Saturday, January 24th.

Southern League:
Exeter City 2 Coventry 1.

The Grecians were masters of the situation at Swan Lane in the Southern League match there this afternoon, beating Coventry City comfortably by two goals to one.

Great interest was taken in the match at Coventry (18 miles to the east of Birmingham) owing to the visitors being Aston Villa's opponents in the English Cup competition, and the crowd numbered close on ten thousand at the start.

The teams were:-

Coventry:- Jacques; Barnacle and Jackson; Parkes, Feebury, and Boston; Gretton, Tosswill, Davison, Welch, and Holmes.

Exeter:- Pym; Harding and Strettle; Rigby, Pratt, and Smith; Holt, Lovett, Brooksbank, McCann, and Goodwin.

Referee:- Mr G.J.Ross, of Aldershot.

Exeter appeared to be indulging in too much fancy footwork at Coventry, but this policy paid when adopted by Goodwin, who went full speed ahead along the left wing, and steering the ball past Barnacle ran on and scored. Exeter toyed with their opponents in the second half, but no further scoring took place until near the close, when Holt ran nearly half the length of the field beating all the defence and shot low and fast into the corner of the net, well out of Jacques's reach. Coventry rallied, and Tosswill scored for them with the last kick of the game. It was a fine performance on Exeter's part, but at the same time it was noticed, with some trepidation, that the result which came through from Goodison Park read:

Aston Villa 4, Everton 1.

Considering that the Villa also put four goals past Stoke in the Cup-tie (first round) and five past Sunderland last week, it is apparent that the City's opponents have struck their best form of the season. This afternoon's games have left Exeter eighth on the Southern League table and Aston Villa eighth on the English League table.

The Reserves' fixture versus Torpoint was postponed.

Forthcoming Cup-tie:
Exeter City v Aston Villa.

The Exeter City directors were agreeably surprised at the early bookings which have been made this afternoon for the cup-tie. There was a steady stream of supporters booking grand - stand seats at ten shillings each from two o'clock till four. Nearly all the five shilling stand seats (a few were set apart at 5s for the regular grandstand patrons) have now gone, but later on there will be some ring seats (inside the railings) for early bookings. The Aston Villa management are taking the tie very seriously. Their team is actually to be sent away to Southport to train on Monday, and will remain there until the Thursday before the match. Today they must have had one of their great days at the expense of the Argyle cup opponents, for they beat the Wearsiders by five goals to nil at Aston.

The following notice has appeared in the local press, and on hoardings:-

GREAT CUP TIE

Exeter City
ASTON VILLA at St. James's Park, Exeter.

ST. JAMES'S PARK.

This morning the pitch at St. James's Park was as hard as iron,and covered with a white frost. At the back of the lower goal, workmen were still employed on the improved banking, where the officials expect to be able to accommodate from 6,000 to 7,000 spectators. Very little, if any, extra soil has been deposited, but the crown of the former surface has been taken off and the bank made a rising one over its whole width. It has now been carried, however, nearly as far as the orchard fence, and if there were time to extend it to that boundary the bank would, of course, accommodate at least 20,000.

Ten crush barriers are to be placed in this bank, but the City management are considering to increase this number to fifteen, for such barriers are cheap, and it must not be forgotten that the fence at the bottom is none too strong when it comes to a crush.

In the same way the directors would be well advised to see that two extra crush barriers are put on the popular side. Terracing has been done on the left of the grand stand, and barriers are being put up to divide the different parts of the ground. Excellent progress is being made with all these arrangements, and it is quite plain that a lot of precaution will be needed on the afternoon of the match with eighteen thousand in such a comparatively small ground, and it is therefore gratifying to learn that the management are leaving nothing to chance.

HISTORY AND RECORDS OF ASTON VILLA FOOTBALL CLUB.

Founded in 1874 at Villa Cross, Handsworth, Birmingham, by the members of Aston Villa Wesleyan Chapel.

 Ground: Wellington Road, Perry Barr, until April 1897, when the club moved to its present ground, Witton Lane, Aston.

Club colours: Claret and blue jerseys, white knickers.

HONOURS

League Champions in 1894, 1896, 1897(*), 1899, 1900, 1910. League Runners-up in 1889, 1903, 1908, 1911, 1913.

English Cup winners in 1887, 1895, 1897, 1905, 1913. Runners-up in 1892.

(*) also Cup winners.

INTERNATIONAL PLAYERS

G.Allen, W.C.Athersmith, J.W.Bache, W.F.Brawn,​J.Cowan, J.W.Crabtree, J.H.G.Devey, R.E.Evans, W.G.Evans, W.Garratty, W.George, A.W.Green, A.E.Hall, H.Hampton, S.Hardy, D.Hodgetts, A.Leake, T.D.Niblo, H.Price, W.T.Renneville, J.Reynolds, S.Smith, H.Spencer, R.Templeton, H.A.Vaughton, C. W. Wallace, W.M.Watkins, O.Whateley, G.F.Wheldon, A.Wilkes.

ASTON VILLA'S LEAGUE AND CUP RECORD

This Season 

1913
Sep	1	Manchester City	Home	drew	1-1
	6	Bradford City	Away	drew	0-0
	13	Blackburn Rovers	Home	lost	1-3
	20	Sunderland	Away	lost	0-2
	27	Everton	Home	won	3-1
Oct	4	West Bromwich Albion	Away	lost	0-1
	11	The Wednesday	Home	won	2-0
	18	Bolton Wanderers	Away	lost	0-3
	25	Chelsea	Home	lost	1-2
Nov	1	Oldham Athletic	Away	won	1-0
	8	Manchester United	Home	won	3-1
	15	Burnley	Away	lost	0-4
	22	Preston North End	Home	won	3-0
	29	Newcastle United	Away	drew	2-2
Dec	6	Liverpool	Home	won	2-1
	13	Tottenham Hotspur	Away	drew	3-3
	20	Middlesbrough	Away	lost	2-5
	25	Derby County	Away	won	2-0
	26	Sheffield United	Home	won	3-0
	27	Bradford City	Home	lost	0-1
1914
Jan	1	Sheffield United	Away	lost	0-3
	3	Blackburn Rovers	Away	drew	0-0
	10	Stoke (*)	Home	won	4-0
	17	Sunderland	Home	won	5-0
	24	Everton	Away	won	4-1

(*) English Cup-tie.

 

ENGLISH CUP: SECOND ROUND
Exeter City v Aston Villa

SATURDAY JANUARY 31ST AT ST. JAMES'S PARK
Record Crowd: City Unlucky Losers

 

All roads led to St James's Park today. From noon, when the gates were opened, a stream of spectators, apparently all the while increasing in numbers, converged upon Exeter City's ground.

 

It was a record day for the club; a record in almost every sense of the word. Ever since the last draw was made, and it was known that the Grecians' opponents in the second round were to be none other than the holders of the trophy and probably the most famous of all famous clubs, namely Aston Villa, little else had been talked about in the city and for miles around. The "cup fever" as it is called, gripped the Ever Faithful at last, and everywhere the City's colours have been flown, while scarcely any tradesman's window carried no decoration, and quite a number of shops, as a matter of fact, had devoted one whole window to a Cup-tie display. No football event in Exeter has ever aroused over so wide an area the excitement and anticipation of this tie between the City and Aston Villa.

 

Similar Records.

Exeter City, of course, earned the right to oppose the Villa by their brilliant victory at Fratton Park, Portsmouth, three weeks ago. It was the finest performance they had ever placed to their credit, and their form that day made one hopeful that they could even hold the "Villains" in check. Until this afternoon Exeter's and the Villa's records in the Southern and English Leagues were very similar this season, for both clubs were eighth on their respective tables, with the appended figures:-

	Pld	Won	Drn	Lost	Goals	Pts
Exeter City	23	7	10	6	26-21	24
Aston Villa	24	10	5	9	38-34	25

 

Of the men playing for Aston Villa today Hardy, Bache, Hampton and Wallace are each Internationals and Inter-League players, and Harrop also played for the English League when he with Liverpool. Exeter City, of course, had no honours in their list, and this fact reflected the gulf which in status and past doings divided the clubs. The Villa have six times been English League champions, four times second, and only once lower than ninth. Moreover, they have won the English Cup five times, and were also finalists in 1892, being then beaten by West Bromwich Albion. Their other feats include the winning of the Birmingham League twelve times, the Staffordshire Cup eleven times, the Birmingham Cup eighteen times, the Sheriff of London's Charity Shield in 1901 and the sharing of this trophy with Queen's Park in 1899, and minor trophies, from season to season, too numerous to mention.

Altogether it is a record no club in the land can equal, while Exeter City, on the other hand, have no such glories to boast of so far. They have for six seasons been plodding along on their Southern League path, feeling their way and hoping that one day honours may fall to their lot. In record, in experience, status, tactical judgment, speed, skill, and much else, Aston Villa took the field today the superior side, and their supporters argued that only one of the most extraordinary upsets of form could give Exeter the victory.

Aston Villa's Arrival

The Villa team were welcomed at St. David's at 8.12 yesterday evening by about two hundred enthusiasts, who cheered them to the echo. Outside the Rougemont Hotel another small crowd waited for them, and one of the players jokingly remarked, as he walked into the Hotel, "Every promise of a big crowd tomorrow." One reserve was brought, this being Whittaker. The party numbered about thirty, and included Messrs F.W.Rinder (chairman), J.E.Jones (vice-chairman), P.W.M.Bate and Howard Spencer, the old International back (directors), C.S.Johnstone and F.W.Cooper (vice-presidents), and G.B.Ramsay (secretary).

They had travelled by the G.W.R. route through Yate, Standish, and Cheltenham, having left home at 3.55 p.m. all the players visited the Exeter Hippodrome, and the City team were there also. A packed house applauded the Manager, Mr J.Fitchett, himself an old League footballer of Bolton Wanderers, when he came forward to welcome the teams and thank them for their attendance.

All this morning drizzling showers fell, but nothing was ever likely to damp local enthusiasm. At an early hour wearers of the claret and blue were to be seen parading the city streets, and these followers of the Villa had evidently left nothing to the chance of a late excursion arrival, preferring instead to pay the extra fare on the ordinary trains.

Street Scenes

The City's colours were flying everywhere, and two ebullientspirits spent the whole morning riding on the top of a tram-carwaving red and white umbrellas. The mascot, a goat, which had been bought for presentation to Jimmy Rigby, the City skipper, by City taxi-drivers, was marched through the main streets about eleven o'clock, decked out in the Grecians' colours and favours. What is its fate now?

The Villa players walked from the Rougemont Hotel to the ground early this morning and spent some time on the pitch, subsequently going back to their headquarters for light lunch, served at 11.45. About that time the cinema operators began their work in the city streets, and despite the miserable weather conditions, it was early apparent that this was to be, as prophesied, a day of days in the annals of Exeter sport.

The Crowd on the Ground

As early as 11.15 small groups began to gather outside the ground, and as soon as the doors were opened at noon there was the first rush. From that time a continual stream of people made their way to St James's, and every team-car from 12.30 onward carried its full freight of enthusiasts. At half past one there were already about 8,000 on the ground. The new bank was filling up, and all parts of the enclosure were speedily being occupied. Ticket holders were also early arrivals, fearing no doubt a closing of the gates.

As time went on it seemed that the arrangements made by the City management were excellent. The barriers and division bars appeared to be answering their purposes admirably, and the Villa "checkers" were all agreeably surprised. A few youngsters climbed on to the top of the "Football Express" score-board, but were promptly ordered down in case of accidents. Red and white umbrellas were being waved from the shilling bank, and intermittently the City's "war songs" rang out. It was a very lively, good-humoured crowd, and inside the directors' office all was reported to be running smoothly. The Villa secretary, Mr G.B. Ramsay, was outside the big Well Street swing doors, with his directors early on the scene, among them the old International, Howard Spencer, looking as fit as ever. The first fight was seen on the shilling bank at 1.55. The two combatants had a lively two rounds before the police got to them. The police strength was about fifty, and in addition there was a large contingent of St. John's Ambulance men, under Supt. Bowden and Head-Sgt. Rivers. Two mounted constables were outside the ground.

At 2 p.m. the crowd was at least eleven thousand. Photographers and cinema men were on the pitch hard at work, and the Band was struggling with its enlivening airs. The pitch was in good state considering the rain, and had been well rolled. It was naturally on the soft side, however, and liable to cut up quickly once play began. The Villa players arrived on the ground exactly at 2 o'clock, being conveyed from their Hotel in six of the Exeter Blue Taxis. The City players were already present. Holt had a badly swollen face, and had been in bed with a cold all day yesterday. He was, however, as anxious as anybody for the fray.

Message From "Father" Skeggs

Shortly after two o'clock a telegram arrived from Mr Skeggs, of the Southern League Association and Millwall Athletic Club, which read:- "Millwall did, so can Millwall's child."

 The telegram, of course, was a reference to the matches between Millwall and Aston Villa in the third round of the English. Cup of the 1899-1900 season, when the Londoners dismissed the Leaguers from the competition by two goals to one on the Reading ground, following draws at East Ferry Road and Aston Villa Park. It is well known locally that Mr Skeggs regards himself, and what is more, is regarded here as the "father" of the Grecians, having played an important part in getting the club admitted to the Southern League nearly six years ago.

The Mascot

A drizzling rain was still falling when Artful Thomas led on to the pitch the City's mascot goat, and posed with it for the cinema operator. 

Argyle Directors Present

There was still room for more people at half-past two, and the lower end of the Flower-pot stand was not nearly filled up. The crowd had massed at the higher end. It was probable, in fact, that the closing of the gates as early as two o'clock had kept a good many away. At 2.30 however, the shilling bank was packed tight. Several of the Plymouth Argyle directors occupied seats in the grandstand. A couple of daring enthusiasts were to be seen on the roof of one of the houses in St. James's Road. At 2.45 there was still room and to spare on the ground, and the crowd certainly did not reach the pre-match expectations.

The Teams

Six minutes before the kick-off the players filed out on to the ground, as follows:-

EXETER CITY

Pym

Fort Strettle

Rigby Lagan Smith

Holt Lovett Whittaker McCann Marshall

 

Referee:- Mr E.W.Child, of London.

Linesmen:- Messrs J.Down and J.Hazell.

 

ASTON VILLA

Edgley Bache Hampton Stephenson Wallace

Leach Harrop Barber

Weston Lyons

Hardy

 The Game.

The Villa were first out, led by Bache, and were followed in quick time by Rigby and his men. Hardy, the visiting goalie, and one of the Internationals, was wearing a bright green jersey, and Pym one of flaming crimson. Rigby won the toss and chose to defend the St. James's Road end goal. The Villa were at once away, and Harrop flicked the ball to Wallace, from whose centre Hampton was pulled up for offside just as he barged into Fort. Aston Villa came again, but the transfer to Wallace this timewent over the goal-line before the old Crystal Palace winger could get to the ball. Then Exeter came into the picture. Lyons had to be speedy to clear from Whittaker and the City made headway on the left, keeping the crowd in a state of great excitement for a few seconds. Hardy had to handle for the first time, and from the goalkeeper's clearance Lagan sent out to Holt, the ball going to touch six yards from the corner flag. For a minute or so Exeter had all the play, and when at length Aston Villa broke away again Marshall stopped Wallace, sweeping him off his legs. The Villa man was hurt, and play was stopped. When it was resumed a free kick was given against Marshall and Hampton dashed in and headed the ball into the net from Barber's place kick. The move was executed with such precision and speed that Exeter were taken completely by surprise.

 The Villa a Great Team.

Exeter were given a free kick in the Villa half of the field, and a good shot by Lagan was charged down. Away went the Villa to the opposite goal, and Smith had to concede a corner after Bache had dribbled past Strettle. Another corner shortly followed, and it was seen that the Villa had taken no time at all to settle into their game on the unfamiliar Exeter pitch, and were playing like the great team they are when at their best. They claimed a foul close in, but the referee was against them. At the Villa end Hardy cleared a long shot from McCann. The Cup holders were proving a lot the cleverer side up to now, and it was plain the City had not settled down. Holt relieved the situation with a good touch-line run, but hesitated when faced by Weston, and was checked. A free kick against Wallace saw Lovett given a nice chance but the ball was too fast for him, and bounced to Weston, who cleared with a long punt.

 Penalty Missed.

After Pym had saved a smart shot by Hampton the leather was booted out to Holt, who commenced one of his fast runs along the wing but was tripped up by Weston near the goal-line and inside the penalty area. A penalty was signalled for, and while Holt was still lying on the ground Fort came up to take the kick, but to the chagrin of the crowd, missed it, the ball glancing off the right-hand post and going behind. The next incident of note was a dribble down the centre of the field by Whittaker. He staved off Harrop and put in a worthy shot which Hardy fielded with difficulty, dropping the ball and kicking clear before anybody could get near. Exeter, despite their missed penalty, continued to play much better than at the start, and had begun to get the measure of their redoubtable opponents. From a throw-in Smith gave Marshall an opening, but the winger could not keep the ball in play. Bache missed at the other end, and inroads were again made on the Exeter goal, first Lagan and then Fort relieving the pressure. Play remained in midfield for a spell, then Barber, with a long dropping shot, put the leather on top of the net with Pym jumping to cover its direction. A free-kick against the City on the half-way line enabled the Cup holders to attack once more, and Pym saved a cross drive from Edgley. Whittaker was whistled up for offside when he looked to have a good chance, and a moment later the Villa nearly scored in another of their sharp raids, but Pym saved from Hampton at the second attempt after fumbling the first shot.

 

The Goal At His Mercy.

After half an hour's play the Villa still led by a goal, but Exeter were playing hard. Lyons and Weston were being frequently tested, and were inclined to be none too safe at close quarters. Marshall, though, was effectively stopped by Lyons, then Hardy had to save a beauty from Whittaker. In the next move Lovett was sent through, but shot wide. It was in their finish that the City were failing. At the other end. Hampton tried to charge Pym through the posts with the ball, but the Topsham boy was too wily for him. Once more the City attacked, and Holt skied the ball high over the bar with the goal absolutely at his mercy. It had come across from the left wing at a fast pace on the greasy turf, beating two men to fall at Holt's disposal only for the winger to boot it over the bar when a mere tap would have brought a score. Holt snapped his fingers in disgust at his mistake. Keeping the leather in the air, and swinging it wide to their wings, the City were bothering the Villa defence in rousing style, but Marshall was not in his best form. At Pym's end Hampton kicked a centre from Edgley over the bar, and half-time came with Aston Villa in the Exeter half.

Interval score:-

EXETER CITY​ 0 ASTON VILLA​ 1

Second Half.

The Villa commenced at a great pace, and Strettle was stunned in heading the ball. He quickly resumed, however, and in further Villa pressure Stephenson headed behind. Lovett then broke away and centred to Holt, whose shot hit the side of the net. Aston Villa quickly responded, and Pym thrilled the crowd with a save on his knees from Edgley's fierce drive at point blank range. In an Exeter sortie Marshall was badly fouled, but the free kick led to nothing, then Strettle got between Bache and Edgley when the pair were making a combined move, and kicked clear.

Villa's Second Goal.

Hampton put the ball almost on the penalty mark with a clever overhead kick, and the Villa forced a corner. The ball remained in the vicinity of the City's goal for some time until Lagan at last cleared, but Whittaker was stopped by Harrop in full stride. Ten minutes after the change of ends the Villa scored their second goal, and it was another snap effort by Hampton, who caught Exeter's defence napping. He dashed in to meet a centre from the right wing and had the ball in the back of the rigging at express speed. The City made a great effort to retrieve their fortunes, and Holt forced a corner, which Smith placed wide. A minute later a great outburst of cheering went up when McCann reduced the lead. The ball was taken up the centre by Lovett, and with the defence for once all out of position McCann rushed in and gave Hardy no earthly chance with a fast grounder. Encouraged by this success Exeter played up with great energy and speed, and Weston was far from comfortable against the close attention of Holt. But the Villa were still bringing off subtle forward moves, and Bache narrowly missed from one of these. One of Wallace's centres was headed over the bar by Hampton, and with fifteen minutes left McCann was brought down ten yards from the Villa goal, his appeal for a penalty being unheeded. In the next few minutes there was another determined assault on the Villa goal, but again Hardy prevailed, and Exeter were making plucky effortsto equalise without success. As time drew near it seemed that Exeter were bound to lose, for the Villa's defence always got out of its tangles. With but five minutes to go the score was still 2-1 in the Villa's favour, and the light was failing. Exonians were now accepted defeat, and as the final whistle blew the crowd were already leaving the ground.

Result:- Aston Villa 2, Exeter City 1.

 Notes on the Game.

It was a case of experience and status being too much for hardslogging and unbounded enthusiasm. Yet it could be said from the City's point of view that it was a game thrown away.  They had the chances enough to have won it, and they failed to round off their efforts, which were magnificent in their pluck and endeavour. If Fort had converted the penalty in the first half it would have equalised the score, of course, and with a goal to their credit at that stage the City could have won. But in attempting to steer the ball wide of Hardy the Exeter back pulled it too far, with the result that the shot scraped the goalpost and travelled out of play over the goal-line.

 

Midway through the second half, with the score standing at 2-1 for the Villa, Holt ought to have scored easily, but with all the goal to aim at, and only a few yards out, he lashed out wildly at the ball and sent it over the bar, when he could have calmly just tapped it into the net. Aston Villa possessed a great opportunist in "Happy" Hampton, and his worth to the side was demonstrated by the manner in which he took his two goals. On both occasions he moved in at lightning speed, knew exactly what he intended to do, and before the Exeter defence realised the danger the ball was in their net. The official attendance was given as 9,500, and the receipts as £910, the latter figure being a record for the ground.

 Some Press Comments

Although Aston Villa won by the odd goal in three at Exeter, it cannot be said that much glory was attached in their win, for any luck they may have previously enjoyed in their Cup matches was considerably magnified in this one. - Athletic News.

Exeter City have worthily upheld the Southern League, and the traditions of a glorious county. - Daily Chronicle.

 

The Cup-holders did not overplay Exeter City, as many of their supporters thought they would. As a matter of fact they were rather lucky to win, and the Grecians might have effected at least a draw had they accepted their chances. - Daily News.

 

A little out of luck, Exeter City have chiefly their own stage-fright to thank for going under on their own ground to the Cup-holders. It would have been no guide to form had they shared the honours, but opportunities were given them to do so and were thrown away. Aston Villa had a great opportunist in Hampton. Exeter had no opportunist of this class, and that in a nutshell explains the 2-1 defeat of the Grecians. - The Sportsman.

 

Exeter are to be congratulated on the fine fight they put up against the Cup-holders. As actual events went they should have drawn the match. - Gilbert Jessop, in the Daily Mail.