Match 32
January 16th 1965,
Luton Town (home)
Western League,
Chippenham (away)
18th January 1965
Jack Edwards quits.
EXETER CITY 5 (Curtis, Banks, Harvey, Welsh, Mitchell)
LUTON TOWN 1 (McKechnie)
Saturday January 16th 1965 at St James's Park.
Exeter City: Shearing; Smyth, MacDonald; Mitchell, Harvey, Anderson;
Welsh, Banks, Curtis, Hancock, Thorne.
Luton Town:- Baynham; McBain, Barton;
Pacey, Caleb, Reid; Pleat, Riddick, Chandler, McKechnie, Jardine.
Referee:- Mr P.G.Brandwood of Kidderminster.
Linesmen:- Messrs D.J.Head and D.H.Counsell.
Exeter City, playing before the poorest gate of the season (4,686) at St James's Park, piled up their biggest total of goals in the Third Division when they netted five against Luton Town. They had hoped to sign Don Roby, the Derby County winger, in time for today's match, but although terms had been agreed between the clubs the player himself had not made up his mind about a move to Exeter, and it seemed likely the transfer would not go through. Luton brought several of their own supporters with them. Wearing boaters and carrying black and white colours, they brought a little much needed life to a drab afternoon as the captains led out their teams on to the St James's Park wind and rain swept pitch.
The City were four times as lively as they were against Scunthorpe and deserved their win. When they attacked they always looked dangerous, especially on the right wing, where Welsh had a hand in three of the goals, apart from scoring one of them himself. Exeter's third goal was scored from the penalty spot, Reid having brought Curtis down unfairly. The goalkeeper got his hands to the spot kick but the strength of Harvey's shot carried the ball over the line.
- Exeter City Reserves at Chippenham scored six goals to nil against the home side, Alan Riding doing the "hat-trick."
SENSATION AT ST JAMES'S PARK: CITY'S MANAGER QUITS. AND BANKS ASKS FOR A TRANSFER.
Less than twenty four hours after his side had decisively beaten Luton Town by five goals to one on Saturday the City manager, Mr Jack Edwards announced that he had handed in his resignation on account of too many internal squabbles within the club. It is likely that Mr Ellis Studdart, Exeter City's chief scout and
a former player with both the Argyle and Torquay United, will take over as manager, at least until the end of the season. The next "bombshell news" from St James's Park was that Alan Banks had asked to be placed on the transfer list, stating that for some time he had not been happy and that the atmosphere at the club was not very good.
THE CROWD'S IDOL.
Alan Banks, the brilliant little ex-Liverpool inside-forward, came to Exeter from Cambridge City in October 1963. Almost immediately he became the idol of the St James's Park crowd, playing a leading part in the winning of promotion by Exeter City to the Third Division. He topped the scoring list with 19 goals. This year he has been dogged by injury and has scored only half-a dozen times.
It is believed that Exeter City paid about £6,000 for him, and in the opinion of everybody connected with the club and certainly of the City's supporters never has £6,000 been better spent.
Banks is the fourth player this season to go on the transfer list at his own request. The others are Barnett, Patrick, and Smyth.
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