City's Season

MODEST RECORD, BUT SIGNS OF TEAM BUILDING

Exeter City at the close of play for the season were 17th in the 4th Division, just one up on last year. They were knocked out of the Cup in the first round by a Southern League team. They were knocked out of the Football League Cup in the first round by Aldershot, like the City, a Fourth Division club. It was taken all round an improvement on last season, but not much of one. So what went wrong this time? The short answer is that it has been a case of mis-management from the start. Cyril Spiers was hailed as the saviour of St. James's Park, when he came here just a year ago. But only a few months later it was decided that his policies were no good, and the club had to start again from scratch in the middle of a season. The players cannot be blamed. They have done their best, and if their best was not good enough, then it's hardly their fault, but the fault of the person or persons who hired them.

A Fan's memories of the 1962/63 season 
by Fred Pound 

SPECTATORS COOLED OFF.
The supporters certainly cannot be blamed. Ten thousand Exeter City fans rolled up for the opening game, which was lost by three goals. A series of seven more matches without a win, quite naturally, was enough to cool them off.
The trainer, who is now the manager, Mr Jack Edwards, gave a very honest answer to these questions, when asked. "Quite frankly," said he, "we've done a lot better than I had ever hoped. The way we began I could not see us getting out of the bottom four. But we then had a very good run. The defence tightened up tremendously with the return of Keith Harvey, the ball started to roll our way, and we began to fight a bit."

THE BIG FREEZE UP HELPED!

The cold spell, which hit a lot of clubs badly, in fact did the City the world of good on the field. It brought an end to the series of disastrous defeats, it gave the players and the staff a chance to rest and re-think, and a splendid opportunity to get off to a new start. Regarding injuries the City have been lucky. The players have had their share of small knocks and bruises, but Harvey was the only key player to get a serious setback. On the field, the City's troubles have varied. At the start of the season it was usually the defence which was letting them down. Three and four goals a game were often going into the City's net. But then Keith Harvey came back into the team at centre-half and the
whole picture changed. Since the freeze there have been only three games in which the City have let in more than two goals.

MORE OF THE BALL.

The attack which, earlier on, didn't really get a chance, suddenly began to see more of the ball, and started to get the goals. Ray Carter, using his head in more senses than one, kept on scoring. John Henderson helped him out with seven goals, and Arnold Mitchell slotted easily into his new role as the link-man. Then the attack started to fade away. They scored just two goals in five games, and the City commenced to slide back. But though it has come far too late in the day to save them in this season, it does seem that the Exeter City board has seen the light at last. It is probable that they are finally going to end their random close season policy of signing anyone, almost regardless of their record, as long as they are on a free transfer. And it also seems evident that they really are trying to team-build at last. The City board has had to endure plenty of criticism every time it was thought that they had made a mistake.

MOUNTAIN OF DEBT.

At the same time it ought to have been realised that so far they have been labouring under a mountainous back-log of debt, and that this to a great extent has had to dictate their policy. However, it is understood that this period is coming to an end, and that the club's position has grown a little stronger each season and that now they are in a situation where they can afford, as regards the signing of players, to look for quality rather than quantity. Roy Patrick was the first example of the sort of signing the board hopes to make in the future. Patrick is a player of proved ability and experience but still young enough to give the City several more years of useful service. It is better to buy one man and know that he will last for at least five seasons than to buy five different men and hope that they will be able to do the job. The chairman, Mr. Reg Rose, sums up like this: "Admittedly, things on the field have not gone as well as we would have liked. But, in taking the position of the club as a whole, there has been an all round improvement. We want to cut out the dead wood and get players of quality in the future, to build our first team up as quickly as possible. But at the same time we do realise that it is imperative to have a strong youth side. As our commitments get less, and our stability grows, then we are able to be more ambitious. "If, as I hope and believe, there is to be a new look, then there are on or two other things which can well be incorporated into the running of the club. "There should be no more examples of ticket-holders having to queue to get into the ground. No more 'player problems' like the signing of Jimmy Boag for two months when Tony Clark was really the first choice reserve goalkeeper, and finally never giving Clark a proper chance to show his worth. "No more niggling between board and supporter club representatives, far more care in selecting any administrative officials, and a far less summary attitude toward them when things start to go wrong."

FULL TIME SCOUT.

"On the positive side there should be the appointment of a full-time scout, a competent judge, who knows football and footballers. And a man whose word will be accepted. "Some of the things I have mentioned may seem small. But, added up, they all mean a better name for the club and a better atmosphere inside it." The retained list is now the only thing remaining to be dealt with, and according to the manager it will be issued next week. There are not likely to be any real shocks, except one or two minor ones, perhaps. As for the numbers it seems possible that the City will start next season with less than the nineteen full-time professionals they have on their books at the moment. And in the summer the City will be concentrating their searches on forwards, with two possible defensive signings as well, if they can get the right men.

FRIDAY 24th MAY 1963.

EXETER CITY EIGHT FOR TRANSFER.

Exeter City have sacked eight of their 20 strong professional staff, Wingers Brian Jenkins and Jack McMillan are the only two players up for sale, the other six are on the free transfer list. City are asking for a fee of £1,500 for Jenkins and £1,000 for McMillan, All those on the free transfer list were brought to Exeter by former manager Cyril Spiers,

Retained
Goalkeeper Colin tinsley. Fullbacks Les MacDonald, Roy Patrick, Cecil Smyth, Halfbacks Des Anderson, Derek Grace, Keith Harvey, Arnold Mitchell, Forwards Ray Carter, Graham Rees, Eric Wish, John Henderson,

For sale
Brian Jenkins, Jack McMillan, Free transfers Tony Clark, David Johnston, Mike hughes, Barry Pierce, Charlie Sells, Ray Southcombe,

Former Exeter City inside forward Archie Blue was given a free transfer by Carlisle United today, he spent one season at St James's Park being signed from Hearts, before joining Carlisle last summer,