Season Summary & Christmas Review
1924-25 

EXETER CITY'S WEAK SPOT.
Centre Forward Problem Still Unsolved.

Christmas has come and gone, but the New Year is at hand, and the five thousand or so supporters of Exeter City who derive their regular enjoyment from visits to St James's Park will be pleased to join in extending the City their very best wishes. They will be thinking more particularly of January 10th, when the "Saints" and "Grecians" clash for Cup honours, and the wishes. of those who will be unable to undertake the journey to the Dell will be as sincere as those who are privileged to witness the big match. Meanwhile, the City's prospects provide the main topic of conversation, and last Saturday's game with Brighton made it very evident that the prospects would be considerably brighter, if only the attack was as good as the defence. Brighton are not goal-getters, it is true, but the ease with which the City defence renowned held the opposition and followed this up by allowing Plymouth only one goal in two matches and Reading nothing at all apart from that very doubtful penalty kick in the 89th minute, justified the ever increasing confidence reposed in stalwarts like, Crompton, Pollard, and Charlton, to say nothing of Bailey. The Directors have nothing to worry about regarding the six men in the rear positions. If the same might be said of the first line of attack their task in putting the strongest eleven in the field would be a simple one.
ATTACK DISAPPOINTING.
Unfortunately, the attack is not what it should be, and it is usually the inside men who are to blame, for there are few, if any, better wingers in the Southern Section than Matthews, and Compton is not far behind, either. Whatever chances Lievesley possessed of leading the attack in the forthcoming Cup-tie he certainly killed them against Brighton last Saturday, for in front of goal he was about as impotent as could possibly be imagined. Smelt and Davis, on either side of him, were triers all the time, but little more can be said in their favour. For the three Christmas matches Davis was played at centre, with Kirk and Lievesley flanking him, and there was a noticeable improvement, although no goal was scored from the centre-forward position.
THE LEADERSHIP.
With the advent of Blackmore it was ardently hoped that the City had solved the centre-forward problem, which had been troubling them for several seasons. The majority of the supporters still believe that Blackmore is the solution, but it is doubtful if the Directors are of the same way of thinking. So far this season at least six players have been given a trial in the centre position. Needless to say it has been a short trial in each case, too short, perhaps, because a player is unlikely to feel quite at home in a new place during the first two or three games. It might therefore be taken for granted that the Directors have still to make up their minds who is best qualified for leadership. There are several alternatives to Blackmore. The first that comes to mind is Davis, who has filled the position with credit on quite a number of occasions, and who heads the goal-scoring list, which is important. There are less capable centre-forwards than Davis, but he has failings, of which the Directors are well aware. Next on the list comes Kirk, who has never been given a real trial. He has very many qualities which go to the making of a good centre, and they probably outweigh his failings. He can control and distribute the ball as well as any member of the team; he is fast, and his shooting is not to be despised. But unfortunately Kirk is of the temperamental type, and he is particularly sensitive to the demeanour of the crowd. It is rather strange that ever since Kirk has been at Exeter the crowd have at times made fun of him, while on opponents' grounds he comes in for more than a fair share of barracking. The other candidates are Shelton, who appears as if he has been permanently relegated to the Reserves, and Appleyard, whose claims are outweighed by those of others. The choice seems to rest between Blackmore, Davis, and Kirk, and the Directors might do worse than to make up their minds quickly to persevere with one or the other. Constant changes at centre upset the whole line, for it usually means altering the other inside berths, and consequently the wingers hardly know what to expect from week to week. On the whole, however, the City have not done badly so far this season, and their splendid performances against Plymouth Argyle in the holiday matches suggests even greater deeds in the second half of the season.

Exeter City's Finances
St Sidwell's Traders' Appeal
Making Headway

Although the football season is over, the St. Sidwell's Traders' Association, which has tackled the job of raising a sum of £2,000 on behalf of the Exeter City Club by means of shares, donations, and by the very popular "City Cross-word Puzzle" is not relaxing any of its efforts one jot. Rather, the members are redoubling their efforts in a concentrated campaign to bring the movement to a successful issue. The money is needed to provide the Summer Wages, and also to meet other immediate charges. Exeter, because of its isolated position on the outskirts of big football, and by reason of its comparatively small population, is a particularly difficult centre for a first-class professional club. Everybody's practical support is needed all the time to keep the wheels of the concern running smoothly.
THIRTEEN PLAYERS RE-SIGNED.
Encouraged by the work which the St. Sidwell's Traders Association are doing, Exeter City have already re-signed thirteen tried men, players who have been most prominent in raising the Club to its present high level during the campaign now ended. And there are very plain hints from an official source that an attempt is being made to strengthen the team in three or four positions with a view to putting up a very serious fight for promotion next season.
COVERED ACCOMMODATION.
Money is needed also by the Grecians for the erection of further covered accommodation at St James's Park. No other members of the Football League (unless perhaps in the Northern Section) have such scanty shelter to offer spectators on wet days, and the question of a covered shelter on the "flower pot" side has been talked about for years. This matter, however, forms no part of the present appeal.
Every lover of "Soccer" in East Devon should bear the appeal in mind, and see in what way he or she can help. Supporters of the City club are cordially invited to take up shares, which carry certain privileges in the matter of season tickets, to send in subscriptions of any amount, and to secure sixpenny copies of the City Cross-Word Puzzle, in connection with which there are a lot of valuable prizes. By helping to popularise this puzzle, which will afford a greatly interesting evening's entertainment to any "Soccer-ite," young, old, or middle-aged supporters of the Grecians, all of whom are looking forward to a record season in 1925-26, will be giving very valuable assistance to the Club. A little practical support is worth a heap of sentiment, and it is a fact that nothing could give Exeter City Football Club greater confidence and encouragement in their forward policy than to feel that they have the solid backing of the sporting public of Devon.
The concert at the Trades and Labour Hall which was arranged for the occasion of the presentation to Dick Pym of a water coloured - portrait of himself was an outstanding success. The presentation was made by Exeter City's popular captain, Stanley Charlton, a few days before his departure to Australia with the F.A. Representative team.

NEXT SEASON'S PLAYERS.
The following have been re-engaged: - H.Bailey, H.A.Blackmore, W.Compton, W.Crawshaw, E.Crompton, A.Flynn, H.Kirk, W.Lievesley, F.Newman, R.Pollard, A.E.Potter, R.Pullan, and G.Shelton.
Exeter City Players

APPEARANCES IN THE LEAGUE 
42 Division 3 South Games 
Appleyard 8, Bailey 42, Blackmore 11, Charlton 30, Coleburne 6, Compton 39,
Crawshaw 6 Crompton 37 Davis 27, Flynn 13, Jones 10, Kirk 33, Lievesley 24, Matthews 42, Murray 6, Pollard 41,
Potter 32, Pullan 37, Shelton 13, Smelt 5.
POSITIONS
Goal: Bailey 42.
Right Back: Pollard 41, Flynn 1.
Left Back: Charlton 30, Flynn 12.
Right Half: Pullan 32, Coleburne 6, Crawshaw 4.
Centre Half: Crompton 37, Potter 3, Jones 2.
Left Half: Potter 29, Jones 8, Crawshaw 2, Shelton 2, Murray 1.
Outside Right: Matthews 42.
Inside Right: Kirk 33, Pullan 5, Smelt 4.
Centre Forward: Davis 15, Blackmore 10, Lievesley 9, Appleyard 7,Smelt 1.
Inside Left: Lievesley 15, Davis 12, Shelton 8 Murray 5, Appleyard 1, Blackmore 1.
Outside Left: Compton 39, Shelton 3.

GOALSCORERS
(Division 3 South)
Kirk 12, Compton 11, Davis  9, Blackmore 6, Lievesley 5, Matthews 4, Shelton 3, Crompton and Appleyard 2 
Charlton, Potter, Pullan, Smelt, and *Sambridge1

*Bristol Rovers own goal.

GOALSCORERS : 
SOUTHERN LEAGUE MATCHES
Blackmore 24, Shelton 16, Murray 10,
Davis & Lievesley 7, Appleyard 4, Smelt 3, Kirk 2, Jones, Compton, Lendon, Lowton, Newman 1