Thomas, 'Artful'
'Artful Thomas', a well-known figure and charitable fundraiser around Exeter until his death in 1938, is known to have made appearances at a number of games at St James' Park either side of the Great War and into the 1920s.
Frederick Sayer Thomas, known to all as 'Artful'. was born in 1864 and grew up in the West Quarter - one of the poorest parts of town - and was in the audience on the night of the Theatre Royal Fire in 1887. Originally making his living as a labourer, he later worked as a cinema attendant whilst becoming known for his charitable work raising funds for the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital. Typically this involved him attending many carnivals and fetes often wearing a top hat as members of the public vied to 'tip the topper' in aid of hospital funds.
Aidan Hamilton's The Story of Exeter's St James' Park makes a number of references to Artful Thomas starting with him leading out a goat, City's mascot for the day, prior to the FA Cup tie against Aston Villa in January 1914. Ten years later he made an appearance at the FA Cup against Watford complete with hobby horse and, in January 1928 armed with a megaphone, led the crowd in community singing at the cup game against Blackburn Rovers.
He died in 1938 at the age of seventy-four. More can be found about him on the Exeter Memories webite
Frederick Sayer Thomas, known to all as 'Artful'. was born in 1864 and grew up in the West Quarter - one of the poorest parts of town - and was in the audience on the night of the Theatre Royal Fire in 1887. Originally making his living as a labourer, he later worked as a cinema attendant whilst becoming known for his charitable work raising funds for the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital. Typically this involved him attending many carnivals and fetes often wearing a top hat as members of the public vied to 'tip the topper' in aid of hospital funds.
Aidan Hamilton's The Story of Exeter's St James' Park makes a number of references to Artful Thomas starting with him leading out a goat, City's mascot for the day, prior to the FA Cup tie against Aston Villa in January 1914. Ten years later he made an appearance at the FA Cup against Watford complete with hobby horse and, in January 1928 armed with a megaphone, led the crowd in community singing at the cup game against Blackburn Rovers.
He died in 1938 at the age of seventy-four. More can be found about him on the Exeter Memories webite
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