The Grecian’s promotion season goalkeeper was a man with Portsmouth connections. Alan Barnett had joined Pompey in September 1955 from his home town local side Croydon Amateurs.

Portsmouth gave Barnett his League debut and he went on to make 25 League appearances for the south coast side. He moved on to Grimsby in December 1958 – a move that had unusual consequences for Portsmouth.   They had to find a new Club Secretary as Alan’s wife had been undertaking the role!

Barnett played 116 League matches for Grimsby before Exeter Manager Jack Edwards swooped for him in July 1963. The Express and Echo described his transfer as ‘a real capture’.

Alan was soon earning rave reviews – in the opening game of the season at Bradford City the Echo reported that ‘the safest man on show was Alan Barnett. His handling was clean and he made two magnificent saves’.

In the Boxing Day fixture at Brighton Barnett was ‘particularly busy bringing off many spectacular saves’ according to the Echo. And in the return fixture two days later Alan kept a clean sheet in a 0-0 draw in front of 9,873. Roy Liscombe writing in the Echo said ‘This was certainly notCity’s best home showing but their defence was as solid as ever’.

Liscombe reflected on where City were at the end of 1963. ‘Gates are up by 16,000 on last season, and talk of promotion has replaced the gloom at St James’s Park. The fans are happier than they have been for a long time’.

For the Manager, Jack Edwards, the crowds were flocking back because they liked the style of play. He told the Echo ‘It’s not just winning that matters –its how you win’.

Alan Barnett went on to play in all but one of the 46promotion season League games and only let in 37 goals. A great record, as these were tough days for keepers who were nowhere near as protected as now.  Our photo from the Grecian Archive shows Barnett being shoulder charged by Gillingham’s Ronnie Waldock in 1964.  

Alan stayed at City until June 1966 when he joined Torquay United.  A quirk of his time with us was on 3 April 1965 when he was named as centre forward for a Western League match against Weston Super Mare. Alan scored Exeter’s only goal of the game.  

Barnett later worked for his father in law who owned a garden centre in Portsmouth. Sadly Alan died in October 1978 aged just 43.

Promotion Factfile

After the Christmas fixtures City lay third in the Fourth Division with 32 points from 26 games. Remember only two points for a win in those days and four automatic promotion places. We were five points behind leaders Gillingham and four off Carlisle United. Snapping at our heels were Workington on 31 points and four teams including TorquayUnited on 28.