The actual record gate at Southfield is 3773. Quite how they got in there, I don’t honestly know. Although I do know a number of double decker buses were incorporated who were bringing Yeovil Town and Bath City fans, on two separate occasions, to the ground and they were used as temporary stands on the top. I mean, Yeovil in 1937 in an FA Cup fourth qualifying round was a fairly amazing occasion. We’ve still got an original programme from that game, which is coming up towards 100-years-old and it does talk about some of the characters in football; one of them being Eric Doughty. Of course, you might know the Doughty family and their relationship with Radstock because Eric went on to play for Arsenal for many, many years, but never made the first team, but was Captain of the reserves in the Combination League for a long time.

The other great game was a game against Bath City when 3560, apparently, watched an FA Cup game in 1928. Radstock actually won that one 2-0, but didn’t progress in the cup, they went out in the following round to Salisbury City.

The 1922 Charity Cup final, Radstock were playing against Wells I think it was and the game was supposed to be played at Taunton which was a bit frustrating for Radstock as it meant they had to get a half-past-seven train in the morning, change at Evercreech to get to Taunton in time for the game to kick-off in the afternoon. They drew in that game, so they replayed it, not the following Saturday but the following Tuesday, which again upset the Radstock supporters because it was due to be played at Taunton, but the FA saw sense and played the game at Street. Nearly 270 Radstock supporters, on a Tuesday afternoon, got the train to Street to watch the game.

The trains featured a lot in the club. We regularly had Bristol players who lived in Hanham because it was a very straightforward train ride into Radstock, including Bill Holloway of course, Ian’s father, who played for the club for a number of seasons. We also had a number of players, you see names that went on to play for Bristol City; John Eddolls, of course, who ended up playing for Bristol City.

When you look at the newspaper reports, there was one against Warmley where they described as ‘a fast and rather rough game, which ended in Warmley’s favour.’ Now, Warmley of course were a professional club back at the time, along with Bristol St. George and teams like that. So, it’s fascinating. There was one season in 1921/22 or 23, whichever one it was, where as a club, Radstock played 93 matches, of which they won 70 some odd and won the senior cup and the Charity Cup.

If anyone has any information, photographs, old programmes, newspaper articles or medals concerning the history of Radstock Town Football Club, then Dave would like to hear from you, as he continues to compile the Club’s history. Dave can be contacted at: [email protected].