Hopes and Expectations 

John Newman, manager of Exeter City, is doing a remarkable job for the South Devon club considering their geographical position and the size of his staff. Life in the Fourth Division has never been a bed of roses and Newman has discovered this to his cost since he has been in command at St. James Park. There was a period last season, for example, when he resigned his position due to internal strife. He resigned within a few days. But the shock that Newman had con templated leaving Exeter obviously affected the club's morale for some time and this was reflected in their mid-season results. Exeter showed up brightly after this, however, and eventually finished in 14th position in the table to hold out the hope of better things to come. Newman, who was a more than accomplished player in the First Divi sion with Birmingham and Leicester City in the mid-1960's, firmly believes that he can take Exeter into the Third Division.
He has been active in the transfer market during the close season and appears to have invested wisely in the Bournemouth pair-defender Keith Clapham and winger Tony Scott. But one of the most important captures was made just before the transfer deadline last season when he paid Aston Villa £6,000 for the experienced David Gibson. The former Scottish international may be on the wrong side of 30, but he is a very clever ball-player and could be just the type to take Exeter to promotion. His skills both on and off the ball will certainly aid Exeter's main strikers -Alan Banks, Fred Binney and John Wingate. Banks has already scored more than 100 goals during his time with the club and Binney, despite his unorthodox approach work, is often a match-winner in his own right. All this plus Newman's dedication and determination could make Exeter one of the surprise packets of the season!

- From the Brighton Programme 16/9/1972 

Introduction to the new players 
Rich Report 
INTRODUCING.

TONY SCOTT
Height 5ft. 10in.
Weight 10 stone
Tony was born at St. Neots. He joined West Ham straight from school, and stayed there for 6 years making 78 appearances, having made his League debut against Chelsea in 1960. Tony was transferred from West Ham to Aston Villa in 1967, Villa were relegated and Tony had only 2 Second Division outings before he joined Torquay £7,000. He stayed at Plainmoor for 3 years making a total of 82 League appearances before he joined Bournemouth in 1970 (£4,000). In his 2 years at Dean Court Tony made 59 appearances.

KEITH CLAPHAM
Height 5ft. 10in.
Weight 11 stone
Like Tony Scott we also signed Keith from Bournemouth. Keith was born at Southampton, and after leaving school signed for Bournemouth. Yet to make his League debut Keith was a regular with the Bournemouth Reserves. Keith was signed as a defensive cover for Mike Balson and Jimmy Giles. Keith's signature has released John Newman from his role as a cover for these players so he can concentrate more on the managerial side.

DICK PLUMB
Height 6ft.
Weight 11 stone
Dick was born at Swindon and previously played for Bristol Rovers, Yeovil and Charlton. It was at Yeovil that Dick earned himself his goal scoring reputation. final season (1969-70) he bagged no fewer than 24 Southern League goals. Dick left Yeovil for Charlton where he made 32 appearances and scored 10 goals in his 2-year stay. 

SATURDAY 22nd JULY 1972.

YOUNG FANS SAVE CLUB MORE THAN £1,000.

A group of young City fans have saved the Fourth Division club more than £1,000 and as a result they will bring brighter viewing to the supporters of St James' Park in the coming season, The supporters, members of the St James' Park choir have spent the close season painting the popular side stand, part of the main stand, and some parts of the ground. They have been at the ground nearly every night of the week, and most weekends. They have completed the work at a cost of about £200. The club say that has saved them at least £1,000. After the painting had been completed the club offered each member of the group a free season ticket. Following a meeting between the group of supporters, they decided to turn down the club's offer saying that they thought the club needed the money, so Exeter City have provided them with a sum of money instead for a celebration night out which will include a dinner, Director Wally Rice said that these youngsters had been criticised in the past for their exhuberance on a number of occasions, now they have probably made one of the greatest contributions to Exeter City in their history.

THURSDAY 27th JULY 1972.

NOW KEITH PARSONS IS IN CHARGE OF THE RESERVES.

Keith Parsons, 29, an Exmouth printer, has been appointed to take charge of Exeter City's reserve side during the coming sason, City manager John Newman announced the appointment today and said that Parsons would be trainer coach of the side. This will be on a part time basis and he will be travelling with the reserve team on Saturday to Falmouth Town where they have a pre season friendly. Parsons began his soccer career with Exeter City about 10 years ago as an amatuer. He played for their Western League side and then had 7 years with Taunton Town, where he had a benefit, Last season he played for Exmouth Town, Origianlly Bob Bearpark had been appointed to run the City reserve team, but he has now turned down the appointment due to his commitments at St Lukes College.

Pre-Season Friendlies and events. 

SATURDAY 29th JULY 1972. CRUCIAL PENALTY SHOULD NOT HAVE COUNTED. FRIENDLY.

YEOVIL TOWN 2. EXETER CITY 1,
Scorers
Yeovil Myers, Brown,
Exeter Scott,

The soccer season proper is just under a fortnight away, but already some Exeter City supporters have a controversial incident to talk about following the first of the club's pre-season friendlies. It happened in the 70th minute when Jimmy Giles brought down Brown, and quite rightly a penalty was awarded, Was it right though to allow the penalty to stand, once Myers had taken it and scored? Myers stopped midway through his run up, sending Bob Wilson the wrong way, and then placed the ball into the other side of the net. Surely this was ungentlemanly conduct? The City players protested, but the referee allowed the goal to stand," Exeter were ahead at half time, but collectively City's performance went down in the second half against a determined Yeovil side, Tony Scott opened the scoring in the 34th minute, only for Brown to equalise a minute after the interval with his first touch of the ball after coming on as substitute, Then came the winning goal from Myers, who had seen a first half penalty saved brilliantly by Wilson. 

FALMOUTH SWAMP THE RESERVES. FRIENDLY.

FALMOUTH TOWN 6,
EXETER CITY RESERVES 0.

Scorers Falmouth Yorke 2, Aitken, Etheridge, Scott, Thompson,

Falmouth Town's experience and all found ability carried them clear to a good win over a young City reserve side. Exeter held their own for the opening 30 minutes, but then Falmouth took over, With four newcomers in their side Falmouth took a 32nd minute lead through Aitken, Just before half time Etheridge added a second goal from a free kick. Any hopes Exeter might have had of saving the game was wiped out completely in the second half, when in a 10 minute spell Falmouth scored four times.

EXETER CITY v WATFORD
Tuesday August 1st 1972. 

GREAT SCOTT BUT CITY MUST ADD THE FINISH.

EXETER CITY 1, Wilson; Crawford, Blain; Parker, Giles, Balson; Scott, Morrin, Binney, Neale, Gibson,
WATFORD 3,

Scorers
Exeter Neale,
Watford Keen 2, Wigg.

Attendance 1,442.

Tony Scott, a partner in an Exeter butchers business, is rapidly carving his initial deep in the hearts of many Exeter City supporters, He delighted the St James' Park fans with his tricky runs down the left wing and his superb crosses which time after time had the Watford defence running frantically in all department. But it takes more than one man to make a team, and sadly City were lacking in the finishing. Watford went ahead after 11 minutes when a free kick from just outside the box was cracked home by Keen, One of Scott's tantalising crosses led to to John Neale striking the equaliser, Another free kick led to Keen making it 2-1 just after the interval, and although Exeter made most of the running for the rest of the half, it was Bob Wilson who mishandled in the 84th minute that gave Wigg the chance to tap the ball into an empty net.

Exeter City v A Chelsea X1
Thursday August 3rd 1972.


CREDITABLE DISPLAY BY CITY RESERVES. FRIENDLY

EXETER CITY RESERVES 0.

Steve Briggs, Geoff Snell, Chris Skinner; Hedley Steele, Barclay Chalmers, Graham Mustard; Peter Heppell, Bobby Hodge, Kevin Hartnell, Mike Densham, Graham Brown,

CHELSEA X1 1,

Team 
Sherwood; Locke, Hinton, Lawrence, Perkins (Wilkins), Britton, R. Brown, Brolly, B. Bason, Stanley (D. Gradi), J. Davis.

Scorer: Stanley.

Attendance

City reserves continued their build up towards the re-introduction into Western League football in the coming season with an encouraging performance against Chelsea, Although beaten, it was a creditable display in only their second game together, and particularly as they faced a more experienced team that included Marvin Hinton, and several youth and schools internationals, Chelsea had much more of the game territorially, but Exeter stuck to their task well and worked hard, 17 year old Steve Briggs stood out in particular and Graham Mustard's experience of Western League football often showed up. Chelsea did not score their winning goal until the 80th minute when Brown netted,

EXETER CITY v CARDIFF CITY. 
Saturday August 5th 1972.

Exeter City 1, Cardiff 0

After having conceded five goals in the opening two friendlies, one of the most pleasing factors for Exeter City's manager, John Newman, in the third game was probably the "no goals against" tag after 90 minutes.
Exeter, in fact, went one better at St. James' Park on Saturday night, and beat Cardiff City 1-0. So now, the readjustments that are being made in the Exeter side seem to be beginning to fit together. The defence looked tighter and more organised, although there were one or two anxious moments. Up front, though, more than one oppor tunity was again missed.

Express & Echo, Exeter