Warrington-born Sammy Strettle, a member of the Exeter City team which toured Argentina and Brazil in 1914, played for the club in the Southern League either side of the Great War. An ever-present in his first two seasons, he made over a hundred league appearances for the Grecians having signed from Chesterfield in 1913. He eventually left to play for Northwich Victoria in 1920. 

Sammy’s football career is said to have started with the Lively Polly Soap Works XI in Liverpool before signing for Everton in 1906 where he made four league appearances. Transferred to Chesterfield for £800, he stayed for several seasons and captained the side throughout. 

Signing for Exeter City in the summer of 1913, Sammy made his debut in the opening game of the season against Southampton on 6 September 1913 and secured the left-back position as his own as he started all 38 league games. Rewarded with a place in the 15 man squad that toured Argentina and Brazil in the summer of 1914, Sammy appeared in nearly all the matches including the 2-0 defeat to Brazil in Rio. 

Remaining at St James’ Park for the 1914/15, Sammy was again an ever-present as he made a further 38 Southern League appearances prior to football’s suspension for the duration of the Great War. Duly enlisting in 1915 with the Royal Engineers 58th Division Signal Company, he served France and Flanders both at Ypres and on the Somme and was awarded the Military Medal in October 1918. 

After the War Sammy returned to Exeter for the 1919/20 season when his unbroken run of appearances ended after just two games even though he quickly returned to appear in 34 of the 42 Southern League fixtures. 

Returning home to Lancashire, Sammy saw out his playing career with Northwich Victoria ahead of death at the age of forty-one in 1926 in Warrington.