Misplaced Pages

Exeter City

Full name	Exeter City Football Club
Nickname(s)	The Grecians
Founded	1901; 123 years ago (1901) (as St. Sidwell's United)
Ground	St James Park
Capacity	8,720
Owner	Exeter City Supporters' Trust
Chairman	Nick Hawker
Manager	Gary Caldwell
League	EFL League One
2023–24	EFL League One, 13th of 24
Website	www.exetercityfc.co.uk
Home colours Away colours Third colours
Current season

Exeter City Football Club is a professional association football club based in Exeter, Devon, England. The team play in EFL League One, the third level of the English football league system. Known as "the Grecians", the origin of their nickname is subject to speculation and debate. The club is owned by the club's supporters through the Exeter City Supporters' Trust.

Exeter City was founded in 1901 and began playing their games at St James Park, where they remain to this day. They joined Division One of the Southern League in 1904. After a tour of South America in 1914 to generate awareness of football in the continent, the club became the first side to play a national team from Brazil. As a result, City and Brazilian side Fluminense are now also partner clubs. Exeter were invited to help create the Football League Third Division in 1920. They were assigned to the Third Division South the next year and won the Third Division South Cup in 1934. They remained in the division until becoming founder members of the Fourth Division in 1958. They were promoted in 1963–64, only to be relegated after two seasons. They were promoted out of the Fourth Division again at the end of the 1976–77 season and managed to stay in the Third Division for seven seasons before being relegated in 1984.

Exeter won their first league title in the 1989–90 season, gaining promotion as Fourth Division champions under the stewardship of Terry Cooper. Relegated in 1994, they lost their Football League status at the end of the 2002–03 season. They spent five seasons in the Conference and recovered from defeat in the 2007 play-off final to win promotion out of the play-offs the next year. Manager Paul Tisdale built on this success by winning promotion out of League Two in 2008–09 and Exeter survived for three seasons in League One. Returning to League Two in 2012, they have lost in the play-off finals in 2017, 2018 and most recently in 2020, under Matt Taylor. At the end of the 2021–22 season they gained automatic promotion to League One.

History

Early history

Exeter City F.C. was formed from two predecessor clubs, Exeter United F.C. and St Sidwell's United. Exeter United was a football club from Exeter, Devon, that played between 1890 and 1904. In 1904, Exeter United lost 3–1 to local rivals St Sidwell's United and after the match it was agreed that the two clubs should become one. The new team took the name Exeter City and continued to play at Exeter United's ground, St James Park, where Exeter City still play today. Exeter United was formed from the cricket team of the same name and were one of the first football teams with the moniker "United". St Sidwell's United (which had also been known as St Sidwell's Wesleyans and St Sidwell's Old Boys) was a club that had formed from the regulars who frequented the Foresters Inn in Sidwell Street, Exeter, although the public house was always known as the Drum and Monkey. The team played in St Sidwell's old colours of green and white.

On 10 September 1904, Exeter City played its first ever competitive match, a 2–1 victory at St James over 110th Battery of the Royal Artillery, in the East Devon League. The attendance was 600, and the winning goal scored by Sid Thomas, who was to serve the club in various capacities for seventy years. City topped the East Devon League with eleven wins, two draws and one defeat in its first season, and transferred to the Plymouth & District League for next three seasons.In 1908, Exeter City A.F.C. became a limited company. City became a full-time professional team, and applied successfully for membership of the Southern League, replacing Tottenham Hotspur.

A wooden grandstand was erected, and the club entered into a leasing arrangement over the ground. On 3 October 1908, City recorded its record FA Cup win by beating Weymouth 14–0. The match was in the first qualifying round. James "Daisy" Bell scored six goals and ten of the goals came in the first half. City changed to its current colours of red and white in 1910. This was after having had a poor start to the season (only two wins out of eleven). City abandoned its supposedly unlucky green and white kit, and turned out for the first time in red and white striped shirts at home to West Ham United on 12 November. The result of the game was a 0–0 draw, but five consecutive league wins came for the club in December, and the change of colours stuck.

City made an historic tour of South America in 1914, during which time it played eight matches against teams of Argentina and Brazil. The last match on this tour on 21 July 1914 was an encounter with the first Brazil national football team playing under the authority of a national football association, in this case the Federação Brasileira de Sports, precursor of today's Confederação Brasileira de Futebol, founded just the month before. Brazil, featuring its first great star, Arthur Friedenreich, won this match at the Laranjeiras stadium, Rio de Janeiro, home of Fluminense Football Club with 2–0. The tour yielded five wins, one draw and two defeats. The only other loss was in a match that kicked off 12 hours after the players got off the boat. Exeter City were invited by the Football League to become founder members of the Third Division in 1920.

Football League (1920–2003)

City's historic first match in the Football League took place on Saturday 28 August 1920, when Brentford was the visiting team to St James Park. Exeter won 3–0. At the end of the season, the third tier of the League was being geographically divided, thus City was assigned to the Third Division South. In 1931, City reached the sixth round of the FA Cup, losing a replay 4–2 to Sunderland in front of its largest ever home gate. Fifty years later, City reached the sixth round again, but lost 2–0 to eventual winners Tottenham Hotspur. Earlier Exeter had beaten Newcastle United 4–0 having beaten Leicester City in the previous round.

In the 1932–33 season they achieved their highest position in the League, 2nd in the Third Division South, but remained there because at the time only the champions were promoted. It was the closest they ever came to promotion to the second tier of English football. In the 1963–64 season, City achieved their first ever promotion, going up to the Third Division. However, City were relegated just two seasons later. They would remain in the Third Division until 1977, when they achieved promotion under the guidance of Bobby Saxton.

The end of the 1970s and the early 1980s were regarded as City's most successful spell in the Third Division, including an 8th-place finish in 1979–80 and an FA Cup run the following season. Star players included Tony Kellow, John Delve and David Pullar. In 1990, the club won its first major trophy when they won the Fourth Division title. In that season, City won twenty league games at St James Park, and remained undefeated in 31 home matches, including dramatic draws against Norwich City in the FA Cup third round and Sunderland in the League Cup 4th round, both of which featured late equalisers for the visitors. Following that promotion, City rarely shone at the higher level. The departure of manager Terry Cooper and key players such as Shaun Taylor, Richard Dryden, Clive Whitehead, Brian McDermott and Steve Neville left new boss Alan Ball to pick up the pieces. There were some successes under the former World Cup winner — including winning both games against local rivals Plymouth in the clubs' first derbies for a decade in the 1992/93 season—but Ball left for Southampton in January 1994 and the returning Cooper was unable to save Exeter from relegation.

Back in the bottom division, City struggled for nearly a decade, with chairman Ivor Doble taking the club into administration and starting a chain of events that resulted in the sale of the club's ground. In November 1994, the club almost went out of business and sold its stadium to Beazer for £650,000, but were able to stay there after the local council took it over. After nearly two years on the brink of closure, the club came out of administration on 1 August 1996, although the problems on the field were far from over. In 2003, City finished 23rd in Division Three and was relegated to the Conference National; Exeter were the first club to suffer automatic relegation without finishing bottom of the league. City won their last game against Southend United 1–0, but were still relegated as Swansea City's victory over Hull City left the Grecians one point short of safety.

Conference era (2003–2008)

Following relegation to the Conference, the club was taken over by the Exeter City Supporters' Trust, purchasing a majority shareholding on 5 September 2003. In May 2007 two of the Directors who had been in charge during season 2002–2003 were convicted of fraudulent trading at the club, John Russell receiving a prison sentence and Mike Lewis a community service sentence. Several million pounds in debt and with no big investor in sight, the Trust kept the club going through fundraising activities amongst rank-and-file supporters. Complex legal arguments with both the Inland Revenue and football authorities meant that City's first season of non-league football was plagued by off-the-field uncertainty. The claim was finally dropped in June 2004.

In 2004, a Creditors Voluntary Arrangement (CVA) was put in place to reduce the club's debts. Through the club's "Red or Dead" scheme, hundreds of fans pledged at least £500 each to fund the CVA repayments, but the FA Cup proved to be the income boost the Grecians had needed, as City drew Manchester United away in the third round of the FA Cup. City drew 0–0 at Old Trafford in January 2005, gaining £653,511 as City's share of receipts from the 67,511 attendance. Further income from a televised replay — won 2–0 by United — coupled with ongoing fundraising and unpaid work from the club's supporters helped the club to repay its debts, and the CVA was cleared in December 2005.

2004 also saw the club's centenary. In May 2004 a friendly fixture was arranged against a Brazilian masters team at St James Park, a celebration of City's South American tour of 1914. The Brazilian team, containing such notable players as Careca and Dunga, won 1–0. City's first team finished the 2006–07 season in fifth place, qualifying for the play-offs. After beating Oxford United on penalties in the semi-final, City met Morecambe at Wembley in the final, where they lost 2–1 despite taking an early lead. Exeter reached the play-off final in the following season; this time Exeter looked to be heading out of the play-offs after losing the first leg of the semi-final at home to local rivals Torquay United 2–1, but came back to win the second leg 4–1 with three goals in the last 20 minutes. In the final Exeter met Cambridge United in front of a Conference play-off record crowd of 42,511, winning 1–0 with a goal from Rob Edwards, earning promotion to League Two.

Return to the Football League (2008–present)

The club followed its success in the Conference by finishing as runners up to Brentford in League Two. A goal from Richard Logan helped Exeter to win promotion to League One with a 1–0 win away to Rotherham United on the last day of the season. 2009–10 was Exeter's 45th season in the third tier of English football. They have played more seasons in the third tier than any club who have never reached the top two tiers. They survived their first season at this level for sixteen years by one point; an 82nd-minute Ryan Harley goal against Huddersfield Town on the final day of the season saw Exeter overcome the promotion chasers 2–1 and relegated Gillingham in the process.

The club suffered a tragedy on 10 August 2010, days after the start of the 2010–11 season, when striker Adam Stansfield died of cancer aged 31. As a result, their next fixture against Dagenham & Redbridge on 14 August was postponed as a mark of respect. Exeter recovered well, however, and finished 8th in the league that season, one point off a playoff spot. Following such a strong season, hopes were high for the 2011–12 season, but poor away form (with just two wins away from home all season) saw Exeter relegated to League Two. Relegation was confirmed on 28 April 2012, following a 4–1 defeat away to Carlisle United.

The club remains owned by its fans, through the Exeter City Supporters Trust. During the 2012–13 season saw Exeter have a marginally successful season. Exeter set new club record for away wins in a single season, winning 11 of their 23 fixtures away from home, however, Exeter finished 10th. At the end of the 2012–13 campaign, poor funds and lack of income led to an unfortunate squad trim. In the following season, Exeter finished in 16th.

In pre-season, the club went on a short tour in Brazil to commemorate 100 years since they played the Brazil National Football Team. Exeter drew 0–0 against Fluminense under 23's and then beat sides Tupi and a Rio Cricket Club 2–1 and 3–1 respectively. In the 2014–15 FA Cup in the first round, they were beaten 1–0 away to Warrington Town, a club 100 places lower than them at that current point in the season. The Grecians finished tenth in League Two in 2014–15, their play-off push just falling short in the final few weeks. City finished in 14th position in 2015–16, a season that included a memorable 2–2 draw against Premier League Liverpool in the FA Cup.

In the 2016–17 season, City started badly, and were bottom of the league by November. However, a turnaround in form saw Exeter finish 5th in the league, and earn a play-off spot. Following a thrilling 3–3 draw in the first leg of the semi-final at Carlisle, the second leg, tied at 2–2, looked destined to go to extra time. But, in the 95th minute, Jack Stacey's long range shot with his weak foot fired Exeter into the final, earning them a spot at Wembley. The final took place on 28 May, and Exeter faced Blackpool. Their hopes for promotion were shattered when they conceded a goal within 3 minutes, and although they equalised, City eventually lost the game 2–1.

In the 2017–18 season, they reached the play-off final, again being on the losing side, this time against Coventry. On 1 June 2018, Exeter announced that, after 12 years as manager, Paul Tisdale had decided not to sign a new contract with the club, which announced that Matt Taylor, a former captain and Under 23 team coach, had been appointed manager. On 26 April 2022, Exeter gained promotion to the EFL League One following a 2–1 win over Barrow at St James Park and went onto finish the 2021–22 EFL League Two season in second place.

Nickname

The club is nicknamed The Grecians, a name whose origin remains the subject of much speculation. One suggestion is that in 1908 the club voted for the name because of its association with St Sidwells parish. Historically people living in the parish of St Sidwells were said to have been known as "Greeks" or "Grecians". This is possibly due to the parish's location beyond the city walls. For instance, in Homer's epic poem the Iliad the Greek forces laid siege to the walls of Troy. However, perhaps more plausibly, the association arose because of rivalries between city boys and those of St Sidwells during the annual beating the bounds.

It has also been suggested the name derived from a group of children in St Sidwells who were referred to as the 'Greasy Un's'. A further possibility was that it derived from a jeweller's shop in Sidwell Street, close to the ground, which had a clock hanging outside displaying the name 'Grecians' on its face. Yet another theory suggests that it is a corruption of Caerwysg, the Welsh name for Exeter (Caer = fort, Wysg = Exe – fort on the river Exe, similar to the Cornish Karesk). Thus, citizens could have been known as Caer Iscuns and so possibly mutating to Grecians.

Supporters and rivalries

Famous fans

Famous fans include David Earl, Coldplay frontman Chris Martin, Adrian Edmondson, Noel Edmonds, swimmer Liam Tancock, BBC broadcaster James Vickery, Spotlight reporter John Ayres, TV presenter Juliet Morris and Hoosiers drummer Alan Sharland. Singer Joss Stone signed up as a member of the supporters trust, being introduced to fans on the pitch as a new member during a League Cup match against Liverpool.

In 2002 pop singer Michael Jackson was made honorary director of Exeter City. He visited St James Park with celebrity friend Uri Geller, who was also a director. The crew of HMS Defender (D36) also adopted Exeter City as their home team and use their strip when playing games.

Rivalries

A survey conducted by Football Fans Census in 2003 revealed that Exeter City supporters consider their main rival to be Plymouth Argyle. The two clubs first met in a competitive fixture in 1908 when both sides were in the Southern League, and have contested matches intermittently during their histories due to Plymouth Argyle usually being in a higher division. Supporters also share a friendlier rivalry with Torquay United, a club whose supporters view Exeter as their main rival. The two clubs are closer geographically and have met more often during their respective histories, having first played a competitive match in 1927 after Torquay were elected to the Football League. Matches between the three clubs are known as Devon derbies. Despite their on-field rivalry, Torquay helped Exeter during their financial difficulties of 2003 by waiving their gate receipts in a pre-season friendly. This gesture was returned in 2015 when Exeter gave the Gulls their gate receipts as a result of Torquay's financial difficulties, having had to close down their academy and terminate the contract of manager Chris Hargreaves.

Players

Current squad

As of 13 November 2024

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player 1 GK  ENG Joe Whitworth (on loan from Crystal Palace) 2 DF  SCO Jack McMillan 3 DF  ENG Ben Purrington 4 DF  FRA Tristan Crama (on loan from Brentford) 5 DF  ENG Jack Fitzwater 6 MF  ENG Ryan Woods 7 DF  JAM Demetri Mitchell 8 MF  ENG Edward Francis 10 FW  SCO Jack Aitchison 11 FW  IRL Millenic Alli 12 MF  ENG Reece Cole 13 FW  SUR Yanic Wildschut 14 MF  FIN Ilmari Niskanen 15 DF  ENG Johnly Yfeko (on loan from Rangers) 16 FW  WAL Pat Jones 17 MF  AUS Caleb Watts

No. Pos. Nation Player 18 DF  KEN Vincent Harper 19 FW  ENG Sonny Cox 20 MF  ENG Kamari Doyle (on loan from Brighton & Hove Albion) 21 FW  ENG Amani Richards (on loan from Leicester City) 22 GK  ENG Harry Lee 26 DF  IRL Pierce Sweeney (captain) 27 FW  NIR Josh Magennis 28 MF  SCO Kevin McDonald 29 FW  GAM Mustapha Carayol 31 FW  ENG Jay Bird 34 MF  ENG Gabriel Billington 37 GK  ENG Shaun MacDonald 38 DF  ENG Max Edgecombe 46 MF  ENG Liam Oakes 47 MF  ENG Jake Richards 48 DF  ENG Louie Cayliss

Out on loan

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player 33 MF  ENG Tom Dean (at Plymouth Parkway FC until 1 January 2025) 36 MF  ENG Mitch Beardmore (at Plymouth Parkway FC until 1 January 2025) 39 DF  ENG Cheick Diabate (at Bradford City until 31 May 2025) 40 DF  WAL Ed James (at Yeovil Town until 1 January 2025) 41 MF  POR Pedro Borges (at Yeovil Town until 1 January 2025) 45 MF  IRL Charlie Cummins (at Poole Town until 1 January 2025) — GK  ENG Frankie Philips (at Exmouth Town until 1 January 2025)

Retired numbers

Following Adam Stansfield's death from colorectal cancer during the 2010–11 season, the club retired his number 9 shirt for the following nine seasons. From the 2020–21 season onwards, the shirt number is worn only by players from the club's own academy. On 2 September 2022, it was announced that Stansfield's son Jay Stansfield would return to Exeter City on a season-long loan basis, thus following in the footsteps of his late father by wearing the number 9 shirt.

Notable former players

Notable former players include Harry Gee, who during the 1927–28 season made 29 appearances for the club and scored two goals. He retired from professional after just one season at the club suffering a career ending broken leg, Gee had formerly played for Burnley. Cliff Bastin, who went on to play for Arsenal and England, Maurice Setters, who won an FA Cup winner's medal with Manchester United in 1963, and goalkeeper Dick Pym, who later played for Bolton Wanderers and England. Pym's sale to Bolton in 1921, for a fee of £5,000, allowed City to purchase St. James Park.

Other well-known players include the prolific 1930s striker Fred Whitlow, Arnold Mitchell, who played 495 games for City, Tony Kellow, City's record goalscorer, Ian Main, the gifted goalkeeper from the club's most successful years who died very young, Fred Binney and Darran Rowbotham in the 1980s and early 1990s. Former England winger Lee Sharpe played four games for Exeter at the beginning of their 2002–03 Division Three campaign, scoring two goals. Former City player George Reader went on to referee the 1950 World Cup final, becoming the first Englishman to do so.

David Pleat scored 14 goals for Exeter whilst playing for them between 1968 and 1970. He went on to manage several successful clubs, including Tottenham Hotspur, before becoming a football media pundit for ITV and BBC Radio 5 Live. In recent times, Exeter City Academy graduates Dean Moxey, George Friend, Matt Grimes, Ethan Ampadu and Ollie Watkins have gone on to play in the Premier League, while Danny Seaborne and Elliott Frear established themselves as regulars in the Scottish Premier League. Ampadu (son of former Arsenal and Exeter City player Kwame Ampadu) won his first Wales cap in 2017, and played for his country at UEFA Euro 2020. Watkins, meanwhile, who while at the club was named 2017 EFL Young Player of the Season and left Exeter for a 'club record fee', won his first England cap in 2021. Jamie Mackie, who played for the Grecians between 2005 and 2008, went on to play 60 Premier League games for QPR, and picked up 9 caps for Scotland. In a survey published by the Professional Footballers' Association in December 2007, Alan Banks was listed as the all-time favourite player amongst Exeter City fans.

Hall of Fame

In 2014 Exeter City – in partnership with the Exeter College, the Heritage Lottery Fund, the South West Heritage Trust and the ECFCST History Group – launched the Hall of Fame. The Hall of Fame aims to recognise the achievements and contributions made by 'genuine legends' to the club.

The following players have been inducted into the Hall of Fame:

Inducted	Name	Nationality	Position	Playing career	League		Ref
					Apps	Goals
2014	Alan Banks		FW	1963–66, 1967–73	258	101
	Cliff Bastin		FW	1928–29	17	6
	Reg Clarke		MF	1927–37	315	18
	Dermot Curtis		FW	1963–66, 1967–69	157	33
	Jimmy Giles		DF	1971–75, 1977–81	313	13
	Tony Kellow		FW	1976–78, 1980–84, 1985–88	332	129
	Arnold Mitchell		MF	1952–66	495	44
	Dick Pym		GK	1911–21	203	0
2017	Peter Hatch		DF	1973–82	346	18
	Graham Rees		FW	1954–66	345	85
	Adam Stansfield		FW	2006–10	158	39
	Sid Thomas		FW	1904–08	38	16

Non-playing staff

As of 2 November 2024

Corporate hierarchy

Coaching staff

Position	Name
Manager	Gary Caldwell
Assistant Manager	Kevin Nicholson
First-Team Coach/Under 23-Coach	David Perkins
Goalkeeping Coach	Kevin Miller
Player Development Phase Coach	Dan Green
Head of Strength and Conditioning	Les Barrow
Strength and Conditioning Coach	Tom Yates
Head of Performance Analysis	Lauren Jones
First-Team Analyst	Sam Barrell
First-Team Analyst	Alex Mitchell
Head of Performance and Wellbeing	Jon Pitts
Club Secretary	Andy Gillard
Club Doctor	Dr. Peter Riou
Head Physiotherapist	Michael McBride
Sports Therapist	Sam Alfieri
Kit Room Lead	Sue Matthews
Matchday Kit Co-Ordinator	Keith Stone
Technical Director	Marcus Flitcroft
Chief Scout	Malcolm Crosby

Managerial history

As of match played 21 September 2024

Name	From	Until	Played	Won	Drawn	Lost	Win %	Honours / Notes
Unknown	1904	1908	—	—	—	—	—
Arthur Chadwick	1 April 1908	31 December 1922	113	31	32	50	27.43%
Fred Mavin	1 January 1923	1 November 1927	209	76	41	92	36.36%
Dave Wilson	1 March 1928	1 February 1929	42	11	10	21	26.19%
Billy McDevitt	1 February 1929	30 September 1935	295	117	66	112	39.66%
Jack English	1 October 1935	31 May 1939	168	48	48	72	28.57%
George Roughton	1 August 1945	1 March 1952	270	99	55	116	36.67%
Norman Kirkman	1 March 1952	31 March 1953	52	14	16	22	26.92%
Tim Ward	1953	1953	—	—	—	—	—
Norman Dodgin	1 April 1953	30 April 1957	199	62	50	87	31.16%
Bill Thompson	1 May 1957	1 January 1958	28	7	5	16	25%
Frank Broome	1 January 1958	31 May 1960	116	48	26	42	41.38%
Glen Wilson	1 June 1960	30 April 1962	97	27	24	46	27.84%
Cyril Spiers	1 May 1962	1 February 1963	28	7	4	17	25%
Jack Edwards	1 February 1963	31 January 1965	102	41	33	28	40.19%
Ellis Stuttard	1 February 1965	1 June 1966	66	16	19	31	24.24%
Jack Basford	1 June 1966	30 April 1967	50	15	16	19	30%
Frank Broome	1 May 1967	1 February 1969	91	23	31	37	25.27%	Second tenure
Johnny Newman	1 April 1969	21 December 1976	377	138	98	141	36.6%
Bobby Saxton	1 January 1977	5 January 1979	109	45	33	31	41.28%
Brian Godfrey	1 January 1979	1 June 1983	240	88	57	95	36.67%
Gerry Francis	20 July 1983	14 May 1984	50	6	16	28	12%
Jim Iley	7 June 1984	30 April 1985	47	13	14	20	27.66%
Colin Appleton	1 May 1985	11 December 1987	128	35	46	47	27.34%
John Delve	11 December 1987	8 May 1988	27	4	9	14	14.81%
Terry Cooper	9 May 1988	1 August 1991	157	67	26	64	42.68%	Fourth Division Champions: 1989–90
Alan Ball	6 August 1991	20 January 1994	135	36	43	56	26.67%
Terry Cooper	24 January 1994	31 July 1995	69	14	16	39	20.29%	Second tenure
Peter Fox	1 August 1995	9 January 2000	235	69	70	96	29.36%
Noel Blake	10 January 2000	24 September 2001	86	20	24	42	23.26%
John Cornforth	24 September 2001	6 October 2002	54	17	14	23	31.48%
Eamonn Dolan	6 October 2002	17 October 2002	1	0	1	0	0%	Caretaker Manager
Neil McNab	17 October 2002	25 February 2003	26	6	8	12	23.08%
Gary Peters	25 February 2003	24 May 2003	13	5	5	3	38.46%
Eamonn Dolan	9 June 2003	7 October 2004	62	26	19	17	41.94%
Steve Perryman Scott Hiley	7 October 2004	18 October 2004	2	0	2	0	0%	Joint Caretaker Managers
Alex Inglethorpe	18 October 2004	25 June 2006	89	44	16	29	49.44%	FA Trophy Semi-finalists: 2005–06
Paul Tisdale	26 June 2006	1 June 2018	626	241	159	226	38.50%	Conference National Play-off Finalists: 2006–07 Conference National Play-off Winners: 2007–08 League Two Runners-up: 2008–09 League Two Manager of the Year: 2009 Football League Trophy Finalists: 2010–11 League Two Play-off Finalists: 2016–17, 2017–18
Matt Taylor	1 June 2018	4 October 2022	227	100	67	60	44.05%	League Two Play-off Finalists: 2019–20 League Two Runners-up: 2021–22
Kevin Nicholson Jon Hill	4 October 2022	24 October 2022	6	3	0	3	50%	Joint Caretaker Managers
Gary Caldwell	24 October 2022	Present	95	34	20	41	35.79%	Current manager

Chairmen

The following have been chairman of the club:

† Indicates spell as co-chairman

1. Geller was formally elected as co-chairman with Russell at a board meeting on 21 May 2002. However, he was never officially registered, even as a director.

Honours

League

• Fourth Division / League Two (level 4)
  • Champions: 1989–90
  • Runners-up: 1976–77, 2008–09, 2021–22
  • Promoted: 1963–64
• Conference (level 5)
  • Play-off winners: 2008

Cup

• Third Division South Cup
  • Winners: 1933–34
• Devon St. Luke's Challenge Cup
  • Winners (22): 1925–26, 1926–27, 1927–28, 1953–54, 1958–59, 1960–61, 1961–62, 1962–63, 1963–64, 1964–65, 1967–68, 1973–74, 1984–85, 1985–86, 1986–87, 1996–97, 1997–98, 2001–02, 2003–04, 2004–05, 2008–09, 2018–19.
• East Devon Senior Cup
  • Winners: 1953–54, 1980–81, 1981–82
• Trowbridge Charity Cup
  • Winners: 1927–28
• Hospital Cup
  • Winners: 1969–70
• Bill Slee Cup
  • Winners: 1985–86
• Brian Lomax Supporters Direct Cup
  • Winners: 2017–18

Club records

• Largest league victory
  • 8–1 v. Coventry City, 1926
  • 8–1 v. Aldershot, 1935 (the score at half-time was 0–0).
• Largest FA Cup victory – 14–0 v. Weymouth, 1908.
• Largest aggregate score - 11–6 v Crystal Palace, Third Division South Cup 1933–34.
• Largest league defeat
  • 0–9 vs. Notts County, 1948
  • 0–9 vs. Northampton Town, 1958.
• Record home attendance – 20,984 vs. Sunderland, FA Cup sixth round replay, 1931.
• Record away attendance – 67,551 vs. Manchester United at Old Trafford, FA Cup third round, 2005.
• Most away victories in a single league season – 13 victories (from 23 matches) in 2016/17.
• Furthest round in the FA Cup
  • Quarter-finalists: 1930–31, 1980–81.
• Furthest round in the EFL Trophy
  • Area finalists (3): 1992–93, 1999–2000, 2010–11.
• Furthest round in the FA Trophy
  • Semi-finalists: 2005–06.
• Highest ever league position:
  • Runners-up: Third Division South / League One (Tier 3) – 1932–33.

See also

• Exeter City Supporters' Trust
• Exeter City Women F.C.
• List of fan-owned sports teams

References

1. Hamilton, Aidan (12 July 2014). Have you ever played Brazil?: The story of Exeter City's 1914 tour of South America. Exeter: Exeter City FC Supporters Society. ISBN 978-0992967604.
2. "St James Park Capacity". Retrieved 2 May 2022.
3. "Grecians paved way despite kick in teeth". The Guardian. 30 May 2004. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 3 February 2017.
4. "Ronaldinho signs for Fluminense ahead of future stars' visit to St James Park". Exeter City F. C. 13 July 2015. Retrieved 14 July 2015.
5. ^ Byrom, David (9 August 2017). "Flashback: Green-shirted Exeter City change colours against West Ham and discover the luck of red and white". Express & Echo. Retrieved 14 August 2018.
6. ^ "Exeter City FC History". Exeter City FC. Retrieved 12 June 2015.
7. South America Trip of Exeter City 1914– RSSSF.
8. ^ "History of Exeter City FC". BBC. 14 October 2009. Retrieved 12 June 2015.
9. "Exeter City football club: record v Brentford". 11v11. Retrieved 12 June 2015.
10. "1931 Exeter City". The Giant Killers. Archived from the original on 23 July 2015. Retrieved 12 June 2015.
11. "Exeter City football club: record v Tottenham Hotspur". 11v11. Retrieved 12 June 2015.
12. "ECFC 1989/90 (Division 4 Champions)". grecianarchive.exeter.ac.uk. 1 August 1990. Retrieved 6 June 2023.
13. "25 years since Exeter City crowned Fourth Division champions". Western Morning News. 1 May 2015. Archived from the original on 15 June 2015. Retrieved 12 June 2015.
14. "Exeter City football club: record v Plymouth Argyle". 11v11. Retrieved 12 June 2015.
15. "15 years and four months..." Express and Echo. 8 August 2009. Retrieved 15 June 2015.
16. "120 years and counting: Football at Exeters' St James' Park". Western Morning News. 14 October 2014. Archived from the original on 15 June 2015. Retrieved 12 June 2015.
17. "Exeter City 1–0 Southend United". The Guardian. 5 May 2003. Retrieved 12 June 2015.
18. "Fans take over struggling club". BBC. 5 September 2003. Retrieved 15 June 2015.
19. "Guilty pleas close grim chapter in Grecian history". The Guardian. 25 April 2007. Retrieved 15 June 2015.
20. "FA bans former Exeter directors". BBC. 4 February 2008. Retrieved 16 June 2015.
21. "Club faces court challenge". BBC. 26 November 2003. Retrieved 15 June 2015.
22. "Inland revenue drops club claim". BBC. 1 June 2004. Retrieved 15 June 2015.
23. "Man Utd 0–0 Exeter". BBC. 8 January 2005. Retrieved 27 April 2015.
24. "Exeter 0–2 Man Utd". BBC. 19 January 2005. Retrieved 27 April 2015.
25. "Exeter City: The fans who wouldn't take no for an answer". BBC. 11 October 2013. Retrieved 15 June 2015.
26. "Brazil edge out Grecians". BBC. 31 May 2004. Retrieved 12 June 2015.
27. "Oxford 2–2 Exeter (agg)". The Guardian. 9 May 2007. Retrieved 12 June 2015.
28. "Exeter 1–2 Morecambe". BBC. 20 May 2007. Retrieved 12 June 2015.
29. Brett, Oliver (5 May 2008). "Torquay 1–4 Exeter (3–5 agg)". BBC Sport. Retrieved 22 October 2013.
30. Whyatt, Chris (18 May 2008). "Exeter 1–0 Cambridge Utd". BBC Sport. Retrieved 22 October 2013.
31. "Rotherham 0–1 Exeter". BBC Sport. 2 May 2009. Retrieved 22 October 2013.
32. "Exeter 2–1 Huddersfield". BBC Sport. 8 May 2010. Retrieved 15 June 2015.
33. "Exeter striker Adam Stansfield dies of cancer at 31". BBC Sport. 11 August 2010. Retrieved 15 June 2015.
34. "Daggers-Exeter postponed after Adam Stansfield death". BBC News. 12 August 2010. Retrieved 23 October 2011.
35. "Paul Tisdale elated by Exeter City top-eight finish". BBC Sport. 8 May 2011. Retrieved 15 June 2015.
36. "Carlisle 4–1 Exeter". BBC Sport. 28 April 2012. Retrieved 15 June 2015.
37. "Arron Davies aiming to maintain Exeter City's fine away form". Western Morning News. 9 August 2013. Retrieved 15 June 2015.
38. "Four players leave SJP". Exeter City FC. 30 April 2013. Retrieved 12 June 2015.
39. "Tisdale confirms Steve Tully will not return to Exeter City". Express & Echo. 16 July 2013. Archived from the original on 14 June 2015. Retrieved 12 June 2015.
40. "Tisdale expecting Exeter City to improve again next season". Western Morning News. 18 May 2015. Archived from the original on 30 September 2015. Retrieved 12 June 2015.
41. "Exeter City return to Brazil one hundred years after special trip". BBC Sport. 18 July 2014. Retrieved 17 June 2015.
42. "Match report: Fluminense XI 0 Exeter City 0". Exeter City FC. 20 July 2014. Retrieved 16 June 2015.
43. "Match report: Tupi 1 Exeter City 2". Exeter City FC. 24 July 2014. Retrieved 16 June 2015.
44. "Match report: Rio Cricket e Associação Atlética 1 Exeter City 3". Exeter City FC. 25 July 2014. Retrieved 16 June 2015.
45. "Warrington Town 1–0 Exeter". BBC Sport. 7 November 2014. Retrieved 7 November 2014.
46. "Hartlepool 2–1 Exeter". BBC Sport. 25 April 2015. Retrieved 16 June 2015.
47. "Exeter 2–1 Dag & Red". BBC Sport. 2 May 2015. Retrieved 16 June 2015.
48. "Carlisle United 3–2 Exeter City". BBC Sport. Retrieved 30 May 2017.
49. "Doncaster Rovers 1–3 Exeter City". BBC Sport. Retrieved 30 May 2017.
50. "Exeter City 3–2 Carlisle United". BBC Sport. Retrieved 30 May 2017.
51. "Blackpool 2–1 Exeter City". BBC Sport. Retrieved 30 May 2017.
52. "Coventry City 3-1 Exeter City". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 27 May 2023.
53. Byrom, David (1 June 2018). "Matt Taylor Appointed Exter City Manager as Club Act Swiftly to Replace Paul Tisdale". Devon Live. Retrieved 17 June 2018.
54. "Exeter 2-1 Barrow: Matt Taylor's Grecians secure automatic promotion to League One". Sky Sports. Retrieved 27 April 2022.
55. "Exeter City". Football Club History Database. Retrieved 9 November 2023.
56. Southey's Common-Place Book. 4th Series. 21 July 1669. Exeter. (p380.)
57. ^ "Exeter City Football Club – history of the Grecians at St James Park". Exeter Memories. 9 July 2013. Retrieved 22 October 2013.
58. Coldplay guitarist: 'I'd give it all up for Tottenham Hotspur' – NME News. Retrieved 3 June 2010
59. It's fun down here... life outside the Premier League – The Independent (London). Retrieved 3 June 2010
60. Liam Tancock: 'I would always be in the fields looking for slow worms – The Guardian. Retrieved 17 August 2016
61. Pride in defeat for Exeter City Archived 5 April 2012 at the Wayback Machine – Exeter Express and Echo (This Is Devon). Retrieved 25 August 2011
62. Joss Stone Joins The Trust Archived 4 October 2011 at the Wayback Machine – Exeter City Football Club, The Official Website. Retrieved 26 August 2011
63. Jackson made Exeter FC director – BBC News. 3 July 2002. Retrieved 1 May 2011
64. Viner, Brian (31 August 2002). "Spoonbender who took Michael Jackson to Exeter City is lining up Brazil for his next trick". The Independent. London. Retrieved 15 May 2009.
65. "Destroyer HMS Defender adopts Exeter City FC". BBC News. 9 December 2012. Retrieved 6 February 2014.
66. ^ "Rivalry Uncovered!" (PDF). Football Fan Census. Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 October 2013. Retrieved 7 February 2012.
67. Cowdery, Rick & Curno, Mike (2009). Plymouth Argyle: Miscellany. Durrington: Pitch Publishing. p. 67. ISBN 978-1-905411-40-5.
68. Holgate, Mike (1999). Torquay United Football Club 1899–1999. Stroud: Tempus Publishing. ISBN 978-0-7524-1814-8.
69. "Goodman fuming after defeat". BBC Sport. 12 February 2003. Retrieved 7 February 2012.
70. "Boss excited at prospect of another Devon derby". Exeter Express & Echo. 30 August 2011. Archived from the original on 5 May 2013. Retrieved 7 February 2012.
71. "Exeter City waive gate receipts to help Torquay United cash worries". BBC Sport. 27 July 2015. Retrieved 27 July 2015.
72. "Exeter City first team". Exeter City F.C. Retrieved 6 July 2022.
73. "Club Retires Number 9 Shirt". exetercityfc.co.uk. 20 August 2010. Archived from the original on 24 August 2010. Retrieved 22 August 2010.
74. "Matt Taylor: "It feels fitting that the shirt should go to a home-grown player as we know how much this club meant to Adam and how highly the fans hold him in their memories."". Exeter City F.C. 12 August 2020. Retrieved 12 August 2020.
75. "Stansfield completes emotional Exeter loan". BBC Sport. 2 September 2022. Retrieved 2 September 2022.
76. "Exeter City legend Arnold Mitchell dies aged 84". Western Morning News. 20 October 2014. Archived from the original on 17 June 2015. Retrieved 17 June 2015.
77. "Have you ever played Brazil". Grecian Voices. Archived from the original on 21 September 2015. Retrieved 20 July 2015.
78. "Pleat's Ready To Bury Jinx". New Straits Times. 15 May 1987.
79. "EFL Awards: Exeter City's Ollie Watkins named EFL Young Player of the Season". EFL. 10 April 2017. Retrieved 18 July 2018.
80. "Ollie Watkins thanks City fans and staff after joining Brentford". Exeter City FC. 18 July 2017. Retrieved 18 July 2017.
81. "Hall of Fame". The Grecian Archive. Retrieved 8 August 2018.
82. ^ "Eight inaugurated into Exeter City's Hall of Fame". Exeter City F.C. 9 July 2014. Retrieved 8 August 2018.
83. ^ "Four enter the Hall of Fame". Exeter City F.C. 5 December 2017. Retrieved 8 August 2018.
84. "Banks, Alan". The Grecian Archive. Retrieved 8 August 2018.
85. "Bastin, Cliff". The Grecian Archive. Retrieved 8 August 2018.
86. "Clarke, Reginald". The Grecian Archive. Retrieved 8 August 2018.
87. "Curtis, Dermot". The Grecian Archive. Retrieved 8 August 2018.
88. "Giles, Jimmy". The Grecian Archive. Retrieved 8 August 2018.
89. "Kellow, Anthony". The Grecian Archive. Retrieved 8 August 2018.
90. "Mitchell, Arnold". The Grecian Archive. Retrieved 8 August 2018.
91. "Pym, Richard (Dick)". The Grecian Archive. Retrieved 8 August 2018.
92. "Hatch, Peter". The Grecian Archive. Retrieved 8 August 2018.
93. "Rees, Graham". The Grecian Archive. Retrieved 8 August 2018.
94. "Stansfield, Adam". The Grecian Archive. Retrieved 8 August 2018.
95. "Thomas, Sidney". The Grecian Archive. Retrieved 8 August 2018.
96. "Exeter City Football Club – Who's Who?". Exeter City FC official site. Retrieved 2 November 2024.
97. "Manager Profile: Exeter City – Club Managerial History". League Managers Association. Archived from the original on 21 October 2013. Retrieved 21 October 2013.
98. ^ "Next Exeter City Manager Odds – Latest Grecians News & Rumours". Retrieved 21 October 2013.
99. ^ "Exeter City Manager Statistics". Retrieved 1 March 2014.
100. "Managers – Dave Wilson". Retrieved 22 October 2013.
101. "Managers – Billy McDevitt". Retrieved 22 October 2013.
102. "Managers – Jack English". Retrieved 22 October 2013.
103. "Managers – George Roughton". Retrieved 22 October 2013.
104. "Managers – Norman Kirkman". Retrieved 22 October 2013.
105. "Managers – Norman Dodgin". Retrieved 22 October 2013.
106. "Managers – Bill Thompson". Retrieved 22 October 2013.
107. ^ "Managers – Frank Broome". Retrieved 22 October 2013.
108. "Managers – Glen Wilson". Retrieved 22 October 2013.
109. "Managers – Cyril Spiers". Retrieved 22 October 2013.
110. "Managers – Jack Edwards". Retrieved 22 October 2013.
111. "Managers – Ellis Stuttard". Retrieved 22 October 2013.
112. "Managers – Jock Basford". Retrieved 22 October 2013.
113. "Managers – Johnny Newman". Retrieved 22 October 2013.
114. "Managers – Bobby Saxton". Retrieved 22 October 2013.
115. "Managers – Brian Godfrey". Retrieved 22 October 2013.
116. "Managers – Gerry Francis". Retrieved 22 October 2013.
117. "Managers – Jim Iley". Retrieved 22 October 2013.
118. "Managers – Colin Appleton". Retrieved 22 October 2013.
119. "Managers – John Delve". Retrieved 22 October 2013.
120. ^ "Terry Cooper – Latest Betting Odds – Soccer Base". Retrieved 19 June 2015.
121. ^ "Exeter Manager History – Past & Present – Soccer Base". Retrieved 21 October 2013.
122. ^ "Eamonn Dolan – Latest Betting Odds – Soccer Base". Retrieved 21 October 2013.
123. "Steve Perryman – Latest Betting Odds – Soccer Base". Retrieved 21 October 2013.
124. "Managers – Paul Tisdale". Retrieved 12 June 2015.
125. "Manager Profile: Paul Tisdale – Honours". League Managers Association. Archived from the original on 21 October 2013. Retrieved 24 January 2012.
126. "Managers – Matt Taylor". Retrieved 25 June 2019.
127. "Managers – Gary Caldwell". Retrieved 8 January 2023.
128. "A to Z The Chairs of Exeter City". The Grecian Archive. Retrieved 28 April 2020.
129. ^ "David Conn: Doubts grow over Geller's role at struggling Exeter". The Independent. 18 January 2003. Retrieved 28 April 2020.
130. "The Grecian Archive - The Devon BowlThe Devon Championship/Cup". The Grecian Archive. Retrieved 14 June 2020.
131. "East Devon Senior". Devon & Exeter Football League. Retrieved 24 June 2018.
132. ^ "The Grecian Archive - Other Cups and Competitions". The Grecian Archive. Retrieved 14 June 2020.
133. "Bill Slee Cup". Devon & Exeter Football League. Retrieved 24 June 2018.
134. ^ "Football 1 – Teams – Exeter". ITV. Retrieved 15 May 2009.
135. ^ "Exeter City – Club – FAQ's – FAQ". Exeter City FC. 9 March 2009. Archived from the original on 1 June 2009. Retrieved 15 May 2009.
136. "2016/17 Season in Numbers". Exeter City. Retrieved 18 June 2018.
137. English Auto Windscreens Shield 1999–2000 : Southern Final Archived 26 April 2009 at the Wayback Machine – retrieved 20 April 2009

External links

• Official website
• Exeter City Supporters' Trust – official website
• Grecian Archive (official club archive)
• Exeter City F.C. on BBC Sport: Club news – Recent results and fixtures
• Exeter City at the Football Club History Database

• Exeter City F.C.
• 1904 establishments in England
• Association football clubs established in 1904
• Football clubs in Devon
• Football clubs in England
• Sport in Exeter
• Southern Football League clubs
• English Football League clubs
• National League (English football) clubs
• Companies that have entered administration in the United Kingdom
• Fan-owned football clubs in England