SATURDAY 19th AUGUST 1967.

BRADFORD CITY 2. Marsh; Smith, Cooper; Swallow, Hallett, Leek; Hall, McAnearney, Rackstraw, Bannister, Carter,

EXETER CITY 1. Smout; Smyth, Crawford; Huxford, Wilkinson, Curtis (Embery); Blain, Stuckey, Balson, Fudge, Whatling,

Scorers:
Bradford: McAnearney, Rackstraw,
Exeter Fudge
Attendance ; 4,345

Following the exciting display against Cardiff City we were confident of getting at least a point at Valley Parade but the team did not produce any football up to the standard of the Cardiff match, in fact this was a big disappointment. Having said this, however, we might still have grabbed a point for wê staged some thing of a révival late in the game, but on the day the better side won.

We made Football League history in being the first side to get a goal through the new law which prevents a goalkeeper from retaining possession of the ball after taking as many as four steps. Micky Fudge. scored from Bruce Stuckey's indirect free kick, the ball going in off a defender, but Bradford City soon came back to score twice before the interval through McAnearney and Rackstraw.

Team-Smout: Smyth, Crawford; Cur tis, Wilkinson, Huxford; Blain, Stuckey, Balson, Fudge, Whatling. Embery sub stituted for Curtis after 26 minutes.

During the course of the 1967-68 season, Exeter City players will travel something like 10,000 miles, allowing of course a few hundred miles one way or another, in the Fourth Division. In addition there are possible cup ties and perhaps one or two other games. The seasons campaign started today at Bradford City and supporters must be hoping that history will repeat itself. For the last time Exeter went to bradofrd City in the opening day fixture was in August 1963, and they went onto to get promotion. Manager Frank Broome had the following message for supporters;, "I sincerely hope that supporters will give the lads time to settle down before they jump to any conclusions, I can assure you that the players will be giving 100 per cent effort which we can expect from them. We have no real worries except for the unfortuante operations and injuries which do not often accumulate in such proportions, We wish the supporters, happy watching, and hope we can provide the sort of football and entertainement they want to see, Club chairman Les Kerslake added; "This is the start of ay first season as chairman, and as a life long supporter of the club, the only promise I can make is that every effort will be made to provide a successful team at St JamesPark, During my previous experience as a director, I have only known success in the club and I sincerely hope that this will be repeated this season, Every effort will be made by the board of directors to provide entertaining football which will give value for money.

MONDAY 21st AUGUST 1967.
CITY PLAYER CRISIS.

Exeter City face another playing staff crisis after only one Fourth Division game. It has arisen mainly because City have a midweek cup fixture, With injuries to Cliff Huxford and Dermot Curtis at Bradford City on Saturday, the club only have ten fit players today, and tomorrow they are due at Plainmoor to play Torquay United in the first round of the Football League Cup. Trialist Stuart Hart is expected to sign a contract today but cannot play against Torquay because the Football League ruling says a player must be signed 14 days before cup matches, It looks certain that young apprentice professional Phil Richardson will have to come into the side, Curtis who has a knee injury is given little chance of being fully fit, but one of the injured players will have to fill the substitutes spot. It looks as if City's ruthless pruning of their staff this Summer has rebounded on them.