EXETER CITY. PROSPECTS FOR SEASON 1980-1981.

Last season was one of the most successful in the history of Exeter City, and had Dame Fortune favoured the "Grecians" from the start it is more than likely that the championship of the Third Division, or at least a promotion place, would have gone to St James's Park.

The performance of the team both in the League and the League Cup competition was a great one, and not a little credit was due to the popular manager, Mr Brian Godfrey, who in his day was himself a well-known international footballer.

The Grecians are looking forward to the new season with great confidence seeing that most of the old players have been kept on, the only man seeking pastures new being Keith Bowker, who has joined Torquay United. At Plainmoor he will renew "auld acquaintance" with Vincent O'Keefe, who signed for Torquay in February and kept goal for them in their last sixteen League matches.

John Sims was another Exeter player to move on during the course of last season, transferring to Plymouth Argyle in October, and subsequently turning out for the "Pilgrims" 31 times and scoring seven goals.

THE RETURN OF KELLOW.

Exeter will this year have the services of their erstwhile star forward, Tony Kellow, who came back to the Westcountry towards the close of the last campaign after failing to settle down at Blackpool, and it is worth recording that a huge profit was made on the Kellow deal with Blackpool only charging Exeter half of what they paid for him just under two years ago.

Ray Pratt, the young Welsh forward, who can be relied upon to get goals even if he does little else, will also commence his first full term in Exeter's colours, he having been obtained from Merthyr at the same time as Kellow's return from Blackpool.

Two players who are completely new to St James's Park have been secured. They are Frank Prince, an experienced midfielder, who has been at Bristol Rovers for the last thirteen seasons with a total of 360 League match appearances to his credit, and John May, a young full-back, from Blackpool. It will be seen that all the men (with the exception of those named above) who were responsible for last season's good record are still available, and there is sure to be keen competition for places. Kellow and Pratt, together with the speedy Neville and the crafty Peter Rogers, could between them be the means of the City carving a big hole in many opposing defences.

As was the case last year the first round ties (home and away) of the Football League Cup will be the opener for the season, followed by the first Third Division fixture, which is against Gillingham at St James's Park on August 16th.

Full list of players:-
Goalies 

Ian Main, Steve Nute

Defence 
Martyn Rogers, Lee Roberts, Dick Forbes, Jimmy Giles , John Hore and Tony Mitchell. 

Midfield 
Phil Roberts, Frank Prince , John Delve, Peter Hatch, John May, David Pullar.

Forwards 
Roy Ireland ,Tony Kellow, Steve Neville, Ian Pearson, Ray Pratt and  Peter Rogers

Apprentices:-
Paul Clatworthy, David Jones, Ian Cole, Byron Burte, Martin Finn.