MONDAY 30th APRIL 1962. PLAYER/MANAGER TO GO.

Glen Wilson has been dismissed as Exeter City's player/manager. This was the news from the club this morning following a weekend board meeting, Chairman ir Rag Rose said that the re-organisational plans of the club do not include Mr Wilson, The board will make further statement on the club's future policy shortly, until then they do not wish to comment further,

Mr Wilson has been player/manager for two seasons, having been signed from Brighton for a fee reported to be between £3,000 and £5,000. During his first' season, his playing staff was severely cut due to the club's financial position and the side finished in the bottom four of the Fourth Division, Exeter have only just missed re-election again this season,

The club have not given any indication on who will succeed him and Mr Rose would not comment on the possibility of other administrative changes, but it seems probable that if the board had intended any, they would have announced them at the same time.

TUESDAY 1st MAY 1962.

SPIERS LIKELY AS NEW CITY MANAGER.

Mr Cyril Spiers is likely to be appointed Exeter City's new manager at tonight's board meeting, it is understood he will arrive in the City this afternoon and that his appointment as Exeter's new boss is a formality, Mr Spiers who kept goal for Aston Villa and Tottenham Hotspur is now 63, For the last few years he has been scouting for Leicester City. Before that he was manager at Cardiff City and Crystal Palace,

He will certainly bring plenty of experience to the job and his arrival should mean the appointment of a lot of new youngsters at St James's Park, for he is a strong believer in a youth policy. The reason for his rapid appointment is so that he can have a say in the retained list which will be decided on at tonight's meeting,

Mr Spiers playing career began with Aston Villa immediately after World War One, and he soon buolt up a reputation as one of the finest goalkeepers in the League. Unfortunately, just as he was reaching his peak in 1926 he suffered a serious knee injury which threatened to end his career, In fact he was written off by the club and critics alike, but a Birmingham specialist decided to try an operation, .

After many months out of the game, Cyril Spiers made a remarkable comeback with Tottenham Hotspur Joining the club in 1927 he enjoyed one spell of 133 consecutive appearances, but then followed another disaster and one which ended his playing career. In 1932 he broke his wrist and although after a long absence, he subsequently tried a comeback with Wolves and made a number of First Division appearances with that club, he was forced to hang his boots up in 1935,

He was appointed assistant manager at Wives and then was made manager at Cardiff City in 1938-39, He immediately embarked on a policy of youth and built up a useful team, A brief two season stay with Norwich City after the war, was spent before returning to Cardiff City in 1948he later had a spell at Crystal Paláce as manager and has recently been chief Scout for Leicester City.

WEDNESDAY 2nd MAY 1962.
ACCENT ON YOUTH NEW MANAGERS POLICY.

Exeter's new manager Mr Cyril Spiers has made it clear that the future accent at Exeter City will be on youthHe was appointed at last night's board meetingHis aim is to make Exeter City a club in which local youngsters and those from other parts of the country want to come to. He said that he had already seen City play on three occasions last season and did not think that they showed enough fight, Last night's staement from the club stated :-"The board feel that they have been fortunate in persuading Mr Spiers to return to Football League management," Mr Spiers said that the only reason he has done so was that he can never resist a challenge.

THURSDAY 3rd MAY 1962.
EIGHT CITY PLAYERS FOR TRANSFER.

Exeter City have sacked eight of their 19 professional players and trainer Eddie Nash, Peter Gordon and Derek Sullivan have £1,000 fees on their heads, while Geoff Hudson, Brian Whitnall, Brian Turner, Glen Wilson, Archie Blue and Alan Brown are all on free transfers,

The future of right winger John McMillan is also in doubt, he has been out with an injury for the last couple of months. No decision will be made on him until he is fully recovered, if he is likely to be 100% fit for next season, he will be retained, if not the club will have to ut his case to the League to see what can be done to help him,

Retained players are Alan Jones, Colin Tinsley, Les MacDonald, Keith Harvey, Arnold Mitchell, Mike hughes, Brian Jenkins, Ray Carter, graham Rees and Eric Welsh plus two apprentices Peter Rutley and' Peter Quarrington,

Trainer Eddie Nash is not having his contract renewed. The club will honour his existing one which expires on June 30thThis decision was taken by the board before Mr Spiers arrived and the new manager has already someone in mind to take Eddie Nash's place,

MONDAY 7th MAY 1962.
LUMBERJACK JOBS.

Sme of Exeter City's retained and released men have started their summer jobs as lumberjacks for a local forrestry company, Whitnall, Sullivan, Gordon, Hudson, Mitchell, MacDonald, Jenkins, Jones, Hughes, Welsh, Harvey and Nash all left Exeter early this morning to start their new job at Chagford,

TUESDAY 8th MAY 1962.
CITY SIGN NEW PLAYER.

Exeter City manager Mr Cyril Spiers has wasted no time in getting to work on his youth policy. Last night he signed Derek Grace from Q.P.R. He is a 17 year old, well built, 5'11" 11k stone and a fierce tackler. He joined Portsmouth two years ago as a groundstaff boy, then last year signed as an apprentice for Q.P.R. ironically turning down an offer of a contract from Leicester City whose then scout.

Cyril Spiers wanted to sign him, London born, Grace will move from his Chiswick home in time for the start of next season. A two footed player, he made several appearences for Q.P.R. reserves in the Football Combination last season. He has also played for a combined London Youth team,

WEDNESDAY 9th MAY 1962.
CITY RE-SIGN JOHN MCMILLAN.

John McMillan will be an Exeter City player next season. The Scottish right winger who joined City from Cardiff last October, has only played eight first team games, having been plagued with knee trouble, was re-signed yesterday afternoon. He had a thorough fitness test and City manager Cyril Spiers had no hesitation in re-engaging him.

FRIDAY 11th MAY 1962.
CITY ADD THREE MORE PLAYERS TO STAFF.

Exeter City today signed three more players for next season, including two new apprentices. The first signing is that of David Johnstone, 20, a fullback from First Division Leicester City,, he has played regularly in their reserve side which he' captained last season, He knows City manager Cyril Spiers who was scout at Leicester before taking over at St James's Park,

The two new apprentices are both 15 year olds, Barry Redwood and Bruce Stuckey, both come from Torquay and both played for Newton Abbot Spurs last season, Redwood is an inside forward and Stuckey a winger, W.B.A, had both the young players at the Hawthorns on trial during the season,

NEW POLICY - NEW ERA AT CITY F.C.

Mr. Cyril Spiers Exeter City manager has issued the following statement on his future policy for Exeter City F.C.- "For Exeter City to pursue the policy as hitherto is courting disaster, for no club can continue to survive if more money is going out than is coming in, In the past the generosity of some of the directors and the helpful understanding of Trades people, together with the untiring efforts of the supporters club enabled us to carry on. This cannot go on, the club like any other business must be self supportingThe only way this can be done is by improving the standard of play and showing the faithful followers that a new spirit exists, a spirit of enthusiasm emenates from the board room and goes right through the club to the groundstaff, the spirit must be transmitted to the supporters, They must feel part and parcel of this club as indeed they are, I am depending on their efforts to spread the gospel of a new era in the history of the club, I ask them for help to dispell the apathy which now exists and create a new enthusiasm, It is the only way we can put Exeter City on a sound financial footing, it will take a little patience but we can do it! I know that the patience of the supporters has been tested many times before and turned almost to despair, but believe me, the policy I am going to carry through is something very different to what they have had previously. You will see gradually the introduction of new faces, these wil not be of the old brigade, but virile keen youngsters, Players who on the field are willing to give 100%, Some of them maybe unknown youngsters from other League clubs Others will be incorporated from local and other amateur associations. All will have been vetted and considered to have talent and the ability to reach the top. This is going to take a little time, so I ask the supporters once again to be patient and give these future stars encouragement by turning out in their increasing thousands.

TUESDAY 15th MAY 1962.
CITYS NEW TRAINER.

Jack Edwards, former Cardiff City and Crystal Palace fullback, took over as Exeter City's new trainer this morning, Edwards, 32, started his career as an amateur at Cardiff under City manager Cyril Spiers, after a spell with Lovells Athletic, he went to Palace in 1949, where he met Mr Spiers again, He stayed at Crystal Palce for ten years as skipper of the side, leaving for Rochdale in 1959, but he could not settle in the North and signed for Ashford Town,

Born in Wales, Edwards turned down the player/manager job at Ashford to come to Exeter. He learned something about City, when he played in the same side as former Exeter wing half Jimy Thompson at Rochdale, Meanwhile the training methods at St James's Park will be completely up to him. He is to take a course on injuries and the treatment side of the job.

WEDNESDAY 16th MAY 1962
CITY SIGN FIFTH APPRENTICE.

Brian Wills, 15, a left winger from Torquay, this morning became Exeter City's fifth apprentice professional and the third that City manager Cyril Spiers has signed from Newton Abbot Surs inside a week, Wills who has played for the Torbay schools side, is 5'6" and weighs eight stone,

THURSDAY 24th MAY 1962.
CITY F. C. HOPE FROM SITE SALE.

Something like £9,000 with which to build a gymnasium for indoor training was forecast by Exeter City chairman Hr Reg Rose, at a public meeting inquiry this morning, if the club were allowed to sell the practice pitch to a bowling alley company. He was speaking at the inquiry into Exeter City council's Pausal to permit outline planning permission for a 20 lane bowling alley, and an improved access to the soccer club at the rear of 18 Old Tiverton Road,

The City council say that the application was turned down because the establishment of such a use in what was primarily a residential area would be detrimental. The proposed development would constitute the errection of a two storey building with ten bowling lanes on each floor including a kitchen, snack bar, cloakrooms and licensed club premises. The actual bowling alley would be completely soundproof. There would be parking facilities for 3 cars and as the club proposed to demolish 18 old Tiverton Road which they own, there would be a much wider entrance to the bowling centre and football club, it was also proposed as a subsidary move to have another building at the rear of the popular bank which could be used as a covered training pitch or gymnasium which could be used as a social centre for the supporters club.

FRIDAY 25th MAY 1962. BOWLING ALLEY WOULD HIT VALUE OF HOUSES.

At yesterday's afternoon session of thep ublic enquiry into Exeter City F.C's plan to build a bowling alley at the rear of Old Tiverton Road, a petition signed by 100 residents who live in the road was presented. They say that they object to the proposal on three counts, one it is primarily a residential area and the deeds of nearby houses, contained covenants that they are used for private residences only. Should the development be permitted there would be a considerable drop in the value of these properties,

Secondly, there was the noise factor, both from the pedestrians and the motorists leaving the centre and lastly the propsed demolition of number 18 Old Tiverton Road, Mr Symons who presented the petition said the centre would develop into a major nuisance. Six other nearby residents then spoke in turn of their objections to the scheme. After closing the hearing, the ministry inspector visited the proposed site. The ministers decision will be made known later.

MONDAY 28th MAY 1962.

Exeter born Trevor Atkins, former Exeter City, Peterborough United and Bridgwater Town winger has signed for Barnstaple Town.

WEDNESDAY 30th MAY 1962. CITY SIGN AN IRISH BACK AS AMATEUR.

The Irish scout who sent Eric Welsh to St James's Park has recommended another youngster to Exeter City and he has been signed on amateur forms. He is 21 year old Cecil Smyth, a fullback, 5'9" and eleven stone who was a Distillery player. He will arrive in Exeter on July 7th and if he makes the grade will be signed on professional forms,

JOHNSTONE WANTS TO LIVE ON A FARM.

David Johnstone, City's recent signing from Leicester City has an accomodation problem, Instead of the usual footballers digs he wants to live on a farm, He has been to an agricultural college and has always led an outdooor life, so he does not fancy living in the City. At the moment he is working on his brothers farm at Westbury and would like to rent accomodation in a farm in the Exeter rea,

THURSDAY 31st MAY 1962.
RACKLEY COMEBACK WITH CITY?

Bob Rackley, the Teignmouth born left winger who was at St James's Park three seasons ago wants to make a comeback with Exeter City and manager Cyril Spiers is to give him a try outRackley now almost 21 had two seasons with the City, a good record with the reserves but no first team experience. "He joined Bristol Rovers after being released by Exeter City, they in turn loaned him to Oldham Athletic where he impressed and was signed permanently. He made 32 appearances and scored 14 goals. Last season he was with Southern League Folkestone Town but was released so that he could return nearer home, He will commence a months trial with City in July.