Exeter City Football Club
THE GRECIANS:
SEASON 1947-1948

Board of Directors.
Mr S.H.Thomas (Chairman),
Mr F.P.Cottey (Vice-chairman),
Messrs A.T.Ford, C.W.H.Hill, J.Lake, F.P.Nichols, J. G. R. Orchard, J.Rigby, L.J.Seward, J.G. Warne, H.L.White.
Secretary:- Mr G.J.Gilbert.
Manager: Mr W.G.Roughton.
Trainer: Mr J.Gallagher.

Players.
Goalkeepers:- H.Hoyle, B.Singleton.
Full-backs:- J.F.Blood, A.Coles, C.Johnstone, G.Thompson.
Half-backs:- J.Angus, H.Bartholomew, S. W. Cutting, F. Davey, P.Fallon, R.Gibson, E.S.Rowe, S.Walker.
Forwards: W.H.Dymond, R.Ebdon, H.A.Evans, W.J.Fallon, B.Grant, N.T.Granville, D.G.Hutchings, D.J.Regan, R.Smart, H.Sutherland, N.G.Vaughan, R.H.W.Wright.
Amateur: D. Warren, full-back.

Transferred:-
Hydes to Scunthorpe United,
Mustard to Yeovil Town,
Owen to Barry Town.

The start of the new football season having been brought forward to Saturday, August 23rd 1947 (a week before the usual date) Exeter City's players in common with those of many other clubs commenced training earlier than in the past. The players reported for training on July 28th, the accent being on general fitness and loosening-up exercises under the watchful eye of the new assistant trainer, who is Charlie Miller, the City's old captain and left back. Commencing on August 4th ball practice and more intensive training programmes were introduced. All the players except Harry Bartholomew and Jack Blood were at the ground for the commencement of activities. Blood
and the first-team trainer, J.Gallagher, were away on a coaching course, while Bartholomew, the new centre-half from Scotland, did his early training with Motherwell. In appointing Miller as assistant trainer the City Directors have made a popular choice. Miller served the club loyally as a player for ten seasons before the war, captained the team during its most successful period, and was as good a left-back as any in the Third Division in his heyday. Miller succeeds Walter Bussey, another man who had an honoured and lengthy playing career and is now in business outside football.

THE NEW GRECIANS.
On June 4th Exeter City commenced their team-building by signing on Reg Gibson, a wing-half-back from Plymouth Argyle, and Bill Dymond, a native of Exeter who played last season for Bristol City. Although Dymond's best position is outside-right he played centre-forward in the closing few weeks of last season and scored several goals. Reg Gibson, who was a contemporary of Mr Roughton at the Manchester United club, was transferred to the Argyle last year for a big fee, but his style did not fit in at Home Park. Two weeks after the acquisition of the above mentioned players Exeter City obtained the transfer from Southampton of Harry Evans, a right half-back or inside-right. Evans, who is 27 years of age, captained Southampton's Football Combination side last season. He was born in London and joined the Saints five years ago. He is reported to be a useful 90-minutes player and has very good ball control.
On June 24th the City signed William Joseph Fallon, an experienced outside-left, from Notts County. He is the elder brother of Peter, who joined Exeter last year whilst still in the R.A.F. The task of team-building was completed before the end of June with the signing of Cyril Johnstone, right back, from Hamilton Academicals, and an inside forward from Third Lanark, Bernard Grant. Derek Warren, who is a young full back, of Colyton, has been signed on amateur forms.

Of last season's players not retained Harry Hanford has been granted a free transfer, while Mustard, Hydes, and Owen, all free transfers, have fixed up with Yeovil, Scunthorpe, and Barry Town respectively. Derek Goodfellow, that fine goalkeeper who played as a "guest" for Exeter City in 1945-46 whilst serving with the Depot Marines, is now a Middlesbrough player, having been transferred there from Sheffield Wednesday.

FIRST PUBLIC PRACTICE.
RED AND WHITES v WHITES
AT ST JAMES'S PARK.
SATURDAY, AUGUST 9TH 1947.

Basking in the sun the spectators had good value for their money, all of which goes to a charitable cause. In spite of the heat, the players put plenty of vigour and pace into an entertaining game, which fluctuated as regards the scoring of goals between the two sides.

Stripes:- Hoyle; Thompson, Blood; Cutting, Davey, Gibson; Granville, Sutherland, Ebdon, Wright, Regan. Whites:- Singleton; Johnstone, Coles;
Rowe, Bartholomew, Walker; Hutchings, Evans, Smart, Vaughan, W. Fallon.

Attendance 3,351, receipts £187. 15s. 6d.

The Whites began at a lively pace and after making several clever saves Hoyle was beaten by a shot from Hutchings, who ran in at the opportune moment after Fallon had transferred the ball from the other wing. Wright equalised with a typical drive fifteen minutes later. Walker, who played a storming game, deceived Hoyle with a shot which curled into the top corner of the net off the far post. Five minutes after that Granville put the Colours on terms and Regan gave them the lead. Evans, who played an attractive game, levelled the score, but in the closing few minutes Ebdon snatched the honours for the Stripes when he shot through from right in front of goal. Bartholomew gave every indication of being a scheming constructive half back, and a useful acquisition. The goalkeepers presented a contrast with Hoyle frequently brilliant and over-anxious to earn distinction, while Singleton was capable and quicker to recover his ground when the occasion demanded that he ran out from his goal. Result:- Colours 4 goals Whites 3.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 16TH 1947.

The first half of the final practice, which the red and white stripes won by four goals to two, was played in almost tropical heat with the temperature soaring to 120 degrees. This did not deter the players, who with a few exceptions operated as if they were already fighting for League points. Fallon showed many deft touches and opened the scoring after twenty

minutes with an oblique "daisy-cutter." The Whites got back on terms when Hutchings sent the ball across perfectly and Evans's shot was parried by Hoyle only for Ebdon to run in and bang it home. Sutherland then scored two nice goals, one with a cannon-ball shot from long range and the other close in from Fallon's centre. Towards the end of the first half Walker dribbled through on his own and scored a very neat goal. In the second half Wright beat Hoyle with a rasping low drive, just inside the post. The players did extremely well to keep going in the tremendous heat.

Teams:
Red and whites: Hoyle; Thompson and Blood; Cutting, Bartholomew, and Walker; Granville, Sutherland, Smart, Vaughan, and W.Fallon.
Whites: Singleton; D. Warren and Johnstone; Gibson, Davey, and Coles;
Hutchings, Evans, Ebdon, Wright, and Regan.

THE OPENING MATCH.

Exeter City's first match of the season for League points will take place at Fellowes Park, against Walsall, next Saturday. At St James's Park the Reserves will face Lovell's Athletic in a Southern League encounter. The following teams have been selected:

First team, v Walsall:

Hoyle; Thompson and Blood; Cutting, Bartholomew, and Walker; Hutchings, Evans, Ebdon, Wright, and Regan.

Second team, v Lovell's:

Singleton; Johnstone, Rowe; Gibson, Davey, Coles; Dymond, Sutherland, Smart, Vaughan, and W.Fallon.