Ron Saunders

Ron Saunders 17/04/1967 - xx/xx/1969

Played 128, Won 55, Drew 36, Lost 37, Win Rate 42.97%

With all the in-fighting around the club, a strong character was needed to fill the manager’s chair. In came Ron Saunders, again to his first managerial position and inherited only 2 players in the summer of 1967. He set about re-building and forming a squad capable of at least holding their own, whilst instilling a more professional attitude around the club.

Saunders was born in Birkenhead in November 1932. The striker had joined Everton, before spells at Gillingham, Portsmouth, Watford and Charlton. He spent six years at Portsmouth scoring 145 goals in 236 League matches. Before coming to Somerset he had been Charlton Athletic’s top scorer in the last two seasons. He said he wouldn’t be here long, and he certainly went on to greatness. He managed at the top level at several clubs, most notably Aston Villa, winning the Football League Cup twice, the First Division in 1980/81 and leading Aston Villa into Europe. He resigned with Villa in the Quarter-finals of the European Cup, and it was his assistant, the late Tony Barton, who tasted success and lifted the trophy.  Yeovil Town won the Southern League in 1970/71, shortly after Saunders left Huish.