Exeter City 
Season 1906-1907

Now that Association football has been firmly established in Devonshire, the prospects of the county's chief clubs at this time of the year are the subject of wide interest locally. The Argyle, who became a professional organisation three years ago and joined the ranks of the Southern Leaguers have indeed done. remarkably well in this competition although their figures for last season showed a slight decline on those of 1904-05. It is understood that the Argyle have set their stall out in the forth coming season to capture the Southern League championship, and to this end, which is to put it mildly a tall order, the Plymouth club has cast its net far and wide in the recruitment of players from some of the most famous clubs in England. Their list includes Johnson, Brown, Noon, and Garrett, all of whom were on the books of Aston Villa last year, T. McKenzie and D.Fullarton (Sunderland), Orrell (Preston), Hughes (Liverpool), Thorpe and Swann (Bury), Mc Laughlin (Everton), and Smith (Black burn Rovers). With Sutcliffe, Clark, Corrin, Buck, Wright, and Briercliffe still available the Argyle will be stronger than at any time previously, and it is not beyond the bounds of possi bility that the championship will rest in Devon before long.

EXETER CITY.

Coming nearer to home Exeter City naturally demand the most attention. They must be accepted as the criterion of the Club successes in this part of the county, and whatever is thought of the policy in joining the Plymouth League, no petty differences should be allowed to retard their progress. The City officials this year expect an advance all round, and this is already good reason to suppose that the Grand Stand, so often spoken of, is now a thing for the very near future. 

Nearly all last season's players have signed on, including Wells and Davidson (Devon County), Rev. Reid (Plymouth Argyle, Swindon Town and Devon County), Fenwick, Andrews, Sid Thomas, Jimmy Sellick, Russell, and Morgan. In addition to these numerous new players have come to stop in the district and no doubt some of them will be seen in the ranks of the First XI. The Club has again entered the Plymouth and District League, in which the entries this year are very numerous.

The following leading clubs will be seen at St James's Park this season: - Plymouth Argyle (2nd professional team), Green Waves, Royal Marines Light Infantry, Torpoint (last year's League winners and Cornish County Cup winners), Essa, Millbrook Rangers,
Tavistock, Durham County Light Infantry, and St Michael's (Plymouth).

The club has again obtained the County Ground for Christmas Day, and a great attraction will doubtless be provided. The playing members have already entered upon a programme of strict training. This programme it is hoped to maintain during the whole of the season, and thus to materially improve Exeter City's record in the Plymouth League, the East Devon League and the County Cup.

EXETER CITY'S PRACTICE MATCH.

Saturday, September 1st,
at St James's Park.

Considering the Exeter sports were on, the Exeter City Club had a fair attendance at their public practice game. A tropical heat prevailed when at 2.30 p.m. some of the more enthusiastic of the playing staff turned out for preliminary kicks. Among the men included in the game were Perrington, late of the Rifle Brigade, Muncey, late of Dawlish and Devon County, two forwards from the 110th Battery, Massey and Ebury, and L. Turner, of Dawlish. Most of these men strengthened the ranks of the Greens, who were opposing the Whites, the latter being put in the field as representatives of the 2nd XI.

GREENS.- J.Steele; R. Fenwick, Perrington; Muncey, Wells; Sellick, Thomas, Massey, Andrews (captain), and Russell.
WHITES.- Cann; E. Wells, Nicholls; Kelly, S.Bastin, W.Morgan; A.Ebury, H.West, L.Turner, F.Youlden, and H.Henry (captain).
Referee:- Mr G.Campbell.

The game started at 3.30 p.m., and the Greens, who only had ten men, immediately got away on the right wing. The Whites got back in spirited style, however, and forced the first corner. They were beaten back by superior combination, and Massey had a chance to get through but was too slow. Again the Greens came away, and good work among the forwards was spoilt by a miskick in the mouth of the goal. Then the unexpected happened. Henry and company got away on the left and the ball was crossed to the other wing. Steele was caught napping, and fumbling with the ball, allowed Youlden to score the first goal for the Whites. Encouraged by this success the Whites came away in a rush, though they displayed indifferent combination, and their method of attack proved irresistible. Steele again made a bad blunder when called upon. He ran out, was hustled off the ball, and let Turner score goal No. 2 for the Whites. This half brought out unexpected qualities in the play of the Whites, and Turner, the so-called "emergency man, of the side. The Greens as a whole were disappointing, for too was the hero much was attempted and too little done. In front of goal their weaknesses were glaring, and their attack was deplorably weak. Even the fact that they were only playing ten men did not atone for missing simple chances right in front of goal. In the second half the Greens started with a little more vim and earnestness, and Massey put the ball over the bar with the goal almost at his mercy.

Two More for the Whites.
The Greens kept up the pressure, but the Whites packed their goal and were apparently bent on keeping their lead.
Massey came away all on his own, beating Wells and Nicholls for pace, finishing up with a shot into the bottom of the net well out of the reach of Cann. Unfortunately he was offside and the referee quite rightly disallowed the goal. Then it was all Turner again. He gained possession and while Steele stood in the centre of his goal Turner put the ball into one corner, and the Whites were now three up. In the last few minutes Turner scored again with a magnificent shot from long range, which completely baffled Steele. At the conclusion of a good bustling practice game the score was Whites 4 Greens 0.

Comments. 
Teddy Wells, Len Turner, Muncey, and Bastin were the shining lights of the game, and Turner, on this form, cannot possibly be left out of the First XI. Cann was one of the surprises of the match, but Steele let down the Greens badly.