On this day in:-

1949
Work on the new entrance to St James Park from Old Tiverton Road was well on course to be completed on timeIt was expected to be used for the first time when Plymouth Argyle were due to visit Exeter for a Third Division South fixture the following February and would help with the flow of spectators t the match, the attendance probably topping 20,000 The new entrance would be named after Norman Kendall, president and founder of the Grecians Association and a planner who much to sponsor the election of Exeter City Football Club to the Southern League in 1908 Former Exeter City centre forward Ron Johnston was on the move to Brighton and Hove Albion. Johnston had joined the Grecians from Rochdale and then played for Weymouth, but his form with Headington United had attracted the interest of a number of League clubs. including Brighton

1953
The draw for the first round of the FA Cup had been made and presented Exeter City a home tie against non- league opposition. However, the Grecians had to wait a few days to find out who they were playing as a replay had to take place between Hereford United and Brush sports, a Birmingham League team Eventually Hereford it was who came to the Park.

1956
The directors of Exeter City decided to make the FA Cup first round tie against Plymouth Argyle at St James' Park an all ticket affairVouchers were to be handed out to all ground and enclosure patrons at the City versus Watford gameThey were to be exchanged for Cup tickets the following week. Any tickets remaining would go on general sale, however, prices were increased to six shillings for the stand and three shillings and sixpence for the enclosureground admission would be two shillings and sixpencewith a reduction for boys, at one shilling One wonders what happened if you were a it was further announced that the game against Watford at the Park would be the first Saturday Football League fixture at the ground to be played partially under floodlights. The kick-off was 3pm, and both dubs had agreed that the lights could be turned don as soon as it was necessary. This would mean that most of the second half would be floodit

1962
Although Exeter City had lost 3-2 at Gravesend and Northfleet in the first round of the FA Cup, they announced that manager Cyril Spiers had sent a letter and a telegram to the Football Association complaining about the way which referee, MrMoore, handled the match and why the floodlights were not turned on in the second half. The City boss regarded the defeat as a flagrant injustice and he could not stand back and do nothing about it. "I want o know why all three Gravesend goals were allowed when infringements occurred and why the lights were not switched on," said Spiers, who maintained that poor refereeing had cost City the match. For the last 15 minutes the light was indeed poor and even the referee admitted that although it was alright for him, it could have been very different for some spectators. He received no complaints from the players.

1966
Exeter City chairman Reg Rose confirmed that former Plymouth Argyle chairman Ron Blindell had been approached to join the Grecians, or to take over the club, which would mean investing substantial money. "My colleagues on the board are aware that I wish to retire from the chair and the directorship of Exeter City as soon as possible because of health reasons," said Rose. "With full agreement and support of vice chairman Fred dart and with the knowledge of the board, with the exception of Les Kerslake who was absent from the last meeting, Ron Blindell was approached among others to join the club."
Blindell visited St James Park for discussions with rose and the other directors and further developments were expected very shortly as the City chairman was due to go off on holiday to South Africa and he wanted the position resolved very quickly.

1968
Exeter City reported a total deficit of £50,268 at their annual meeting. The value of St James Park was shown as being 5,548, but it was estimated that it was in fact worth in excess of £30.000. Chairman Les Kerslake said that the board were anxious for success as much as anyone, but this still had to be achieved according to finances. The club could not simply get more and more into debt. One shareholder asked why nothing was shown in the balance sheet for the transfer of players. The transfer of Bruce Stuckey to Sunderland and the signing of Alan Banks and John Newman from Plymouth Argyle were mentioned. Mr. Kerdake replied by saying that one balanced out the other. The board had discussed the idea of building new dressing rooms behind the Big Bank and using the existing space under the grandstand as a clubhouse for supporters. Unfortunately there was simply no money available to progress the  scheme.

1973
Exeter City turned down an offer from Swindon Town for striker Fred Binney, believed to have been £40,000. The directors considered the offer and decided not to let the player go. Binney was informed as it he had stated his intention to move on if the right offer came along, and only if it meant a higher grade of footballIt was thought that city were seeking £60,000 for Binney.

1974
Len Bond makes in debut for Exeter in a 2-0 home win over Crewe,  Len took over between the posts from Bob Wilson. 

1981
Exeter City were staging a no holds barred inquest as to the clubs poor run of results Manager Brian Godfrey ordered his players to forfeit their day off after seeing his side hit rock bottom in the 2-1 home defeat against Oxford United. He made it clear that he wanted some straight talking from the players as they attempted to search out the reason for their poor start to the season. Godfrey warned: "if the players here cannot produce results, then maybe we shall have to get some who can we have to take stock of the situation."

1983
The Grecians were on the verge of making a loan signing as they had agreed terms with Tottenham Hotspur's 19-year old centre-half Simon Webster. As the club already had two loan players, one of those would have to be released under Football League rules. It was expected that Queens Park Rangers would agree to the extension of a loan period for mark O'Connor, so it was expected that Russell Musker would be returning to Bristol City to make way for Webster. Meanwhile City boss Gerry Francis missed the morning training session at the Cat and Fiddle after his car windscreen shattered on the way to Exeter on the M5 near Weston-Super- Mare.

1992

Any fears that Exeter City fans had that loan signing Richard Evans' departure was simply due to a lack of cash were vigorously denied by director Allen Trump. "It was purely the manager's decision not to continue with the loan or to make an offer," said Trump. "There is no more of a money problem here than at any club. It is ironic that while most other clubs are struggling in recession, Exeter City is still healthy" It was believed that Bristol Rovers would have accepted a fee of £15,000 for Evans, manager Alan ball had been unable to offload players in the same profitable way as his predecessor Terry Cooper a £600,000 surplus being made in the transfer market. Ball had spent £180,000 since being appointed manager, paying fees for Ronnie Jepson, Andy Cook, Peter Whiston and Gary Chapman.

Birthdays

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