Wilf Carter was brought to St James' Park by manager Jack Edwards in the summer of 1964. His goalscoring reputation and experience was to be vital as Exeter City commenced what was their first season outside of the bottom division in the Football League. The Grecians had won promotion the previous April  - the first league honour in their history.

Carter had scored a sackful of goals with neighbours Plymouth Argyle. It was hoped that he would continue to find the back of the net, playing alongside City legend Alan Banks. Unfortunately, the partnership was cut short when Banks sustained a broken leg, and Carter was never able to produce the same goalscoring consistency for the City.

Our featured photograph shows Wilf signing a contract for Exeter City, watched by secretary, Keith Honey (left) and manager Jack Edwards (right). Honey was later to become secretary at Southampton for many years. Edwards, who had taken over the reigns at St James' Park in May 1963 eventually left the city in January 1965 due what he described as "internal squabbling" which was later denied by the board of directors.

Edwards moved to Torquay United, where he took over as trainer, the position he had previously held at the Park prior to becoming manager. However, he then had the opportunity to become manager of Torquay as well between October 1971 and January 1973. He completed the Œhat-trick' of Devon clubs by going to Plymouth Argyle in 1973, along with then Exeter boss, Bobby Saxton, but not before another spell at City where he was trainer and then caretaker manager.

Carter, born in Wednesbury, West Midlands, started his career with West Bromwich Albion in 2951, but it wasn't until he moved to Devon and linked up with Plymouth Argyle that he really became a force to be reckoned with. In his first season at Home Park - 1957-58 - he hit 26 league goals. And by the time he had made the short move to Exeter, Carter had scored 148 league and cup goals in 274 appearances for the Pilgrims.

His debut for City came on the opening day of the season, 22nd August 1964, when he played his part in a 4-2 home win over Peterborough United, watched by a huge attendance of 10,218, many of whom had come to celebrate Exeter's arrival in the Third Division.

Carter's first goal for the Grecians followed a week later as City lost 2-1 at Grimsby Town. And that was followed a week later by another, but once again Exeter lost - this time 2-3 at home to Mansfield Town.

After an initial run in the first team, Carter lost his first team place, and was then in and out of the side, including a spell playing at left-half for the final couple of games of the season. In total he had made 26 league appearances and scored four goals.

The following season proved to be bad one for the Grecians as they struggled for most of the time and eventually ended up in 22nd spot, thus being relegated back to the Fourth Division.

Once more Carter started the season of in the first team, but then missed the middle segment, before returning again towards the end of the campaign. For a player who had scored so regularly prior to joining the City, it was perhaps surprising that he only found the target twice in a season where he made 22 league starts, although to be fair he was playing in a side which had lost it's way and confidence.

Carter became one of a number of players released at the end of a very disappointing season for the club as a whole, and later joined Southern League Bath City.