ECFC 1-1 Bristol City

Scorer: Charlton (pen)
Attendance: 8,000

Referee:- Mr W.E.Russell, of Swindon.

EXETER CITY. Pavey; Pollard, Charlton; Pullan, McDevitt, Shelton; Matthews, H.Kirk, Casson, Myers, Compton.

BRISTOL CITY. Vallis; Tonner, Glenn; Neesam, Davies, Smailes; Gilhespy, Sutherland, Sherlaw, Pocock, R.Kirk.

DESCRIPTION
Soccer fans in the Exeter district were on tip-toe today over the visit of Bristol City, one time members of the First League, also F.A.Cup Finalists, and nowadays fired with ambition to regain some of their old prestige. Two famous footballers were included in the ranks of Bristol at St James's Park today in Sam Tonner, the former Clapton Orient full back, and Cyril Gilhespy, the outside right who was secured from Liverpool, and who is reputed to be one of the fastest forwards in present day football. The colours of the clubs being somewhat similar, Bristol turned out in blue. Although, perhaps, somewhat unsettled by the persistent the toss, and Exeter, occupying the St James's Road end, had the advantage of the sun behind them in the first half. There was a very rumours of his impending transfer to Bolton Wanderers, Charlton won boisterous wind, swirling and blowing all ways at once. Bristol's opening left wing thrust was beaten back, and McDevitt got the ball through to Matthews, who started an Exeter attack. But the City right winger lobbed the ball tamely into Vallis's hands, and play settled in midfield, then when Exeter looked dangerous again Matthews was robbed by Davies. A mistake by Pollard gave Kirk of Bristol a chance of showing his worth. He ran through with the ball at high speed and crossed to where Gilhespy was waiting, the Liverpudlian being stopped in his tracks by Charlton. Strong defensive play by McDevitt, Pollard, and Shelton prevented the Babes from getting into their stride, and on two occasions when Sherlaw attempted to break through he was halted by Charlton.

Pavey to the Rescue.
Gillespy was Bristol's most dangerous forward, and twice from his centres Pavey saved shots from Smailes and Pocock when it seemed the Exeter goal must fall, and the Grecians were indeed rescued by the alertness and agility of Pavey when he flung himself full length to divert a well directed curling shot from Gilhespy, just reaching the ball and turning it round the goalpost for a corner. Rather against the run of play Exeter took the lead from the penalty spot. Effective work on the right wing had got Bristol's defence in a tangle, and a corner was conceded. When Compton's flag kick came across one of the Bristol backs handled, and Charlton scored from the penalty kick, the ball rocketing into the net via the under edge of the crossbar. This was after twenty-seven minutes. The Grecians nearly increased their lead just afterwards, but Glenn got himself in the way of a shot from Myers, the ball cannoning off the full-back to be gathered by Vallis.

Second Half.

A free kick by Tonner from thirty yards' range skimmed over the home cross-bar, and Charlton was conspicuous in holding up the Bristol attacks. Kirk (Bristol) shot narrowly wide following a free kick for hands against McDevitt. Two minutes before the end Pocock levelled the scores with a long, low shot which beat Pavey, the ball going in via the upright.

Southern League:
Bristol City Reserves 2
Exeter City Reserves 0.

Walsh scored for Bristol after 15 minutes, and again ten minutes later. At half-time Bristol led by two goals to nil. The best chance of the match fell to Blackmore in the second half, but he put the ball tamely over the bar. In the last minute Bristol City were awarded a penalty, but Perry missed the goal with his shot.

EXETER CITY'S ILL- LUCK
Destruction of the Grand-Stand at St James's Park
DISASTROUS FIRE

The grand-stand at St. James's Park was wholly destroyed by fire on the afternoon of Tuesday, November 17th, and with it all the Exeter City Club's football gear, damage to the extent of about £6,000 in all being done. The fire broke out shortly after two o'clock, and developed along the whole range of the building with such amazing rapidity that only a few of the books and the chairs from the Board Room were saved. This stroke of ill-fortune comes hard on the heels of the announcement that the Club had been drawn at home to play Swansea Town on Saturday, next week, in the F. A. Cup First Round. Actually, there was a stream of applications, by post and personally, the morning of the fire, for reserved seats for this Cup game, and the officials of the Club were busying themselves with preparations for the coming big event. 

Ground Deserted at One O'Clock.

On Tuesday morning such of the players as were not injured had a spell of match practice at St James's Park, and at one o'clock the ground was deserted, everybody having gone home to dinner. At two o'clock everything appeared to be as usual, from inside and outside the ground, for the clock had hardly turned the hour when Orchard, the groundsman, returned by the St James's Road entrance, and made his way along the enclosure to the stand. There was nothing unusual as far as he could see till he had almost reached the entrance door from which the players make their appearance on match days. Then he saw that the stand interior was filled with smoke. He dashed around to the back, by the managerial offices, where he encountered Mr Fred Mavin, the manager, who, having seen some smoke issuing from the back of the stand as he approached the Well Street end of ground from his home, had hurried to investigate the cause. 

Volumes of Dense Black Smoke.

It was the work of an instant to unlock the doors behind the stand, but in that moment it was realised that the place was on fire. With volumes of dense black smoke belched out and swept away across the railway cutting, borne on a brisk easterly breeze. The groundsman immediately rushed for the higher entrance to communicate with the Fire Brigade, the telephone in the office being already out of the question. He had been caught by the smoke, however, and collapsed at the gate just as the trainer, Andy Tucker, arrived on the scene. Tucker lost no time in getting to the call box at the top end of St Sidwell's, but as it happened Superintendent W. Pett had already given the alarm to his Brigade.

At the ground, Mr Mavin, assisted by Mr W.Hawkins, of Howell Road, made a desperate attempt to save some of the Club's property, and actually managed to get the current books of the Club and few a chairs out of the office. But this work had to be abandoned very quickly, for in less than three minutes the whole structure broke into flames and blazed furiously from end to end.

Like a Gigantic Torch.
Crowds of people collected in Well Street and at the popular entrance to the Park, where they lined up on the terraces, and all the players arrived on the scene and watched the doomed structure burn out like a gigantic torch. The Fire Brigade were in attendance in about three minutes from the receipt of the call, but a considerable period of time elapsed before they could get to work, for the reason that the heat being exuded by the burning structure was so great that when the hose was run up into the ground by way of the Well Street steps it was burnt to a cinder, and another hydrant had to be put on. But no power on earth could have saved the grandstand once it became ignited in this fashion. The flames secured a firm hold almost in an instant, and the timbers everywhere were ablaze, giving the effect of as marvellous set-piece as has ever been seen at a pyrotechnic display.

Dressing Rooms a Raging Inferno.

The huge arched roof crumpled at the back and sank lower and lower. Fears were entertained that the whole of the top would slide off and fall into Well Street, but the girders at the front held fast. The flooring of the grandstand was quickly eaten up by the fire, and the dressing and training rooms were a raging, roaring inferno. The flames ate out the front of the stand till they extended to the "Football Express" Box at the corner, and this, too, was gobbled up. Across the pathway, adjoining, stands a refreshment booth, and this also was attacked by the flames, but the firemen were able to save this structure. Out on the playing field a big belt of the turf was scorched and blackened all along the front of the stand. The most likely theory at the moment is that the coke stove in the training room, near which some jerseys, etc., were drying, must have become over-heated in some way, and thus caused the conflagration. An adequate force of the Exeter City Police was very quickly in attendance to give all possible help, and the St John's Ambulance Brigade was represented by Supt. Bowden and Sergt. Arnold, the last named in fact treating the Exeter City trainer for shock, he having ventured too near the fire. A new stretcher, the property of the Brigade, was amongst the equipment destroyed.

A Serious Handicap to the Team.
Mr S.H.Thomas, the Exeter City secretary, said that the grandstand was insured, but not for its full value at present-day building costs. It was a very solid structure, and would cost £6,000 new to day. It is understood that the structure was insured for £5,000 with the Commercial Union Office. One of Mr Mavin's big regrets, from the sporting standpoint, was the
loss of all the players' kit. He said that the players will have tomplay in strange boots, which will be a serious handicap to the team.

Another Grand-Stand Fire Recalled.
Six or seven years ago the grand-stand at the County Ground, Exeter, was similarly destroyed in a very short space of time, and the new structure erected to take its place has only just been available for the supporters of the Rugby Club. The work of the Exeter City Supporters' Club in roofing in a section of the "flower-pot" terrace opposite the grandstand at St. James's Park will be of great value to the City Club in the present crisis.