CITY MOVE INTO PROMOTION PLACES

By the end of September 1963 Exeter had played nine games and were looking good in fourth place in the Fourth Division table; just one point behind leaders Gillingham. Indeed the positive start sent journalists scrambling to compare with previous years. One wrote ‘having sustained only one defeat in the first nine games, a look through the record books reveals that this has not been achieved by the Grecians since the 1919-20 season’. That was in the days of the Southern League.  So a promising start indeed.

After the opening 2-1 away win at Bradford City, Exeter succumbed to their only defeat of this opening phase just two days later at Carlisle. A comprehensive 3-0 loss to complete a tough long distance road trip. This was followed by two 0-0 draws – at home to Lincoln and away to Gillingham.

City got back to winning ways with revenge against Carlisle in a midweek game at home (1-0) and kept the unbeaten run going with a 1-1 draw with Southport, also at home.

Another midweek game, away at Aldershot, secured a second away win in a game described as ‘a nerve wracking, blood surging 90 minutes’. Inside forward John Henderson scored the only goal at the Recreation Ground in the 58th minute ‘slashing the ball into the net with a first time shot’.

Henderson had joined Exeter from Charlton the previous November. He had an interesting theory on City’s early season success and put it down to the previous season’s great freeze. Talking to the Grecian Archive John recalled that the weather led to a seven week gap in fixtures. “We took advantage and trained at Dawlish Warren. We had no matches and were training on a sandy beach so we got fit and had a bit of confidence. I think it was this that led to promotion”.

The end of September saw the Red and Whites continue their good form. First they beat Doncaster Rovers 3-1 at home (Henderson scoring a couple; he already had five thanks to his opening day brace at Bradford and the goal at Aldershot).   And then on 28 September the Grecians secured a valuable 1-1 draw at then named Hartlepools United. Long serving Keith Harvey scored the all important goal and keeper Alan Barnett was given credit for doing well; ‘twice having to receive treatment for the challenges from the Hartlepool forwards’.  

Promotion Factfile

The attendance against Southport on September 14 – 5335 – was the lowest home League crowd of the season. The highest was 16,141 when Torquay United were the visitors on 30 March 1964.