William (Bill) Gater was an amateur on City's books who played at full-back for the reserves in 1938/39. He made his debut against Swindon reserves, for Exeter City reserves in the Southern League on the 17/12/1938.

His son, (also Bill) wrote in 2023,

"My Father, William Gater played for the Grecian reserves in 1938/39. He had a trial for Bolton Wanderers and travelled there with “Pincher” Pym of Topsham who played in goal for England.

He used to go salmon fishing with Dick( Pincher)Pym when they had nets across the Exe. I imagine that when my father was called for trial at Bolton, Dick was being kind in accompanying him on what would have been a long journey in those days. Sadly the War intervened so it came to nothing."