Weymouth Football Club is delighted to announce the four former players who will be entering the Hall of Fame on Friday 28th February 2020.
At last year’s inaugural event we inducted: Bob Lucas, Matthew Bound, John Clarke, Willie Gibson, Martyn Harrison, Tony Hobson, Ian Hutchinson, Aniello Iannone, David Laws, Jason Matthews and Graham Roberts at the inaugural Weymouth Football Club Hall of Fame evening.
Weymouth Football Club Hall Of Fame evening tickets are now for sale, and they are selling fast! We have a limited number available so please contact Gemma via email to secure yours now: gemma@weymouthfootballclub.co.uk
The Hall of Fame evening will include a three-course meal with an arrival drink, a question and answers with current Weymouth manager Mark Molesley, raffle, as well as the four players being inducted into the Hall of Fame.
The event will be held at 18:30 on 28th February at Weymouth College.
Over 1,300 votes were cast online and via the voting slips in the club shop between 13th November until 21st December and you have chosen the following players to join the 2020 edition of our Hall of Fame:
Phil Stocker
Stocker was born in Teignmouth, on December 15th 1932, and it was at the local Grammar School that Stocker first began to take soccer seriously.
He played his first adult football for Dawlish, before playing for Bristol Rovers when he was on National Service.
He then decided to concentrate on a career as a teacher and entered St Luke’s College, playing for their very successful side. He also played for Barnstaple who were managed by Arthur Coles. In 1954-55 he scored 65 goals for the Devon club.
When Coles moved to Weymouth he persuaded Stocker to follow him and Stocker came to the Rec. as an amateur in 1955.
Although signing as a part-time professional Stocker obtained a teaching role at Weymouth Grammar School – teaching maths and physical education.
He stayed with Weymouth until 1970 when he left for Bridport as player-manager (spending 4 seasons there).
He did return to the Rec. for a short period as reserve team manager in 1974 and stayed for a further two seasons.
Stocker had the honour of playing county football for Dorset and Somerset.
He started his time at Weymouth in the forward line, but made a successful transition to full back around 1957. In total, he made 614 appearances (25 coming as a substitute) and scored 45 goals.
John Waldock
Born in North Shields, Newcastle upon Tyne in 1975 Waldock soon became part of the infamous Cramlington Juniors Youth Conveyor belt, under the watchful eye of legendary scout Jack Hixon Waldock’s talent, was recognised and he soon joined Sunderland AFC. Hixon unearthed such talents as Alan Shearer (England & Newcastle Utd) Andy Sinton (England & QPR) Michael Bridges (Leeds Utd) Graham Fenton (Aston Villa & Leicester) Tommy Widdrington (Southampton)
Waldock played for Sunderland AFC for a 3 year period under the stewardship of Former SAFC legend Jimmy Montgomery, John’s no-nonsense approach saw him recognised with a Northern Ireland U18 call up due to his Mothers Irish heritage.
After a bad knee injury versus Leeds United in a reserve game, Waldock’s appearances become limited & he joined the Terras in the 1995/96 season after a free transfer by then Sunderland manager Peter Reid.
Under the ‘Northeast’ revolution led by fellow ‘Geordie’ Graham Carr as manager, The Terras signed three outstanding servants in Waldock, David Laws & Ian Hutchinson. Between the three of them, they’d go onto amass over one thousand appearances of which 425 appearances were earned by John. The three became cherished fans favourites as they went onto become outstanding servants to Weymouth FC on & off the field.
During the Terras promotion season of 1997/98, Waldock was influential under ex-Shrewsbury manager Fred Davis, & in season 98/99 John was awarded fans player of the year, Players player of the year & away fans player of the year. He was awarded the Terras captaincy in 2000/01 season as his hard tacking no-nonsense defensive play made him a fan’s favourite.
John ended his playing career in 2003/04 season as he migrated to a coaching role under then manager Steve Claridge. That season the Terras finished 2nd and missed out on promotion after a promising start to the season & finished second behind Crawley Town FC.
In July 2004 John was awarded a testimonial versus Brighton & Hove Albion as the Terras fans showed up in force to show John their appreciation. John left the club as a fan’s favourite & still lives in Weymouth to this day with his family.
Stewart Yetton
Yetton was born on 27 July 1985 – in Plymouth – and joined Plymouth Argyle as a trainee. He was a striker who progressed through the Argyle youth set-up but could not break into the first team. He had undertaken a trial with St Mirren, but after just three substitute appearances he joined Weymouth on loan in January 2004. He made 4 appearances, 1 from the bench, and scored once before returning to Devon.
He returned for a second loan spell in November 2004, this time making 3 appearances (1 as a substitute) without scoring.
He was released by Plymouth in December 2004 and on 11 February 2005 he joined Tiverton Town (23apps 7gls) moving to Truro City in October 2005.
He became a prolific goalscorer for Truro with 209 goals in all competitions (309 apps) by February 2010 as City progressed through the Western League and the Southern League. These included 72 goals during the 2006–07 season (a club record) and helped the club win the FA Vase in 2006-07. He also had a short loan spell with Ivybridge Town (3apps 4gls) at the beginning of the 2009 season to aid his recovery from a shoulder injury.
After five months on the sidelines with a knee injury during the 2012–13 season, Yetton returned to the Truro squad and scored three goals in three games, although the club were relegated from the Conference South. In nearly eight years at Truro, he scored 226 goals in 315 league and cup appearances.
In May 2013 he joined Weymouth on a permanent basis. He became the club captain and scored 65 league goals in 131 games for Weymouth.
He scored 27 goals in his first season with Weymouth, winning the Southern League Golden Boot.
Although his iconic beard is now my more trimmed and tamed today, ‘Yetti’ as he was known by Terras’ fans, will be fondly remembered for scoring goals and becoming ‘the beard to be feared’ across the Southern League structure.
At one point, the club even saw supporters wearing ‘Yetti beards’ at the Bob Lucas Stadium, there was an infatuation between the charismatic frontman and the club’s fans.
Short spells back at Truro City followed, as well as a stint as a player-coach at Plymouth Parkway in 2018. In December 2018, Yetton rejoined Southern League side Tiverton Town.
For the start of the 2019–20 season, Yetton once again rejoined Truro City, as a player and as assistant-manager to Paul Wotton.
He was also an accomplished cricketer, in August 2011, Yetton took a five-wicket haul on debut for Old Suttonians Cricket Club, helping them to a nine-wicket win.
The Weymouth Football Club board have also elected to induct Bryan Lawrence to the Weymouth Football Club Hall of Fame.
Bryan Lawrence
Lawrence was born in Upton, Poole, on 13th November 1954.
He started playing football at Hamworthy United in 1969 and represented Dorset at both schools and Youth level.
He moved to AFC Bournemouth, but did not quite make the breakthrough, moving to Weymouth in July 1973, making his debut against Barnet on 11th August 1973.
Whilst at Weymouth he was selected for the FA Representative XI in 1979-80.
He was awarded two testimonials, the first against Chelsea in 1979 and another against Southampton in 1985.
It is remarkable that Lawrence can boast two runs in which he played over a 100 consecutive games for the “Terras”. These came between 11th August 1973 and 16th April 1975 (128 games) and April 1976 to April 1978 (125 games). He also captained the club on 80 occasions. He is the only player to make 150 1st XI appearances before his 21st birthday and is the youngest player to make 500 appearances, which he achieved at 26 years 11 months.
He was released by Weymouth in May 1985, moving to Poole Town, having made 666 appearances (26 as a sub) and scoring 6 times. As a “Dolphin” he made 50 appearances, scoring once, before retiring in June 1987.
He has since spent time helping at Swanage, in Youth and senior football.
