Season Summary
Season Summary
CITY'S RE-ELECTION TO BE APPLIED FOR.
How hard these bottom of the table teams fight in the closing weeks of the season. There was, as an example nearest to "home," the splendid performances, of near-promotion quality, by Exeter City, who secured nine points out of a possible fourteen since the beginning of April, yet this was not quite enough to guarantee safety in the "Re-election Stakes."
Exeter City, who have to apply to the League for re-election, did not know their fate until after they had completed their own fixtures, but Gillingham ensured their own safety by winning their last match. In a hectic finale Exeter City's fortunes have ebbed and flowed. After their win at Bournemouth on April 23rd the City looked favourites to draw clear of the bottom. The odds continued in their favour until the of th last week of the campaign, when, on the Wednesday, Shrewsbury Town's unexpected 2-0 victory at Swindon darkened their prospects. Even the City's very praise worthy division with the Rovers at Bristol did not guarantee the safety passport.
The big question now is: "Will the City get back when they apply to the elder brethren of the Football League?" The answer must be a definite "Yes." Not only are Exeter City an old established club. They are also a very popular one and have sufficient friends at court to ensure them a return to the fold.
LESSONS TO BE LEARNED.
There are, however, important lessons to be learned from the failures which caused the existing slump, and the first and foremost is that stronger and more forceful forwards are wanted. The defence has satisfied since Norman Kirkman and Dick Walton became the full-back partnership, and Ray Goddard returned to fill the role of pivot so grandly.
Despite the final flourish season 1951-52 will go down in the records as one of the most disappointing in the club's history. Never in the top half of the League, the City spent most of the time in the lowest regions during a campaign which promised little and fulfilled less. The many dismal performances cannot be wholly excused by injuries, for while the club was unlucky to be deprived of three good half backs of the calibre of Fallon, Goddard, and Armes for varying terms, the fact is inescapable that too many of the team's displays were marred by too many deficiencies in team work, and insufficient determination. Far too often the listless City side were easy bonus for the opposing teams. Mr Kirkman detected this soon after his arrival here as player-manager, and it prompted him to comment that his task would be to find a team who will fight every inch of the way in every match. He lost no time in telling his players what was expected from them.
His exhortations no doubt had some thing to do with the team's improved form in the later matches.
March was Exeter City's disastrous month. In six matches then, the only points gained were two, from goalless home encounters with Colchester and Bristol City. Successive home defeats against Northampton, Crystal Palace and Newport made the outlook bleak.
The position looked beyond repair as Easter approached, but a point at Southend and victories over Plymouth Argyle, Bournemouth, and Brighton were a blood-transfusion which revived the fast ailing patient.
THE ENDEAVOURS OF MACKAY.
The fight to escape was praiseworthy, and much of the credit goes to the defensive formation which in the final weeks presented to opponents an unwavering resistance. Apart from a lapse at Millwall "Barney" Singleton finished the season on a satisfying note. Full-backs Kirkman and Walton and half back Goddard Nor must be forgotten the endeavours of Angus Mackay during the recent have been stalwarts in the crisis vital commitments. He has been an opportunist goalscorer and craftsman in midfield combined since Easter, and his return to peak form had a great deal to do with Exeter City's rally. With twenty League goals to his credit Mackay topped the list of scorers by a "distance." Only one inside forward has scored more goals for Exeter City in a season. He was Harold Houghton, the "daddy of them all," who had 23 in 1930-31. Twenty-seven of the City's playing staff made first-team appearances in the League this term, and for the second year running Fred Davey tops the list. He missed only one match, at Newport on November 10th, and as was the case twelve months ago, narrowly failed to qualify for a maximum.
CITY'S RE-ELECTION TO BE APPLIED FOR.
How hard these bottom of the table teams fight in the closing weeks of the season. There was, as an example nearest to "home," the splendid performances, of near-promotion quality, by Exeter City, who secured nine points out of a possible fourteen since the beginning of April, yet this was not quite enough to guarantee safety in the "Re-election Stakes."
Exeter City, who have to apply to the League for re-election, did not know their fate until after they had completed their own fixtures, but Gillingham ensured their own safety by winning their last match. In a hectic finale Exeter City's fortunes have ebbed and flowed. After their win at Bournemouth on April 23rd the City looked favourites to draw clear of the bottom. The odds continued in their favour until the of th last week of the campaign, when, on the Wednesday, Shrewsbury Town's unexpected 2-0 victory at Swindon darkened their prospects. Even the City's very praise worthy division with the Rovers at Bristol did not guarantee the safety passport.
The big question now is: "Will the City get back when they apply to the elder brethren of the Football League?" The answer must be a definite "Yes." Not only are Exeter City an old established club. They are also a very popular one and have sufficient friends at court to ensure them a return to the fold.
LESSONS TO BE LEARNED.
There are, however, important lessons to be learned from the failures which caused the existing slump, and the first and foremost is that stronger and more forceful forwards are wanted. The defence has satisfied since Norman Kirkman and Dick Walton became the full-back partnership, and Ray Goddard returned to fill the role of pivot so grandly.
Despite the final flourish season 1951-52 will go down in the records as one of the most disappointing in the club's history. Never in the top half of the League, the City spent most of the time in the lowest regions during a campaign which promised little and fulfilled less. The many dismal performances cannot be wholly excused by injuries, for while the club was unlucky to be deprived of three good half backs of the calibre of Fallon, Goddard, and Armes for varying terms, the fact is inescapable that too many of the team's displays were marred by too many deficiencies in team work, and insufficient determination. Far too often the listless City side were easy bonus for the opposing teams. Mr Kirkman detected this soon after his arrival here as player-manager, and it prompted him to comment that his task would be to find a team who will fight every inch of the way in every match. He lost no time in telling his players what was expected from them.
His exhortations no doubt had some thing to do with the team's improved form in the later matches.
March was Exeter City's disastrous month. In six matches then, the only points gained were two, from goalless home encounters with Colchester and Bristol City. Successive home defeats against Northampton, Crystal Palace and Newport made the outlook bleak.
The position looked beyond repair as Easter approached, but a point at Southend and victories over Plymouth Argyle, Bournemouth, and Brighton were a blood-transfusion which revived the fast ailing patient.
THE ENDEAVOURS OF MACKAY.
The fight to escape was praiseworthy, and much of the credit goes to the defensive formation which in the final weeks presented to opponents an unwavering resistance. Apart from a lapse at Millwall "Barney" Singleton finished the season on a satisfying note. Full-backs Kirkman and Walton and half back Goddard Nor must be forgotten the endeavours of Angus Mackay during the recent have been stalwarts in the crisis vital commitments. He has been an opportunist goalscorer and craftsman in midfield combined since Easter, and his return to peak form had a great deal to do with Exeter City's rally. With twenty League goals to his credit Mackay topped the list of scorers by a "distance." Only one inside forward has scored more goals for Exeter City in a season. He was Harold Houghton, the "daddy of them all," who had 23 in 1930-31. Twenty-seven of the City's playing staff made first-team appearances in the League this term, and for the second year running Fred Davey tops the list. He missed only one match, at Newport on November 10th, and as was the case twelve months ago, narrowly failed to qualify for a maximum.
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