ECFC 1-0 Grimsby Town
FA Cup 1st Round Proper


Grimsby Town

NOTES ON THE CITY'S CUP OPPONENTS

Cantering along steadily round about the middle of the Third Division Northern in the Football League, Grimsby Town's record suggests a team which has a solid defence and a useful attack. But it is not so much the performances of the Mariners in the League that people in the South-West want to hear about just now; rather, it is the potentiality of the side as Cup-fighters. The Mariners' regular XI is a shrewd blend of experience and youth, fore and aft. Archibald, the goalkeeper, a tall, spidery, bony fellow, all legs and arms, rather like Syd Pavey, was very much in the limelight in season 1919-20 as a member of the Reading club. Along with Mr Fred Mavin, then the "Biscuitmen's centre half, he shared in the honours of the drawn game at St James's Park, the score being 2-2. In mid-season he left Reading for Chelsea.

Affleck, the left-back, is in his 36th year and going strongly. With Arch, a sturdy young Staffordshire man as his partner, the three "A's" put up a very virile and workmanlike defence.

CARMICHAEL AND MILLER THE BIG PERSONALITIES

Useful too is the intermediate line, with a particularly dashing member on the left in John Bradford. The big personalities in the Town attack are James Carmichael, the centre-forward, and a deadly marksman, who, on being transferred from centre-half to the front line, notched 37 goals in that number of Northern Section matches in the season before last. The real genius of the forward line is James Miller, the inside-left, a player of the Tom Gallogley and Alan Mathieson type, but more dangerous in front of goal. He has played for St Mirren and Greenock Morton in addition to Grimsby, and his fame has travelled far and wide. The players are:

JOHN ARCHIBALD (5 ft.11/ins, llst.81b), who has succeeded Atter as the Town goalkeeper, is a Scot from Strathaven, where he was born 27 years ago. Played for Reading, Chelsea, and St. Bernard's, and joined Newcastle United in April 1922. In twenty matches for the Newcastle Reserves not one goal was scored against him, and the Grimsby club were fortunate to secure his services this season. He has a rare gift of anticipation, fields the ball, fields the ball like a cricketer, and is equally good with high or low shots.

WILLIAM H. ARCH (5ft.72ins, llst.21b), a native of Tipton, Staffs, played for Pensultt before taking the professional ticket with the Albion, of West Bromwich. Got few chances in senior company at the Hawthorns, where he spent two seasons, and migrated to South Wales to join Newport County. Came to Grimsby at the beginning of this season, and has deposed a former Exeter City full back in John Ackroyd. Tackles resolutely and kicks "like a mule."

GEORGE AFFLECK (5ft.8ins, 13st), the sturdy left-back, who shares with Bradford the distinction of being the only players who have appeared in every match played by the Town this season. He is an Irishman from Auchendenny, where he was born on July 1st 1888. He crossed the Irish Channel in 1908, and spent eleven years with the now defunct Leeds City club, then went to Grimsby, where proved a thoroughly capable defender. Not so fast as of yore, but uses his brains to save his feet. he has

C.H.WILSON (5ft.8 ins, llst.7lb), has had a rapid rise to the front rank. Engaged in local junior football last season, he was signed by the Town with the idea of developing him in the reserve team, but on being given a trial at right-half he played so well that he cannot be dropped, and is now keeping Gillow, the ex-Preston North End player, out of the side. With an intelligent conception of all phases of half-back play, he appears to have a brilliant future.

FRED HILTON (5ft.llins, 11st.7lb), who fills the responsible post of centre half, came from a Sheffield junior club during the close season of 1922 and received occasional opportunities in the senior eleven last season. Started this season in the reserves, but upon being called up for the premier side took his chance so well that Leddy, the former Everton and Chesterfield pivot, is being kept in the background. He is a very strong defensive player.

JOHN BRADFORD (5ft.7 ins, 11st.91bs), is in his fourth season with Grimsby, with whom he has developed from the raw novice to the well groomed finished article. Bor at Pilsley, Notts., and was secured from Hucknall Byron in the summer of 1920. Has been on duty, and in the best of form, in every game this season, and is never happier than amid the cut and thrust of a thrilling cup-tie.

FRANK MCKENNA (5ft.6ins, 10st.41b), really an inside right but has settled down on the extreme wing. A Tynesider, who started playing football for a team at Swan, Hunter, and Wigham Richardson's ship yard, and afterwards played for Spennymoor and Wallsend, both clubs being in the North-Eastern League. He joined the Town in 1922, and has developed into a player of real ability. He is on the small and light side, but is fast, clever with his feet, and full of pluck. Played in 17 League matches last season and scored five goals.

DOUGLAS THOMPSON (6ft, 12st), has travelled far and wide since he was born at Dundee in the year 1892. Early in his life journeyed to South Africa, where he spent five years, returned to Dundee, where he had his first experience of football, and at the age of 16 left for Vancouver, eventually settling down in Winnipeg, and he resumed his connection with the game. Came over to "do his bit" in then France in 1915, and was twice wounded. Played for Millwall during the last war-time season and also Dundee, and went to Grimsby Town at the beginning of the present campaign. Not a free scorer, but provides many openings for others.

JAMES CARMICHAEL (5ft. 9 ins, 12st), one of the most dangerous and deadly marksmen in the game today, and possesses a scoring record which is not exceeded by any player in England. Since he joined the Mariners in 1921 he has missed only two League games, and has now scored 69 goals in 91 matches, on three occasions registering four goals in a match. Born in Glasgow and played in his early days for Strathclyde Juniors, whom he left to join Mid-Rhondda before the war. He rejoined the Welsh club after the conflict, and migrated to Grimsby as a centre half-back two and a half years ago. He was not considered sufficiently robust for the position, and was tried in the forward line, with the result stated above. A clever dribbler, he keeps the ball close, and of course, an expert marksman.

JAMES MILLER (5ft.7ins, llst), is without doubt one of the cleverest forwards in either section of the Third Division. Miller was born at Greenock, and played in a Scottish International trial game, but he had to go overseas with the Tank Corps, and was thus deprived of an International Cap. Played for St Mirren and Greenock Morton on his return, then transferred to Grimsby. A natural footballer, with the wonderful gift of ball control, a deceptive swerve, and an endless assortment of tricks to keep opponents guessing. Always cool and clear-headed, he is one of the few forwards of real class in the Northern Section. Shot eleven goals last season and seven to date this year.

WILLIAM MARSHALL (5ft.8ins, 11st.3lb), a fair-haired youth who has displaced Flanaghan at outside left, first saw daylight in 1899 at Birmingham, and joined Chesterfield in 1920 after service with one or two junior clubs in the Midlands. Served the Derbyshire club on the left wing faithfully and well for two seasons, and became one of the "Mariners" new signings in July.

OTHER MARINERS OF NOTE:-
John Atter (goalkeeper) formerly played for Dinnington Main;
John Ackroyd, the ex-Scunthorpe
United, and Exeter City full-back; Wilfred Gillow, a half-back who has played for Blackpool and Preston North End;
George Davies, a wing half back, formerly of Hull City and Merthyr Town; Henry Leddy, an Irish centre-half who has been with Everton and Chesterfield;
G.H.Dent, a local inside-left; J.W.Honeyman, the former Middlesbrough outside right, born at Dundee;
H.Kitching, a local amateur inside-right;
William Casson, the late South Shields centre-forward; and
Harry Flanaghan, a Nottingham born left winger, who has been associated with Aberdeen and Maidstone United.

NORTH V SOUTH CLASH AT ST. JAMES'S PARK

Carmichael, from a penalty, Miller.

The Mariners, who are due to reach Exeter at 5.30 o'clock on Friday evening after a railway journey of eight and a half hours, can be assured of a thoroughly sporting greeting from the Devon crowd at St James's Park on Saturday afternoon. They will stay overnight at the Rougemont Hotel.

An alteration has been made in regard to the officials appointed in the match. Mr E.Tolfree, of Southampton, originally selected to be in control of the Queen's Park Rangers v Notts County match, will officiate here as referee, in place of Mr R.C.Wildig. There will be a big contrast in the teams at centre-half. Hilton is one of the youngest pivots in first-class football, while Crompton, the popular City veteran, is in his twentieth season as a "pro." 

THE F. A. CUP: COMPETITION PROPER

Grecians v Grimsby Town

Saturday, January 12th,
at St. James's Park.

EXETER CITY 1 GRIMSBY TOWN 0

Attendance 8,250. Receipts £594.

EXETER CITY (RED AND WHITE STRIPES).
Bailey; Coleburne, Charlton; Hunter, Crompton, Gilchrist; Matthews, Kirk, Davis, Gallogley, Shelton.

CAPTAINS: Hunter and Affleck.

REFEREE: Mr E.Tolfree, of Southampton.

LINESMEN:- Messrs. T.C.Matthews and E.F.Davey.

GRIMSBY TOWN (BLACK AND WHITE STRIPES).

Marshall, Miller, Carmichael, Thompson, McKenna; Bradford, Hilton, Wilson;
Affleck, Arch; Archibald.

"We shall win all right. We have absolutely no fear as regards the result." Mr. Fred Mavin, Team Manager, Exeter City.

"Personally, I am never too optimistic over cup-ties. They are as a rule anybody's game. It is a case of 'in' or 'out.' But at the same time I am confident that we will either win or draw." - Mr.G. Fraser, Secretary-manager, Grimsby Town.

So the fat was in the fire at St James's Park today, no mistake. The steady, heavy downpour of rain may have damped the ardour of some few faint-hearted spectators, but it failed to affect the real big conflagration out on the playing pitch. Both teams were out for mud and glory. Both had done well in the qualifying rounds. Neither was prepared to be snuffed out. So there was bound to be a big "to do."

Thoughtful people pitied the referee, who was called upon, for ninety long minutes, to plough his lonely furrow through as juicy a mud patch as twelve hours of rain could produce on an well soaked piece of ground. That the match was playable at all was a tribute to the great winter pastime. 

The weather was glorious in Grimsby when the Mariners set out at nine o'clock yesterday morning on the long long trail to the Devonshire capital. The Mariners found London bathed in sunshine. But at the Ever Faithful, when they stepped from their train, at St. David's Station, at 6.30 o'clock, they looked in vain for a trace of the Golden West. And they have been looking in vain ever since. There was a tempest last night, by way of variety, and then again, more rain.

"A NICE LITTLE GROUND"

Both teams, Exeter City and Grimsby Town, attended the second performance at Exeter Hippodrome last evening. This morning the Mariners strolled through the rain from the Rougemont Hotel, their temporary headquarters, to St. James's Park, and inspected the playing field.

Members of the party commented particularly on the lack of any covered accommodation other than the grand-stand and enclosure, and thought that the sides of the field were a bit cramped. But everyone agreed that the situation of the ground was excellent, and that St. James's Park was capable of great things if only there was some money to play with.

Mr. George Fraser, the Grimsby secretary-manager, who played at right half-back for Lincoln City for thirteen seasons, described St. James's Park as "a nice little ground." 

DESCRIPTION OF THE GAME

The few spectators present when the Exeter City Military Band moved to the centre of the field were relieved to notice that the musicians did not sink into the ground. As a matter of fact, the surface was exceptionally good, in the circumstances. There were not 2,000 people in attendance at two o'clock, but from then on wards the crowd streamed in fast. The heavy mist, which at half past one had looked so ominous, had been blown away by the fresh Westerly wind, and a light drizzle succeeded the heavy rain of the
morning. At five minutes past two o'clock a select little party of four arrived at St James's Park from Grimsby. They had motored all the way!

Hunter led out the Grecians at 2.22 p.m., and the crowd cheered them, but to tell the truth it was only a half-hearted vocal effort and was eclipsed by that accorded to the visitors.

Mr Tolfree lost no time in calling together the two captains, and Affleck won the toss. The match started six minutes early. The Grimsby team lined up at the St James's Road end, and Exeter kicked off facing the drizzling rain. Davis swung the ball out with the intention of giving it to Matthews, but it skidded on the wet turf and went into touch.

LIVELY PLAY AT EACH END

Grimsby were awarded a free-kick in Exeter territory, but the danger was not allowed to develop, and then brilliant forward play by the Grecians won a corner. The Mariners' defence prevailed. Miller, of Grimsby, was constantly in receipt of the ball, and his skill was apparent in all he did. From one of his moves, a nice pass to Thompson, a corner was won, but the good understanding of Coleburne and Charlton enabled the City to clear the flag-kick. Kirk was fouled by Hilton, and from the free-kick Crompton sent the ball to the goalmouth, but eventually Archibald saved the shot which came in from Matthews. Offside against Davis checked the next Exeter move, and Grimsby broke away but were repelled by Charlton.

The game had so far been evenly balanced, and there was lively play at each end in turn. Grimsby had a narrow escape when a centre from Matthews swung right in to the goalmouth and the ball was first headed on by Gallogley to Davis, and then on to the crossbar by the City centre-forward, with Archibald beaten. The referee, however, awarded a free kick to Grimsby.

Kirk won applause for brilliant play which endangered Grimsby's goal, and a corner was the outcome, but this went the same way as one or two others which had either gone wide or been cleared. Bailey had so far not had much to do, but he saved well from Carmichael, the famous sharp-shooter, of whom very little had been seen.

DAVIS GIVES EXETER THE LEAD

A free kick for a foul on Kirk near the Grimsby penalty area was taken by Hunter, but the ball cannoned off one of several defenders crowding the front of the goal and nothing resulted. Forty minutes had passed in a somewhat uneventful first half, when the City took the lead. At the half-way line Gallogley fed Shelton, whose pace took him clean through the Town defence almost to the back line. The backs were out of position, as was the goalkeeper, who seemed to have joined in the general defensive collapse. So it was that when Shelton turned the ball inwards in front of the goalposts it merely remained for Davis to run in and gleefully bang the leather into the empty net from practically underneath the crossbar. The final shot into the net was simplicity itself, being impossible to miss, but the work of Shelton, who scattered the Grimsby backs by shock tactics, was brilliant in the extreme. Grimsby threatened the Exeter goal, Bradford placing the ball well into the penalty area, but from six yards Carmichael scooped his shot high over the bar.

At the interval the score was:
City 1 Grimsby Town 0.

SECOND HALF

The large crowd was happy enough during the interval debating the City's goal, and the general run of the game. Exeter were by no means "through the wood," for the Mariners' forward line was very clever, yet a goal on the register is worth two in the boots. The middle of the field had been well churned up during the course of the game. the

A pass by Matthews to Kirk was misjudged by Affleck as he tried to intervene, and a race for the ball between Kirk and Archibald was won by the City forward, but although the goal was unattended, the angle to shoot at was so narrow that Kirk's shot went right across the target and out of play on the other side.

Exeter pressed persistently, and a smart shot by Matthews was anticipated and saved by Archibald, and from another attack, which Hunter began, the eventual centre from Matthews was headed away by the tall Hilton six yards from the Grimsby goal.

CARMICHAEL IS SUBDUED BY CROMPTON

Grimsby Town so far in this half had been forced back on their defence by the strong play of the Exeter wing halves and inside forwards, and another quick Grecian raid down the middle of the field ended with Davis shooting wide from ten yards.

Ensuing play ran largely in midfield, with Exeter maintaining a very tight grip on the game. Crompton was covering Carmichael so effectively that very little was seen of the Grimsby sharpshooter, and he was in fact completely subdued by the veteran centre half. A bouncing shot from Charlton led to a scramble in front of the Grimsby goal, Archibald finally emerging with the ball, then the Mariners were awarded a free-kick against the Exeter forwards for pushing. Archibald next saved a swinging shot from Kirk, a corner resulting, but the flag-kick from Matthews was too high, the ball flying over the goal net and behind on the other side. At last Grimsby took the play into Exeter's territory, only to find the Grecian backs in indomitable mood, and Coleburne took the ball off Miller's toes and kicked back to Bailey, who cleared. Then Davis attempted a solo burst but a well executed tackle by Hilton put an end to that move.

The Mariners were now making a big effort to save the game, and in one attack were awarded a free kick for a foul on Miller, but Charlton came to Exeter's rescue with a clever interception. Then a mistake by Coleburne left Thompson in possession, but Charlton dashed across and booted the ball away. And the City pressed again, Archibald diving forward to prevent Shelton's centre from reaching Davis. Davis was injured in the collision but resumed, and holding their single goal advantage till the final whistle the Grecians passed into the next round of the Cup.

Although not a brilliant game it was a hard, rousing struggle, and both teams played as well as the treacherous conditions would allow. Shelton deserves high praise for that inspiring gallop of his which provided Davis with the one goal of the match. From the Grimsby viewpoint the biggest disappointment was the blotting out of Carmichael, their "match winner" by Ellis Crompton.

BATH CITY v CITY RESERVES.
Southern League.

Rain and snow had made the Bath City pitch in a filthy state, accurate football being impossible. The only way, it seemed, was to kick the ball hard and run after it in this sea of mud. There was only a very small attendance.

Bath attacked at the start but sent the ball over the bar. The City Reserves retaliated, the front liners showing clever combined play, but the heavy ball prevented Batten and Wray from scoring. Lockhead cleared from Wray with the City leader in a good scoring position, and at the other end Howes shot wide. After half an hour Howes opened the scoring for Bath, who later missed a penalty when March failed to beat Pavey from the "spot." Second Half.

Bath returned to the attack on the change of ends, and Thompson passed inside to Howes, who went between Smith and Flynn and netted with a swift cross-shot.

When the Reserves were awarded a penalty Murray found the net with a fierce rising shot, and three minutes from the end Batten equalised.

Result:
Bath City 2 Exeter City Reserves 2.

City Reserves: - Pavey, Flynn, Smith, Murray, Crawshaw, Potter, Lievesley, Batten, Wray, Lowson, and Lendon.