EXETER CITY FOOTBALL CLUB

The Grecians : Season 1925 - 1926

Clever and keen football at home and away, and some exciting Cup games, led to Exeter City making a host of new friends last year. It is the hope of the Club that the Grecians' play will be better than ever in this new campaign. There seems to be no reason why it should not be, with the cream of last season's talent re-engaged, and enriched by a few new men of quality.
Stanley Charlton will be back in a day or two from his Australian tour. His brilliant play in the Commonwealth games has brought lustre to Exeter City, and he can be sure of a real Devon welcome when he takes the field again at St James's Park. The City's playing pitch is in excellent trim. The new stand, on the "flower-pot" terrace, capable of accommodating one thousand two hundred spectators, and which in all probability will have seating in the near future, is a notable addition to the ground, and a provision which has been made possible by the untiring work of the Supporters' Club.

The Newcomers
In the last few days Mr Fred Mavin and his men have been somewhat impatient for the game to get properly under way again. Trainer Andy Tucker is once more in charge of the bucket and sponge, and all that this insignia of office implies, while the ground sman, Jim Orchard, surveying the emerald turf, is prepared to admit that this summer has not served him too badly. Inside-left is considered always one of the most difficult places to fill. In securing the services of Colin Myers the City, it is hoped, have scored really well. Exeter represents farthest south to Myers, who is a much travelled player, having served Bradford City, Southend, Aberdare, Northampton, and Queen's Park Rangers. It will take a rattling good centre-half to displace Crompton, but those who have seen William McDevitt in action are agreed that the City's new pivotal player, transferred from Liverpool, is a very likely candidate for that rare honour. Another newcomer, Walter Casson, once of Grimsby Town, played for Pontypridd last season in the Southern League, and Welsh League,
and the various competitions in which the club was concerned. At the end of the season his "bag" of goals was so large that many club agents became interested in him, and he chose Exeter. Young full-backs who are keen, quick, and clever, are always in demand, and the City would appear to have discovered a player of exceptional promise in Horace Hawkins, from Denaby, winners last season of the Northern Section of the Midland Subsidiary League. David Bolam, the young inside-right who made such an excellent impression in the trial matches, has played for Walker Celtic, Chester-le-Street, and Lincoln City. Appleyard will be seen with Torquay United this season, and Joe Coleburne with Taunton. Jack Davis is transferred to Newport County, Jones to Bristol Rovers, and Smelt to Chesterfield.

The players on the City's roll call, with their places of birth, heights and weights, are:
GOAL
Harry Bailey, Macclesfield, 5ft 10% in., 12 st 4 lb.
Syd Pavey, Taunton, 6 ft 1 in., 12 st.
FULL BACKS
Stanley Charlton, Little Hulton, 5 ft 9 in., 12 st 8 lb.
Bob Pollard, Plattbridge, 5 ft 6 in., 11 st 10 lb.
Andrew Flynn, Sheffield, 5 ft 8 in., 11 st 7 lb.
Wilfred Lowton, Exeter, 5 ft 11 in., 12 st 7 lb.
Horace Hawkins, Mexborough, 5 ft 7 in., 11 st 7 lb.
HALF BACKS
Ellis Crompton, Padiham, 5 ft 7 in., 12 st.
Robert Pullan, Darlington, 5 ft 9 in., 1l st 7 lb.
"Darkie" Potter, Pinhoe, 5 ft 103 in., 11 st 10 lb.
Billy Crawshaw, Darwen, 5 ft 10 in., 11 st.
William McDevitt, Belfast, 5 ft 10 in., 12 st.
William Cunningham, Radcliffe, 5 ft 7 in., 11 st 7 lb.
FORWARDS
Alf Matthews, Bristol, 5 ft 9 in., 11 st. Frank Newman, Nuneaton, 5 ft 6 in., 1l st.
Harry Kirk, Bradford, 5 ft 9 in., 10 st 11 lb.
David Bolam, Newcastle, 5 ft 7 in., 11 st.
Walter Casson, Blyth, 5 ft 8 in., 12 st 7 lb.
Harold Blackmore, Silverton, 5 ft 10 in., 11 st 4 lb.
Colin Myers, Ecclesfield, 5 ft 10 in., 12 st.
Wilfred Lievesley, Staveley, 5 ft 10 in., 11 st 7 lb.
William Compton, Bristol, 5 ft 8 in., 10 st 10 lb.
George Shelton, Sheffield, 5 ft 8 in., 11 st 5 lb.
John Quinn, Motherwell, 5 ft 8 in., 1l st 7 lb.

THE NEW GRECIANS

Inside-left is considered always one of the most difficult positions to fill. In securing the services of COLIN MYERS for this department Exeter City, it is hoped, have scored really well. Devon represents "farthest South" to Myers, who is a much-travelled player. A native of Ecclesfield, he made a big reputation for himself as the centre forward with the colliery club, Hickleton Main at a period when he spent a lot of his time working underground in the coal mines. In the first season after the war he was to be seen in the Bradford City camp, playing at inside right generally, and centre forward on occasions, in the Central League side. Myers then moved from Yorkshire club to Southend, playing in 22 League matches for "Shrimpers" in season 1920-21. Myers then accepted an the the offer from Aberdare, and in his one season with the 'Darians scored 17 goals before moving on to Northampton for the start of 1922-23. He was a great success with the "Cobblers," and stayed for a further season and a half, being then transferred to Queen's Park Rangers. He did his bit well, and now, at the commencement of his career at Exeter can point to a record which for keenness and consistency would be exceedingly hard to beat. Close on seventy goals in League and Cup in the past four seasons is Myers's Soccer achievement, and there appears to be no reason why the good work should not continue, here at Exeter, especially in view of the new "offside" law.
It will take a rattling good centre half to displace Ellis Crompton, but those who have seen WILLIAM MCDEVITT in action are agreed that Exeter City's new pivotal player, transferred from Liverpool, is a very likely man, with excellent ideas. Like Jimmy Carrick, of some little time ago, McDevitt comes from the Emerald Isle, but in his case it is the "black North," Belfast being his home town, or city. Commencing his football career early, with an Intermediate League Club, McDevitt, then an inside-right, was singled out for Junior International honours, assisting Ireland against Scotland on the Motherwell F.C. ground. Mr Bradshaw, the Swansea Town manager, lost no time in booking up McDevitt, and proceeded to take the liberty of experimenting with him as a centre half. Offered terms by the "Swans" at the end of the season (1921-22) McDevitt could not see his way to accept, and he spent the next season with Belfast United in the Irish League. Then Liverpool came along with the right offer and a cheque for the transfer fee which Swansea Town had put on the player, said to be £300. McDevitt was two seasons with the Anfield club, in company with his fellow townsman, Elisha Scott, the famous International goalkeeper, and was understudy to William Wadsworth and Cockburn in turn, getting an occasional run with the Chiefs, and meanwhile assisting the Reserves regularly in the Central League side. Specialising in constructive football, McDevitt passes like a true artist. Andy McGuigan, the ex-Grecian centre forward, now on the Liverpool ground staff, has a high opinion of McDevitt, who in the ranks of Exeter City will get a real try-out. When Grimsby Town came to Exeter the season before last in the F.A. Cup Competition they were vexed by a first-class centre forward problem, one of those ticklish questions which split in twain the following of a club, and may bleach a conscientious director's hair in a single night. The question was Carmichael or WALTER CASSON for the centre-forward position. Both players travelled down, and the final vote was in Carmichael's favour, and Casson sat in front of the railings by the grandstand and watched his team lose by a goal to nil. Carmichael did not show up at all, being held in tight rein by the vigilance and tight marking of Crompton, and Casson is now one of the new Grecians. Born at Blyth, Tyneside, he spent some time with Blyth Spartans as leader of their attack, and then joined South Shields and later to Grimsby. Last season he joined Pontypridd, and a rare and refresh ing time he had of it, too, in the Southern League and Welsh League, and the various competitions in which the club was concerned. His "bag of goals" was so large that quite a few club agents took an interest in him during the season, but Casson stayed at Pontypridd. and scored in all something over fifty goals. It will be very nice. if he repeats the feat in Exeter City's colours this season!
Young full-backs who are keen, quick, and clever are in particular demand just now, and Exeter City would appear to have discovered a player of exceptional promise in HORACE HAWKINS, of Denaby United, winners last season of the Northern Section of the Midland Subsid iary League. Hawkins, a strapping young full back of medium height, is a native of Mexborough, and his first professional club was Wath Athletic, a town team ten miles outside Sheffield. By a curious coincidence DAVID BOLAM, the City's new inside right, has come to Exeter from the team whose reserves won the Southern Section of the Midland Subsidiary League, namely Lincoln City. In the summer of 1924 Bolam signed for Lincoln after previous service with Walker Celtic and Chester-le-Street, and hopes to make a name for himself with Exeter City.

Grecians Get Going
BRIGHT PRACTICE GAME AT ST JAMES'S PARK
Saturday, August 15th.

The fact that W.Mc Devitt, the new centre half, transferred from Liverpool, was unable to take his place in the Whites XI, robbed Exeter City's first practice game of much of its interest. He had to stand down on account of foot trouble, and in his absence the Stripes (comprising the principal defence and half-back line and the reserve attack) beat the Whites, who included the main attack, by three clear goals. There was an attendance of 3,500 spectators, and the game was exceedingly open and interesting, there being only two stoppages for offside. The Whites were handicapped by weakness and by the moderate leadership of Blackmore, who at half back was very rarely prominent, and compared unfavourably with Casson, the new centre forward from Pontypridd. A bustling leader, Casson marshalled his attacking forces cleverly, and exploited the new offside position to the while his passes were almost invariably well made, and he very full, was dangerous in front of goal. He scored the Stripes' second point, the first having been obtained by Bolam, an enthusiastic young inside-right from Lincoln City, who had quite a good game. The third goal was scored by Lievesley.
The Skill of Myers
Colin Myers, the inside left from Queen's Park Rangers, delighted the crowd with a few sparkling bursts through with the ball well controlled, while he showed skill in initiating the right sort of attacking moves to disturb opposing defences by means of shrewdly made passes. Hawkins, the new right back from Denaby United, began nervously, but soon settled down to a sterling game, in which sound judgment was combined with pace and strong tackling. He should soon prove a very useful young defender. All the "old" players took the eye in turn. Pavey was more often in the picture than Bailey. The Stripes' goalkeeper, however, had some difficult shots to deal with, and but for his sound position play the Whites would have scored more than once.
The Change in the Offside Law

Arscott, who deputised for McDevitt at centre half, pace hot, but stuck to his guns very well, while the found the left half back, described in the programme as "A.N.Other" was Harrison, an amateur, who has assisted Stockport County, in Cheshire League football. Several well known local referees were among the spectators, and they expressed themselves as being very satisfied with the change in the play effected by the new "offside" law. They were of the opinion that it makes the game faster and it demands absolute physical fitness, but it makes the referee's work easier. From the forwards' point of view as well as that of spectators, to whom frequent stoppages are anathema, the new law works well. On the other hand, it will make the game very difficult for full backs, and there will be some cheap goals in the first month of the season, while the defences are still feeling their way. Only three goals at St James's Park was rather short measure, in view of the special circumstances, and if the forwards are unable to score nowadays there must be something wrong with them.
Stripes 
Bailey 
Pollard Flynn 
Pullan Crompton Potter
Newman Bolam Casson Lievesley Shelton
Referee:- Mr A.W.Lamacraft.
Compton Myers Blackmore Kirk Matthews
Harrison Arscott Crawshaw
Lowton Hawkins
Pavey
Whites

Jack Davis, the ex-Grecian, scored two fine goals in the second half of the Newport County practice game, watched by a crowd of six thousand people, and is said to have made a distinctly good impression. Altogether, eight goals were scored. Dick Jones took part in the Bristol Rovers practice game, and he is said to have shaped very well. There were 8,000 spectators. Five thousand spectators watched Plymouth Argyle's practice game at Home Park. Cock and Forbes each scored twice in the first half and Sloan, from a penalty, and Ogilvie in the second. There were only three stoppages for offside.

Feast of Goals
NINE SCORED IN CITY PRACTICE GAME
Saturday, August 22nd.

Exeter City's second public practice game at St James's Park, on Saturday evening, following the Supporters' Club Sports, provided a feast of goals, there being nine in all. Rather unexpectedly, the Whites beat the Stripes by five goals to four, and it was due to the fact of their attack being generally better together, and the hard shooting of the inside men. The excellent play of both half back lines and defences suggests
that there is a good season in store for the club. Interest centred largely in the work of William Mc Devitt, the new pivot from Liverpool, who was making his first public appearance in Exeter City colours. He played cool and clever football, enough to inspire confidence all round. 

Blackmore Started the Scoring
Blackmore, the Whites' leader, showed marked improvement on his form of the previous Saturday, while Bolam, inside right, was as successful. Crawshaw was on top of his form at right half, while Arscott on the left flank was exceedingly useful in defence. The Stripes were well served in attack by Matthews, Compton, and Myers, but Casson was subdued by McDevitt, and Kirk was not at his best. Blackmore started the scoring with a characteristic long range shot, cleverly directed. Lievesley obtained number two for the Whites, Matthews reduced the deficit, and Bolam headed in a good centre from Shelton. In the second half Lievesley and Bolam scored for the Whites, and Kirk, Myers, and Kirk (from a penalty) for the Stripes.
STRIPES.
Pavey; Pollard, Hawkins; Pullan, Crompton, and Potter; Matthews, Kirk, Casson, Myers, and Compton.
WHITES. Bailey; Lowton, Flynn; Crawshaw, Mc Devitt, Arscott; Newman, Bolam, Blackmore, Lievesley, and Shelton.
Captains:- Crompton and Crawshaw.

"HAT TRICK" BY JOHN QUINN
Good Play in Exeter City's Final Practice
Wednesday, August 26th.

Exeter City's final practice game at St James's Park on Wednesday evening attracted 3,500 spectators. Much good football was seen, even though several changes from the teams originally announced were considered advisable. Two more new players have been signed this week. John Quinn is a well built centre-forward from Third Lanark. The season before the last one he was understudy to Hugh Ferguson at Motherwell. William Cunningham is a half back who was Bromilow's understudy in the Liverpool team for two seasons. He played regularly for Barrow in 1923-24, and for Mid-Rhondda last season.

MCDEVITT THE OUTSTANDING PLAYER

The scoring opened with an accidental goal, a clearance kick by Petherick, the Dawlish goalkeeper, cannoning against Burdon, and thence to the net. This was followed by goals for the Greens, by Chapman and Pyne, the inside forwards from Priory and Wellington respectively. Quinn, the centre forward from Scotland, levelled the scores, and after the change of ends, had the joy of getting two more, to complete the "hat trick." A goal by Bolam wound up the scoring at 5-2 in favour of the Stripes. The outstanding player was McDevitt, the new centre half from - Liverpool. Crawshaw and Arscott also played very well. Petherick gave a wonderfully resourceful display in goal, and was mainly responsible for the fact that up to threequarter time the decidedly stronger Stripes combination was unable to make headway on the score sheet. Later, they pressed their attacks closer, and Petherick had no chance with any of the shots which beat him. Quinn was a quick and capable leader, and was well supported by Lievesley.

RED AND WHITE.
Pavey; Pollard, Hawkins; Crawshaw, Mc Devitt, Potter; Newman, Bolam, Quinn, Lievesley, and Shelton.
GREENS.
Petherick; Burdon, Lowton; Arscott, Snapes, Cunningham; Ridd, Pyne, Casson, Chapman, and Harrison.

A Tribute to Charlton.
According to the "Athletic News," a frank criticism from one the Australian Pressmen pays tribute to all the players, and in speaking of the defenders, says:- "Nothing better has been seen of in Australia than the kicking and tackling of Charlton, the Exeter City back."