Percy Newberry was a prominent local amateur footballer who played for Exeter City reserves on occasions during the1920s. He also represented the Devon county side in amateur inter-county football.

He was still a teenager when he made his debut for City’s reserves against Bath City in the Southern League on 26 August 1922. Making a handful of other appearances during the opening weeks of the 1922/23 season, he went back to appearing for Exeter Argyle for whom he played in an East Devon Cup-winning side in 1923.   

Continuing to play in local football as an amateur and winning representative honours for the Devon county side, he made further appearances for the Grecians’ reserve team during the 1926/27 when the second-string doubled-up in both the Southern and Western leagues. He then played semi-professional football on a regular basis for the original Taunton Town in 1928/29, including an appearance in the 1-0 victory over City’s reserves at St James’ Park, before playing for for the successful Friernhay side of the late 1920s and early 1930s.