CITY TACTICS ARE TWO WEEKS BEHIND THE TIMES.

BOXING DAY 1962:

EXETER CITY 0 STOCKPORT COUNTY 1.

Another defeat for Exeter City, this time by Stockport at St James's Park, leaves the team still struggling not far above the bottom of the League, and the selectors must be wondering what they can do to put things right.

Exeter City:- Tinsley; Johnston and MacDonald; Hughes, Anderson, and Harvey; Rees, Mitchell, Henderson, Carter, and Jenkins.

Stockport County:- Beighton; Murray and Porteous; Wylie, Hodder, and Ricketts; Ward, Evans, Whitelaw, McDonnell, and Davock.

Referee:- Mr G.W.Pullin of Bristol.
Linesmen:- Messrs T.Bishop and C.Bond.

This time there was a complete reversal of their Torquay trouble. At Plainmoor a couple of weeks ago they were criticised for trying to play good football when they should have hammered the ball down the middle to take advantage of the following gale. There was no gale blowing on Boxing Day, yet the only thing the City seemed to be able to do was to boot the ball as far up the field as possible and leave the forwards to fend for themselves. And but for the one chance which Carter blasted high and wide from a good pass by Henderson in the 30th minute the City attack could not really be blamed. The forwards cannot be expected to score goals if they are not given the ball. But in mitigation for the many mistakes made, on the frost-bound ground and on grass as slippery as ice, it was difficult enough to keep one's feet, let alone play football.

• DEATH OF HARRY EVANS.
  Harry Evans, the 42 years old assistant manager of Tottenham Hotspur and former player of Southampton, Exeter City, and Aldershot, died during the early hours of Sunday December 23rd at the University College Hospital, London. He had been in hospital for two weeks. Flags on the Tottenham ground flew at half-mast over Christmas.