14th March
On this day in:-
1947
Like most Football League clubs, Exeter City were passing through a difficult period in what was the first full season after the War years. There had been repeated postponements of matches, and this had hit the cash flow hard. The City directors were hoping that the support for the Grecians would not fall away at the end of the season was approaching as it was vital that income from this source continued. They were also keen to use some of the finance for team building for the following season. City had played just two home matches in three months which was not helping the situation.
1957
27-year old Dorchester Town forward Derek Stroud turned down a move to Exeter City. The former Grimsby Town player went to Dorchester from Bournemouth and Boscombe Athletic, who had put a big fee on him should he return to League football. This week, however, Bournemouth, grated Stroud a free transfer, but the player turned down an approach from the Grecians as he did not want to give up his job with a company in Bournemouth. City also made moves to sign the former Torquay United winger Tommy Northcott from Lincoln City. But after being told that the Imps wanted £4,500 for the player, the Grecians quickly lost interest.
1962
A former Exeter City director, Tom Ford, became the latest contributor to the Club's appeal for finance to save them going out of business. Ford's donation to the special 'receipts' appeal, whereby contributors were paid back over a period of time, took the appeal fund to a total of £1,500. Ford wrote that it was unthinkable that a prosperous city such as Exeter should find itself in a position where it was impossi to run a been shocked at the indifference of traders and sportsmen and suggested that it might be a good idea to appeal via the public address system at the following home match for supporters to give £1 each, as this may be fruitful.
1965
Exeter City signed one player, but missed out on another. They made a bid to sign George McLean on what was transfer deadline day, but the big Grimsby Town centre-forward, who was on the transfer list, could not agree terms and any possible deal was called off. City did however sign a player for the future, when they snapped up 16-year old inside forward, Selwyn Rice, from Chulmleigh. He had been working on his father's farm in the village, and had scored 12 goals in 13 games for Chulmleigh that season. Rice had also played for the North Devon Schools side and was rated very highly.
1967
Former Exeter City winger Hamilton
McMeechan was making a name for himself in Australia, starring for the Croatia club in Melbourne. Before going down under Hamilton played for Carlisle United and Exeter City. At St James' Park he had made just one appearance at Aldershot in a first round Football League Cup tie in September 1962. He then joined Slavia in Australia and won international honours by playing in some World Cup qualifying matches. Hamilton, who joined Croatia for £1,000, had just turned down an offer to return to his native Scotland and sign for Partick Thistle.
1981
Two newcomers arrived at St James' Park from Bristol City, although neither were to feature in manager Brian Godfrey's team. Godfrey had moved to take Brian Barnes and Stan Parker from the Second Division club to join the Grecians as part-time scouts, both having resigned similar positions at Ashton Gate. They would assist Chris Davey in his search for young talent. Both scouts were based in Aberdare and would help provide Exeter with a comprehensive scouting coverage of South Wales. Their defection to Exeter City followed the appointment of former Bristol City youth development officer Roger Quentin who took on a full time post at St James' Park.
1984
Exeter City appointed their third new director in just over a month. The latest addition to the board was Taunton insurance broker, Peter Read. He originally hailed from Manchester but had followed the Grecians since his move to Taunton in the early 1960s. During the previous three years he had become closely associated with the club. He brought the boardroom strength up to eight, following swiftly in the footsteps of Exeter businessmen Ivor Doble and Byron Snell who had both joined the previous month.
1990
City manager Terry Cooper said he would not be surprised if a big money offer was forthcoming for defender Scott Hiley. He had become top of the wanted list for a number of clubs following his consistent form at both home and away matches. It was revealed that Leeds United were tracking the player and would be represented at the next Exeter City match to cast an eye over Hiley. Meanwhile John Delve was to end his long association with the Grecians when he pulled his last pint after nearly two years as steward at the Centre Spot Social Club. The popular former player, captain and caretaker manager was to take over as landlord of the Village Inn, at Exwick
1991
Winger Paul Eshelby was set for a free transfer move to Scarborough. The 20-year old had been training with the Yorkshire club all week and Exeter manager Terry Cooper agreed to let them extend his trial period for a further week. Cooper had high hopes for the former lifeguard after signing him from non- league football midway through the previous season, and Eshelby signed a new one year deal, but his progress had not been what the manager had hoped. City striker Ben Rowe was also being trailed by Cheltenham Town, and had played one match for them at reserve team level on trial.
1993
The second lowest crowd on the day in the Football League for Exeter City's fixture with Hartlepool United had brought worrying times to the Club. The board of directors were left counting the cost of a sparsely populated St James' Park , as just 2,639 spectators were present to watch the Grecians record their first win of the year. Exeter City director, Stuart Dawe, admitted that he was very concerned by the small turn out of fans; "We can only survive if people support us," he said. "Do the people of Exeter want a professional football club or not?" The City director was quick to add though that the club would not sell players on the cheap as they had done in the past. "There is no way we will let players go unless we can replace them with quality. A first class team must be our priority."
1994
Exeter City Community Officer George Kent left the Club following a reduction in funding for the post by the Professional Footballers Association, But he was not the only departure as Mike Paddon, who had been employed in the office at the Near Post shop in St James' Road, had also left for pastures new. Tipped to return to the Club to replace Kent as Community Officer was former Exeter City favourite Steve Neville. He had recently been playing for Torrington where his former City team mate John Hore was manager. Four trainees were to be offered full professional contracts for the following season. Winger Martin Phillips, striker Richard Pears, midfielder Anthony Thirlby and central defender Jon Richardson were all expected to accept the offer. In Richardson's case, he had only been with the Grecians for one year as a trainee instead of the normal two, having turned down an offer to sign for Aston Villa in preference for Exeter City. On the playing side trainee Jimmy Ball had his contract cancelled by mutual consent, eight weeks after his father, Alan Ball, had left St James' Park to take over as manager of Southampton.
Birthdays
Aaron Brown 14/03/1980
Alan Riding 14/03/1945
Cliff Bastin 14/03/1912
Derek Digby 14/03/1931
Donovan Wilson 14/03/1997
Harry Boye-Karlsen 14/03/1920
Samuel Parkin 14/03/1981
1947
Like most Football League clubs, Exeter City were passing through a difficult period in what was the first full season after the War years. There had been repeated postponements of matches, and this had hit the cash flow hard. The City directors were hoping that the support for the Grecians would not fall away at the end of the season was approaching as it was vital that income from this source continued. They were also keen to use some of the finance for team building for the following season. City had played just two home matches in three months which was not helping the situation.
1957
27-year old Dorchester Town forward Derek Stroud turned down a move to Exeter City. The former Grimsby Town player went to Dorchester from Bournemouth and Boscombe Athletic, who had put a big fee on him should he return to League football. This week, however, Bournemouth, grated Stroud a free transfer, but the player turned down an approach from the Grecians as he did not want to give up his job with a company in Bournemouth. City also made moves to sign the former Torquay United winger Tommy Northcott from Lincoln City. But after being told that the Imps wanted £4,500 for the player, the Grecians quickly lost interest.
1962
A former Exeter City director, Tom Ford, became the latest contributor to the Club's appeal for finance to save them going out of business. Ford's donation to the special 'receipts' appeal, whereby contributors were paid back over a period of time, took the appeal fund to a total of £1,500. Ford wrote that it was unthinkable that a prosperous city such as Exeter should find itself in a position where it was impossi to run a been shocked at the indifference of traders and sportsmen and suggested that it might be a good idea to appeal via the public address system at the following home match for supporters to give £1 each, as this may be fruitful.
1965
Exeter City signed one player, but missed out on another. They made a bid to sign George McLean on what was transfer deadline day, but the big Grimsby Town centre-forward, who was on the transfer list, could not agree terms and any possible deal was called off. City did however sign a player for the future, when they snapped up 16-year old inside forward, Selwyn Rice, from Chulmleigh. He had been working on his father's farm in the village, and had scored 12 goals in 13 games for Chulmleigh that season. Rice had also played for the North Devon Schools side and was rated very highly.
1967
Former Exeter City winger Hamilton
McMeechan was making a name for himself in Australia, starring for the Croatia club in Melbourne. Before going down under Hamilton played for Carlisle United and Exeter City. At St James' Park he had made just one appearance at Aldershot in a first round Football League Cup tie in September 1962. He then joined Slavia in Australia and won international honours by playing in some World Cup qualifying matches. Hamilton, who joined Croatia for £1,000, had just turned down an offer to return to his native Scotland and sign for Partick Thistle.
1981
Two newcomers arrived at St James' Park from Bristol City, although neither were to feature in manager Brian Godfrey's team. Godfrey had moved to take Brian Barnes and Stan Parker from the Second Division club to join the Grecians as part-time scouts, both having resigned similar positions at Ashton Gate. They would assist Chris Davey in his search for young talent. Both scouts were based in Aberdare and would help provide Exeter with a comprehensive scouting coverage of South Wales. Their defection to Exeter City followed the appointment of former Bristol City youth development officer Roger Quentin who took on a full time post at St James' Park.
1984
Exeter City appointed their third new director in just over a month. The latest addition to the board was Taunton insurance broker, Peter Read. He originally hailed from Manchester but had followed the Grecians since his move to Taunton in the early 1960s. During the previous three years he had become closely associated with the club. He brought the boardroom strength up to eight, following swiftly in the footsteps of Exeter businessmen Ivor Doble and Byron Snell who had both joined the previous month.
1990
City manager Terry Cooper said he would not be surprised if a big money offer was forthcoming for defender Scott Hiley. He had become top of the wanted list for a number of clubs following his consistent form at both home and away matches. It was revealed that Leeds United were tracking the player and would be represented at the next Exeter City match to cast an eye over Hiley. Meanwhile John Delve was to end his long association with the Grecians when he pulled his last pint after nearly two years as steward at the Centre Spot Social Club. The popular former player, captain and caretaker manager was to take over as landlord of the Village Inn, at Exwick
1991
Winger Paul Eshelby was set for a free transfer move to Scarborough. The 20-year old had been training with the Yorkshire club all week and Exeter manager Terry Cooper agreed to let them extend his trial period for a further week. Cooper had high hopes for the former lifeguard after signing him from non- league football midway through the previous season, and Eshelby signed a new one year deal, but his progress had not been what the manager had hoped. City striker Ben Rowe was also being trailed by Cheltenham Town, and had played one match for them at reserve team level on trial.
1993
The second lowest crowd on the day in the Football League for Exeter City's fixture with Hartlepool United had brought worrying times to the Club. The board of directors were left counting the cost of a sparsely populated St James' Park , as just 2,639 spectators were present to watch the Grecians record their first win of the year. Exeter City director, Stuart Dawe, admitted that he was very concerned by the small turn out of fans; "We can only survive if people support us," he said. "Do the people of Exeter want a professional football club or not?" The City director was quick to add though that the club would not sell players on the cheap as they had done in the past. "There is no way we will let players go unless we can replace them with quality. A first class team must be our priority."
1994
Exeter City Community Officer George Kent left the Club following a reduction in funding for the post by the Professional Footballers Association, But he was not the only departure as Mike Paddon, who had been employed in the office at the Near Post shop in St James' Road, had also left for pastures new. Tipped to return to the Club to replace Kent as Community Officer was former Exeter City favourite Steve Neville. He had recently been playing for Torrington where his former City team mate John Hore was manager. Four trainees were to be offered full professional contracts for the following season. Winger Martin Phillips, striker Richard Pears, midfielder Anthony Thirlby and central defender Jon Richardson were all expected to accept the offer. In Richardson's case, he had only been with the Grecians for one year as a trainee instead of the normal two, having turned down an offer to sign for Aston Villa in preference for Exeter City. On the playing side trainee Jimmy Ball had his contract cancelled by mutual consent, eight weeks after his father, Alan Ball, had left St James' Park to take over as manager of Southampton.
Birthdays
Aaron Brown 14/03/1980
Alan Riding 14/03/1945
Cliff Bastin 14/03/1912
Derek Digby 14/03/1931
Donovan Wilson 14/03/1997
Harry Boye-Karlsen 14/03/1920
Samuel Parkin 14/03/1981
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