his new role, Johnson said, “I’m always excited about a new challenge, and I’m excited about this. I’ve only been here a couple of times with teams, but I’ve always felt there’s a good passion on the terraces, and there’s a chance to build the club. I’ve looked at the team, and I think it’s a decent team. They’ve got a chance to be much higher at this level than they are at the moment. It’s really important to work towards getting into the National League South at least. I saw that as a good challenge — but a big one.”
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Taunton Town, nicknamed the Peacocks, praised Johnson’s exceptional leadership and extensive experience in their announcement. They highlighted his accomplishments in elevating clubs through the English football tiers, as well as his international managerial stint with Latvia from 1999 to 2001. During that period, Johnson played a key role in the development of emerging talents like Marians Pahars and Igors Stepanovs, who went on to join Southampton and Arsenal respectively.
Most recently, Johnson served as Director of Football at Cheltenham Town starting May 2024, where he was instrumental in stabilizing the club after relegation and in recruiting players who later commanded significant transfer fees, including Ethon Archer. Archer’s progression from the Sussex County Leagues to League Two under Johnson’s guidance is a testament to his keen eye for talent.
In recognition of his remarkable achievements, Johnson received the EFL Outstanding Managerial Achievement Award in 2014 after steering Yeovil Town from non-League football to the Championship, marking the club’s highest ever league standing. This accolade affirmed his status as one of English football’s most accomplished managers outside of the Premier League.
Martin Lacey, Chairman of Taunton Town, commented on the appointment: “We are delighted to bring in a manager of Gary’s calibre. His wealth of experience and proven track record of success will be invaluable as we strive to progress and compete strongly at this level.”
With Gary Johnson at the helm, Taunton Town fans have every reason to be optimistic about the club’s future prospects and ambitions.