Gary Johnson gives his first sit down interview on decision to become new manager of Southern League Premier South side Taunton Town.
The 70-year-old was appointed after a casual approach from the club director, with Johnson saying the project to build the club and increase attendance “tickled his fancy”.
His first match in charge will come on Saturday when Taunton host Gloucester with a big crowd getting expected. But before that, his new side play away at Hungerford Town on the 23rd of December.
Look who came to collect their Christmas gift, Peacocks 🤩🎁
Welcome to Taunton Town, Gary 👏#UpThePeacocks 🦚 pic.twitter.com/4jBSdMKMC5
— Taunton Town FC (@TauntonTownFC) December 22, 2025
CLUB STATEMENT:
We are pleased to confirm the appointment of the highly experienced and accomplished Gary Johnson as the new First-Team Manager of Taunton Town F.C.
In English football, and across the South West in particular, Johnson certainly needs no introduction. A managerial career spanning more than 30 years has seen him demonstrate exceptional leadership and achievement, including taking Yeovil Town from non-League football into the Championship, securing automatic promotion with Bristol City, and winning league titles at both Cheltenham Town and Torquay United.
Johnson also gained international experience between 1999 and 2001, when he was approached by the Latvian football authorities and appointed Manager of the Latvia national team. During his two-year spell in charge, he played a significant part in the development and identification of emerging talent, most notably recognising the potential of Marians Pahars and recommending him to Southampton manager Dave Jones, who invited Pahars for a trial before signing him in March 1999. He also recommended Igors Stepanovs to Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger.
His most recent role in football was in May 2024, when he returned to Cheltenham Town as Director of Football. During this time, he helped the club to stabilise following relegation from League One, while also playing a key role in recruiting several players who later generated substantial transfer fees. One notable example was the sale of Ethon Archer to Luton Town, a remarkable story in which Johnson took Archer from the Sussex County Leagues to Torquay United while in charge of the Devon-based club, and then to Cheltenham Town in League Two as Director of Football.
In 2014, Johnson was awarded the EFL Outstanding Managerial Achievement Award in recognition of his remarkable accomplishments with Yeovil Town. He guided the club from non-League football to the Championship, achieving a historic promotion that marked the highest level the club had ever reached. The award highlighted his sustained impact on both the club and the Football League, cementing his reputation as one of the most accomplished managers in English football outside the Premier League.
Gary Johnson on the Wembley pitch after Yeovil Town secured promotion to the Championship, 2013.
Speaking to the club in his first interview, Johnson expressed his delight at his new appointment.
“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. I think 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.”
Managerial Honours:
Yeovil Town (1998–2005, 2009–2015)
FA Trophy: 2001–02
Football Conference (National League): 2002–03 — promotion to the Football League Fourth Tier (League Two)
Football League Two: 2004–05 — champions and promotion to League One
Football League One play-offs: 2012–13 — promotion to the Championship via the play-offs (Yeovil reached the second tier for the first time)
Bristol City (2005–2008)
Football League One — Second-place promotion: 2006–07 (automatic promotion to the Championship)
Cheltenham Town (2015–2017)
National League (Conference): 2015–16 — champions and promotion back to the Football League (League Two)
Torquay United (2018–2020)
National League South: 2018–19 — champions and promotion to the National League (fifth tier)
Individual Honours:
Football Conference Manager of the Month: September 2002, March 2003, April 2003
Football Conference Manager of the Year: 2002–03
Football League One Manager of the Month: April 2006, March 2007
EFL Outstanding Managerial Achievement Award: 2014
Bristol City Supporters Club and Trust Hall of Fame: 2023
JOHNSON’S FIRST INTERVIEW:
Interviewer: So, hi Gary. First of all, welcome to Taunton Town. How are you feeling about being at the club?
Gary: Good. It’s the first time I’ve been here for a little while. Always excited with a new challenge and I’m excited about this. I’ve only been here a couple of times with teams and always felt that there was a good passion on the terraces. And it’s a chance to build the club because obviously it needs building as it were. But I’ve looked at the team and I think it’s a decent team and I think they’ve got a chance to be a lot higher at this level than they are at the moment. And so it’s really important to work towards getting into the National South at least and I saw that as a good challenge but a big one.
Interviewer: So, obviously you just recently left Cheltenham as a background role. How did this deal come about?
Gary: Yeah, it was more than a background role but I know what you mean. It came around because I resigned from Cheltenham for certain reasons. I’ll let you know when the camera’s off. No, it was fine. I had a good time at Cheltenham but it was time for me to go somewhere else. And so I was sort of thinking about it and then I got a call from Mr Gazard, one of the directors, who said would I be interested in the job. And I met Mr Gazard and Lloyd, Lloyd Irish. They came to me and we had a really nice meeting. And it was a getting to know you sort of meeting and my ideas and their ideas and they matched. And I thought that my ambition for a club like this was obviously the same as their ambition for a club like this. And that’s always handy when a manager and a board have got the same ideas.
Interviewer: And you spent a lot of your managerial career in the South West, mainly with the Oval, Bristol City, Torquay. Was that something that you wanted to try and stay with in the area?
Gary: Yeah, I mean I live in the area anyway in the South West and so you wait for the right job to come up that suddenly tickles your fancy. And this one did and I feel just the same now having met the chairman and the board of directors and everybody else, yourself and the media team. So it probably needs a little bit of paint and little bits and pieces that we’ve got to have a look at. But at the end of the day it’s what happens on the pitch and that’s going to be, hopefully we’ll create an entertaining team to get people through the gate. Because that’s a big reason for a club being successful, it’s supporters. And if we can double gates because we’re playing well and people want to be part of it, then of course it makes it a lot easier for the club to progress.
Interviewer: And have you managed to see any of the lads yet or look at any of the footage from match games so far?
Gary: Yeah, I have. I spent the last day or so, because it wasn’t long ago that I first met Carl and Lloyd. So yes, I’ve watched videos over the last couple of days. I know some of the players anyway and I’m pleased to meet them again. Whether they’re pleased to meet me or not, hopefully they will be. But there’s some decent players here and I think that they’re certainly in a lower position than they should be, given the squad that’s here. And hopefully I can help them. Hopefully we can get some more good players in to add to the squad at some point. But at the moment, everybody that’s here will get their opportunity to impress and show the new manager what they can do.
Interviewer: And with your backroom staff, Gary, are we going to be seeing anyone coming in with you or is that still to be announced or planned?
Gary: Well, it’s something because it’s so quick. People can’t make decisions like that to be assistants or whatever. But I think it’s always important to get into a club, have a look at it, see what’s already there and then make your decisions from that. Because I’m sure there’s some good people here. I hear there’s some good people here and it’ll be nice to meet them on Tuesday, tomorrow. Because I’ll be going to the game with Nick and Lloyd and credit to them. They got the team going on Saturday and it was a great performance and a great result and a great atmosphere because the people that went there were unbelievable. I thought that was the home end but it was the Taunton end and credit to them. And if we can keep them coming back and keep their enthusiasm, bring a few mates, then we’ll have a club to be proud of.
Interviewer: You just mentioned the fans. So how important in the next couple of months or so are the fans going to be for the next four months? Because obviously that’s all we’ve got left of the season and what sort of impact do you want to give to the fans?
Gary: Exactly what we just suggested. We want to play an entertaining game with a bit of passion. It’s something that fans can’t have their beer and their pie while the game’s going on. They want to be a part of it and atmospheres win games. Absolutely it does. I know the taunting fans do that and help the team win games but we’ve got to make that a habit and we’ve got to make sure that we double those fans. Appreciate the ones that are here but try and entice more people into the stadium and start getting the four-figure numbers. If we can get into the thousands then the world’s our oyster. Perfect.
Interviewer: And Gary, very lastly, obviously coming up to Christmas, do you have a Christmas message for the club and for the supporters?
Gary: Yeah. Merry Christmas to everybody and Happy New Year and hopefully we can keep what Lloyd and Nick have done. Keep winning games over Christmas because these are important because they come round very quickly. We’ve got Hungerford on Tuesday and then a massive game at home against Gloucester. They’ll both be good tests but Gloucester are up there. I’ve watched them a couple of times as well and they’re a very good team. We need to compete with them and show people that we’re not far away. We’ve got to come in our numbers and get behind the lads and bring out the best in them because the best of our team here at Taunton is going to be good enough.
Here’s how Twitter users reacted after Gary Johnson gives his first interview on the decision to become new Taunton manager…
@Tommyktufc: Hope you are all “the right type of fans” up at Taunton….
@mattyadders: You have my very deepest condolences
@GlosGroundhop: Pete Johnson and Aaron Downes are on their way. Then the influx of former Torquay players can begin
@tylerkilmister: We still have a couple of JOHNSON OUT banners for when you need them 👍🏼
@joneypup: Oh wow what have you done 🙃
@mattyadders: The #NightmareBeforeChristmas just got real for Taunton Town fans. Gosh…… I wonder who’s going to head up recruitment and who might be his assistant???? Hope the chairman has deep pockets!!!
@TUFCxCFCenjoyer: April Fools came early! 😂
@nelbo009: Someone at Taunton was obviously on the naughty list. Commiserations to all down there.
@villa_pogue: I dont wish any ill on Taunton, decent club & punters, gave Truro a home temporarily. But WTF have they done here? A bonkers Appt, analogue Manager in a digital age. Some Christmas this for Taunton fans. #NightmareBeforeChristmas
@CTFCHector: I’ve got a massive Johnson Out banner collecting dust for when any of your fans need it, I’d advise you take them to the next game.
@PatBuckingham: For a team that is no longer funded by it’s manager how on earth is Johnson now on the payroll? He who jumped as soon as Osbourne pulled the plug. Fear for them long term with this one.
@DanWilcox11: Didnt have that on my 2025 bingo card
@hercules_w1899: Shouldn’t be allowed anywhere near a football club again. He will appoint his brother and Downes and bleed you dry.
It can’t get much worse than this can it pic.twitter.com/nlbtYcj6Lw
— RMFC (@TUFCnonleague) December 22, 2025
