MANY thanks to Julian Gebler for his entertaining article last week. To be playing football at 60 must be a record or a big fib! Either way, well done. My problem is remembering if I’ve already written something previously!

Michael Mills

Most young people in the late 1950’s will recall the Mills family, who originally came from North Tawton to live in Crediton.

Their dad Ralph was a railway signalman at North Tawton (lot of good footballers from there) but following his transfer to Crediton Station the family moved to Crediton.

Eldest son Michael was a keen footballer and also a very athletic runner and played for Crediton First team at 15 years of age.

Mike eventually joined the RAF where he spent 25 years before joining the police force in Exeter.

He is a keen supporter of Exeter City and with his brother Dave (yes ex-Postie Dave!) has a season ticket at St James’ Park.

Younger brother Graham now lives in Australia and sister Angela is in Exmouth.

The Crediton Chronicle match report below, which Mike has kept for nearly 65 years and sent to me recently, was of his first senior men’s game.

Crediton Chronicle report

Magnificent recovery by Crediton - August 31, 1957

Crediton United did well to take two points from Alphington last Saturday in their opening game of the season played at home winning by three goals to two.

Mills, the United’s new outside right, tested Bradford the visitors ‘keeper which he did well to save.

Hall, the visitor’s centre forward, just missed the post and hit the side netting from close in, and shortly afterwards skimmed the far post with an angled shot.

Atkins saved well from Abrahams who shot across the goal area towards Hall, who was unmarked, Atkins cut it off.

VISITORS SCORE

Hall put the visitors in front when he pounced on a ball that beat Clark and ran on, to place his shot well clear of Atkins.

Matten went close when he shot on the run and skimmed the crossbar.

Atkins saved well when he came out to gather a high ball off Bunce’s head. Tutty, another newcomer to Crediton, went close when he shot on the run but the ball went over the bar with the ‘keeper well beaten.

Shortly after Rowe took a long shot but Bradford was there to save.

ANOTHER GOAL

After about 15 minutes of ding-dong battle in the second half, Pill took a chance in slamming in a corner clearance.

Stevens, not hearing Atkins’ call to leave the ball, went up and missed the ball completely. With Atkins unsighted the ball went into the net in the corner.

Gorrett went on to the wing after he had twisted his ankle, and his shot from far out near the touchline went just over the bar. Bradford did well to hold Hennig’s drop shot from the far post, but could not hold a second drop-shot from the same player, and, when he fumbled and dropped it Mills moved like a streak to slam it home.

HOMESTERS PRESS

The home side now had their tails up and sent Rowe up into the forward line.

This move paid off because Hennig had been lying too far back as centre-forward. A lovely cross by Gorrett was headed home by Matten to even the score, and a little while later Rowe headed in a corner taken by Hennig.

LEAD HELD

For the last seven minutes the United held grimly to their slender lead. In the many times the homesters have met Alphington this is the first time they have beaten them. The youngsters put up a grand show.

Crediton: Atkins, Finning, Stevens, Rowe, Clark, Gorrett, Mills, Vodden, Hennig, Tutty and Matten. Alphington: Bradford, Pike, Aplin, Pill, Jarrett, Howard, Bedford, Hall, Abrahams and Bunce, (only 10 players listed!).

(According to the Club’s Minute Book’s record for that game,receipts and expenditures for the game were: Collection £2-11-0d, Draw takings £2-2-8d Expenses - Referee 8/11d Cigarettes 3/10d (Draw prize) Oranges 9d).

The report was probably written by Pat Head.