EXETER CITY F. C. ("THE GRECIANS")

Season 1911-1912

At the end of last season the directors of the Exeter City olub had to face a very dark outlook, the income not having been sufficient to leave any money for summer wages. It will be remembered that one proposal was that none should be paid, and that no players should be signed on till near the approach of the present campaign. However, this idea was scouted, and it was decided to place the matter frankly before the public. At a well-attended meeting nearly £100 was promised towards summer wages, and nearly another hundred has subscribed. since been

But the difficulties did not end there. The playing pitch at St. James's Park was a few feet short of the required dimensions for cup-ties, which was one cause of the financial stress, F.A. cup engagements that were drawn at home having to take place on the grounds of the opposing clubs. Efforts to secure a strip of the adjoining field at the far end of the ground were unsuccessful; the owner would sell all or none. Negotiations were opened for the acquirement of the Rugby ground at the other end of the city, but these were not followed up, for the sportsmanlike reason that it would mean the ousting of the very old-established Exeter Rugby Club from its historic home.

Then Mr Duke, the member of Parliament for the city, came to the rescue, and through his good offices the club have been able to add twenty feet to the length of their ground by means. of the before-mentioned field. Mr Duke was asked to nominate someone to represent him on the board of directors, and his choice fell on Mr F.G.Hill, who has for years done yeoman service for the soccer game in Exeter. 

Naturally, the directors now view the coming season in a very optimistic spirit, although Mr Arthur Chadwick during his annual pilgrimage to the North secured only four new players, Fort, of Atherton, Lockett, of Nottingham Forest, Cornan, of Nelson and Aston Villa, and Rutter, of Barnsley. Whilst not actually stronger in playing strength, the team will, it is confidently anticipated, do better than last season. Eleven of last year's players have been retained.

It is, indeed, all important that Exeter City should do well. The club has been in the limelight with a vengeance this summer. First there was the talk of a new ground, and the fate of St. James's Park as the home of the club hung in the balance; there were pathetic protestations of love for the old home, and away over the bridge at St. Thomas's gentle beckonings to another nest. We know how that all ended.

F.A.Cup Rules Altered.

Then came the fight for the alteration of the Cup rules, and Mr Pengelly's pilgrimage North, South, and East, to the members of the F. A. Rules Revision Committee. His persuasions won the day. For the first time in football history a radical change was made in the Cup rules, and Exeter City were free, if they chose, to hire the County Ground or any other ground they thought advisable for the playing of Cup-ties. It seemed then that the curtain was rung down, and that excitement, changes, reforms, and possibilities were at an end until the month of September. But again, conjecture was wrong. Changes in a world with which football concerns itself not had their sequel in the biggest reform of all, for the city's member of Parliament, Mr H.E.Duke, had stepped into the breach, and by practical assistance of a kind for which the club had often sought, and sought in vain, had rendered possible the extens ion of the pitch, the enlargement of the grandstand, increased accommodation for spectators, and a vast improvement to the ground generally.

Mr Duke's Timely Action.

Suffice it to say that Mr Duke came to the club's aid when no one else was ready or willing, and speaking solely from the sport point of view, no one can deny that he has earned the gratitude of all followers of the football game in the Devon capital. Mr Duke has, by his timely action, immensely improved the outlook of Exeter City Football Club, and relieved the directors of an anxiety which had hung over them like a cloud, for a long time.

Exeter City stands, therefore, at the threshold of what should prove a new era in its affairs, and for that reason interest in the coming season's doings will be much more acute than public interest has ever been.

New Players.

As to the new players, Fort has undoubtedly a big future before him. He is another edition of Edwin Jones, both in physique and method, and he will not let the side down if he is called upon to partner either Evans or Coates in the first team. Arthur Chadwick has always been very fortunate in the backs he has secured, and proof of this is furnished in the mere mention of Crelley, Bul cock, Craig, and Jones. Two of these were in the nature of discoveries, and to the list of "new finds" can be added Evans, Coates, and Fort. The last named may yet prove the equal of any of these.

Since the list was issued a fifth new man, Rigby, a half back from Accrington Stanley, has been engaged. His great point is his distribution of the ball, and he is a useful and conscientious wing half, who believes that the essence of half back play is the parting of the ball to advantage.

Of Cornan absolutely nothing has been seen as yet. Soon after his arrival in Exeter he strained his thigh, and the Club doctor advised that the leg should be thoroughly rested in order to effect a complete cure. His enforced idleness is to be regretted, for in some quarters he is regarded as the most likely capture of the lot. He certainly has had more experience than any of the others, and though no doubt the best football of his career was played with Birmingham and Aston Villa, he is still good enough to have been regarded as the second best inside-left in the Lancashire Combination last season. He is not likely to score anything approaching the number of goals that Bell scored, but he is more of an artist than Jimmy was. The game he played against Exeter City in the Cup last year was a revelation to many, for it was his work, his drawing of the defence and subtle passes, which tied up the Grecians' defence in the first half. He is also as good a wing half as he is a forward.

Rutter and Lockett.

The new centre-forward, Rutter, adopts "Tiger" Smith's methods, but without any of the latter's impetuosity and wasted energy. He lies well up near the backs, and the best cannot be got out of him unless someone else does the "carrying" for him. Given the ball often enough he is a dangerous centre, and with any luck at all Rutter ought easily to head the goal list. His passes to the wings are well timed, his footwork decisive and quick, and his shooting good from any angle.

Lockett is a player of the Scottish type. He relies upon cleverness of footwork and close dribbling for his success, but unlike many men who specialise in this department, he is wonderfully quick on the ball and in getting into his stride. Local amateur talent has shown much promise in the trials, and the second team are not likely to suffer a great deal through the fact that more professionals have not been signed on. At the most, another forward and an understudy to Walter Whittaker would be sufficient.

To sum up the whole playing strength of the Grecians, it would appear that the side is likely to prove a trifle better than last year, and the improvement of course, is in the attack. There is no point in making wild prophecies about the League Championship coming to Devon, but it certainly looks as if Exeter City are good enough for the top half of the table this season, a remark which applies also to the other two Western clubs, Plymouth Argyle and Bristol Rovers, both of whom should be stronger than usual.

The New Directors.

A review of the prospects of the Grecians cannot be closed without reference to the new directors, Mr. J.I.Pengelly, Mr. W.Norman, and Mr. F.G.Hill, nominee of Mr. Duke.

Exeter City's Mascot.

Several prominent football clubs have gone in for adopting pet dogs as "mascots". Exeter City are one such club, and the new mascot is a large English sheep-dog called "Laddie", owned by Walt Whittaker.

BIOGRAPHIES: THE NEW PLAYERS

1. FRANK CORNAN.

This clever inside-left, who was not seen in the practice matches owing to strained thigh ligaments sustained in the sprint practice at St. James's Park, has had more experience than any of the newcomers, having played regularly in both First and Second Division English League football. Moreover, the then maximum transfer fee of £350 was at one time paid for him. He was born at Sunderland 28 years ago, and first played football when eighteen years of age, for the Sunderland Black Watch Club, as inside-left. His doings there came to the notice of Barnsley, and he was secured by the Second Division club, and remained with them for three seasons. Then Birmingham paid a transfer for him, and he was left-half, and occasionally forward, for Brum in the Ist Division. The new ground at St. Andrew's was opened while Cornan was there, and he was playing such fine football that Aston Villa came along and paid the maximum £350 for him. For two seasons he remained with the Villa, playing left-half beside Buckley and Logan, and was regularly in the first team. Last season he went to Nelson, and was inside-left in the team which met Exeter City in the last qualifying round of the Cup. The City, it will be remembered, gained a sensational win by 4-3 after being two in arrears up a quarter of an hour of the finish, and it was Cornan's clever and subtle work that day which gave the Grecians' defence such a gruelling time. His methods much impressed Chadwick, but difficulties were in the way of his coming to Exeter owing to the transfer which Aston Villa still held on him, and it was only the Villa' s generous action which enabled Exeter to secure him.

2. JOHN FORT.

The compactly built full-back, John Fort, who will be new to first-class football, was born at Leigh, Lancashire, and has just attained his majority. His first club was a junior one, Plank Lane, Leigh, and for them he played right-half and centre forward. Then Atherton heard of him, and he was signed on by the Lancashire Combination club when 17 years of age. Since then he has always played at back, and he has shown such consistent improvement, especially in 1910-11, that last May one or two clubs beside Exeter were making enquiries with regard to him. Last season he played in 37 Combination matches, and he has always been fortunate in escaping injury. He is a man who takes studious care of himself, and once he gets into the City's Southern League team it will not be his fault if he does not remain there.

3. HARRY LOCKETT.

Lockett, another player who has had experience of First and Second Division football, was born at Market Drayton, Shrop shire, 21 years ago, and as a schoolboy played half-back and forward. His first team after leaving school was Wilmsloe, a Cheshire organisation in the Stockport League. He was 17 years of age when he appeared for them, and for half a season played inside-right. Then along came Crewe Alexandra, and for two years he did duty in the Birmingham League for that club. They won the League Championship in Lockett's first season, and the Cheshire Cup the next. These were Lockett's first seasons as a professional. From Crewe he went to Whitchurch, a Cheshire Combination club, and after half a season with them Bolton Wanderers dangled the English League bait before him, and he found himself among the "top notchers". He was two seasons at Bolton, and in his second year the Wanderers were in Division Two. He first secured his place in the premier team at left half for two matches, then at inside-left for another two, afterwards resuming his old position at inside-right. His bag of goals with Bolton numbered fifteen, and then, last season he was found in the Notts Forest camp, a team which did well until the end of November, and then, falling from grace, did nothing right, eventually being relegated. Lockett played in 27 First Division matches last year, and the fact that he scored but five goals is not to be taken as a reflection upon his form, for he was always rather a skilled forager for others than a goal-getter himself. His quiet and reserved demeanour is accompanied by a cleverness at dribbling and at swerving quite above the ordinary.

4. JAMES RIGBY.

Rigby is another Lancastrian, and he can boast of being one of the earliest football associates of Shepherd, the famous centre-forward of Newcastle United. Rigby was born at Bolton twenty-five years ago, and played as a lad for St. Mark's Sunday School club. This was also Albert Shepherd's first club, and Rigby and he each put in one season with them. Shepherd then went to St. Luke's, while Rigby went to Atherton, the Combination club. He appeared regularly in the first team, playing either right or left-half, then migrated to Accrington Stanley, where he remained, save for one season, until the end of last April. He was 19 when he first signed professional forms at 12s.6d. per week, but both before and since then he has regularly followed his employment as a spinner. During his term with the Stanley they won the Lancashire Combination, and also reached the final of the Lancashire Cup.
The one season he was absent from the Stanley ranks he was with Bolton Wanderers, but the fine form of Gaskell, right half, kept him out of the first team. That year, however, he played for the Wanderers in 33 Combination matches, and headed the list of "most appearances". Two years ago, when Accrington scored a memorable Cup victory over Brentford, it was Rigby who headed through the only goal of the game. He was then playing in the forward line, where he has had experience in both inside positions. Rigby owns a small business in Accrington, which, during his absence in Exeter, will be looked after by his wife and father.

5. ARTHUR RUTTER.

Much will depend upon how Rutter shapes at centre forward. He was born at South Shields, and will be 23 next November. He first took to the game after he left school, playing for South Shields Parkside. At sixteen he signed for them as a professional at five shillings a match, and was always the centre forward. After five years' football at South Shields he was secured by Bradford City, and in his one season there played in three First Division matches at centre, inside right, and inside left. Lintott, the old St. Luke's College skipper, was captain of Bradford at that time, and against Newcastle United Rutter was inside to the famous International, Dicky Bond, with Jack Duffy, last year at Exeter, at centre-half behind them. After that season Rutter went back to South Shields, but in a couple of months Barnsley came along and paid Bradford City a transfer for him. On November 19th last he took Lillycrop's place at centre in the Barnsley team, and from then to the end of the campaign played in 28 Second Division matches, scoring ten goals. Things were no bed of roses at Barnsley last year, however, for the side had been in the Final of the Englush Cup the year before, whereas last season nothing came right for them, and dissentions in the camp made matters worse. Rutter was offered terms to stay last April, but declined. "Bradford I liked", is his explanation, "but at Barnsley I was never really comfortable". His biggest crop of goals in one season was 38 at South Shields, but his best year was at Bradford, when he scored 30 goals for the City Reserves in the Midland League.

"Tiger" Smith, last year's centre-forward, has been transferred to Burnley. Bell has moved from Portsmouth to Barrow-in-Furness, and Johnson, Exeter's centre half three years ago, has joined Leeds City.

Other staff and Amateur's 

Manager: Mr A. Chadwick.

Trainer: Mr J.Banks.
Secretary: Mr S.H. Thomas.

Ground and offices: St. James's Park. Colours: Red and white vertical stripes, white knickers.

Amateurs: T.H.Bailey, J.Chapman, C.Drew, J.Heppell, T.R.Kent, W. Martin, R. Oliver, A.Pym, C. White.

Practice match, August 19th, at St. James' Park. Teams :

GREENS:-
W.Whittaker; Evans, Coates; Bassett, Pratt, Prideaux; E. Whittaker, Drew, Bailey, Chenneour, Hoar.
WHITES:- Chapman; Fort, White; Letheren, Griffiths, Martin; Garside, Lockett, Rutter, Watson, Parnell.


Saturday, August 26th 1911.
EXETER CITY'S FINAL PRACTICE
Red and Whites v. Greens

The final practice match of Exeter City first team players drew a crowd of 3,000 to St. James's Park. Cornan was still an absentee, it being decided to give the strained thigh ligament which he sustained at sprint practice a further rest, with a view to his being able to take the inside-left position at Watford next week. "Peggy" Evans was also an absentee with a strained ankle, but there is every likelihood of his going to Watford. Rigby, the new half-back, arrived from Accrington during the week, and was given the right-half position in the Red and Whites. Kent is now following his scholastic profession at Slough, and was not asked to come down for any of the practice matches. Pym, of Topsham, and Hoar, of St. Thomas's, got their places owing to the form they displayed in amateur practices. Pym is a tall lad with a very promising idea of custodianship, while Hoar is a slightly built winger, who did one or two good things last Saturday. When the teams came out it was seen that Bassett was right half for the Red and Whites, and Rigby took his place with the Greens. Teams :

RED & WHITES:

Whittaker (W)
 Evans Coates
Bassett Pratt Prideaux
Whittaker (E) Drew Bailey Chenneour Hoar

Garside Lockett Rutter Watson Parnell
Griffiths Martin Rigby
White Fort
Pym
GREENS:

The game was won by the Red and Whites, whose team was made up of the Probable defence and the Possible attack, the Greens of course being vice versa. The score was 3-1, which would suggest that the Grecians' defence will be better than its attack. Too much importance, however, is not to be placed on these games, and they have come to be regarded less and less in the light of form. Indeed, but for the charitable purposes they serve, it is more than probable that most clubs would abolish them altogether, for they are very often the causes, through injuries, of a club starting a season under a big handicap. For example, Rutter and Enos Whittaker were both injured in this game. Lockett has quickly "taken on" with the crowd, and he certainly shaped very well indeed, although he could have put the ball through to Rutter more frequently than he did. He is beautifully fast on the leather, and whenever there is a ghost of a chance in the offing he is there. Rutter had not a great many chances, but he sustained an injury in the first half, and this tended to slow him down and put him off his game. Fort, playing against the first team attack, was a splendid success, whilst Rigby put in a lot of sound work in a quiet way without attracting much notice. Time after time he pushed the ball along the carpet to Watson in classical style. Kent  who came down on holiday, turned out for the Red and Whites in place of Drew, and scored one of the goals. Bailey, who has made a vast improvement since last season, scored the other two, but Watson, for the Greens, netted the best goal of the match.