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When war was declared on 4 August 1914, Exeter’s football team was a boat in the Atlantic. The team had just played Brazil and 15 players were sailing back from a tour in South America and the ship was shot at. All were to serve in World War One and all were to survive.

The touring team of Exeter City FC was a thankful team. But while some returned to football after the war, and even played for England, others would never play again.

The club did lose men. Exeter’s amateur players were the first to enlist and to die (the captain of the 1913/14 season George White was the very first). But the ‘tourists’ – those who had played in Brazil, were all to survive the conflict.

The first player of the touring team to sign up was Fred Goodwin. He was to be joined by other members of the team which played Brazil in the summer of 1914. He would not play football after the war, nor would his teammate Bill Smith. Both were injured in battle.

Sam Strettle served at Ypres, won the military medal and returned to football in 1919.

Local player, fisherman and goalkeeper Dick Pym would serve with the Devon regiment and then play for England after the war.

Location: St James Park, Exeter EX4 6PX
Photograph of the team playing in Brazil 1914 courtesy of Paul Farley from Exeter City FC

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