EXETER CITY FOOTBALL CLUB

Third Division Standard Will Be Higher Than Ever

DODGIN IS HOPEFUL CITY WILL SHINE: TWO VALUABLE LATE SIGNINGS

Inseparable from the start of any soccer season is the question "What are the prospects?" Fans everywhere look hopefully to the beginning of another campaign. On the National front there is an overdue desire and determination to restore Britain's prestige. At club level the belated realisation that no longer will the customers pay good cash for bad entertainment is welcomed. 

The Third Division South is likely to be stronger this season than in any since the war ended. The fight hor honours must be keener because more teams can be fancied to win promotion. Norwich City, with a series of splash new signings, Coventry City now with an experienced left-wing pair in Capel and Collindridge to act as a balance to lots of young talent, Bristol City, where support and playing potential are good, and Southampton, who have made two of the biggest summer deals in acquiring Foulkes and Mulgrew; these are four teams that are bound to be there or thereabouts in the championship race. There are others.

EXETER CITY:
PROPHECY IS DANGEROUS

Locally the main concern is with Exeter City, ninth from top in the season which ended last April and having enjoyed their most successful League run for 20 years. How do the City make out? Let player-manager Norman Dodgin sum up. His mid-August message to the clients states: "Prophecy is dangerous before the campaign is under way. We saw that illustrated 12 months ago when Sunderland were hailed as prospective champions of Division 1 only to survive relegation by the narrowest of margins, and again when unfancied Ipswich Town went on to win promotion. Professional soccer is an uncertain business. Calculations are so easily upset by unlooked for happenings, exemplified in the case of Exeter by the eve-of-the-season illness of Andy Donaldson. "At the same time I am hopeful. It is not being over-optimistic to predict that the City will do reasonably well. I shall be disappointed if we do not equal last year's record. To improve on that will be a satisfactory achievement. 

"But one thing I am asking above all else is that every player on the staff gives of his best. First team places will be awarded solely on ability and not reputation. The players have been told that, and they appreciate the position."

DODGIN SAW THE WORLD CUP

During the summer the City's head man took a fortnight off to see some of the world cup matches in Switzerland. With him was the chairman Mr Sidney Thomas and another director. They saw in those games the value of team work allied to a rich degree of individual skill. No one expects the City players to match the craft and accuracy of the Continental masters. It is, however, reasonable to demand that every footballer in the St James's Park camp tries his utmost, in training as well as in matches. Nothing less will suffice. A shining example of a man's determination in the face of threatened adversity is supplied by the City's Frank Houghton. Here is a man who was regarded as finished four years ago, yet who may, even now stage a return without parallel in the annals of professional football. The Houghton story is an inspiration. Whether Frank is successful or not in his come-back bid the future alone will determine. He went well in training this week, and he is confident of being able to win through. To a man, the City supporters wish him well. The same sentiments go out to Andy Donaldson, Exeter's regular centre forward last season, and in whom Birmingham and Norwich City showed an active interest recently. Happily, the latest advices are hopeful and re-assuring. The verdict is that Donaldson should be ready to play again within six weeks. Fewer signings were made by Exeter City this summer than during any close season since the club entered the old Southern League 46 years ago. Excluding Houghton, whose registration with Newcastle United was cancelled over three years ago, the number of newcomers is seven. All these new men are from Football League teams.

TOMMY DUNNE THE BEST KNOWN
An addition to the defensive ranks is Evan Williams, tall and stylish left-back with four years' experience at Cardiff, and eight first team appearances to his credit last term. Joining him in the Ninian Park trek to Devon is Dennis Callan, a youthful, two-footed wing half back whose practice match performances satisfied the fans. Best known of the newcomers is Tommy Dunne, nephew of the old Arsenal, Sheffield United, and Ireland centre-forward. Tommy, a right half back of flame coloured hair and robust physique, qualified for a Second Division championship medal with Leicester City last season. He made 19 first team appearances, and Exeter had to pay a four figure fee to secure his transfer. Keen students of the game who have seen Dunne play in League football regard him as a capture who ought to be a powerful force in the Third Division.  New forwards are John Anderson, from Northampton, and Raymond John, a youngster who comes on a two months' trial from Barnsley. Anderson, victim of an injury in pre-season training, was previously with the Partick Thistle club in Scotland, and it is understood that Watford were very keen to get him. To secure Gordon Kaile, from Preston North End, the City paid what is reported to be their highest transfer fee of the close season. He was signed too late to play in the practice matches and as he has done no training he may not be ready to take part in any of the opening matches, the first of which will be at the Exeter ground on August 21st when Crystal Palace provide the City's opposition. As an outside left Kaile has served two clubs. He joined Nottingham Forest in 1947 and went to Preston in 1951 for £7,000. He found opportunities restricted at Deepdale because of the consistent form of Morrison, and the records show that the City's recruit made seven appearances in the First Division all told. Twenty-six years of age, Kaile is Dorset born, and intends to enter a scholastic training college with the object of becoming a school teacher. Within a few days of fixing up with Kaile the Exeter City manager signed on a new goalkeeper. He is Alex Bell, 24 years old, late of Partick Thistle.

GRECIANS WHO HAVE MOVED ON

Two old stalwarts will be missing from the City's line-up this season. Goalkeeper Barney Singleton, who stayed long enough to earn a benefit at Exeter, has made the short move to Yeovil, where he should do the Southern League club a lot of good.

Ray Goddard is installed as Bideford's player-manager, and hopes to make the North Devon side a powerful force in Western League soccer. For the record, Singleton played 189 Cup and League games in Exeter City's first team and Goddard 137.

Other departures include Sammy Booth, a steady wing half or inside forward, to Bradford City; full back Jimmy Storey to Bournemouth and Boscombe; inside forward Jackie Knight to Bath City, who have also taken Peter McLean; Roger King to Bideford; and Basil Cook (upon his return from a holiday in South Africa) to Barnstaple Town.

EXETER CITY'S LIST OF PLAYERS

GOAL:- A.S.Bell, H.R.Kelly.

BACKS: N.Douglass, J.B.Doyle, E.S.Rowe, R. Walton, E.M.Williams.

HALF BACKS: D.Callan, F.Davey, N.Dodgin, R.L.Doyle, K.W.Harvey, A.Marsh, J.G.Owens, M.Setters. FORWARDS: J.L.Anderson, A. Donaldson, W.Ellaway, F.C.Houghton, R.John, G.Kaile, A.Mackay, C.McClelland, A.Mitchell, E.Murphy, T.Dunne, G.Priestley, G.J.Rees, D.Robinson, A.Sword.

A PRACTICE MATCH AT CREDITON

Ellaway Four in 10-nil Win
Saturday August 7th
at Newcombe's Meadow.

EXETER CITY 10 (Ellaway 4, Mackay 3, Priestley 2, Mitchell 1)
CREDITON nil.
Half-time 4-0.

Crediton: J.Atkins; Finning, Kenshole; Rice, Clark, Ashplant; I.Grinney, Humphries, Vowden, Davey, Elston. Exeter City:- McClelland; Walton, Douglass; Harvey, Davey, Mitchell; Priestley, Ellaway, John, Anderson, Mackay.

AT ST JAMES S PARK:
REDS V BLUES
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST BLUES 4 (McClelland 2, Ellaway 2)
Half-time Reds 1 Blues 0.

Reds: Kelly; Walton, Douglass; Owens, Davey, Mitchell; Setters, Robinson, Doyle L., I.Grinney, G.Rees. 2nd half: Dunne, Houghton, Elston in place of Owens, Doyle, Kelly.
Blues: Ellis; Rowe, Williams; Dunne, Dodgin, Callan; Priestley, Ellaway, John, Mackay, McClelland.

2nd half: Doyle in place of Dodgin.

Final Practice
At St James's Park
on Saturday August 14th

Reds beat Blues by five goals to two after leading by three goals to one at half-time. The attendance was 3,133, with receipts of £212. 14s. 6d.

Reds: Kelly; Walton, Douglass; Dunne, Davey, Mitchell; Priestley, Ellaway, Houghton, Mackay, McClelland.

Second half: P.Elston in place of Kelly.

Blues M.Ellis; B.Doyle, Rowe; Owens, Harvey, Callan; Setters, John, L.Doyle, I. Grinney, G.Rees.

Second half: Marsh and C.Davey in place of Rowe and Grinney. Goals: Dunne, B.Doyle own goal, Houghton, Mackay, and McClelland for the Reds, John and Callan for the Blues.

EXETER CITY DIRECTORS

Mr. S.H. Thomas (chairman), Mr. F. P. Cottey (vice-chairman), Mr. A.T. Ford, Mr. A.W. Crawshaw, Mr. G.H.Gillin, Mr. H.L.White, Mr. L.Seward,Mr. C.W.H.Hill, Mr. J.Rigby, Mr. J.G.Warne.