Post by Budleigh on Jan 4, 2010 21:38:12 GMT
Played at St. James' Park on the evening of the 17th of October 1967 this was a benefit match for Cecil Smyth, who was to become a player for United in the near future but was playing for Exeter City at this time. After transferring to Torquay for £2,500 in August 1969 he played 25 games for United but was never able to reproduce the form he showed in City’s colours. He died on the 7th of November 2008.
This is a two-part game played by an Exeter City ex-professional team against their counterparts from Torquay United, followed by a further game between Exeter City and a Select XI.
Did they play 45 minutes for each game, making a whole? Or did they actually play two full games, albeit probably reduced in time? Considering kick-off was 7.30 I’m assuming it was one of these and not two full ninety minute games.
Most of the United ex-professionals need no introduction with most having played for the club in the late forties and fifties, with the exception of our manager Frank O’Farrell and Jack Edwards, our first team coach. Did anyone see this game and the chance to watch our esteemed boss actually play in a Torquay United side? Was it a regular thing for this team to play these games?
The Exeter City line-up has a special player for me, Graham Rees, who but for the flip of a coin would’ve been my Godfather being one of my Father’s best friends. (As it was, another of their group, John Portley, owner of The Quay Club & Tiffany’s took that dubious honour being a member of the band both Dad and he played in, The Crescent City Stompers). This then leads onto another part of the programme, the advert for The Ship Inn which was owned by another of their crowd, Bert Hoyle, ex-Wolves, Exeter City and Bristol Rovers player. Then playing in the Select XI was Alan Banks of Plymouth Argyle but formerly of City and very soon to be reunited with his team mates at St James’s Park, and who was to become another member of that group of Exeter businessmen. All names so familiar to me as they all frequently visited our house in the mid and late sixties. Sort of begs the question as to why I support United and not City?!
There were a number of familiar faces in all the line-ups including Theo Foley & Nicky Jennings in the Select XI and Cliff Huxford in the Exeter City team who played most of his football for Southampton & Chelsea. That Exeter City team also included most of the players who were to feature in a notorious City game away at Brentford less than a month later, a match that was lost 5-1 after John Smout conceded a goal after 53 seconds. A team that included the homesick & homecoming Banks.
Also playing is Ernie Wilkinson who has a connection of sorts with Torquay United being that in the Fourth Division match against Barnsley on the 16th of November 1966, which was lost 3-0, he became the first Exeter City player to be substituted in a league game at St. James’ Park being replaced by our future player, Bruce Stuckey.
This is a two-part game played by an Exeter City ex-professional team against their counterparts from Torquay United, followed by a further game between Exeter City and a Select XI.
Did they play 45 minutes for each game, making a whole? Or did they actually play two full games, albeit probably reduced in time? Considering kick-off was 7.30 I’m assuming it was one of these and not two full ninety minute games.
Most of the United ex-professionals need no introduction with most having played for the club in the late forties and fifties, with the exception of our manager Frank O’Farrell and Jack Edwards, our first team coach. Did anyone see this game and the chance to watch our esteemed boss actually play in a Torquay United side? Was it a regular thing for this team to play these games?
The Exeter City line-up has a special player for me, Graham Rees, who but for the flip of a coin would’ve been my Godfather being one of my Father’s best friends. (As it was, another of their group, John Portley, owner of The Quay Club & Tiffany’s took that dubious honour being a member of the band both Dad and he played in, The Crescent City Stompers). This then leads onto another part of the programme, the advert for The Ship Inn which was owned by another of their crowd, Bert Hoyle, ex-Wolves, Exeter City and Bristol Rovers player. Then playing in the Select XI was Alan Banks of Plymouth Argyle but formerly of City and very soon to be reunited with his team mates at St James’s Park, and who was to become another member of that group of Exeter businessmen. All names so familiar to me as they all frequently visited our house in the mid and late sixties. Sort of begs the question as to why I support United and not City?!
There were a number of familiar faces in all the line-ups including Theo Foley & Nicky Jennings in the Select XI and Cliff Huxford in the Exeter City team who played most of his football for Southampton & Chelsea. That Exeter City team also included most of the players who were to feature in a notorious City game away at Brentford less than a month later, a match that was lost 5-1 after John Smout conceded a goal after 53 seconds. A team that included the homesick & homecoming Banks.
Also playing is Ernie Wilkinson who has a connection of sorts with Torquay United being that in the Fourth Division match against Barnsley on the 16th of November 1966, which was lost 3-0, he became the first Exeter City player to be substituted in a league game at St. James’ Park being replaced by our future player, Bruce Stuckey.
There's an advert to taken out by bookmaker Dave Pipe ~ father of legendary trainer Martin Pipe and "granfur" of David Jnr the current Master of Pond House!