1908-1910 Captain F J Harvey
Biographical Text
Captain Frederick J Harvey was the first chairman of the board of the newly-constituted company that owned and controlled Exeter City at the start of the professional era in 1908. A gymnasium proprietor and football administrator, he helped guide the Grecians during the first two seasons in the Southern League.
Arriving in Exeter from London in 1894 Mr Harvey and his wife, both physical training instructors, established the West of England Physical Training School and Gymnasium on Sidwell Street not far away from what was to become St James' Park. Although he was primarily a gymnast, he was also a football enthusiast and soon became involved in the local game as a player with Exeter United, an official (who ran the line in the Southern League, Western League and FA Cup) and an administrator with the East Devon FA. In particular it was this role in establishing a separate governing body for the east of the county - and making a break from Plymouth in the process - that helped him become a prominent figure in developing the association code in the Exeter area at a time when rugby held sway.
Furthermore, with Plymouth leading the way by introducing professional soccer in 1903, Frederick Harvey was keen to investigate the opportunity of following suit in Exeter and was ready to work with those who shared his ambitions.
Ultimately the honour of triggering the process was to fall to sports outfitter Norman Kendall who was instrumental in gathering together a group of business and professional people over the winter of 1907/08 with a view towards bringing Southern League football to the city by the following autumn. Sidney Thomas, already secretary of the amateur Exeter City, was to be the man to carry forward the idea on a day-to-day basis whilst there was also the need for a strong figure to lead a group of investors/directors that included a licensee, an accountant, a solicitor, a grocer, a sports outfitter and an institutional superintendent. Captain F J Harvey, the military title arising from his service with the special reserve and territorial force, appeared to be the ideal candidate to act as the first chair of what was a company board rather than an amateur club committee.
Much needed to be done with regards to constructing both a team and football ground for a level of football wholly unlike what had previously been seen in the town. Arthur Chadwick, who access to a pool of professionals from Lancashire, was appointed as manager and work began on building a suitable venue from scratch. As the new venture began, City swam rather than sank. Sid Thomas did the donkey work, others may have put in more money than Captain Harvey (we can't be wholly sure) but it was the gymnast who steered the ship before stepping aside after two seasons.
Arriving in Exeter from London in 1894 Mr Harvey and his wife, both physical training instructors, established the West of England Physical Training School and Gymnasium on Sidwell Street not far away from what was to become St James' Park. Although he was primarily a gymnast, he was also a football enthusiast and soon became involved in the local game as a player with Exeter United, an official (who ran the line in the Southern League, Western League and FA Cup) and an administrator with the East Devon FA. In particular it was this role in establishing a separate governing body for the east of the county - and making a break from Plymouth in the process - that helped him become a prominent figure in developing the association code in the Exeter area at a time when rugby held sway.
Furthermore, with Plymouth leading the way by introducing professional soccer in 1903, Frederick Harvey was keen to investigate the opportunity of following suit in Exeter and was ready to work with those who shared his ambitions.
Ultimately the honour of triggering the process was to fall to sports outfitter Norman Kendall who was instrumental in gathering together a group of business and professional people over the winter of 1907/08 with a view towards bringing Southern League football to the city by the following autumn. Sidney Thomas, already secretary of the amateur Exeter City, was to be the man to carry forward the idea on a day-to-day basis whilst there was also the need for a strong figure to lead a group of investors/directors that included a licensee, an accountant, a solicitor, a grocer, a sports outfitter and an institutional superintendent. Captain F J Harvey, the military title arising from his service with the special reserve and territorial force, appeared to be the ideal candidate to act as the first chair of what was a company board rather than an amateur club committee.
Much needed to be done with regards to constructing both a team and football ground for a level of football wholly unlike what had previously been seen in the town. Arthur Chadwick, who access to a pool of professionals from Lancashire, was appointed as manager and work began on building a suitable venue from scratch. As the new venture began, City swam rather than sank. Sid Thomas did the donkey work, others may have put in more money than Captain Harvey (we can't be wholly sure) but it was the gymnast who steered the ship before stepping aside after two seasons.
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