Exeter City Footbal 1 Club.

SEASON 1946 1947.

Directors. 
Mr S.H.Thomas (chairman), Mr F.P.Cottey (vice-chairman), Mr J.Lake, Mr F.P.Nichols, Mr J.G.R.Orchard, Mr J.Rigby, Mr J.G.Warne.

Secretary:- Mr N.Foot.
Manager: Mr W.G.Roughton.
Trainer: Mr J.Gallagher.

Players.

Goal:- B.Singleton.
Backs: J.F.Blood, R.Gingell, J.W.Long, J.Murray, G.Thompson.
Half-backs:- J.Angus, A.Coles, S.W.Cutting, W.J.Fellowes, H.Haddock, H.Hanford, W.Jordan, S. Walker. Forwards: A.J.Bowden, S.M.Challis, R.Ebdon, A.W.Hammond, A.E.Hydes, W.Mustard, D.J.T.Regan, C.Sutherley, R.Tickell, G. Vaughan, G. Wardle, R.H.W.Wright.

Herbert Hoyle, goalkeeper, was transferred to Exeter City from the "Wolves" on August 12th 1946. James Lee, full-back or inside-forward, also of the Wolves, signed for Exeter City on August 23rd. Cyril Crawshaw was transferred to Hull City on August 20th.
Two more forwards have been signed in time for the opening of the new season. They are Dick Smart, centre forward, of Stanley United, and Charles Windle, outside left, of Bury. The latter was on the books of Exeter City in 1939. Bill Lambton, Exeter City's goalkeeper last season, has refused the terms offered and is now on the open-to-transfer list. Stan Eastham has joined Stockport County.

PROSPECTS
The roll was called at St. James's Park on July 30th 1946. Nineteen Exeter City players reported for training, and from that date until the opening match (against Torquay United) on August 31st activity will be pretty intense. There has been an excellent response to the invitation to young players desirous of a trial. The City are taking more than a passing interest in the formation of the Exeter and East Devon League. Participation of an Exeter City "Colts" XI would be of all round benefit. The centre stand tickets are selling briskly at 4 each, and all the ground improvements are going ahead nicely. The first stage of this work is the terracing in concrete of the whole of the big bank behind the far goal. By the time the season opens the job will be so far ad vanced as to enable spectators to attend matches under conditions of perfect safety. When the terracing is completed roughly 12,000 people would be able to be accommodated on that bank alone. Microphones and Loud Speakers. There is also a plan to equip St. James's Park with microphones and loud speakers. Arc lights for night training is another scheme under consideration. Altogether St. James's Park will be in better order than at any time previously, and there will be no tidier ground in Division Three. The prospect of the City playing in the familiar red and white stripes this season is remote. The present set of jerseys have had their day. They are faded and threadbare and replacements cannot be obtained. Vertically striped jerseys are simply off the market, but red and white hooped shirts can be bought. So this is likely to be the new design. An historical note with a bearing on this subject is that Exeter City's original colours were green and white. They were dis carded in the year 1911 because certain supersticious people (among whom were some of the players) considered green to be unlucky. It is worthy of mention, however, that green jerseys have never done the Argyle any harm! The response by young amateurs requesting a trial with Exeter City has been so encouraging that nearly forty names have been sent along. This includes nearly a dozen goalkeepers but only two centre halves and four full-backs. Everywhere one hears the same story concerning defenders. Good full-backs are about as rare as good beer in these austerity times.

Full Parade of New Signings.

As regards the playing prospects the teams for the first public trial will include a full parade of the close season signings, apart from Hammond, the young inside forward who transfer was obtained earlier in the summer from Brentford. He received a slight injury during one of the hectic training spells when he ricked his back. Bert Bowden, the local inside right formerly of Ladysmith-road School, will be another absentee for the same reason. The City will commence the new season with what is probably their biggest playing staff ever. There are two experienced goalkeepers in Singleton and Hoyle, four good full-backs, with Blood and Thompson likely to line up for the first team in the opening matches. Murray and Long are useful deputies, while Gingell is a young player whose chance will doubtless come in due course. In the half back line the competition for places is sure to be keen. Cutting, Hanford, and Walker are the likely starters, with Fellowes, Jordan, Angus, and Coles in reserve. There are twelve forwards now that Wardle has re-signed, plus two (Tickell and Sutherly) who are still serving overseas. The line in the opening games will probably be led by Dick Ebdon with Wardle and Regan on the extreme wings. At inside forward the choice appears likely to be between Hydes, Smart, Hammond, Wright, and Vaughan, with Hydes and Wright the most likely to occupy those key
positions. Training has been in full swing for several weeks. All the players are as keen as mustard and have been at it every morning and after noon. There is every indication that Exeter City will spring a surprise on many clubs in the 3rd Division's first full season for seven years. At any event, there is likely to be a full house for the visit to St. James's Park of Torquay United. There has been a flood of bookings so far, and the demand for tickets has been unprecedented in Exeter for a League game, so much so that the whole of the reserved accommo dation has already been sold.

Practice Matches
Saturday, August 17th 1946.

Red and white stripes beat Whites by 4 goals to 2 in Exeter City's first public practice, played at St James's Park on the above date. Goalscorers were Mustard, Rue 2, and Challis for the stripes, and Wright and Hydes (penalty) for the whites.

Teams:
Stripes:- Hoyle; Thompson and Blood;
Cutting, Hanford, and Walker; Mustard, Vicary, Rue, Vaughan, and Challis.
Whites:- Singleton; Murray, Long; Angus, Coles, and Fellowes; Wardle, Hydes, Ebdon, Wright, and Regan.
Referee:- Mr R.Jewell.

The whites had the polish but the stripes had the thrust, quickness, and enthusiasm. Directness paid and the stripes eventually won by a margin of two goals after the sides had been level 1-1 at half time. The attendance was 3,340, proceeds to local charities.

Saturday, August 24th 1946.

PROBABLES 4 (Wright, Ebdon, Walker, Rue) 
POSSIBLES 6 (Lee 3, Hammond, Challis penalty, Mustard).
Attendance 4,000.

Probables:- Hoyle; Thompson, Blood;
Cutting, Hanford, Walker; Rue, Ebdon, Hydes, Wright, Regan.
Possibles:- Singleton; Murray, Long; Angus, Coles, Fellowes; Mustard, Lee, Hammond, Vaughan, Challis.

Ten goals were scored, and as the Probables obtaied only four of them the task of the team selectors has been complicated. Wardle played outside right for the Probables until half-time, after which he was substituted by the amateur, Rue.