EXETER CITY FOOTBALL CLUB
The Grecians: Season 1930-1931

Earlier this month, in fact on the eve of the Exeter City players reporting for training after the summer recess, it seemed that the summer had passed uneventfully so far as the City were concerned; no sensational captures had been announced. The assumption was correct at the time, but it has since been falsified. The month of August has produced the biggest eve of the season stir the local club has ever known. There was something like consternation in the Exeter camp when it was realised that Alderson, the goalkeeper who served the club so well last season, and on whom everybody was relying to do ditto this season, would be unable to take his place in the team for several weeks. It was believed that in Fred Jones, from Manchester City, Exeter had secured a very capable understudy, but this could hardly be said to meet the emergency.

TRANSFER OF ARTHUR DAVIES.

To their great credit, Exeter City Directors took instant and very thorough going action, and the sequel was the transfer from Everton of Arthur L. Davies, the goalkeeper, who in the last four winters with the Goodison Park club, has taken part in 89 League matches in the First Division, and won recognition all round as being one of the finest young goalkeepers in the country. At the end of last season Everton placed a transfer-fee of £2,000 opposite the name of Davies, and while it is true that the Exeter City club has not had to pay anything like that sum for the new goalkeeper (the Football League reduced the amount very substantially), it is equally true that several other clubs in the country would have been jumping to secure Davies's services were it not for the fact that their arrangements, as to personnel, for the new season were already complete, when the reduction of the fee was made.

A LUCKY DEAL.

Exeter City must count themselves as fortunate indeed to have been able to sign on just the very player they would have desired, and at a very reasonable fee, so late in the summer. Ordinarily, a man with Davies's record, and of his known ability, would have been snapped up almost as soon as the previous season ended. The circumstances happened to fit in exactly to meet Exeter City's difficulty, and the promptness with which the City Directors acted is probably the secret of their success in the matter. There were some hours of anxiety during the absence of Mr W.McDevitt in the Liverpool district on this special mission. The deal hung fire for a time over some question of a benefit, but when the City Players' Manager returned home he was able to report very satisfactory progress. Davies travelled to Exeter on Sunday, August 24th, signed the League forms on Monday morning, joined the Club Outing to Slapton Sands on the same day, and began serious training with his new colleagues on Tuesday. On these facts and on other similar cases which crop up from season to season it seems apparent that the professional footballer's life is subject to remarkably sweeping and sudden changes. A fortnight ago Davies would have hardly given Exeter, as a football centre, a single thought. Today finds him settled among us, guarding the Exeter City net for the season of 1930-31, and doing his best to prove himself a "second Dick Pym," as he has been styled in more than one quarter. The capture of Davies has been dwelt on at some length because it must be held to be the outstanding event of the close season, and the sort of development which appeals very strongly to the Soccer-minded public. Several other men of note have been engaged in less dramatic circumstances to fill vacancies in the club's list of players.

OTHER NEW GRECIANS.

Much is expected from Inglis, centre-half, Halliday, inside left, also from Parsons, Allison, McCosh, and Lister, all forwards. The practice matches, while they revealed a good standard of abaility all round, suggested that the more experienced of the players were reserving their efforts for the real test ahead. And that, after all, is the general and quite natural experience in practice matches, and accounts for most of the "surprise" results reached in these games.

RECORDS TO BE BROKEN.

Exeter City finished last season sixteenth in the Southern Section of the Third Division of the Football League. A brilliantly successful February month was the outstanding feature of the campaign, ten points out of the dozen played for being secured. How vitally important this splendid run was can be gauged from the fact that in the twelve matches which followed Exeter won only once. The Grecians have never won more than nineteen League matches in any campaign, have never scored more than seventy-six goals, and have never finished higher in the League table than in their first season, away back in 1908-1909, when they were sixth, and have never quite reached the fifth round of the F.A.Cup competition. Here are some records which it is hoped the new season's Exeter City team will break, and the more they break them by the better everyone here will be pleased.

SOUTHERN SECTION CHANGES.

Plymouth Argyle have achieved their objective and reached Second Division status, and all Devon joins in wishing them every success in their new sphere. Their place has been taken by Notts County, relegated from Division Two. Merthyr Town failed to secure re-election, and the new club, Thames, will make their debut in the Football League in Merthyr's place. Losing the company of Plymouth Argyle, except in the matter of the annual Devon Professional Championship tournament, and possibly a Cup match at some time, the Exeter and Torquay United clubs will have the "Devon Derby" atmosphere all to themselves. Exeter's first League match is at home to Norwich City.

LIST OF EXETER CITY PROFESSIONALS.
Goalkeepers
A.L.Davies-Wallasey
F.Jones-Disley
Full-Backs 
R.Baugh-Wolverhampton
W.J.Gray-Glasgow
C.Miller-Bellshill
R.Shanks-Cowpen Bewley
S.J.Bright-Hemyock
Half-Backs 
J.H.Ditchburn- Leeds
R.L.Clarke-Exeter
W.Inglis-Hebburn-on-Tyne
J.Angus-Amble
L.A.Dennington- West Bromwich
S.Barber-Newcastle-on-Tyne
R.Hill-Exeter
Forwards 
G.W.Purcell-Sheffield
W.C.Armfield-Handsworth
W.McDevitt-Belfast
J.McCosh- Colyton (Ayrshire)
J.J.Parsons-Whitehaven
P.S.Varco-Fowey
H.Houghton-Liverpool
A.Allison-Sheffield
W.Halliday-Dumfries
R.A.Doncaster-Barry Dock
R.Lister-Fife

The following amateurs will also assist:

A. Bond, goalkeeper, of Exeter Argyle,
E.Keefe, right-half, of Exminster, A.J.Gumm, outside-right or centre-forward, of St James's,
R.Hutchings, outside-left, of Tiverton, K.F. Courtney, outside-left, of South Molton.

EXETER CITY PLAYERS 
Brief Sketches of New Grecians' Careers

Exeter City are facing the new season with considerable confidence, despite the slice of bad luck in the matter of Alderson's injury, and the departure to the Wolves of Cyril Hemingway and to the Metropolitan Police Force of Sam Mason. With these three exceptions the Directors have re-engaged all the old players they wished to retain for the 1930-31 campaign, and the ten vacancies caused by the departure of Grecians of last season have all been filled. The club is of the opinion that as a result of these operations the playing
personnel has been strengthened appreciably, but as to this, of course, match results will be the acid test. Three of the new forwards hail from Scotland, so quite a lot of canny approach work may be expected, and Parsons is expected to prove himself a real goal getter in the centre-forward position. There is some sound talent available on both wings of the attack. At half-back Inglis, from Reading, is considered the key man, his experience of first-class football extending over a matter of nine campaigns, some of which have been exceedingly successful, suggesting that if he can fit into the pivot role the City have made a very shrewd "capture." Angus, the young player from Scunthorpe, promises to be a keen understudy. The great news of course was the transfer of Arthur Davies from Everton. Of last season's men, apart from the three already mentioned, Sheffield has gone to Bristol City, Guyan to Swindon, Holland to Watford, Howson to Bath City, and Death to Gillingham. Brief particulars of the new Grecians are:

WILLIAM INGLIS first came into football prominence when playing for Hebburn Colliery, a club which has brought out many a promising junior. Derby County signed him on professional forms in the summer of 1921, and after one season with the "Rams" Inglis was transferred to Brentford. In three seasons with the Griffin Park club Inglis took part in eighty Southern Section matches, after which Reading, all out to build up a promotion team, obtained his transfer. Within twelve months Reading were in the Second Division and Inglis took part in 26 of their League games in the promotion season. Inglis missed only one of Reading's Second Division matches in 1926-27 and again in 1927-28, and in five seasons with the Elm Park club he has been a most consistent and valued member of Reading's playing personnel, either at left half or centre half. He was during some of his time at Reading coached regularly by Mr Chadwick, then the Berkshire club's manager.

JACOB PARSONS, the powerfully built centre-forward, is 26 years old, and began his football career with Whitehaven Athletic in the Cumberland League, scoring goals at the rate of two per match in a list of 32 engagements, and setting up a new record for the competition. Southport enlisted him in the summer of 1927 and in less than six months with his new club Parsons took part in 28 first and second team matches and scored 36 goals, as many as half-a-dozen in one afternoon being obtained against Wigan Borough in a friendly. In February of 1928 Barrow secured Parsons's transfer, and a month later, and again at the opening of the next season he performed "hat-tricks" in Northern Section games. Transferred again, to Accrington Stanley, Parsons was kept in the background till early this year, but in February he created a sensation by shooting four goals in each of two successive League matches, against Halifax and Rotherham.

WILLIAM HALLIDAY is several years younger than his brother, the famous David Halliday, who plays for the Arsenal. After assisting Dumfries as a boy, he threw in his lot with Queen of the South, from which club David Halliday had a recently migrated to Dundee. The new Grecian spent four seasons with Queen of the South, and then removed to Newcastle United, where Stan Barber was one of his associates. Halliday was transferred at the end of one season to the Third Lanark, for whom in 29 Scottish League First Division matches he scored nine goals. Halliday then left Scotland and last season joined Connah's Quay, for whom he scored 48 goals including four "hat-tricks."

STANLEY BARBER was assisting Wallsend in the North-Eastern League as a junior when he was invited to sign his first professional form for Newcastle United, and he stayed with the famous "Geordies" for three seasons before moving to Bristol City. He comes to Exeter after two seasons with the Ashton Gate club. In his first campaign with Bristol City he took part in 19 Second Division games. Early last season he met with a shoulder injury which kept him out of action for a time, but he made a complete recovery and assisted the Southern League side regularly, mostly at centre half, when not called upon chiefs. for the

JOHN ANGUS first came into prominence at Newcastle when assisting Amble, one of the many good district clubs, and he accepted the terms offered him by the Wolverhampton Wanderers club, with whom he spent one season. In the summer of 1929 he joined Wath Athletic, in the Midland League, and was going exceedingly well with them till a month before the end of the campaign, when he moved to the rival club, Scunthorpe United, who have the reputation of knowing a good young player when they see one.

FRED JONES has travelled all over the country, almost, but is now acquainting himself with the South-west for the first time. His football history is very brief. He has assisted Faircroftmain in the Rotherham Junior League, and then Firbeckmain in the Sheffield Association League (two seasons). After that he played for Carlton-in-Lindrick Colliery and was signed on by Manchester City, from whence he comes to Exeter hoping for a real chance in first-class soccer.

JOHN MCCOSH was playing for Auchinleck Talbot when he attracted the attention of Ayr United and was signed by that club. In his third season with them Ayr won the Second Division Championship with 117 goals from 38 matches, and the lead over their nearest rivals, Third Lanark, of nine points. McCosh in the summer of 1928 removed to Cowdenbeath, thence to Queen of the South, where he spent last season, being top scorer with eleven goals.

ARNOLD ALLISON is in his early twenties. He helped Lotham Street United to win the Sheffield Churches' Junior League in season 1923-24, and in the following campaign he established a new record by netting sixty-nine goals in 29 games for them. This made the professional clubs sit up and take notice. Allison in August 1926 took part in a trial match for Grimsby Town and was asked to have another, but Chesterfield stepped in and signed him on, and in the course of a season and a half with the Derbyshire club Allison did so well that he was selected for a Midland Combination eleven against the Champions, Newark Town. He later played for Scarborough and Wolverhampton Wanderers, where he kept in the shade by more experienced players.

ROBERT LISTER, the alert and speedy left-winger transferred from West Ham to Exeter in face of competition for his signature by Swansea Town, had had a valuable experience of Soccer on both sides of the Border, for it was after he had come into considerable prominence with Dunfermline Athletic that Stoke City secured his allegiance, and from Stoke he went to West Ham early in the was campaign of 1928-29.

ARTHUR LEONARD DAVIES, who has caused such a flutter in local Soccer circles since he signed for Exeter City on Monday, August 25th, was born at Wallasey on January 3rd 1907. Whilst still a boy in his 'teens he played for the New Brighton reserve team, and later Flint, where a transfer fee was put on him. Davies went along to Everton and asked for a trial, and the sequel to that was an association of four years at Goodison Park in the course of which he played in 89 First League matches, and last season was honoured by being selected to keep goal for the Football League versus the Irish League at Everton. Davies was put on Everton's open-to-transfer list at the end of last season in the sum of £2,000, but this amount was considerably reduced by the League, and in the capture of Davies the Grecians believe that the sum they have paid will turn out to be one of the best investments they have ever made.

Opening Practice
PROMISING MEN AMONG NEW EXETER CITY PLAYERS

Four Goals Shared
Saturday, August 16th 1930.
RED AND WHITES 2 BLUES 2.

On the whole the form shown by the new players in Exeter City's opening prac tice match can be regarded as promising, that is, as far as such games might be taken as any sort of criterion. As to the play itself, it was quite enjoyable to the 4,000 or so spectators, and the fact that four goals were shared indicates its even nature.

Red and Whites. Jones; Gray, Shanks; Ditchburn, Inglis, Dennington; Armfield, McCosh, Parsons, Houghton, and Doncaster.
Blues A.Bond; Baugh, Miller; Clarke, Angus, Barber; Purcell, Halliday, and Lister. Allison, Varco,
Referee:- Mr F.W.Webb.

The Red and Whites were the more impressive combination at the start, an early right wing movement spelling danger until McCosh headed into Bond's hands. Parsons, a leader of fine physique, repeatedly harassed the Blues' defence and sent in the first shot of the match, following some tricky manoeuvring on the part of Houghton. When the Blues attacked Allison, small, but very persistent, shot over the bar, and the feature of the subsequent exchanges was the smart play of Inglis. Here was a player who always found time to use the ball to advantage, and he was only seconded in this respect by Ditchburn, still correct and neat in football craft.

Commendable Judgment.

The first goal of the match was credited to Houghton, who completely deceived Bond, the Exeter Argyle goalkeeper, with a strong drive which curled into the top corner of the net. Towards the interval the Blues had a bigger share of the exchanges, and Varco, leading his forwards with commendable judgment, came very near to scoring him self on more than one occasion. Jones made several good saves, but was lucky when a shot from Purcell, which had beaten him, cannoned against the upright and rebounded out of the danger zone. Allison scored for the Blues from Purcell's centre, the move having been begun by Angus, a youthful pivot who has a football brain for an opening. Parsons and Allison scored the goals in the second half.

Grecians' Final Practice
ATTRACTIVE FOOTBALL BY THE NEW FORWARDS

Varco Scores Two Goals for the Red and Whites
Saturday, August 23rd 1930.
RED AND WHITES 3 BLUES 1.

Exeter City's final practice match on the above date attracted more than three thousand spectators and provided good entertainment. Some attractive football was played by the new forwards, particularly McCosh for the Stripes, Allison and Lister for the Blues.

Stripes: Bond; Gray and Miller (captain); Clarke, Inglis, and Dennington; Purcell, McCosh, Varco, Houghton, and Doncaster.
Blues: Jones; Baugh and Shanks; Ditchburn (captain), Angus, and Barber; Armfield, Allison, Parsons, Halliday, and Lister.
Referee:- Mr A.W.Martin, of Exeter.

Seventeen minutes had passed when Lister took the ball ahead quickly and sent it low to the goal area for Parsons to score at close quarters. In the second half McCosh equalised after three minutes from Doncaster's neat centre, the new inside-right's header being a model of timing and accurate placing. The Stripes in the second half put a little more purpose into their play, and after McCosh's equaliser Varco scored twice. Both goals were instigated by McCosh, whose through pass was netted by Varco with a stiff rising shot in the first instance, and the second one was got by Varco after the pass from McCosh had travelled across the penalty area and the ball retrieved by Doncaster on the touch line and booted back again to the middle. Parsons was unlucky not to score after the first of Varco's brace of goals, but was foiled by Bond in the act of shooting, the young goalkeeper dashing out of his goal to dispossess the hefty new centre-forward.

THE FINE PLAY OF INGLIS.

From the start Inglis impressed the onlookers greatly because of the speed and promptitude which he brought into effect when halting the opposition and then making passes to his forwards. Without exerting himself unduly he had quite a big share in the game, his positional play being faultless. The closing stages of the game were well fought out, and there is good ground for anticipating that when the players settle down the City will have a couple of very workmanlike teams. Four points from the first two games, both at home, would be the best possible way in which to get going.