1964 Exeter City Squad Signatures

This collection of signatures features 12 of the men who delivered Exeter City FC’s first ever promotion in 1964. City fans had been starved of league success since entering the Third Division South in 1920. In fact just two years earlier the club had almost gone out of business altogether.

Changing fortunes

The fortunes of Exeter seem to have turned based on two appointments. The first was the promotion of trainer, Jack Edwards, to the managerial role, while the second was his purchase of striker Alan Banks, who would go on to net 18 goals in his debut campaign. With the extra fire power of Banks, Edwards also put together one of City’s best ever defensive line-ups, which included Alan Barnett in goal, Cecil Smyth and Les MacDonald at full-back, and Keith Harvey, Des Anderson, and inspirational captain Arnold Mitchell at half-back. In all only Champions Gillingham would concede less than City.

A historic promotion

Having beaten Chesterfield 6-1 at SJP in the penultimate match, the goalless draw away to Workington on the last day was all that was needed to secure City’s historic promotion. I’ll bet that none of the men on this object, nor those who met them as they returned to St David’s Station at 7am in the morning, will ever forget it!

This article was originally published as part of the Grecian Archive’s ‘History of the City in 24 Objects‘. More information about the Grecian Archive can be found on their website.