As Yeovil Town Football Club marks a remarkable 130 years, it’s turning back the clock to revive one of its most endearing traditions. Nearly 90 years after it first captured the imagination of fans, the club has reintroduced the “lucky spuds” – a symbolic sack of potatoes awarded to the first player to score a league goal each season, believed to bring good luck and inspire stellar performances.
The custom dates back to the 1934–35 season, when a local greengrocer gifted a bag of potatoes to the club’s leading scorer, striker Tom McNeil. That year, McNeil’s extraordinary tally of 40 goals helped Yeovil Town advance to the third round of the FA Cup, including a memorable fixture against Liverpool.
Today, Alan Shepherd, a South Petherton greengrocer and lifelong Yeovil supporter, has generously donated a sack of potatoes to be awarded to the first goal scorer of the 2025/26 National League season, rekindling that beloved piece of club lore.
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“It brought good fortune before, so there’s every reason to believe it can do so again,” Shepherd said. “If the spuds help inspire another great cup run, then I’ll be more than happy!”
This revival is spearheaded by the Yeovil Town FC Heritage Society, dedicated to celebrating the club’s rich history through events and storytelling. Michael West, the Heritage Society spokesperson, praised the initiative: “It’s wonderfully quirky with genuine historical significance. Keeping these traditions alive fosters a strong connection between our past and present.”
Beyond the lucky spuds tradition, the club is hosting a range of commemorative events—exhibitions, interviews, and heritage matchdays—highlighting its colourful legacy over 130 years.