Following on from the death of Dermot Curtis, the club is sad to have to report that Cecil Smyth has passed away.

Smyth, like Curtis, was a member of the Grecians' 1964 promotion team, and was one of several players who was signed from Irish clubs in the early 60s, having moved from Distillery to link up with the Grecians in August 1962.

The Belfast-born player quickly made a first team breakthrough making his Football League debut against Brentford at Griffin Park in September 1962. After that he was pretty well a permanent member of the City first team and in 1963-64 missed just two matches as Exeter clinched promotion to the Third Division. The City defence almost picked itself that season, with Alan Barnett in goal, Smyth and Les MacDonald the full-backs, whilst Arnold Mitchell, Keith Harvey and Des Anderson filled the half-back slots.

Smyth only scored once for Exeter, so it was fitting that it proved to be the winner in a 1-0 home win over York City in October 1963. He went on to total 273 league appearances for the Grecians before making the short move to Torquay United in August 1969 for what seemed a bargain fee of £2,500..

However, he never recaptured the sort of form he had so consistently displayed with Exeter and only made 23 league outings for the Plainmoor club before being released. He was to later return to St James' Park where he played a number of reserve team matches using his vast experience to help nurture the younger players in the side.

Smyth was a quick tackling full-back, who had knack of recovering in an instant,and rolling over into a ball before standing upright again.

After retiring from playing he worked for the Prison Service in Exeter.

It is another sad loss for the club and all who knew him and, again, our condolences go to Cec's family and friends.

CECIL SMYTH (4th May 1941 - 7th November 2008)