Cyril Hartill, an outside-left, joined Exeter City just before the outbreak of war in 1939. Starting the soon-to-be-abandoned 1939/40 campaign with the reserves in the Southern League, he left the club without playing a first-team game.  

He had been part of the Wigan Athletic team which had finished 7th in the Cheshire County League in 1938/39 and, after appearing in the public practice games at St James’ Park, featured for the reserves in the Southern League before the season was abandoned after three sets of fixtures. During his brief time with the club Cyril’s route to the first-team was blocked by Charlie Sutherley.   

He died in Warrington, his home town, in 1991.