• NEW CENTRE FORWARD FOR EXETER CITY

James McCambridge of Bristol Rovers

On Tuesday, September 24th, Exeter City were successful in ob taining the transfer of James McCambridge from Bristol Rovers. McCambridge, who was born at Larne (Ireland) played for Larne United and Larne Olympic before signing for Ballymena, a club in the Irish League, and gaining International recognition. He was selected at inside left for Ireland v Wales, at Celtic Park, Belfast, on February 1st 1930, and three weeks later at Glasgow v Scotland, again at inside left. Within another two weeks of his second international appearance he had crossed the channel to become a First Division player of Everton, who paid a fee of £1,800 to Ballymena for his services on March 1st 1930. Further International honours followed, but owing to the centre forward position at Everton being held by the great "Dixie" Dean a regular place could not be found for McCambridge, who left the Merseyside club in January 1931 for Cardiff City. Two and a half very successful seasons with Cardiff City were followed by his transfer to Bristol Rovers in May 1933, and now, after two equally successful seasons at Bristol he has become a Grecian. McCambridge, who stands 5ft 10ins in height and weighs close on twelve stone, is a centre-forward of experience in the highest class of football, and should be just the man to "ginger up" the. City attack. He was at Everton a club-mate of Jimmy Dunn.

THE DEBUT OF McCAMBRIDGE.
TORQUAY UNITED v EXETER CITY.

Wednesday, September 25th 1935.

Exeter City played well during the first half an hour of their game at Plainmoor, Torquay, on Wednesday evening. Afterwards they fell away and were mainly on the defensive. A goal lead was sacrificed 17 minutes after the interval, and Torquay, scoring the decider seven minutes later, secured the victory to which they were entitled on the night's play. McCambridge, the new centre forward from Bristol Rovers, had to plough a lonely furrow through the failure of Tom Scott and Dunn to maintain sufficiently close contact. Dunn, although clever when in possession, figured generally in a semi-half-back role, and so did Tom Scott, whose long absence from the game was seen in his slowness in getting to the ball. Consequently very few reasonable chances came the way of McCambridge. The pronounced "W" formation handicapped rather than helped McCambridge. Even so, it was McCambridge who made the opening from which the City took the lead fifteen minutes after the start. He dodged round Lievesley, intercepted a pass back to the goalkeeper, and veering out to the right swung the ball into the goalmouth out of the reach of Maggs, and McArthur had simply to run the ball into the empty net. At this stage the Grecians appeared to be well on the road to victory. They made the United look very cheap, and Maggs was in luck when a shot from Dunn rebounded from his chest and around the post.

THE TRANSFORMATION.

Suddenly the pendulum swung the other way. Exeter declined into a state of raggedness, whereas Torquay changed from a side of crude individualists into a smart combination. In view of the City's earlier ascendancy the transformation was difficult to understand, but it was there for all to see. Attack after attack was launched on the Exeter goal during the fifteen minutes immediately preceding the interval, and Torquay must have scored but for the ineffective finishing of Hunt, who squandered at least three easy chances. Hunt added to his shortcomings by driving a penalty straight at Chesters, who fisted the ball over the bar. The City were lucky to survive a strong Torquay rally which was the closing feature of the first half. Torquay resumed full of dash and determination. They were much quicker in getting to the ball than were the City, whose errors in taking up correct positions were primarily responsible for yet another defeat.

A TOUGH PROPOSITION.

A miskick by Lowton, who throughout found the speedy Morgan a tough proposition, immediately preceded the equalising goal. Lowton failed to intercept a low cross-pass and Morgan centred to Jones, who rushed the ball into the net. A brilliant save by Chesters foiled Protheroe a minute later, and then the City took up the running for a brief period. The Grecians' spell of aggression was short-lived, but while it lasted McCambridge beat Maggs in a race for the ball, only for Tapp to kick away from the goalmouth with his goalkeeper yards away. Back came Torquay. A strong attack in which the home forwards were bunched in the middle of the field should have presented no undue anxiety. In fact it did not until Chesters, advancing to pick up a bouncing ball, lost possession in the skirmish. Protheroe was on the spot, and he swung round and drove the ball into the roof of the net. Though the United were inclined to drop back on the defensive, the Grecians rarely looked like saving a point in the closing stages. Exeter in this match were a team of two moods. At their best they were very impressive and a team of decided ability, while at their worst they were very poor. Result:
Torquay United 2 Exeter City 1.

Torquay:- Maggs; Gregg, Tapp; Jones, R.Hunt, Lievesley; Morgan, Lowery, S.W.Hunt, Beedall, Protheroe.

City: Chesters; Gray, Lowton; Risdon, Robinson, Angus; J.Scott, T.Scott, McCambridge, Dunn, McArthur.

Exeter and District League
CITY RESERVES v R.A. BRIGADE.

The poor attendance at St James's Park on Wednesday evening to witness the Exeter and District League match between the City Reserves and the 23rd Royal Artillery Brigade indicated that Exeter supporters are not very enthusiastic about the entry of the Reserves into the amateur league. Hardly two hundred spectators saw the City team, including six professionals, defeat their opponents by eight goals to two. The outstanding player in the game was Ebdon, while Haller and Hoyle played their usual constructive and energetic game. The City's goals were scored by McLean, White, Taylor (three), Ebdon (two), and McArdle. Ainsworth scored both the Artillery's goals.