1957
Antonio Cruz
Antonio Cruz was a student at St Luke's College, when as an amateur he played in a number of reserve games at the end of the 1957/58 season and in 1958/59.
"Antonio Cruz, 24, a Spanish Second Division player is to make his debut in the City reserve side at Barry on Saturday" (8th March 1958)
He was the first Spanish player to play for City.
Antonio Cruz played for Bridgwater in 1957/58.
The British Newspaper archive has the following article, when Antonio moved to City in March 1958
Bridgwater May Lose Tony Cruz
"Bridgwater's game with Cinderford to-day may be the last in which Tony Cruz, the Bilbao (Spain) winger, will play for the Town. He has attracted the interest of Exeter City, who have approached Bridgwater about signing him. As Cruz is an amateur Exeter can ask his views in seven days' time and it will be left for him to decide. As he is a student at the International College, Exeter, he is expected to agree to join the City."
From an article in a book by Mike Blackstone
"It is doubtful if all but a mere handful of Exeter city fans can recall the silky skills of left-winger Antonio Cruz who joined the Grecians in March 1958. 'Spaniard Winger in City Reserves' roared the headline in the Express & Echo - well, perhaps not, but it did warrant a mention at the foot of a column.
The player had been brought to the attention of Exeter City by Echo football reporter, Clive Toye. But three weeks had elapsed before he was initially mentioned to City, and by then Cruz had signed for Western League side, Bridgwater Town. All was not lost though, as Cruz accepted the chance of a trial with Exeter City and a game with the reserve team in the Southern League.
Not Real Madrid or Barcelona for Cruz then? No, this time it was Barry in South Wales. Forget the Nou Camp, City and Cruz were playing in the more modest surrounds of Jenner Park, scrapping for Southern League points.
The City team lined up: Bell, Bowkett, Palmer, Butterworth, Rapley, Waterman, Wilson, Hill, Beer, Atkinson, Cruz.
It proved to be a rude awakening to Southern League football for Cruz and co. as they were shot down by Jesse James. Actually it was Billy James, although Jesse sounds better, as he fired five shots into the back of the City net helping Barry Town to a resounding 8-2 victory.
The Grecians were obviously worried about filling the wing positions, and Cruz must have got the message when, just six days after he had signed for City, another 'wide-man' arrived at St James' Park.
Nelson Stiffle, who was to prove to be a terrific signing for Exeter was snapped up from Bournemouth and Boscombe Athletic. Stiffle on one wing, Gordon Dale on the other - a joy to watch.
For Cruz it was time for another opportunity to shine for the reserves, his next game being at the Park against Hereford United.
It is difficult to say whether City and Cruz played any better. Certainly they didn't concede as many goals as they had done at Barry, only five this time, with Tom Wilson replying for Exeter.
So was the chance gone for Cruz to make it in the English game? Would he be off back to Spain to perhaps pursue a new career after hanging up his boots? Not quite.
He was to feature in a 3-1 win over Merthyr Tydfil at St James' Park, and what's more, he scored one of the goals.
Cruz also took his place in a 0-3 home defeat at the hands of Hastings United and then played his part in a 1-0 success in the return meeting with Hereford at Edgar Street.
But there was one further and final outing for Cruz - in the Devon Professional Cup tie at home to Barnstaple Town, played on 9th April 1958.
Cruz was in the big time now and an attendance of 1,597 saw two goals from David Robinson and one from Ted Calland give City a narrow and hard-fought 3-2 victory.
The match report stated that 'Cruz looked City's most dangerous forward' but sadly this proved to be his last match for the Grecians. No one knows what happened to the player after that.
"Antonio Cruz, 24, a Spanish Second Division player is to make his debut in the City reserve side at Barry on Saturday" (8th March 1958)
He was the first Spanish player to play for City.
Antonio Cruz played for Bridgwater in 1957/58.
The British Newspaper archive has the following article, when Antonio moved to City in March 1958
Bridgwater May Lose Tony Cruz
"Bridgwater's game with Cinderford to-day may be the last in which Tony Cruz, the Bilbao (Spain) winger, will play for the Town. He has attracted the interest of Exeter City, who have approached Bridgwater about signing him. As Cruz is an amateur Exeter can ask his views in seven days' time and it will be left for him to decide. As he is a student at the International College, Exeter, he is expected to agree to join the City."
From an article in a book by Mike Blackstone
"It is doubtful if all but a mere handful of Exeter city fans can recall the silky skills of left-winger Antonio Cruz who joined the Grecians in March 1958. 'Spaniard Winger in City Reserves' roared the headline in the Express & Echo - well, perhaps not, but it did warrant a mention at the foot of a column.
The player had been brought to the attention of Exeter City by Echo football reporter, Clive Toye. But three weeks had elapsed before he was initially mentioned to City, and by then Cruz had signed for Western League side, Bridgwater Town. All was not lost though, as Cruz accepted the chance of a trial with Exeter City and a game with the reserve team in the Southern League.
Not Real Madrid or Barcelona for Cruz then? No, this time it was Barry in South Wales. Forget the Nou Camp, City and Cruz were playing in the more modest surrounds of Jenner Park, scrapping for Southern League points.
The City team lined up: Bell, Bowkett, Palmer, Butterworth, Rapley, Waterman, Wilson, Hill, Beer, Atkinson, Cruz.
It proved to be a rude awakening to Southern League football for Cruz and co. as they were shot down by Jesse James. Actually it was Billy James, although Jesse sounds better, as he fired five shots into the back of the City net helping Barry Town to a resounding 8-2 victory.
The Grecians were obviously worried about filling the wing positions, and Cruz must have got the message when, just six days after he had signed for City, another 'wide-man' arrived at St James' Park.
Nelson Stiffle, who was to prove to be a terrific signing for Exeter was snapped up from Bournemouth and Boscombe Athletic. Stiffle on one wing, Gordon Dale on the other - a joy to watch.
For Cruz it was time for another opportunity to shine for the reserves, his next game being at the Park against Hereford United.
It is difficult to say whether City and Cruz played any better. Certainly they didn't concede as many goals as they had done at Barry, only five this time, with Tom Wilson replying for Exeter.
So was the chance gone for Cruz to make it in the English game? Would he be off back to Spain to perhaps pursue a new career after hanging up his boots? Not quite.
He was to feature in a 3-1 win over Merthyr Tydfil at St James' Park, and what's more, he scored one of the goals.
Cruz also took his place in a 0-3 home defeat at the hands of Hastings United and then played his part in a 1-0 success in the return meeting with Hereford at Edgar Street.
But there was one further and final outing for Cruz - in the Devon Professional Cup tie at home to Barnstaple Town, played on 9th April 1958.
Cruz was in the big time now and an attendance of 1,597 saw two goals from David Robinson and one from Ted Calland give City a narrow and hard-fought 3-2 victory.
The match report stated that 'Cruz looked City's most dangerous forward' but sadly this proved to be his last match for the Grecians. No one knows what happened to the player after that.
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