Soccer In Australia

AS TOLD BY STANLEY CHARLTON

Friday, September 4th. 1925. 

Exeter City's home programme in connection with the Football League will open with a flourish tomorrow, with Bournemouth United as the visitors, for Stanley Charlton, Exeter's popular captain and full-back, who had charge of the English team in their fifth and last test match with Australia, will reappear in the Grecians' colours after his brilliant performances on the F.A. tour, and in addition the Mayor of Exeter, Mr A. N. Pitts, and the Sheriff, Mr J.Dunsford, will honour the match. This is particularly appropriate, as the Deputy Mayor this year is Mr M. J. McGahey, Chairman of Exeter City Football Club.

Stanley Charlton and the F. A. Tour.
BY HIMSELF:

"There are so many English people in Australia, and they made such a point of turning up to see the matches whenever it was possible that it seemed like a home from home. But while the crowds in Australia. were mainly English, it was not the same with the grounds. And the ground on which we played the last test was easily the best, in its condition, for it was the only really English style ground of the lot, you know, ankle deep in mud. "The Australian goalkeeper, Robinson, played a great game in that test. I don't know how he came to be left out of the other tests. He was about the best goalkeeper we met. Well, we had three penalties. Batten took the first, and missed. Then there came the second, and a lot of fellows were clamouring to take it. Graham was particularly anxious because he had not scored out there. I said I would take it myself and I got it in, although it only just missed hitting the goalkeeper. When we had a third penalty I let Graham take it, and he shot over the bar. "It will take the Australians ten years at least to reach anything like the English standard of play. Soccer has something to overcome out there in the 'Australian game, which is played 18 a-side, with no fixed positions for any of the men. It is mostly a wild scramble all over the field, and a sort of mixture of Rugby and Soccer. "We knew if we lost any matches on this tour it would be on the Sydney Show Ground, which was in a terrible state, very hard and very bumpy. It was there we played the second test, which we won 2-1. I believe I played a decent game in that match. I was hurt in the last few minutes before the finish. We played an exhibition game in Sydney, too, our players being mixed with Australians into two sides. I captained the losers. "Several of the matches were played on very spacious cricket grounds and at such times boys stood by the touch-lines with reserve balls, ready for the throw-in whenever the match ball was kicked out. "Jack Elkes was the comedian of the party, both on and off the field. Very clever with his feet, he performed all sorts of fancy tricks and often had the crowd in a roar of laughter. Occasionally one of the Australian players would try to copy him with his fancy footwork, and it was funnier still because the Australian usually fell over. "We were a very happy crowd, and everybody pulled together very well. I doubt whether it would be possible to get a set of men who worked together better. And Mr Lewis and Mr Frowde were champion."
A FINE SPECIMIN OF AN ATHLETE.
Stanley Charlton upon his return from across the other side of the world is the same cheery, frank, unspoiled sportsman as when he left Exeter for the big excursion last April. His admirers will observe tomorrow, when he takes his accustomed place in the Exeter City team, that he has not bronzed at all. But if he is as pale as ever, he has physically developed a good deal, and looks as fine a specimin of an athlete as anyone could wish to see. Charlton captained the English team in the last test. The others had been in the hands of Simms (two), Spencer, and Graham. Playing in nineteen or twenty of the total of twenty-six games, the Exeter captain had every opportunity of studying the quality and tactics of the Australian exponents of the game. Until recently all the Australian schoolboys played the local eighteen-a-side game, but now they have nearly all switched over to Soccer, and it is catching on like wildfire. While the Australians were lacking in the finer points of the game, however, the handicap against them was reduced, because unlike their English opponents, they are accustomed to playing on hard grounds and with a light ball. The Australians were very keen on playing substitutes in place of men injured in the course of matches, but this the tourists' manager, Mr John Lewis, refused to allow, taking the view that the games had to be played under English F. A. laws, and that the practice followed in England must be adhered to. On the outward voyage the tourists were unlucky. It rained heavily at Toulon, Naples, and Colombo. The shipping strike caused a deal of anxiety when the time came for the return trip. At Freemantle the ship arrived five hours late, and when everything was in readiness for sailing the crew struck. There was a delay of only twelve hours, however, as the captain settled matters off his own bat. On the way home there was a glorious day at each of the ports of call, Colombo, Port Said, Naples, and Toulon.
WHITTAKER BADLY INJURED.
The one big regret of the tour was that Whittaker, of the Arsenal, was very badly injured in his knee, and it appears rather doubtful that he will ever play again. An Australian critic, commenting on the last test match, picked out Charlton for special praise, remarking that he was the best defender on the field.

• The Exeter City team to oppose Bournemouth tomorrow will be:
  Bailey, Pollard, and Charlton (captain), Pullan, Crompton, and Potter; Matthews, Kirk, Lievesley, Myers, and Compton.
  
  Bournemouth started the season sensationally by beating Swindon Town for the first time in history, and although they have since fallen at Luton, the player who scored twice against the Railwaymen, Eyre, was successful in finding the net against the Strawplaiters. The Bournemouth team is well served in goal by Wilson, and Smith, ex Bolton Wanderers, is a tower of strength at centre half. Bert Bliss, the inside left, was for years the best player on the Tottenham list and is still a great shot from all positions. The corresponding match last season was won by Exeter City, by two goals to one.
• Exeter City Reserves journey to Torquay to oppose the United in a Southern League match.

Saturday, September 5th 1925.

City v Bournemouth

DETAILS
Exeter City 0 Bournemouth United  1
Eyre.

Half-time 0 - 0.

Referee:- Mr F.W.Reeve, of Devonport.

EXETER CITY.
Bailey; Pollard, Charlton; Pullan, Crompton, Potter; Matthews, Kirk, Lievesley, Myers, and Compton.

BOURNEMOUTH.
Wilson; Saxton, Collin; Roe, Smith, Leitch; Clifford, Roberts, Eyre, Bliss, and Maidment.

DESCRIPTION
There was a big "house-warming" party at St. James's Park today, when Exeter City opened their home Football League programme with a match against Bournemouth & Boscombe United. The occasion was made especially notable by the return to the team of the captain, Stanley Charlton, after his Australian experiences with the F. A. touring party, and by the attendance at the match of the Mayor of Exeter, Mr. A. N. Pitts, and the Sheriff, Mr. J. Dunsford.

Colin Myers, the inside left, was the only new player to get place in the City team, the inclusion of Charlton cutting out a Horace Hawkins, the keen defender from Denaby United, who has done so well in the two away matches.

The Turn of the Inside Men.
Exeter were at Reading a week ago, and lost a splendid game by a very narrow margin. On Monday they beat Bristol Rovers by virtue of a penalty goal. So far the extreme wing forwards have done all the scoring, so this afternoon it was the turn of the inside men. At inside-left in the Bournemouth team was Bert Bliss, recently transferred from Clapton Orient. Bliss, who is renowned for his shooting power, gained an International Cap for England against Scotland in 1921 and a Cup-winner's medal with Tottenham Hotspur the same year. Bournemouth's success against Swindon Town on the
season's opening day stamps them as a very workmanlike side even though they lost at Luton on Monday evening. Roe, a former Luton player, was at right half in place of Butt.

National Anthem Played.
The arrival of the Mayor of Exeter was the signal for a little ceremony, the crowd of 5,000 standing bareheaded while the Exeter City Military Band played the National Anthem. A light rain was falling when the players came out. There was a special ovation for Charlton, and the band joined in the demonstration with "Auld Lang Syne ." Both teams lined up in front of the grandstand, and the Mayor and Sheriff shook hands with them all very warmly, being introduced by Mr. M. J. McGahey, the Chairman of Exeter City, and the representative of the Bournemouth Club. Charlton won the toss, and Exeter played with the breeze behind them in the opening half.
A Bright Run by Clifford.
The game opened quietly, but the Bournemouth forwards showed neat combination, and a short low shot by Maidment required careful treatment by Bailey. After five minutes Kirk set the Exeter line going, and Wilson saved from Lievesley's header and Compton's shot. Keeping up the pressure the City forced two corners, but without further result, and a bright run by Clifford brought relief, even though Charlton spoiled the winger's scheme. Further good play by the City followed, but they could not force their attacks home, Wilson having no special difficulty in dealing with a solitary shot from Lievesley. A centre from Compton went through to Kirk, who put the ball over the bar. Kirk then took the ball through in a sensational run, but failed
to get it under control. After seventeen minutes a splendid pass by Kirk gave Compton an opening. The winger was challenged by Saxton, and Mr Reeve gave Exeter a penalty for a foul, a dubious decision. Matthews took the kick and missed the goal, the ball travelling two yards wide. A collision between Crompton and Bliss brought the two bald heads together, to the amusement of the crowd. Eyre's eagerness was best illustrated by the fact that he had been twice penalised for off side. It seemed to be his one hope of eluding Crompton. Play was uneventful, but Bailey saved from Eyre, and Wilson from Compton. Half-time: no score.
Second Half.
The whole trouble with the Grecians in the first half was the lack of punch in the forward line, Compton only being dangerous. But towards the interval he made the mistake of holding on to the ball when a pass would have served the side better. When the game restarted Collin was partially dazed in heading out a dropping centre from Matthews, then the City rearguard had some difficulty in surviving a big Bournemouth attack. At the Boscombe end Lievesley shot past the post when well placed, and the City's best feature was the workable passing of Myers. When the visitors attacked, for a change, Eyre was dangerously near with a strong header, while just afterwards Maidment missed by a few inches only. Eyre, a most enthusiastic and energetic leader, had never stopped trying to get his attack going, and in the end met with his reward.
Clifford returned the ball to put him clean through, with Bailey advancing, and the Bournemouth leader cleverly side-stepped and drove the ball into the empty net. Kirk and Lievesley changed places in the hope of gingering up the City attack, and although the Grecians continued to press, Wilson was never in danger of being beaten.

Bournemouth Concentrating on Defence. 
Myers was the brains of the Exeter attack, but received very poor support, and after Bournemouth had scored they concentrated their energies in keeping what they had got, and the difficulties of the Exeter forwards were much increased. It was a fair result, but a sad sort of opening for the Grecians. Everyone had hoped for some thing much brighter.

Southern League:
Torquay v City Reserves.

Some remarkable football was witnessed in this match for Southern League points at Plainmoor this afternoon. At the interval Exeter Reserves were in possession of a single goal lead, the point being registered by Casson from Newman's centre. Torquay were the better team in the opening stages, Pavey making brilliant saves from Pither and Martin. Pavey was in fact the only one to save the Grecians, some of his clearances being pretty well uncanny. And when Pavey was beaten Lowton headed away from under the bar. Exeter played much better in the second half, and Bayliss kicked clear a shot from Lowton. The feature of this half was the fine defensive play of Horace Hawkins.
Result:
Torquay United 0 City Reserves 1.

The Exeter team was: Pavey; Hawkins, Flynn; Arscott, Lowton, Crawshaw; Newman, Bolam, Casson, Quinn, and Shelton.
Torquay United: Bayes; Rice, Mackrill; Mortimer, Garratt, Leslie; Vallis, Morgan, Marlow, Jackson, and Pither.

Monday, September 7th 1925.
Beaten at Bristol
CITY RESERVES RECEIVE A SET BACK

Exeter City Reserved met with their first defeat in the Southern League on Monday evening at Eastville, when Bristol Rovers Reserves beat them by one goal to nil. The Reserves, at the eleventh hour, had to re-arrange their team, it being deemed advisable for Hawkins to be left at home, as Charlton received a knee injury on Saturday in the match with Bournemouth. Lowton therefore partnered Flynn, and Bolam came into the forward line.

Rovers Reserves.
Densley
Ashton Bennett
Rotherham Wragge Roberts Charlesworth Phillips Duckers Burnell Foster

Referee:- Mr C.A.Webb.
Shelton Lievesley Quinn Bolam Newman
Crawshaw McDevitt Cunningham
Flynn Lowton
Pavey
City Reserves.

The game had only just started when Cunningham's knee gave way, and he and Shelton exchanged positions for the duration. For some few minutes the City showed much promise, their half backs playing very well, but in the forward line Quinn was weak, and easily held by the Rovers' backs. Densley had one or two good shots from Bolam to save, and a long drive by Quinn was just over the bar. The chief fault of the Exeter vanguard was their inability to keep pace with a swiftly travelling ball on the smooth grassy surface, and in consequence of this the Rovers' backs had an easy time.
PAVEY INJURED.
The game in the first half was of only a moderate description, and neither side were eminently superior, although Pavey was for a time heavily bombarded. He offered praiseworthy resistance, but when he was attempting to gather a shot from Foster he was heavily bundled off the ball by a couple of the home forwards who were lying well up, and received an injury to his thigh. He resumed after attention, and continued to be the outstanding figure in the game, being frequently applauded by the 1,000 spectators. his work Lowton once saved a certain goal by coming to Pavey's rescue when he was closely beset by the Rovers' forwards.
SECOND HALF.
The game in the second half was pursued at a better pace, and the Exeter defence was severely tested by the attentions of Duckers and Phillips.
The shots that Pavey had to deal with were not very difficult, but were quite numerous, and he acquitted himself creditably on each occasion. After twenty five minutes of Exeter being mainly on the defensive, Newman got going on the right, and ne neat combination between the City forwards carried play to within shooting distance of the Rovers goal. A fruitless corner, however, was the best they could obtain. This was the last attacking move by Exeter for a long while. Pavey missed a shot by Burnell, the ball hitting the crossbar. From the rebound Phillips secured possession, but Pavey this time was in the right position to repel the shot. Close on time the Rovers gained a corner. Pavey would have cleared the ball but for the handicap of his injured leg, but he failed to reach it, and as Wragge rushed up the leather was deflected into the goal one of the City defenders. Exeter were lucky not to lose by a heavy margin, but great credit is due to Pavey, and to Lowton and Flynn, for their indomitable defence of the City goal.
Bristol Reserves 1 City Reserves 0.