EXETER CITY FOOTBALL CLUB

Season 1912-1913


It has been known for some time past that an F.A. enquiry into certain affairs of the Exeter City club was likely to take place. Over two months ago the Management were acquainted with the fact that certain complaints had been sent up by a section of the directors to the Governing Body, and now the Secretary, Mr S. H. Thomas, has received intimation that an F. A. Commission will sit at the Railway Hotel, St. David's, at 9.30 a.m. on Saturday next, June 1st.
The members of the Commission have not been named, but Mr. Pickford is quite likely to be one of them. Nor have the alleg ations upon which the enquiry will be specifically based been mentioned in the official letter.
The City officials have, however, been asked to send the Club's books, including the financial books, kept by Mr. W. Fenwick, a director, to headquarters, and this has been done. All the directors have been asked to be present at the enquiry, which is quite likely to last all day.

Match Bonuses.

While the matter is "sub-judice", so to speak, it would be ill advised to comment at any length upon the nature of the enquiry. It does appear, however, that one of the charges made is that ir regular match bonuses were paid to players. It is also understood that there are other complaints about irregular accounts, but how far they are provable, and their real nature, remain to be seen. The enquiry may have three endings: the dismissal of the charges made, the fining of officials, or the suspension of officials and of those directors connected with the alleged illegal transactions at the time they took place. It is of course giving no secret away when it is mentioned that the enquiry is the direct result of a split which has long been existing, a minority of the directors going against their colleagues. The whole affair is an unfortunate one for the Club and the sport locally, and it is certain that whatever the findings of the Commission there will be a good many interesting facts made public afterwards.
Meanwhile supporters of Exeter City would be well advised to suspend their individual judgment until they are in possession of these facts. 
With regard to the two new players signed on this week, Mr Chadwick has written to the directors, explaining that he secured Martin Golightly, inside-left, from Gateshead, a North Eastern League club. He is aged 21 years, 5 ft. 7 ins., and 11 st. 5 lbs. He scored nineteen goals last season. James Lagan is bustling a. centre-half, aged 21, and in height 5 ft. 11 ins., and weighing nearly twelve stone. He was secured from West Stanley, who are also in the North-Easter League, and Chadwick succeeded in ob taining his signature at the time that two English League clubs were making enquiries about him. Terms have been offered to a new back, and he will probably sign.

AN EXETER SENSATION
as reported in the "Athletic News" Although the intimation that the Football Association would appoint a Commission to enquire into certain charges made against directors of the Exeter City club created a sensation last week, it was not altogether unexpected by many who were behind the scenes. The worst of the matter is that the said charges emanate from a small section of the directors themselves, a rare occurrence. The trouble has been brewing for a long time past, starting somewhere about the end of season 1910-11, when there was a difference of opinion as to finding money for summer wages. Since then the breach has steadily widened, and a minority of the Board, being out-voted on more than one question, appear to have taken this step in order to get their way. Such divisions on a directorate must be fatal to the interests of any club, and es pecially a new organisation. The outcome of the enquiry will not, of course, transpire until after the Commission has reported to the F. A. Council.

SATURDAY, JUNE 1ST 1912
The Official Enquiry Today:
Lasts Four Hours
At the Great Western Railway Hotel, St. David's, Exeter, a company of about a dozen were gathered this morning in camera for an official enquiry, conducted by a Commission of the Football Association, one of the most autocratic bodies in the world of sport, into the affairs of the Exeter City Football Club. Though the City F.C. has been in existence only four years, it has tasted many of the sweets and bitters of professional football, and to day's proceedings undoubtedly marked a crisis in its history, even though the outcome, it was generally understood, was likely to affect individual interests rather than the interests of the Club as a whole. The exact way in which the Commission came to be appointed yet remains to be told, but it is generally understood that complaints were submitted to headquarters by a minority of the City Board, three, according to rumour and as a consequence the F. A. took what is, in football circles, the extreme step of appointing a Commission. The charges, it was understood, were mainly, if not specifically, concerned with the paying of irregular bonuses to players for winning matches, these payments being alleged to have taken place two or three seasons ago.

A Record in the History of Football.

So far as can be learned, Exeter City in this matter have established a record in the history of football, in that it was the first time a complaint had ever been lodged against a club, such as would lead to a Commission, by members of the Club's own Board. The names of the gentlemen who had been appointed to sit on the Commission were given as:-
Mr C.Crump, of Wolverhampton, a vice-president of the Football Association, who was to preside; Mr W.Pickford, of the Hants Association, the well-known authority on football laws; and Mr J.B.Skeggs, of Poplar, the chairman of the Millwall F. C., with Mr F.J.Wall, of headquarters, as Secretary.

Mr Skeggs, it will be remembered, came down to Exeter when the City club was being formed, and advised the promoters on various points, particularly recommending St. James's Park as a playing pitch. Mr Pickford, too, expressed a good deal of sympathy on behalf of Exeter City over the matter of the Burnley cup-tie, in season 1910-11. It was later announced that Mr Skeggs would not sit, and that the Commission would consist solely of Messrs Crump and Pickford.
The whole of the City directors, with the exception of Mr W.G. Middleweek, the latest addition, were present at the appointed venue at nine thirty this morning. Shortly afterwards Mr Wall entered the room in which they were waiting, and announced that only Directors would be admitted to the enquiry. Capt.F.J.Harvey, a former chairman of the club, was present at the time, and Mr Wall, recognising an old acquaintance, expressed regret that he could not be admitted to the proceedings.

The Commission began about 9.45, and hour by hour went by with nothing but scraps of news for those who were waiting. The latter included one or two gentlemen interested in Plymouth Argyle, Mr Robert Jack, the Argyle's manager, for instance, was present, and in the Commission's room was Mr J.D.Spooner, vice-chairman of the Argyle club, who attended by right of his membership of the F.A. Others attending were Mr Devenish, chairman of the Exeter City's Supporters' Club, and Mr Ball, of Messrs Martin, Ball, and Co., the official auditors of the Club. No old players, and no legal representatives, contrary to rumour, put in an appearance, and Mr Chadwick, who returned from Lancashire last night, was also an absentee, though like Mr Middleweek, he was within distance of a telephone call, if required.

Written Statements.

About eleven o'clock the first news came from the room to the effect that written statements had been handed in by certain of the directors, and statements were being taken from them. Another hour, and Captain Harvey was called. He was out again in less then twenty minutes, and made no scruple about telling his friends that he had given his precise reasons for leaving the Board, and had expressed ignorance of any irregular bonuses being paid to players during his time of office. Another hour, and Mr Ball was called, Mr Fenwick, one of the directors, being out of the room while he gave his evidence to the Commission. Mr Ball was detained but a very short time, and just afterwards those in waiting were given to under stand that the Commission was nearing the close of its investigations.

Exactly at 2.15 p. m., the enquiry was at an end, and the City directors came from the room, some smiling and one or two glumly reticent. The pressmen in waiting immediately made their way to Mr Wall. "Is there any official statement" they asked "to communicate to the Press?" "None," responded Mr Wall, and proceeded in the most courteous tones, "You gentlemen know the usual procedure. We report our findings to the Association for official confirmation, and then our report is made public."

Subsequent to the City directors leaving the hotel, the Commiss ion sat in private for about half an hour, and in all probability they then drew up the report they will submit to the F.A.Council. So far as could be learned afterwards the charges laid against Exeter City were only those in regard to bonuses paid to players for winning matches. The charges were levied, it is understood, by Mr T.Oliver, and certain statements respecting them were signed by Mr W.H.Cook and Mr W.Fenwick, two other directors. There were other complaints about the keeping of accounts, but no other allegations were made as to defalcations; in other words, there was no charge against anybody as to funds coming into the club being used for other than strictly club purposes, a fact which wipes off almost altogether the slur which would otherwise attach to the club in respect to the enquiry.

The Reading Cup-tie.

The bonuses were alleged to have been paid out, not as at first mentioned, some three years ago, but in 1910-11 and 1911-12. One or two matches were mentioned, such as the Reading cup match of two seasons ago, and it may be taken for granted that such tech nical breaches of the F. A. rules were admitted this morning by certain gentlemen connected with the City club. What censures, fines, or suspensions are inflicted as a consequence remain to be seen.

There are reasons, or so it appears, to believe that the enquiry will not be as serious a matter as was anticipated in certain quarters. Exeter City has been pilloried by certain of its direct ors for an offence the paying of bonuses which hardly any club in the land can plead not guilty to, and the extravagant rumours which have circulated for some time past, slandering the majority of the directors, will be laid low by this enquiry. If there are suspensions they will be purely for the payment of bonuses, and it seems that the one man seemingly aimed at by those who levelled the charges will not be affected.

EXETER CITY FINED BY THE FOOTBALL COMMISSION

A Director Suspended

The following is the official report of the Commission appointed by the Football Association to enquire into the affairs of the Exeter City club:
"On April 29th 1912, Mr T. Oliver, a director of the Exeter City Football Club, reported that certain irregularities had taken place in connection with the club, and supported it by the signed statements of Mr W.Fenwick and Mr W.H.Cook, other directors. The books of the club had been asked for and sent to the F. A. office, and it was found that they had been only partially written up. The cash-book was very incomplete, and generally the books were not in a satisfactory condition.
A Commission, appointed to investigate the charge, met at Exeter on June 1st, 1912. There were present, in addition to the members of the Commission, Messrs A.Norman Kendall, J.M.McGahey, the club chairman, J.I.Pengelly, W.Norman, F.G.Hill, T.Oliver, W.H.Cook, F.Parkhouse, and W.Fenwick (directors), S.H.Thomas (secretary), Ball (auditor), and S.Spooner (president of the Devon County Football Association). Statements were made by each of the directors and officials, also by Capt. Harvey (Chairman of directors in 1908, the first year of the club's existence). It was admitted that in the season 1908-9 bonuses were paid to players. It was also admitted that in 1910-11 bonuses were paid for F. A. Cup-ties with Reading. These bonuses come within the amnesty proclaimed by the Football Association on March 9th 1909. The Football Association have no rules prohibiting bonuses, and these payments are matters affecting the rules of the Southern League. It was further admitted that at a home match, vs New Brompton, on September 9th, 1911, a portion of the "gate" receipts had been put aside as a reserve fund, and not shown in the accounts, and the enquiry showed that this was within the knowledge of Messrs Cook, Fenwick, Parkhouse, Oliver, and Thomas, and without the sanction or knowledge of the other directors. The charge made by Mr Oliver was that this was done to pay bonuses. As soon as this came to the knowledge of Mr McGahey he brought it before a Directors' Meeting and the practice was discontinued, and the money placed in the club funds. No bonuses were paid, and no illegitimate use was made of the money.
The Commission approves of the action of Mr McGahey and other directors, and censures Messrs Fenwick, Cook, Parkhouse, Oliver, and Thomas for their improper and irregular action. The Commission is satisfied that the books were not entered up to date, nor kept in accordance with the regulations, and consider that in connection with a club of the standing of Exeter City, this is very unsatisfactory. The Club was at once ordered to enter up the books in accordance with the regulations, and to submit them for inspection. The Club is also fined £20. In the course of the enquiry the Commission was satisfied that Mr T.Oliver, who did not report the irregularities until eight months after the date, though himself aware at the time, has been the primary cause of dissensions among the directors, players, and officials, and that in the interests of the club his official connection with it should cease. He is, therefore, suspended from acting as a director or in any official capacity in the Exeter City Football Club."

A FEW COMMENTS
The publication of the report has come at an unexpected moment. Having been delayed so long, it was generally thought that the Commission would reserve their findings until the Bournemouth meet ing at the end of this month. It would be idle to conceal the fact that, generally speaking, the report will give satisfaction to a very large following of the club. True, a fine of £20 has been im posed, which could be subscribed in half an hour, if needs be, and true, also, the Commission finds fault with the keeping of the books. It is specifically stated, however, that no illegitimate use has been made of the moneys of the club, and the censure passed upon Messrs Fenwick, Cook, Parkhouse, Oliver, and Thomas, is in respect to the putting aside of money as a reserve fund and not showing it in the accounts.

The Suspension of Mr Oliver.
The comparatively small nature of the fine, and the fact that only censures are made in respect of irregularities, throw a most. significant light upon what the Commission thought about the charges. as they were brought against the club. With respect to the suspension of Mr T. Oliver, the Commission made it clear that, in their opinion, he was responsible for the dissensions which have arisen, and it is somewhat unique, to say the least of it, to find that a gentleman who himself brings about an enquiry is, in the end, the only one to be suspended. Further than that, nothing more need be said; the F. A. have given their verdict and it speaks for itself.

An Unmixed Blessing.
On the whole, the enquiry will prove an unmixed blessing to the club. Things could not have continued as they were, and now the air has been cleared, one can only hope that the Commission's report will put an end, once and for all, to rumours which have too long been in circulation. The F. A. have no favourites, and when the case of Exeter City was reported to them they sent down two gentlemen to enquire into it who are noted for their strictures and impartiality. The verdict of these gentlemen has now been published, and Exeter's public can easily judge for itself, for they can now see how little the rumours have been worth. The friends of Mr McGahey, Chairman of the Club, will naturally welcome the fact that he has been entirely exonerated, even in the matter of technical irregularities. For a professional gentleman, in his position, and being, as he was, the head of the Club, the enquiry was a matter for no light concern, and the report, as now issued, will probably enable him to enjoy the holiday he is at present spending in Switzerland.
Too Many Discouragements.
Another who will find the report not exactly distasteful reading will be Arthur Chadwick. He has done his work splendidly during this close season in respect to getting a team together, and when he returns to the city in a week's time it will be to put more heart into the affairs of the Grecians than he has felt like doing for a long time past. He has had in the last two seasons all too many discouragements, and often, to use his own words he felt ready to "chuck the whole thing." But the outlook will be changed from now on.

Plymouth Argyle.
The annual report of the Plymouth Argyle Football1 Company Ltd., is just to hand, and throws a light on what a successful playing season will do. The match receipts last season went up by £1,300, and the reserve team gates were more than doubled. Wages increased by about £850, due mainly to the larger number of players, and to their having been paid from May 1st, 1911, instead of from late in July.
"The payment of the players' bonus," says the report, "for the securing of second position in the Southern League was a heavy expenditure, but one which the shareholders would no doubt agree was well earned and justified." The profit on the year's working was £156. 19s. 1d., and a dividend of five per cent will again be paid. Horne, Butler, and Atterbury are guaranteed £100 each for a benefit next season."

Exeter City.
That Exeter will have some such report to make at the end of next season is the devoute wish, to be sure, of every Argyle follower.

St. James's Park.
The ground at St James's Park will be looking better than ever when the new season's starts. The playing field has been returfed, the grandstand enlarged, and new terracing installed.

EXETER CITY'S NEW START
Sweeping Changes:
Exeter City are making practically a new start, sweeping changes having been made in the personnel of the team since the end of last season. During the summer the club has loomed very prominently in the public eye, and the F. A. Commission which sat is still fresh in the minds of all. With regard to the team, only six of last year's side were re tained, and therefore Mr Chadwick had a busy time recruiting in the north of England.

• Last year's players who have sought and found fresh fields are Coates (Southampton), Evans and Griffiths(Clapton Orient), Prideaux and W.Whittaker (Swansea Town), Enos Whittaker (Stoke), and Watson (Stalybridge Celtic).

The new men, since their arrival, have given every satisfaction, and the prospects of the club are bright, to say the least.

EXETER CITY'S NEW MEN
All About Their Football Careers:

Biographical sketches of Exeter City's new professionals are given below, in alphabetical order. The players, twelve in number, all have the advantage of youth, and though there are no giants among them, they possess splendid physiques for their inches, especially Nevin, who is 5 ft. 9 ins., and turns the scales at 12 st. 4 lb. Several of the newcomers are quite the superior type of professional footballer; for example Clifford Brooksbank, after taking a scholarship for science at Halifax Grammar School, was employed in a solicitor's office before joining the ranks of professional athletes. A striking feature in regard to the new men is the fact that only Fred Whittaker, late of Northampton, had the slightest acquaintance with Southern League football before signing for Exeter City, so that they will be playing in a competition entirely new to them, and one or two enter upon professionalism for the first time with Exeter City.

CLIFFORD BROOKSBANK.
Brooksbank was a favourite at Blackburn all the time he was with the Rovers. People clamoured for him to be put in the Cup tie team last year, and it was because he felt that he had not always got the recognition he merited that he finally decided, though with something of regret, to try his fortune elsewhere. At Blackburn he gained a reputation for being not "flashy", but consistent, and for seldom, if ever, playing a bad game. Brooksbank was born at Halifax twenty-two years ago. He is 5 ft. 8 ins., and weighs 11 st. 4 lbs. He played football first as a schoolboy for Queen's Road Board School, Halifax, and from there went to Halifax Grammar School with a science scholarship. He was the 220 yards champion of this school for three years in succession, and while there followed up his football successes gained at the Board School by getting his England Schoolboys' Cap against Ireland and Wales. From the first he had always been a centre-forward. Having left school he went into a Solicitor's Office, and played for Huddersfield Town before they secured admission to the English League, as an amateur in the West Yorkshire Combination. Subsequently his parents removed to Blackburn, and he played then for Oswaldtwistle Rovers in the Lancashire Combination, Second Division. He was there for about eight months when the Rovers got him to sign amateur forms for them. He continued to play for Oswaldtwistle, however, and it was for them that he first signed professional forms, a First Division League club desiring his transfer. Blackburn Rovers, however, won their prior claim to him on facts submitted to the League Management Committee, and for three seasons onward Brooksbank was with the Rovers. Last season he scored seventeen goals for the Reserves, and several times during his stay with the Rovers performed the "hat-trick". Despite this, however, the management did not promote him to the first team, and he was further disatisfied with the way he was moved about from one position to another. Hence Chadwick was successful in bringing him to Exeter. He is a player who does not believe in unnecessary frills and elaboration, but has a natural aptitude for the game. The only injury he has ever met with was a collar-bone fracture during a match at Bury.

GEORGE CLAY.
The following notes were written before the F. A's. decision was made known, which meant his return to South Liverpool, and are intended for purposes of reference in connection with the extent of Exeter City's actual signing-on work during the close season: Born at Preston 22 years ago, Clay is 5ft.6ins., and 10st.41b. Though the smallest man on the side, he will have to be reckoned seriously with in the coming campaign. He has brought Cooper out of his shell, and is the ideal partner for an inside-right who knows his play. One of the best wingers, in fact, in Lancashire Combination football last year, South Liverpool had counted on him staying with them, and did not take at all kindly to his decision to come West. He is little, but of very sturdy build, and as hard as the proverbial nails. As a boy he played for St. Michael's School, Preston. Then he appeared at inside-right for Lostock Hall, a junior team in the Preston and District League. His next venture was with Hindley Central in the Lancashire Combination, and when seventeen he signed amateur forms for Preston North End. Last year with South Liverpool he played outside-right for the first time, and thus began his partnership with Cooper, which brought them both to the front very rapidly.

THOMAS COOPER
The partner of George Clay was born at Birkenhead, and is only twenty years of age. He is 5 ft. 62 ins., and weighs 11 st. He budded forth last season when he found his form at inside right to Clay, and became regarded as one of the best forwards in the second division of the Lancashire Combination. He has always played either inside or outside right, and began his football career as a schoolboy at Birkenhead on the wing. Leaving school, he continued his experience with the Wirral Railway Club, an organisation in the West Cheshire League, with which Andy McGuigan has had some connection since leaving Exeter City. Cooper later on appeared for Birkenhead in a local league still as an outside-right, and then returned to Wirral, playing in the First Division of the West Cheshire League. He went to the South Liverpool club when that organisation was started, taking part in the Liverpool County League, and later the Lancashire Combination, and it was then that his partnership with Clay began, a partnership which quickly brought him to the front. Until the time of his venturing West as a professional, Cooper worked in the shipping yards. Andy McGuigan, a fine judge of a footballer, has a high opinion of both Cooper and Clay, and predicts rapid promotion for them. Cooper takes his football very seriously, and will modestly admit that he has yet plenty to learn. He had never seen a Southern League match when he consented to come to Exeter with Clay.

ELLIS CROMPTON.
Crompton is the newcomer who has the biggest ready made repu tation. All the football world was talking about him when, in the middle of the 1910-11 season, Tottenham Hotspur paid a large fee to Blackburn Rovers for his transfer. But Tottenham and London never appealed to him. The reason was that the training methods at Tottenham were not suited to him, and he never touched his top form with the "Spurs". His departure from London, therefore, was not an unwelcome move for him, and he comes to Exeter to try his fortune in the Southern League, and it is naturally expected that he will do great things for the Grecians. Born at Ramsbottom, he is still, despite his lengthy football career, only 25 years of age, so that he should have plenty of football left in him yet. His height is 5 ft. 7 ins., and his weight 11 st. 7 lb. He is a model of muscular developement, not the abnormal sort, but such as enables him to take hard knocks in his stride, so to speak. Crompton did not play schoolboy. At the age of sixteen he joined Hupton United, and in those days played in every forward position bar outside-left. He then played for Padiham, in the Lancashire Combination, and for half a season was their centre-forward. Blackburn Rovers got to hear of his prowess, and at the age of eighteen he signed for them as a professional, remaining with the Rovers until Tottenham secured his transfer. He has scored as many as five goals for Blackburn Rovers in a Lancashire Combination match, and did the "hat-trick" in English League football on March 22nd 1909, when the Rovers defeated Sunderland by 8-1. His figures in six seasons of First Division football amount to 22 goals in 44 appearances, exactly a goal in every other game,
Crompton is one of the married members of Exeter City's team this year. He can tell many an anecdote of his days with Blackburn Rovers, but is hard to "draw". Good judges say that he has never had a chance of showing his real ability, owing to preferences for or favours to other men, but it is quite likely that he will come into his own at last. He is very fast on the ball, and difficult to dispossess, believing in cutting straight through for goal and not "standing on ceremony". In training Crompton has some patent methods of his own for perfecting control of the ball. He has been appointed captain of Exeter City this year.

MARTIN GOLIGHTLY.
This tricky inside-left was born at Gateshead, and is only 21 years of age. He is short, but of thick-set build, and as elusive. with the ball as any forward could be. His height is 5 ft. 7 ins., and his weight 11 st. 5 lb. Before taking up football seriously he was a fireman on the North-Eastern Railway. Unlike the majority of players who have attained a degree of prominence, he took no part in football when a schoolboy. His first club was St. Vincent's, a junior club at
Gateshead, and from the time he touched a football he has always stuck to the one position, inside-left. He was first put there by accident, and tumbled naturally to its requirements. After a couple of seasons in the junior ranks of St. Vincent's, he went to Fatfield, competing in one of the senior Sunderland district competitions, and put up the remarkable record of 48 goals in a season. Such scoring proclivities were bound to put him in the limelight. Golightly's shooting, dribbling, and trickery were renowned in North-Eastern football circles, and Gateshead snapped him up. He played regularly for them last season, and signed professional forms for the first time. He scored nineteen goals for Gateshead in the North-Eastern League, and missed only two matches.
His new colleagues at Exeter have had the greatest respect for his abilties from the first, and the practice matches made him an early favourite with the crowd.

GEORGE HURST.
This sturdy left-back was a friend of the City's goalkeeper, Chapman, in his schooldays, and the two have renewed their old friendship at Exeter. Hurst was born at Radcliffe, Manchester, in 1888. He is a man of splendid physique, being 5 ft. 9 ins., and nearly 13 stone. His first football club was a boys' side, Moseshead Gate Temperance, for whom he appeared at centre-forward. Afterwards he found his proper position at left-back, playing as an amateur for Skelmersdale United for two seasons, and signing professional forms when he obtained a trial with Chorley, of the Lancashire Combination. Four years ago he went to Walkden Central, his last club before coming to Exeter. Hurst is as "strong as a bullock", and absolutely fearless, and like most players of such pluck has had a remarkable freedom from accidents and injuries. He is a terror to a dilly-dallying forward, can tackle as well as Nolan Evans used to; talks very little about the game, preferring to play it.

BEN IVES.
Benjamin Ives, like Spencer Bassett, is London born, his birthplace being Hackney. He is now 21 years of age, stands 5 ft. 8 ins., and weighs 10st.10lbs. He won his place in the Rushmore School team the year before he left school, and then joined Page Green Old Boys, a well known senior amateur club in the North London area. Ives at that time was only fifteen. He had been with them nearly a season when he was signed as an amateur for Crystal Palace. Ives at that time was seventeen, tall and slim, as he still is, and played mainly at inside-left. He then signed professional forms for Tottenham Hotspur, playing 32 matches for the Spurs' Reserves in the South-Eastern League in his first season with them, and 27 in his second, a good record for one of his age. Barrow-in-Furness next secured his signature, and he played there for two seasons in Lancashire Combination matches, scoring eleven goals from outside-left in his first year with Barrow. He followed that up with fifteen goals, also from outside-left, the next year (1910-11), when, for a short time towards the end of the campaign he was partnered by the old City favourite, "Daisy" Bell, who had moved on from Portsmouth. Last season Ives played in no fewer than 45 matches, and is warm in his praise of Bell's form in the English Cup-tie against Watford; Bell was his inside partner on ten occasions. For three years past he has been on the ground staff of the Finchley Cricket Club, but likes football better than the summer game. He is very speedy, and with his clever control of the ball is a difficult man to tackle. He has made a speciality of cutting in from the wing to try a shot at goal, and altogether is one of the most promising of the City's new men.

JAMES LAGAN.

James Nicholas Lagan, centre-half, was born at Felling-on-the Tyne, near Newcastle, and is 22 years of age, being the elder of two brothers who have joined Southern League clubs, the younger brother having gone to Gillingham. Of good build, he is 5ft.10ins. in height, and turns the scale at 11 st. 4 lbs. Lagan is another player who has never changed his place, and
has always operated at the important position of centre-half. One of four brothers, who have all been good at the game, his first club was St. John's, Felling, a School Junior Club. After leaving them he played for a number of teams in succession, the best known being Murton, Craghead, and Felling Eastern Region. When he was twenty, his form attracted the attention of West Stanley, of the North-Eastern League, and last year he played in every one of their matches. Numbered among his colleagues were such famous old players as Thackeray, ex- Sheffield Wednesday and Middlesbrough, Barnfather, late of Croydon Common, and Tully, of Clapton Orient and Rochdale. Lagan was the youngest member but one of the West Stanley side, and it was whilst with them that he became a professional. He suffered a family bereavement shortly after coming to Exeter, and has the sympathy of all supporters of the club. One of the younger members of the City team, he is to be regarded at present as an unknown quantity. This much, at least, is known; he is willing, ready to learn, and in earnest.

ERNEST MORRIS.
Morris is the youngest player signed on. He is another from Lancashire, having been born at Padiham twenty years ago. He is one of the best built in the whole side, for he weighs twelve stone though half an inch below 5 ft. 9 ins. He played first in a school team, and then went to Padiham St. John's, and had spent two and a half seasons with that club prior to joining Exeter City. He has always played left-back, and last season his team was fifth from the top of its competition, just failing to secure promotion to Division I of the Lancashire Combination. Morris kicks well with either foot, never tires, and is an indomitable tackler. It is true that he is now coming into first class football for the first time, but it is surprising that he has never been picked up before by a senior club.

FRANK MULLINEUX.
Mullineux is slim, and light for his inches, but a player of great promise. He is another player who is joining professionalism for the first time with the City, and he may make a name for him self in the "Ever Faithful". He was born at Walkden 22 years ago. Mullineux was educated at Farnworth Grammar School, and as a boy played left-back. Afterwards he Little Hulton, members of the Bolton Amateur League, and assisted them as a back for two seasons. Then he got a trial with Walkden United, and remained with them for one season. It was there that he changed positions, and settled down at left-half. He then went to Hindley Central for one season, and finally to Walkden Wednesday. He soon became a leading figure in the Manchester Wednesday League, and played for the "Rest of the League" against the Champions last season, at left-half. He was captain of the Walkden club in 1910-11 and again last year.

RALPH NEVIN.
Born at Durham 22 years ago, Nevin is one of five brothers, all footballers, one of whom has gone to Bristol Rovers. He is the heaviest of Exeter's new signings, being 12 st. 4 lbs., yet only 5 ft. 9 ins. in height. As a schoolboy he played centre-forward and centre-half, appearing for Lintz Rovers when they won the Stanley and District Junior League four years in succession. When the Rovers broke up he went to Lintz Institute, and was captain of that team for two years. He then joined Gateshead, the North-Eastern League club, as a professional, but continued his employment as a coal miner. He says that he owes something of his muscular developement to his work underground.

FRED WHITTAKER.

Whittaker's introduction to first-class football was quite accidental. Born at Burnley 25 years ago, he started playing, when fourteen, for St. Catherine's Sunday School team. He was with them three years or more, following the while the trade to which he had been apprenticed. His employer was interested in the Burnley club, and was also acquainted with his young apprentice's doings in the junior team. It chanced one Saturday that one of the Burnley players failed to put in an appearance, and at one o'clock Whittaker's employer asked him to turn out for Burnley Reserves against Colne. Burnley won that day, and Whittaker scored the only goal of the match from inside-right. That was his first step to becoming a professional. He played two more matches as an amateur for Burnley Reserves, and the following year the first team began with four matches, and not only failed to win one of these, but also failed to score a single goal. Whittaker was thereupon given his chance (he was then 18 years old) against Notts Forest in the next match, and Burnley won by 21, Whittaker scoring both goals. That settled it, for he was immediately asked to sign professional forms, and from then till the end of the campaign scored 13 goals in Second Division foot ball. For another half a season he stayed at Turf Moor, playing occasionally at inside-right, and then Bradford City paid a good. transfer fee for him. He was at Bradford for one and a half years, playing regularly for the first team, and after that, being desirous of a change, signed for Northampton. It was there that he began to feature more at outside-right. He is 5 ft. 8 inches. in height, and weighs 11 st. 12 lbs. Whittaker lost his place in the "Cobblers'" team through injury, for during the six weeks that he was laid up Walden came into the team and did so well that he could not be ousted. He is, of course, one of the "hopes" of the new Exeter side.

NOTES ON THE EXETER CITY PRACTICE MATCH

Saturday August 17th,
at St. James's Park

The Exeter City practice match which followed the Athletic Sports Meeting at St. James's Park cannot be regarded as anything like a reliable guide as to the worth of the new men. For the conditions were all against it from the point of view of a serious test. The pitch, it is true, is at the present time in perfect trim better by far than it has ever been before but the heavy rain which fell all day long rendered it greasy and heavy. Despite these circumstances, the play was not at all bad for an opening practice, and there was plenty of evidence that the City have got the right material to work upon. The teams were:
REDS: Chapman; Fort and Hurst; Rigby, Bassett, and Lockett; Clay, Cooper, Crompton, Bailey, and Ives.
GREENS: Pym; Morris and Nevin; Mullineux, Lagan, and Clarke; Whittaker, Rutter, Brooksbank, Golightly, and Garside.

Ben Ives was the "star turn". He scored a couple of goals for the Reds, who won by 31, and he had four times the number of opportunities that Garside, on the other side, was presented with. Moreover, he made the best use of them. He is fast, and possesses a strong shot. His shooting ability is accompanied by a further ability to cut inwards and shoot on the run. In physique and style he is not unmindful of his erstwhile clubmate, "Daisy" Bell. Ellis Crompton furnished an example of the immense value of getting quickly off the mark. Once he had the ball he was at his full stride immediately.

Ideal Backs.
Hurst, Nevin, and Morris are all good. Hurst is palpably the older head, and the most experienced of the trio, but the other two are of fine physique and strength, and on the field look to be ideal backs. Mullineux is tall and slim, and a scientific, not robust, type of half-back. Lagan, who has suffered a bad family bereavement since his arrival at Exeter, could not be expected to give of his best, for he has done very little training with the other players. Clay and Cooper are unmistably old partners. They have the reputation of over doing the trickery part of the game, but little of that was seen on this occasion. Clay got across some well-nigh perfect centres, and he and Cooper between them did enough with the ball to show that they are a worthwhile pair of forwards. Golightly is remindful of Danny Shea, the West Ham "star", nimble and quick, and on a dry ground is said to be a real box of tricks. Brooksbank scored the only goal for the Greens, and got it by timing his dash to the split second. The heavy going, of course, was as much against his style as against Golightly's. As to Whittaker, the crowd have seen him in a Northampton Town shirt, and they are acquainted with his ability. He can kick a football harder than any man in the team, and gives the idea of always having something in reserve. There will certainly be no "faint hearts" in the team this season.

Bassett Prominent.
The new men only have been mentioned so far. The others were just about what they are known to be, with Bassett perhaps the most prominent. Pym has filled out since last winter, and there is no reason to suppose that he will not fulfil his promise, much in evidence in the closing weeks of last season. The biggest difficulty facing the management will be the one of choosing the forward line.

CITY PRACTICE:
SATURDAY AUGUST 24TH

Final Public Trial at St. James's Park:

An Attractive Game:

The final public practice match of the Exeter City players took place at St. James's Park this afternoon. Lewis deputised in the "Greens" for Bailey. Before the start, the whole of the players, together with the directors and manager, "sat" for the annual group photograph to be taken. The turf was soft after the recent heavy rain, but the going was fair, and at the kick-off there were 2,500 present. Ives was early in the picture, and with the first shot of the match he brought Pym to his knees. The Reds then attacked, and Whittaker saw plenty of the ball. A foul against Clarke again put the old Northampton winger in possession, but Mullineux got the ball to touch. Immediately afterwards Crompton cleverly slipped the ball to Rutter while on the ground. Rutter headed out to Whittaker, and Morris finally cleared. Over the Bar.
The "Reds" were clearly the better side, and from one of Whittaker's centres Garside shot over the bar. Then Cooper and Clay were in evidence, and quickly took play to the other end, but Cooper's volley went behind. The Reds forwards got away in good formation, and Chapman saved from Crompton's toes almost on the goal-line, while at the opposite end Pym saved from Ives. First Goal. About midway through the opening period the first goal was scored. Whittaker drove the ball across to the left, and it was met by Golightly, who, stooping low, steered it with his head into the net, well out of Chapman's reach. It was an excellent goal, cleanly executed, and well deserved on the run of the play. Whittaker thrilled the crowd again with a dashing run, outpacing Nevin, and then sweeping the sphere over to Rutter, but Lagan, Morris, and Nevin between them prevented Rutter from getting his shot in. The equaliser was scored by Ives. Mullineux sent in a centre which Pym caught, but was unable to hold on to, and when he let go of the ball Ives was on the spot to ram it into the net. The game continued to be lively and full of incident, and almost on the stroke of half-time Golightly tricked three men, and scored the Reds second goal.
Half-time: Reds 2 goals, Greens 1. Second Half.
Brooksbank equalised for the Greens after Pym had saved from Lewis, but Rutter immediately replied for the Reds, for whom Crompton went through on his own to score the fourth goal. The amount taken at the gate, £32. 14s. 10d. will alb go to local charities.
Final: Reds 4 goals, Greens 2.
Teams:
Reds: Pym; Fort, Hurst; Rigby, Bassett, Lockett; Whittaker, Ru r, Crompton, Golightly, and Garside.
Greens: Chapman; Morris, Nevin; Mullineux, Lagan, Clarke; Clay, Cooper, Brooksbank, Lewis, and Ives.
Referee: Mr. G. Campbell.