Vic Lovegrove the 15-year-old former Exeter Schools centre forward, signed amateur forms for Portsmouth in early 1959. He had also previously played for Ladysmith School. 

He was recommended to Portsmouth by their former centre forward Ike Clarke, who scouted for the club in the West Country. Mr. F. Cox, the Portsmouth manager “won the 20-club race for the services of well built, free-scoring Lovegrove. Portsmouth's biggest rivals were Everton, but three other First Division clubs; a handful of Second Division teams and several Third and Fourth Division sides - including Exeter City who wanted Victor. 

He first attracted attention with a "hat trick" in his first match for Exeter Schools -and he scored two more "hat tricks" in English Schools Cup matches. He will be employed on Portsmouth's ground staff”