Southport v City
November 19th 1966 

SATURDAY 19th NOVEMBER 1966. GOOD TEAM EFFORT BY CITY.

SOUTHPORT 1,
Reeves; Parker, Cairns; Peat, Molyneux, Alty; McKinlay, Spence, Fryatt, Russell, Smith.
EXETER CITY 1.
Smout; Smyth, Ley; Wilkinson, Harford, Blain; Godfrey, Keeley, McLean, Thompson, Buckingham,

Scorers:
Southport: Spence,
Exeter : McLean
Attendance;

Exeter City became the first side to earn a point at Southport this season, So City can be well satisfied with this result. This was a good team effort, they worked hard in defence when the pressure was on and the attack showed more effort and urgencyThey still lacked dash in the oppositions penalty area but at least it was an improvement, Star player in the City side was John Smout, He seems to be gaining confidence with every game he plays, and in this match it was very evident, He brought off a magnificent flying save from Fryatt in the 35th minute, and again just before half time from Smith, Colin Buckingham in his first match of the season also had a good match. Exeter played their best football in the first half and they got off to a confident start in the 10th minute when George McLean scored, They went close several times after this but could not get another goal, although Jimmy Blain hit the post from Peter Godfrey's cross, Southport equalised in the 51st minute through Spence when Russell's free kick was pushed past Smout,

Exeter City still cannot win away from home. But they got a very useful point at Southport when they held one of the best Fourth Divisions to a 1-1 draw. It was a creditable result for Exeter, because Southport had dropped only two points at home this season, and that was when they were beaten by Chesterfield.

Match Comment 
The City had to work hard for their point today after taking the lead and then losing it, but they held on and John Smout played a great game in goal. McLean scored Exeter's goal in the tenth minute and Spence got the equaliser for Southport six minutes after the interval.

WESTERN LEAGUE.

EXETER CITY 1 DORCHESTER TOWN 0:

Scorer: Elliott.

City's young goalkeeper took the biggest share of the honours in this game, Ray Elliott scored after 13 minutes but Exeter would not have been able to have hung on to their lead but for a superb display from keeper Penfold.

MONDAY 21st NOVEMBER 1966.

MIDLAND BUSINESSMAN INVITED TO JOIN THE BOARD.

After rumours and denial stories, Eexter City may have a new director after all. The mysterious Mr X, the Wolverhampton industrialist is Mr Claude Clifford, He has been invited to join the board and said he would be willing to do so when he came to live in the Exeter district on his retirement. Mr Clifford, 67, has in fact been retired for two years after being deputy managing director of an aircraft firm, but he was unable to find suitable property in the Exeter area in which to live. He was chairman of the Wolverhampton Wanderers Development Association for four years and nearly joined the Molyneux board of directors two years ago,

WEDNESDAY 23rd NOVEMBER 1966.

RON BLINDELL GIVES HIS VIEWS ON THAT CITY DEAL.

What caused the collapse of the negotiations for Ron Blindell to take over as chairman of Exeter City? Mr Blindell today issued a statement in which he said there was never any question of him having a controlling interest in the club, Giving his views on the negotiations he said; "I was prepared to take over the chairmanship of the club putting £20,000 either on a mortagage or the purchase of the ground, The club had to pay neither interest nor rent if they were making a loss and the directors loans remained as they were, interest free for a minimum of five years." Mr Blindell also suggested that all directors shares should be pooled, so that everyone including himself had an equal numer, He added; "During all the discussions there was a desire that out of the money I put into the club, Messrs Cowley, kerslake and Rodgers, wanted repayment of their loans," He would not agree to this except to say that a repayment within a specific number of years because the club needed the money he was prepared to put in,. Mr Blindell said his offer was £20,000 to purchase the ground, with a rent of £2,000 yearly, only payable if the club made a profit and that the lease to the club was to be perpetuated which was a resolution of an annual meeting three years ago, Alternatively, his suggestion was a mortgage of £20,000 on which the rate of interest was ten per cent, but again only payable if the club made a profit, Mr Blindell was told that his offer was rejected by 3 votes to 2, "There was no question in the whole discussion that I asked for control, I was invited supposedly by the unaminous decision of the board to become chairman and because in all probability, the three directors (Cowley, Kerslake, and Rodgers), could not draw some money out of the club and they had a change of mind,"

FRIDAY 25th NOVEMBER 1966.

KEITH HARVEY AT CENTRE HALF IN CUP LINE-UP.

Exeter City trainer Keith Harvey makes a surprise return to the first team against Luton Town tomorrow in the F,A,Cup first round tie. Harvey who gave up playing to become trainer, has been playing in the reserves for the last few weeks to add his experience to what is a young side, It is the vast experience that Harvey has, that prompted manager Jock Basford to promote him to a first team return appearance,