THURSDAY 30th APRIL 1970.

EXETER CITY PRICES TO GO UP NEXT SEASON.

It will cost more to watch Exeter City in the Foruth Division next season at St James' Park, Ground admission will be 6s, an increase of is. (juveniles 3s, up 6d,Stand tickets will cost 10s. also an additional is. After 16th May new season ticket rates' will also apply. Stand seasons will be £9,10s an increase of £1, and ground seasons will cost £6, also a 31 increase, Exeter City chairman Les Kerslake said that the board of directors regretted the need to increase prices but had no alternative with the cost of everything rising, he added that most clubs in the Football League will raise their admission prices for next season,

FRIDAY 15th MAY 1970.

170 MILE RIDE TO AID EXETER CITY.

Better soccer at St JamesPark and City back in the Third divisionThat is what three Exeter boys are hoping for, and over the Whitsun holiday they are to go on a sponsored cycle ride for the club to London 170 miles away, They are planning to set out on Whit Monday and arrive back in Exeter three or four days later. The three planning the sponsored ride are Alan Saunders, 14, Tim Jones 16, and David Ashton, Arrangements have been made for the three lads to end their ride at Brentford Football Club where club officials will meet them. They are now looking for sponsors, City chairman Les Kerslake said that it was a wonderful idea and the club would do everything they could to help them.

SUNDAY 17th MAY 1970.

GRAHAM PARKER WAS A WORTHY WINNER.

Wing half Graham Parker was the most clear cut Exeter City Player of The Year for some years when the votes were countedThis was not surprising after an outstanding season during which time he made 43 appearances in League and Cup matches, Parker a bargain buy from Lincoln City received the trophy from local Exeter City Football Club statistician Maurice Golesworthy at the annual dance which was attended by around 250 people. Parker did not know he had won the award until the announcement was made at the dance. His reaction, one of surprise, but he must have been the only surprised man that nightbecause he seemed the obvious choice ahead of Campbell Crawford and Mike Balson." During the season Parker was admired by supporters for his tremendous work rate, effort, and tackling, His aggresive play did get him into some trouble after being booked three times and hewas suspended for 28 days, Parker did not let this break upset his play thoughHe went straight back into the side and continued to be one of the club's outstanding players at the back.

MONDAY 18th MAY 1970.
ARGYLE WINGER MAY MOVE TO CITY.

Winger Barry Rowan released by Plymouth Argyle at the end of the season could well become an Exeter City player, He is thought to be interested in a move to St JamesPark and has had talks with City manager John Newman, Rowan has a firm offer to play in the USA, but it is likely he will link up with Exeter instead,

DICK MILLER TESTIMONIAL.

Exeter City have received a reply from Arsenal who they hope to play in a testimonial match for the club's former secretary Dick Miller. The First Division side has given a fire assurance that they will bring a full side to Exeter and they hope to play the game sometime next season, Arsenal cannot play pre season as they will be touring in Sweden.

FRIDAY 29th MAY 1970.

ALAN PINKNEY GOING FULL TIME.

Former St Lukes College student Alan Pinkney is to sign a full time professional contract with Crystal Palace next season, He said that his success is largely due to Exeter City, Alan moved to London a year ago and joined Place as a part timer. He added that after he played for City against Manchester United in an F.A, Cup tie two seasons ago, clubs that he had no connections with, aade him offers, Alan is currently on holiday in Exeter.

TUESDAY 2nd JUNE 1970.

PLEAT GIVEN A FREE.

Exeter City have given winger Dave Pleat a free transfer, Player manager John newman explained that Pleat had found it difficult to settle in Exeter since joining the club from Shrewsbury Town in July 1968It is understood that Pleat's business commitments are the reasons for the unrest, Despite several talks between player and manager, a solution could not be found to the problem,

WEDNESDAY 10th JUNE 1970.

CITY FUND RAISERS AGREE ON MERGER.

Exeter City's two fund raising organisations, The Grecians Association and the Supporters Club, have agreed to mergeThe decision was taken at a meeting of the two sides at St James Park last night, City Chairman Les Kerslake who was at the meeting said it would be for the benfit of the club, the decision was unaninous in favour of the merger and a further meeting to be held next week to decide policy, the new name of the organisation, and the officers. The Grecian Association was formed in 1945, while the Supporters Club came into being after Exeter won promotion to the Third Division.

SATURDAY 13th JUNE 1970.

Heavitree United's new trainer coach for next season is Alan Marsh the former Exeter City and Bideford full back

Review of the Season 
At Least the Attendance Figures Were Up!

Alan Banks and Joe Gadston the top scorers; John Mitten the biggest number of appearances; average Fourth Division attendances at Saint James's Park nearly five thousand. Brie fly, the facts and figures behind another season for Exeter City F.C.

Banks heads the scoring charts with 11 goals (9 in the League and 1 in both the F.A.Cup and Football League Cup) while Gadston, who came to Exeter in November, scored 10 goals in 26 League appearances.

Mitten played 43 League matches (he was the substitute once), four F.A.Cup games, and the two League Cup matches. Average attendances at St. James's Park for the 23 League games was 4,920, a drop of 464 on last season.

Exeter finished 18th in the League with 39 points out of 92. It is altogether rather a disappointing return, and the club, from the Board to the Groundstaff, appreciates this.

HARD AND EXACTING.

But the player-manager, John Newman, is optimistic about the future. "A lot of players we have brought in have improved" he said, "and there should be an improvement next year." For Newman himself, he has now come to the end of his first complete season as the manager, and he admits that it has been very hard and exacting. He admits that he thought the results would have been better, but also says that the bulk of the work has been done and Exeter City are now looking to the future with plenty of confidence. After the dismissal of Billy Bingham at Home Park, Newman's name was naturally linked with a possible return to Plymouth Argyle as their manager, but he has, in his own words "had no thoughts about the Plymouth Argyle job at all. Reverting to the attendances, 5000 is a good figure considering Exeter have been in the lower half of the League table all the season.

Although slightly down on a year ago, this is not a true reflection, because for the Southend game last season the City had a gate well over 12,000 when the Manchester United vouchers were distributed. Even so, it is still 1,066 up on the 1967-68 average. So considering their position Exeter City cannot complain with their support this season.

NEWMAN'S FUTURE AS A PLAYER.

Returning again to the subject of John Newman, his playing future could be decided next week, when he sees a specialist concerning the Achilles tendon injury that has kept him out of action for virtually all the season. But the selection of John Wingate as a defensive wing half for the final game, at Aldershot, suggests Newman is grooming this youngster to become a defender next season. Wingate in that match did play exceptionally well. He was quicker to the ball than he is when in the forward line, his covering was good, his tackling first class, and his use of the ball good. And with his ability in the air never disputed, Wingate could develop into a good back-four player, a possibility that has been hinted at by more than one person in recent weeks.


CONSISTENCY AND STABILITY, OUR AIMS IN THE 70's
BY JOHN NEWMAN Player-Manager, Exeter City F.C.

Let me come to the point immediately we had a disappointing season, a season I did not think would go as bad as it did. Fair enough, we managed to pick ourselves up off the floor after a poor start, but we were still mighty close to having to seek re-election. This is not good enough. Exeter City can do much better, and I am going to do my best to see this happens. I never had any illusions about promotion when I first took the job. My aim was that allied to a building programme of progress. but the last season should have been better, and now we must look only one way-FORWARD.

A tremendous amount of hard work has been achieved between Monday and Saturday afternoons off the field. What we must do now is transfer this to the playing side where we must get better consistency. I found my first year as manager a hard task, and often a frus trating job. But I hope that what I have learned so far will stand me in good stead for the months ahead. Regarding the playing side of my job, unfortunately injury kept me out for most of the season. As I am writing this article my leg is in plaster and perched on a chair as part of my recovery period. By the start of the new season I hope to be fully recovered and to be back training with the rest of the lads. Some supporters may have expected one or two other players to be released when I announced the retained list. But I am looking for stability, and as I see it, the players we are keeping for next season can give us a better season next year. At the same time we are always looking for better players who can make us a better team. We have spent a considerable amount of money by Exeter City standards in the past year, and we must give ourselves something of a breathing space before committing ourselves too much again.

I would like to congratulate Graham Parker on being voted Player of the Year ". There is no doubt that he deserved it, but I am sure that Graham and the rest of the team would rather see promotion for Exeter than be singled out as the season's best player. Naturally, I have my critics, but I will emphasise once more that I will run the job my way. That does not mean to say every one else is wrong. Of course not. But if supporters are going to write giving their ideas, may I appeal to make them constructive. This is fine. I do not mind reading letters that contain constructive suggestions or criticism; it is the rude and ignorant letters that make me annoyed. The supporters were certainly loyal to us last season. Our average gate was nearly 5,000, which is good considering the posi tion we were in for virtually the whole season. This is certainly an encouraging figure, and I only hope that these and more will come back during the season ahead of us, and that we will produce something better to cheer about. Every effort will be made on my part. We need a good start. It is up to me and the players to try and achieve this. Finally, I would like to thank the fund raising organisations for their work during the season, and every supporter for following us.

Let us hope we can do better this season.

JOHN NEWMAN,
Player-manager.