Exeter City F.C.'s 1914 tour of South America

[1] In February 1914, The Herald reported that City had agreed to "£20 for each member of the party with first class return fare and all hotel and travelling expenses for account of the AFA" to go on tour, the same terms offered to Tottenham Hotspur.

According to the AFA's minute book for the meeting of 26 February 1914, the item heading 'Team Exeter City' replaced that which had read 'Team de Inglaterra'.

[1] Club chairman Michael McGahey, directors Fred Parkhouse and George Middleweek (who paid for his own trip) and their wives, and fifteen players set sail in May 1914.

[3] The boat trip to Argentina lasted three weeks, stopping off at Vigo, Madeira, Rio de Janeiro, Santos and Montevideo along the way.

[1] Some sources suggest that City had originally only planned to play friendlies in Argentina, with the fixtures in Brazil being organised while the club were on tour.

McGahey was introduced to two Fluminense officials, Mário Pernambuco (of the Ground Committee) and Marcondes Ferraz (a board member), who, together with Harry Robinson, suggested that City break their return trip in Rio by staying five days and playing three matches.

After City left Rio for Santos, Paysandu and Fluminense directors met to establish dates and prepared the offer of a contract.

We accordingly all boarded a tram-car, with the sergeant and policeman in charge of us and the fellow who had complained.Once both sides had been heard, the 'Commissioner of Police' dismissed the complaint and the travelling party made it to the ship in time.

This game was marred by a bizarre incident however, as when City took the lead Racing Club's secretary threatened the referee with a revolver, attempting to persuade him to send off Lagan (who had kicked Ochoa in the stomach, meaning he had to be carried off).

However, the Rosario League Committee had not been consulted and refused to accept the arrangements, resenting the fact that their game would be the day after one of the main fixtures of the tour and claiming that City would not be able to produce their best form.

This game saw many changes to City's XI, with trainer Charlie Pratt having to play in goal due to an injury to Dick Pym and Reg Loram having influenza.

[1] Newspapers in Argentina were left disappointed with City's performances during the tour, Tribuna describing them as "the most mediocre team of professionals sent out by the FA from the home of football", and the Buenos Aires Herald complaining that the Grecians were not "sufficiently superior".

[1] When the idea of playing three extra matches was discussed with McGahey on 8 June, what Harry Robinson and the Fluminense officials had in mind were games involving players based in Rio de Janeiro.

It was at this point that the Liga Metropolitana approached the APEA with the proposal that the Brasileiros and Estrangeiros games include Paulista players.

Harry Welfare had put the hosts 3-1 ahead, at which point City became more physical, something which was criticised by the Correio da Manhã.

[8] Talking about the trip, then club captain Scot Bennett said: "I know bits and bobs, I've read a lot in the newspapers recently, learning what the game was all about, with Exeter playing Brazil a hundred years ago and being the first team to do that.

A sickness bug within the camp meant then manager Paul Tisdale had to name himself on the bench for the club's opening game of the season against Portsmouth.