Douglas 'Duggie' Regan’s football career was delayed by World War Two and it wasn’t until August 1946, at the age of twenty-four, that he made his Exeter City debut as official league football resumed. Playing regularly over the next seven seasons he scored 63 times in 206 Football League games before joining Bristol City towards the end of 1952. Playing around forty league games for the Ashton Gate club he moved to Weymouth in 1956.   

Born in Yeovil, Duggie had been on the ground staff at Plymouth Argyle before the war before seeing wartime service with the Fleet Air Arm. Having already appeared for Exeter in the wartime season of 1945/46, he made his Football League debut on the opening day of the 1946/47 season against Torquay United. The story of the time was that he had walked into St James’ Park and had asked for a trial upon leaving the military. 

Topping the goalscoring charts in 1947/48 and 1948/49, Duggie remained with Exeter until December 1952 when he somewhat surprisingly signed for Bristol City for an undisclosed fee. Press reports of the time indicate he was a hugely popular figure with City’s supporters and was considered to be one of the best outside-lefts to have played for the club up to then. He was also to soon be remembered as part of a highly effective left-sided combination with Angus Mackay.  

After leaving Exeter, Duggie played a further 39 league games during his time at Ashton Gate club scoring 11 goals. Yeovil Town enquired after the player in February 1955 but the fee of £2,000 proved to be too much and, on his eventual release at the end of the 1954/55 season, he signed for Weymouth where he finished playing left-back.

Duggie Regan died on 13 December 2006.