THURSDAY 26th DECEMBER 1968.

NO CHRISTMAS CHEER FOR CITY.

ALDERSHOT 2
Godfrey; Walden, Giles; Rafferty, Dawes, Walker; Melia, Walton, Priscott, Howarth, Gowans
EXETER CITY 0
Shearing; Smyth, Blain; Newman, Sharples, Harvey; Corr, Pinkney, Balson, Mitten, Pleat,

Scorers:
Aldershot; Rowarth 2.

Attendance: 8,624,

No merry Christmas for Exeter City. They found the snow and ice, but there was no cheer to go with it, It was a pointless Boxing Day for City at Aldershot when they were beaten, City are now next to bottom of the Fourth Division. It was a bitterly cold afternoon and most of the pitch had a covering of snow on it, indeed the pitch was still being cleared less than hour before kick off, Many areas were frozen solid, Aldershot the League leaders adapted themselves better to the conditions. They proved to be stronger and more determined. They were full of running and Melia in particular was a bundle of energy They had most of the play. However, in the last 15 minutes City did begin to move the ball around and gave the Aldershot defence a few anxious moments. Peter Shearing brought off several good saves, while the City really had only two good chances to scoreMike Balson shot vide, and John Corr fired straight at Godfrey. The Aldershot goals came in the 32nd minute through Howarth and in the 70th minute when Exeter appealing for offside were caught out by Howarth again,

Match Summary 

The home side adapted themselves better to the difficult conditions on a snow-covered pitch and earned victory with two goals by centre-forward Jack Howarth-one in each half.

City failed to take their chances, and although we made more determined efforts in the last 15 minutes we could not pro duce the brand of football which the bustling Jimmy Melia (Aldershot's £10,000 signing from Southampton) injected into his top-of-the-table Aldershot side.

SATURDAY 28th DECEMBER 1968.

FRANK BROOME DEAD OR ALIVE?

According to some people in Australia, Exeter City manager Frank Broome is dead ! A story that Broome had been killed in a Motorway accident was taken as accurate in Sydney some five weeks ago. There was even a minutes silence for him at New South Wales Soccer Federations annual meeting because Broome was coach of the Sydney club, Melita Newtown, until joining City last year. The Sydney Sun newspaper ran this story, but later had to retract it when a letter was received from England by friends of Broome which stated that he was alive and wellThe newspaper says it has no idea how the story of his death started, but it was accepted as genuine, Frank Broome's reaction in Eexter this week was - "I am in a position to deny the story,"

CITY SHORTS.

Exeter City's home fixture against Darlington was called off about three hours before the kick off because of a frozen pitch, City defender Cecil Smyth has gone back to school once a week. He is attending night school to learn the car trade. Smyth has taken a part time job as a car salesman with a crediton company.

MONDAY 30th DECEMBER 1968.

Exeter City face Manchester United, the club with a pedigree of semi finals, four Wembley appearances, and two triumphs spanning 23 years, at a time of a depressing slump in United's fortunes, no member of United's side is more acutely aware of that low ebb and dangers aginst Exeter City than England wing half Nobby Stiles, He is the only first team survivor of the side that played at St James' Park in a Football League Cup tie eight years ago, Stiles said quite frankly: "We were lucky not to lose because Exeter were leading, and hit the bar, before we escaped with a 1-1 draw. It was a bit of an ordealThe pitch was alright but it seemed small and the crowd was so close they seemed to be taking part in the game."

ROOM WITH A VIEW THAT YOU CANNOT BUY.

Householders in St James' Road, Exeter, have turned down offers of more than £100 each to rent their upstairs windows for a grandstand view of tomorrow's F,A.Cup tieThe houses overlook St James' Park and offer a near perfect view of the proceedings. Residents have been inundated by people hoping to pay for the privilege of seeing the game from their houses,

BEWARE OF BOBBY CHARLTON.

Whilst the soccer citizens of the Westcountry nervously await the arrival of Manchester United, the football champions of Europe, Exeter City manager Frank Broome shows no awe at all, He was asked by the B.B,C, to give them the names of his 16 probables, which he replied he had only 14 players anyway! He is also concerned what will happen if Bobby Charlton unleashes one of his thunderbolt shots. Broome said, "If he belts the ball upfield he is liable to crack a few windows in the St James' Road, If he belts it downhill, then a few greenhouses could be in danger in the allotments,"