From our archives – May 31, 2007

DOWN but not out! Exeter St James have no plans to fold despite pulling out of the Francis Clark Devon League.

St James, founded in 1875, reached a crisis point last Saturday when a shortage of available players meant they could not put out a 2nd XI and only had the bare minimum to honour the first-team game against Barnstaple & Pilton.

The club had got into difficulties for a number of reasons, among them players joining other clubs, dissatisfaction with the facilities at their Topsham ground and the problem of having student members away at college and unable to get back on Saturday afternoons.

Following the game against Barnstaple, six more players announced they were leaving the club, which sounded their death knell as a Devon League team.

Initially, an emergency meeting was planned for Tuesday night in an attempt to save the club's league status. A quick count of heads beforehand proved the exercise was pointless and the meeting was cancelled.

On of the conditions of league membership at B Division level and above is that clubs have to field a first and a second team. St James probably could have soldiered on with just one XI, but had no prospect of getting two sides out and resigned from the league.

For St James secretary David Gambie, who is also chairman of the Francis Clark Devon League, it was an embarrassing decision but one which could not be avoided.

Gambie was at great pains when we spoke to emphasis that St James will carry on fielding sides in the Instant Office South Devon League on Sunday and the Bradleys East Devon Youth League for the rest of the season.

Longer term the future is a little less clear, but Gambie said shutting the club would be the last resort.

The remaining club members met on Friday night to discuss the options open to them and went away to work on their survival plans.

Said Gambie: 'A sub-committee has been set up and will report back at the end of July having gone through the options open to us.

'It is possible we could merge with another of the clubs on our doorstep, which could have its attractions for both parties.

'We have a thriving youth section and a lease on our ground until 2016, but not enough players. A club with no youth section and uncertainties over its ground might want to talk to us.

'Possibly we could become a feeder club to one of the larger ones in the area. I know that's something Bovey Tracey have tried to do with smaller teams near them.

'Perhaps we will have to fold, but that's the one option we aren't really interested in pursuing.'

St James were first formed in 1875, reformed in 1887 as a bible study team playing at what became Exeter City's home ground at St James Park, and has played continuously at various venues around the city since 1896, when it was reconstituted for a third time.

The club has led a nomadic existence over the years. It started off at St James Park, which was sold to Exeter City for £7 10s in 1904, then played at Clifton Hill, Stoke Hill and Heavitree between 1905-1938.

From 1939 to 1966 St James played their games at Wonford House, the site of which was redeveloped as the Royal Devon & Exeter Hospital. Digby mental hospital was the club's base from 1967-1986, followed by two seasons sharing with the now-defunct Exe Vale CC at Exminster Hospital.

St James joined the Devon League in 1984. The moved to Topsham in 1990 and have played their home games there ever since.