Exeter City F.C.

Exeter City F.C. are an English football club, based in Exeter, who have played in the Football League for most of its history, but now play in the Nationwide Conference.

Facts and records

City were founded in 1904 and moved to their current home, St James Park (not to be confused with the home of Newcastle United), in 1906. The club is nicknamed "The Grecians". (For more information on the nickname please see the article The Grecians). City's home kit consists of red and white shirts, black shorts, and black socks. Their away kit is blue. City's record league victories are their 8-1 triumphs against Coventry City in 1926 and Aldershot in 1935 (the score was 0-0 against Aldershot at half-time!). In the FA Cup, they beat Aberdare Athletic 9-1 in 1927. City's record league defeat are the 9-0 defeats against Notts County in 1948 and Northampton Town in 1958. In January 2005, Exeter City drew 0-0 with Manchester United at Old Trafford in the FA Cup Third Round in one of the round's greatest shocks.

History

The Club's Beginnings

Exeter City FC was formed from two predecessor clubs: - Exeter United FC and St Sidwell's United. Exeter United FC was a club which first appeared around 1890. 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. They played in green and white quartered shirts.

In 1904, When St Sidwell's beat Exeter United 3-1, it was agreed that the two teams should merge. It was decided to make the home of the new combined club St James' Park - Exeter United's pitch. Exeter City initially played in St Sidwell's old colours of Green and White.

On Sept. 10th, 1904, Exeter City played their first ever competitive match: - a 2-1 victory at St James's 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 70 years. City topped the East Devon League with 11 wins, 2 draws, 1 defeat in their 1st season, and transferred to the Plymouth & District League for next 3 seasons.

In 1908, Exeter City AFC became a limited company. City become 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 Oct. 3rd, 1908, City got their record highest FA Cup win: - Exeter City 14 Weymouth 0. The match was in the 1st Qualifying Round. James ("Daisy") Bell scored 6 goals, and 10 of Exeters 14 goals came in the first half.

City changed to their modern colours of red and white in 1910. This was after having had a poor start to the season (only 2 wins out of 11). City abandon 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 Nov. 12th. The result of the game was a 0-0 draw, but 5 consecutive League wins came for the club in December.

City made an historic tour of South America in 1914, during which time they played 8 matches against teams in Argentina and Brazil. Brazil's 1st international match was against City on July 27, at the Laranjeiras stadium, Rio de Janeiro, home of Fluminense Football Club. City lost 2-0. That was the last match of the tour, which yielded 5 wins, 1 draw and 2 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 Era (1920-2003)

City's historic first match in the Football League took place on Saturday 28 August 1920, when Brentford were the visitors to St James Park. Exeter won 3-0.

In 1931, City reached the sixth round of the FA Cup, losing a replay 4-2 to Sunderland in front of their largest ever home gate. Fifty years later, City reached the sixth round again, but lost 2-0 to eventual winners Tottenham Hotspur. Earlier they had beaten Newcastle United 4-0, perhaps City's greatest ever result. City's only trophy was the Fourth Division Championship which they won in 1990. In 1995, City finished bottom of the league, but were spared relegation because Macclesfield Town, who would have replaced them, were deemed to have inadequate facilities. In 2003, however, City finished second bottom of the Football League and were relegated to the Nationwide Conference as a result.

Later History

Having struggled financially and flirted with closure in their latter seasons in the league and their first year in the Conference, The Grecians were given a huge boost in December 2004 after being drawn away to Manchester United (the eventual defeated finalists) in the FA Cup third round. Exeter caused the surprise of the afternoon by holding the FA Cup Holders to a 0-0 draw, ensuring a replay at The Grecians St James' Park home. Although defeated 0-2 in the replay, the combined gate receipts and television income plus the huge efforts of the clubs own fans in raising funds and carrying out unpaid work in support of the club have cleared the club's debts.

In May 2004 in commemoration of the club's centenary a friendly fixture was arranged against a Brazilian masters team at St James Park. Which, bearing in mind the 1914 fixture in Brazil, meant things had come full circle. The Brazilian team contained such notable players as Careca and Dunga. Brazil won 1-0.

Famous players and managers

Famous players who have played for Exeter City include Cliff Bastin, who went on to play for Arsenal F.C. and England and goalkeeper Dick Pym, who went on to play for Bolton Wanderers F.C. and England. Other club legends included 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, and Darran Rowbotham in the 1980s and early 90s. Former England winger Lee Sharpe played four games for Exeter at the beginning of their 2002-03 Division Three campaign, scoring two goals.

After managing the club to a famous F.A. Cup Third Round draw at Old Trafford with Manchester United in 2005, Alex Inglethorpe left the club in June 2006 and Paul Tisdale was appointed. Past managers include the former England internationals Gerry Francis, Terry Cooper and Alan Ball.

Since 2003 the running of the club has been taken over by a supporters' trust.

Incomplete Honours

Division Four Champions: 1
- 1989-90
Division Four Runner-up: 1
- 1976-77
Division Three South Runner-up: 1
- 1932-33

All-time Grecian Managers

Tenure	Manager	Notes
1908 - 1922	Arthur Chadwick
1923 - 1927	Fred Mavin
1928 - 1929	Dave Wilson
1929 - 1935	Billy McDevitt
1935 - 1939	Jack English
1945 - 1952	George Roughton
1952 - 1953	Norman Kirkman
1953 - 1957	Norman Dodgin
1957 - 1958	Bill Thompson
1958 - 1960	Frank Broome
1960 - 1962	Glen Wilson
1962 - 1963	Cyril Spiers
1963 - 1965	Jack Edwards
1965 - 1966	Ellis Stuttard
1966 - 1967	Jack Basford

Tenure	Manager	Notes
1967 - 1969	Frank Broome	Second tenure
1969 - 1976	Johnny Newman
1977 - 1979	Bobby Saxton
1979 - 1983	Brian Godfrey
1983 - 1984	Gerry Francis
1984 - 1985	Jim Iley
1985 - 1987	Colin Appleton
1988 - 1991	Terry Cooper
1991 - 1994	Alan Ball
1994 - 1995	Terry Cooper	Second tenure
1995 - 2000	Peter Fox
2000 - 2001	Noel Blake
2001 - 2002	John Cornforth
2002 - 2003	Neil McNab
2003 - 2003	Gary Peters

Tenure	Manager	Notes
2003 - 2004	Eamonn Dolan
2004 - 2006	Alex Inglethorpe
2006 - Present	Paul Tisdale

Season-by-season record

Complete season-by-season record since 1908.

The past ten seasons for Exeter City:

Season	Division	Position
1997-98	Division Three	22nd
1997-98	Division Three	15th
1998-99	Division Three	12th
1999-00	Division Three	21st
2000-01	Division Three	19th
2001-02	Division Three	16th
2002-03	Division Three	23rd
2003	Relegated to Conference National
2003-04	Conference National	6th
2004-05	Conference National	6th
2005-06	Conference National	7th
2006-07	Conference National

Source: Football Club History Database

Current Squad

2006-07 Transfers

In:

Adam Stansfield (ST) - Hereford United

Out:

Gary Sawyer (DF) - Loan Ended - Returned to Plymouth Argyle
Santos Gaia (DF) - Stevenage Borough
Glenn Cronin (MF) - Chester
Chris Vinnicombe (LB) - Tiverton Town
Les Afful (ST) - Forest Green Rovers
Craig Farrell (ST) - York City
Steve Flack (ST) - Tiverton Town
Danny Clay (CM) - Released
Craig Watkins (ST) - Released
Rytis Leliuga (FW) - Released
Jake Edwards (ST) - Released

Rivalry

Traditionally, Exeter City's two greatest rivals are the local teams Plymouth Argyle, and Torquay United. Exeter's rivalry with Plymouth is the longer and the greater. Currently this is lessened due to both playing in different divisions from Exeter.