On Friday 14th May 1971, Exeter City received a letter from Western League club Bideford criticising them for including a Bideford professional in their team for a friendly match without first making official contact with the North Devon club. The player, Colin Rowe, 18, who lives in Exeter, was included in the City team that played at Dawlish Town in a friendly on the 5th of May 1971. It was not until what Bideford secretary Michael Pope describes as an eleventh hour telephone call that Rowe himself made to Bideford manager Graham Bond, that anyone at the club knew he was going to play for Exeter. Bideford have told City that while they welcome the opportunity for their young professionals to gain additional experience, Exeter should have applied for permission in the proper manner.