Londoner, Herbert (“Tiny”) Yeomans, grew up in north-east Hants, at Hartley Wintney, and, although he played his early football just over the county border at Camberley, he was eligible to keep goal for Hampshire. Originally signed on amateur forms, he soon signed pro.

At 6’4” the tallest goalkeeper – along with George Ephgrave – ever to play for Saints,

Tiny was effectively waiting for Tommy Allen to be injured. After Tommy had been ever-present in 1923-24, Tiny had a chance, in October 1924, to move to Southern League Guildford United. But he preferred to stay in that League with Southampton’s Reserves – unlike his cousin, Joseph Yeomans, who, having turned out for the Reserves a few times in the first part of that season, elected to move to Guildford. Tiny’s break came in April 1925, when Allen was at last injured. He thereupon made a few League appearances and played in the end-of-season charity matches. Eight more games early the next season would, however, be his lot. He gave up and joined the Southampton Police.

In 1940 a watercolour was made of the Southampton Air Raid Protection Control Room which was situated in the basement of the Civic Centre and the policeman on duty in the painting was none other than Tiny Yeomans who was standing guard.