The Day City were Thrashed 9-0.

The game was played on 16th October 1948. The Grecians travelled to Meadow Lane to face Notts County. City were riding high in the table in 3rd place. With Tommy Lawton in their team, the Magpies were free-scoring, having already dispatched Ipswich Town 9-2 some 5 weeks earlier.

Tommy Lawton was some signing for the Division 3(s) team. He’d shocked the footballing world by moving to County for £20,000, attracted by the manager Arthur Stollery. In his career with Notts County he scored 103 goals in 166 appearances, and helping the Club to promotion to Division 2. Lawton was also capped for England, scoring 22 goals in 23 games. It was Tommy Lawton that was to wreck havoc on the Exeter City defence.

City lined up: 1 Hoyle. 2 Johnstone. 3 Rowe. 4 Bartholomew. 5 Walker. 6 Evans. 7 Dymond. 8 Harrower. 9 Smith. 10 Mackay. 11 Hutchings. 37647 in attendance.

Tommy Lawton scored 4 of the 9 goals that Saturday afternoon. A devastating 12 minutes in the 2nd half where County scored 6 goals, Jackie Sewell and Tommy Lawton 3 each, that caused all the damage.

This game is still the record defeat for the Grecians. A fortnight later City lost 6-0 at Swansea Town.

The reverse fixture in March 1949, the Grecians won 3-1.

Click on the pictures for a better view.