Splendid Prospects for the Season 1920/21

A Progressive Story

The Grecians' prospects were never so good as they are today, as the club stands on the threshold of a new season in which it will operate, for the first time, as a member of the Football League, Third Division.

Emboldened by the unprecedented success achieved last season, the directors, ably led by their popular chairman, Mr M.McGahey, have launched out in progressive fashion and there is every reason to believe that their commendable efforts will be supported to the full by the football public in East Devon. The Exeter City Club, in fact, has done its utmost to meet the wishes of its followers.

Ground Improvements: Many New Players.

Big ground improvements have been effected. The pick of last year's team has been retained; Pym, Coleburne, Mitton, Crawshaw, Makin, and Dockray, along with such useful men as Hetherington, Green, Lincoln and Loram. Jimmy Rigby has "hung up his boots" in order to concentrate on his business, but will nevertheless still be available in an emergency, and the captaincy of the club now rests upon the capable shoulders of Dick Pym, the goalkeeper.
And there are no less than 13 newcomers, all good men, and some tip-top quality, who mat be expected to become famous if they keep their heads.
Mr Chadwick, indeed, has once again demonstrated his unique gift for locating young players of genuine ability and tempting them South, for Lancashire, of course, has once more been his happy hunting ground.

Reserves in the Western League.

With a total of 22 professionals on the books it will be possible to run two strong elevens, and the club's followers will find the Western League fare provided by the Reserves a tremendous advance on the Plymouth and District League. If one may judge from the experience of the practice games it seems that the popularity of the Western League team is already assured. Those youngsters are keen and can play fine football.
The new first eleven is a distinctly stronger side than that which did duty last season. The weak spots have been strengthened, and the only department about which their is any anxiety is at centre-half. At the moment neither Carrick nor Lakin has shown himself as good a player as Popplewell. But Carrick will improve tremendously as he gains experience, and when once he settles down, should be a real acquisition. He will make a rare spoiler, and he knows the value of the right sort of passes to the men in front. John Feebery, the old Bolton Wanderer, shaped very well in practices, and Charlie Vowles and Brayshaw are decided captures. Wright, the new centre-forward, is a strong player as is Hesmondhalgh.

Mr S.H. Thomas, the City secretary, is making a big name for himself in the football world, and the club's affairs could not be in better hands.

Exeter City F.C.
Headquarters:- St James's Park
Club Colours:- Red and White stripes, white knickers.

Directors

Messrs. M.J. McGahey (Chairman), J.I. Pengelley (vice-chairman), T. Neal, F. Parkhouse, A.N. Kendall, A.G. Chamberlain, E. Head, G. Middleweek.

Players.
Goalkeepers.
J. Isherwood, R. Loram, R.H. Pym.

Backs
W. Betteridge, J. Coleburne, J. Feeber, R. Pollard.

Half-Backs
J. Carrick, A. Crawshaw, P. Hilton, W. Lakin, J. Mitton, G. Taylor

Forwards
L. Appleton, W. Brayshaw, J. Dockray, A. V. Green
T. Hesmondhalgh, S. Hetherington, C. W. Lincoln
T. A. McIntyre, J. Makin, C. Vowles, W. P. Wright.

New signings
Leonard Appleton from Blackpool, Walter Brayshaw from Sheffield United, James Carrick from Plank Lane, Jack Feebery from Bolton Wanderers, Tom Hesmondhalgh from Rochdale, Percy Hilton from Everton, William Lakin from Barnsley, Robert Pollard from Plank Lane, George Taylor from Skelmersdale United, Charles Vowles from 21st Lancers, J Isherwood from Bolton Wanderers
William Wright from Tranmere Rovers and Thomas McIntyre.

Of last year's team
Popplewell and Lovett have been transferred to Blackpool, Goodwin to Manchester United.Oldacre to Sheffield United.

First Team Results

Match Reports

Date	Opponents	Venue	Score	Attendance
28 Aug 1920	Brentford	H	3-0		Wright	Vowles	Feebury (pen)
01 Sep 1920	Norwich City	H	1-1		Makin
04 Sep 1920	Brentford	A	0-0		:
08 Sep 1920	Norwich City	A	0-0		:
11 Sep 1920	Millwall	H	4-0		Wright 2	Makin	Carrick
18 Sep 1920	Millwall	A	0-2		:
25 Sep 1920	Newport County	H	0-1		:
02 Oct 1920	Newport County	A	0-2		:
09 Oct 1920	Gillingham	H	2-1		Appleton	Vowles
16 Oct 1920	Gillingham	A	1-2		Wright
20 Oct 1920	Southend United	H	0-0		:
23 Oct 1920	Swindon Town	H	1-0		Makin
30 Oct 1920	Swindon Town	A	1-1		Carrick
06 Nov 1920	Watford	H	1-2		Wright
13 Nov 1920	Watford	A	0-0		:
20 Nov 1920	Crystal Palace	H	1-1		Vowles
27 Nov 1920	Crystal Palace	A*	1-2		Vowles
04 Dec 1920	Northampton Town	H	4-0		Wright 2	Vowles	Dockray
11 Dec 1920	Northampton Town	A	3-3		Wright 2	Dockray
25 Dec 1920	Plymouth Argyle	A	0-0		:
27 Dec 1920	Plymouth Argyle	H	1-1		Shields
01 Jan 1921	Southend United	A	0-0		:
15 Jan 1921	Brighton and Hove Albion	H	1-0		Shields
22 Jan 1921	Brighton and Hove Albion	A	1-1		Makin
29 Jan 1921	Merthyr Town	A	1-7		Shields
05 Feb 1921	Merthyr Town	H	3-3		Vowles	Shields	Appleton
12 Feb 1921	Grimsby Town	H	1-1		Feebury (pen)
19 Feb 1921	Grimsby Town	A	0-2
26 Feb 1921	Queen’s  Park R	H	0-1
05 Mar 1921	Queen’s  Park R	A	1-2		Carrick
12 Mar 1921	Swansea Town	H	1-2		Hinton
19 Mar 1921	Swansea Town	A	1-2		Makin
25 Mar 1921	Portsmouth	A	1-2		Hetherington
26 Mar 1921	Luton Town	A	0-3
28 Mar 1921	Portsmouth	H	0-0
02 Apr 1921	Luton Town	A	1-0		Vowles
09 Apr 1921	Southampton	A	0-3
16 Apr 1921	Southampton	H	1-0		Vowles
23 Apr 1921	Reading	A	1-0		Vowles
30 Apr 1921	Reading	H	0-1
02 May 1921	Bristol Rovers	A	0-5
07 May 1921	Bristol Rovers	H	1-0		Makin

Final Table

League Division 3 1920-21
	Teams	P	W	D	L	F	A	W	D	L	F	A	Pts
1	Crystal Palace	42	15	4	2	45	17	9	7	5	25	17	59
2	Southampton	42	14	5	2	46	10	5	11	5	18	18	54
3	Queen's Park Rangers	42	14	4	3	38	11	8	5	8	23	21	53
4	Swindon Town	42	14	5	2	51	17	7	5	9	22	32	52
5	Swansea City	42	9	10	2	32	19	9	5	7	24	26	51
6	Watford	42	14	4	3	40	15	6	4	11	19	29	48
7	Millwall	42	11	5	5	25	8	7	6	8	17	22	47
8	Merthyr Town	42	13	5	3	46	20	2	10	9	14	29	45
9	Luton Town	42	14	6	1	51	15	2	6	13	10	41	44
10	Bristol Rovers	42	15	3	3	51	22	3	4	14	17	35	43
11	Plymouth Argyle	42	10	7	4	25	13	1	14	6	10	21	43
12	Portsmouth	42	10	8	3	28	14	2	7	12	18	34	39
13	Grimsby Town	42	12	5	4	32	16	3	4	14	17	43	39
14	Northampton	42	11	4	6	32	23	4	4	13	27	52	38
15	Newport County	42	8	5	8	20	23	6	4	11	23	41	37
16	Norwich City	42	9	10	2	31	14	1	6	14	13	39	36
17	Southend United	42	13	2	6	32	20	1	6	14	12	41	36
18	Brighton & Hove Albion	42	11	6	4	28	20	3	2	16	14	41	36
19	Exeter City	42	9	7	5	27	15	1	8	12	12	39	35
20	Reading	42	8	4	9	26	22	4	3	14	16	37	31
21	Brentford	42	7	9	5	27	23	2	3	16	15	44	30
22	Gillingham	42	6	9	6	19	24	2	3	16	15	50	28

FA Cup

1920/21
08 January 1921	Watford	Away	0-3	9000	:	1R

Western League 
Final Table

1	Bristol City Reserves	30	18	5	7	58	27	2.15	41
2	Cardiff City Reserves	30	20	1	9	64	42	1.52	41
3	Abertillery Town	30	16	7	7	61	35	1.74	39
4	Swansea Town Reserves	30	15	8	7	60	29	2.07	38
5	Douglas	30	15	8	7	52	32	1.63	38
6	Pontypridd	30	15	6	9	60	40	1.50	36
7	Yeovil and Petters United	30	13	6	11	52	46	1.13	32
8	Bath City	30	12	7	11	45	45	1.00	31
9	Swindon Town Reserves	30	12	6	12	62	50	1.24	30
10	Exeter City Reserves	30	10	9	11	48	53	0.91	29
11	Bristol Rovers Reserves	30	10	5	15	46	53	0.87	25
12	Ton Pentre	30	10	5	15	43	60	0.72	25
13	Welton Rovers	30	9	6	15	39	67	0.58	24
14	Mid Rhondda	30	8	6	16	23	57	0.40	22
15	Barry Reserves	30	6	5	19	33	72	0.46	17
16	Cardiff Corinthians	30	4	4	22	24	62	0.39	15

Reserves 
Plymouth and District League 
Results

Final Table 


Exeter City's Struggle

A poor season at St James's Park: Many dissappointments.

The month of May brings to a close one of the poorest football seasons from a playing point of view that Exeter City F.C. has ever experienced.
With a larger number of players to call upon than in any other year it was confidently anticipated that the 1920-21 season would be attended by great success, and these anticipations appeared so well founded in the opening matches that many people had visions of Exeter City playing in the 2nd Division next season.
The early successes, however, proved only a case of flattering to deceive, for after obtaining the leadership of the Third Division League Table, the club fell from grace, and the have only escaped the last two positions by the skin of their teeth.

Removal of all Debts.
The season therefore has been remarkable for continued failure, and to the general public has been a disappointing one.
Of that there can be no doubt. But in one respect there is much the management has to rejoice about. One of the principal accomplishments of the season has been securing of the ground as the football clubs own property.
In devoting the money paid for the transfers of Mitton to Sunderland, £2000, and Wright to Huddersfield, £2600, for the removal of all debts upon the ground, the directors took a certain risk, and had the club failed to have avoided the danger zone, the possibility is that the ground would have been dearly bought.
As matters have turned out, this move on the part of the management is about the only bright spot.

(N.B. The monies from transfers by 2019 standards, given inflation would have been in the order of £1 million each, and it is important to note that property has increased in value significantly more than average inflation)

Consistent Failure.
As regards the team there is not much that can be said of a congratulatory nature character. The season, indeed, has been remarkable for the consistent failure of the eleven to settle down and become a reasonably cohesive combination. Dick Pym, Feebery and Dockray have proved themselves three stalwarts throughout the season, and the club must feel thankful that they have maintained their form right through. Some of the other players have at times shown up prominently, but as a rule they have only been moderate.
The big cause of Exeter City's failure has been the lacking if efficient half-backs. Those who have played have been workers and willing, but by no means good footballers, and as a half-back line is generally considered to make or mar a team, it is easy to see why Exeter have fared so badly.

Club's Heaviest Defeat.
The heaviest defeat in the history of the club was sustained at Merthyr on January 29th, when 7 goals were registered. The only consolation was that the score might have been less had Pym been in goal.

Two victories of four clear goals were obtained both at home. The first against Millwall on September 11, and the other against Northampton on December 4.
in the English Cup Competetion the club was ousted at the first time of asking. Watford defeating Exeter by 3-nil.
Of the 21 away matches only one was won.

Local Football Encouraged.
One of the most pleasing features has been the efforts of Exeter City to encourage football in the surrounding district. Visits have been paid, among other places, to Taunton, Newton Abbot, Exmouth, Budleigh Salterton, Sidmouth, Seaton and Axminster, considerable interest being aroused. In addition a gold medals competetion was initiated for leading clubs in Exeter, with matches being played free of charge at St James's Park, and as result of which junior football will receive substantial financial benefit.
The fostering of junior football is bound to reap its reward in later years.
The management decided, with a view to encouraging a better type of football, to compete in the Western League, and the games have certainly produced some rousing play. As regards the financial side of the question, however it is doubtful whether receipts from matches have justified the change.
The success obtained from a playing point of view was not so great as to attract large numbers to the ground. The experiment, however, is worth persevering with.

Goal Scorers.

Third Division: Vowles 9, Wright 9, Makin 6, Shields 4, Carrick 3, Appleton 2, Dockray 2, Feebery 2, Hetherington 1, Hinton 1.

Western League: Hesmondhalgh 17, Brayshaw 7, Hetherington 4, McIntyre 4, Taylor 4, Vowles 4, Wright 3, Harding 1, Please 1, Shields 1, Parr (OG), Other 1.

Pym Going North.

Bolton Wanderers Seek City Captain's Transfer
Has Pym played his last match for Exeter City? Representatives of three first-class professional clubs were present at St James's Park on the last day of the season watching the City and Bristol Rovers match. At the close officials of the Bolton Wanderers Club approached the Exeter City directors and sought Pym's transfer.

Pym turns down Exeter Contract renewal.
The City captain had been offered terms for next season by his club week earlier and refused them.

A Big Bid, but Pym signs for Exeter.
On Saturday the Wanderers's representatives made a big bid for Pym's services. The terms proposed were not acceptable to Exeter, and eventually, the Bolton deputation, having ascertained Exeter's condition's, left to place the matter before a meeting of their directors. Pym subsequently signed forms for Exeter City for next season.
Mr M.J McGahey, (pictured) Chairman of the Exeter City club, has confirmed that they will not part with Pym unless he definitely wishes to go.

Pym's Own Views.
It is known that whilst Pym is filled with regret at the thought of leaving Exeter and Devonshire, which is his home, and where he has made a multitude of friends and admirers, he feels it his duty to look at the matter from the business standpoint.
His share in a transfer fee would probably be very much larger than any amount he could expect to receive by way of benefit, and in view that a footballer's career is uncertain, he wishes to make good financially now, whilst in his prime.

Other Players on the Transfer List
Charlie Vowles and Bob Pollard have signed for next season, and Carrick has been offered terms and put on the retained list.
The following have been put on the transfer list:-
Appleton, Coleburne, Feebery, Green, Lakin, McIntyre, Makin and Shields.
The remainder of the players are free to transfer to other clubs as opportunity offers.
Green has an engagement as a Cricket Coach at Exeter School this Summer.

Paul F

1920/21, 1920s, A G Chamberlain, Alfred Green, Arthur Chadwick, Charles Vowles, Charlie Pratt, Dick Pym, E Head, Fred Parkhouse, George Taylor, H Greenaway, J Isherwood, James Carrick, James Makin, Joe Coleborne, John Dockray, John Feebery, John Mitton, Leonard Appleton, MIchael McGahey, Percival Hilton, R Kelland, Robert Pollard, Sid Thomas, Squad Photograph, Sydney Hetherington, Thomas Hesmondhalgh, Thomas McIntyre, Timeline, W Norman, Walter Brayshaw, Wilfred Lowton, William Betteridge, William Crawshaw, William Lakin, William Wright