13 minute read
Meet the Opposition
EXETER CITY TODAY’S OPPOSITION
The club was formed in 1901 as St Sidwell’s United and moved into St James Park two years later. In May 1904 they became Exeter City, and by the start of 1908-09 had become professional and were elected into the Southern League. The Grecians were invited to be founder members of the Third Division in 1920 before it was regionalised the year after. The early 1930s was one of the most successful periods in the club’s history as they reached the FA Cup Sixth Round in 1931, losing in a replay to Sunderland. Two years later they finished second in the Third Division South which is their highest league position to date, however, only one club was promoted from the division at the time. In 1958 Exeter found themselves in the Fourth Division, but won promotion for the first time in 1963-64 for a two season stay in the Third Division. Bobby Saxton led them to promotion again in 1977, and this time they stayed in the division for seven years before relegation. Another FA Cup run to the Sixth Round came in 1981, losing to eventual winners Spurs. While the 1990s started positively winning the Fourth Division, the club were struggling financially and in 1994 administrators were appointed. Exeter came out of administration in August 1996, however, the new millennium brought little joy and in 2002-03 Exeter were relegated to The Conference. Exeter City Supporters’ Trust took over the running of the club and become majority shareholders and finances were stabilised. They were helped massively in 2004-05 by an FA Cup run to the Third Round against Manchester United. A 0-0 draw at Old Trafford and a replay at St James Park wiped out a significant amount of debt. Paul Tisdale became manager in 2006 and Exeter reached the play-off final in his first season but lost to Morecambe. However the next season they beat Cambridge United in the final to return to The Football League after five seasons in The Conference. Exeter went straight up into League One in 2008-09, but were relegated in 2012. A poor start in 2016-17 had Exeter bottom in November, but they qualified for the play-offs before losing in the final to Blackpool. They appeared at Wembley again in 2017-18, this time losing to Coventry City before Tisdale left the club and Matt Taylor took the reins and led the side to a ninth place finish, just a point outside the play-offs. Last season Exeter had a strong start, unbeaten until the end of September, but had to settle for fifth on points per game. After beating Colchester United in the play-off semi-finals to reach another final, they lost to Northampton at Wembley. So, after three play-off final defeats in four seasons, Exeter will be more determined than ever to win promotion this season and things are not going too badly, with Exeter well in the mix as well as currently being the divisions top scorers.
FORMED 1901
NICKNAME The Grecians
ST. JAMES PARK Capacity 8,541
RECORD SCORER Tony Kellow 129 (1976-88)
RECORD APPEARANCES Arnold Mitchell 495 (1952-66)
RECORD TRANSFER FEE PAID £65k Tony Kellow To Blackpool 1980
RECORD TRANSFER FEE RECEIVED £500K Martin Phillips From Manchester City 1995
POSITION 10TH POINTS
32
THE GRECIANS SQUAD
BETWEEN THE STICKS 1. Lewis Ward
Signing for Exeter in June 2019 from Reading, the 23-yearold had previous League Two experience with Forest Green Rovers, where he was on loan in 2018-19, and kept five clean sheets in Exeter’s 10 unbeaten opening league games last season. However he suffered a broken arm in early October and only returned for the first leg of the play-off semi-final. The former England Under-16 international has a degree in Sports Journalism from Staffordshire University.
23. Jonny Maxted
Tadcaster-born Maxted signed in June 2019 from Accrington Stanley and stepped up to the mark after Lewis Ward suffered a broken arm last October. A product of the Doncaster Rovers academy, Maxted has had loan spells with Goole Town and Gainsborough before playing at Forest Green Rovers, Guiseley and Accrington.
AT THE BACK 2. Jake Caprice
Signing for the Grecians in August from Tranmere Rovers, the 27-year-old started his career at Crystal Palace, having come through the youth setup there, before moving to Blackpool. Whilst at Bloomfield Road, he had loan spells at Dagenham & Redbridge, St Mirren and Tamworth before joining Lincoln City in August 2014. From there he moved to Working in June 2015 and then Leyton Orient in 2017 before joining Tranmere Rovers in June 2018 where he made 81 appearances in two seasons. 1931 FUND Named after the year Exeter made the quarter-finals of the FA Cup, the 1931 Fund is a group of City fans who, through a monthly payment, raise money to pay or help pay the wages for a squad member - Jack Sparkes being the latest.
Lewis Ward
3. Jack Sparkes
One of the many to come through the Exeter Academy, the wing-back made the step up to the first team in August 2017 despite only being 16 years old at the time coming on as a substitute at Swindon Town, and after further cup appearances last season as well as loan spells at Chippenham Town, the 1931 Fund player has made more of a breakthrough this season with 15 appearances so far this campaign.
6. Rory McArdle
Signing for Exeter in August, the experienced 33-year-old started his career at Sheffield Wednesday and after loan spells at Rochdale joined the Lancashire outfit permanently in 2007, making 120 total appearances for The Dale. He then signed for Aberdeen in 2010 before joining Bradford City in June 2012 where he spent five seasons and made over 230 appearances. His next club was fellow Scunthorpe United who h joined in June 2017 before heading to St. James Park this Summer. He also has seven international caps for Northern Ireland.
15. Tom Parkes
Joining Exeter in May 2019 from Carlisle United, the former Leicester City youth player represented England at under-17 level and was
Pierce Sweeney
part of the UEFA European Under-17 Championship squad in 2009. The 27-year-old has a wealth of Football League experience having won backto-back promotions with Bristol Rovers in 2014-15 and 2015-16, where he made almost 200 appearances before joining Leyton Orient in 2016 and then Carlisle in 2017. Whilst at Leicester he had loan spells at Burton Albion and Yeovil Town.
20. Lewis Page
Joining Exeter from Charlton Athletic in September, the 24year old came through the West Ham United youth academy and made his Hammers first team debut in the Europa League in 2015 against Andorran side Lusitanos. Following loan spells at Cambridge United and Coventry City, Page joined Charlton in 2017 and played 27 times for the Addicks before moving to St. James Park.
26. Pierce Sweeney
Signing from Reading in August 2016, the full-back is now in his fourth season at Exeter. Starting his career in Ireland with Bray Wanderers, he moved to Reading and despite not making a first-team appearance for the Royals, won the 2013-14 Under-21 Premier League Cup during his time at the Madjeski. After his release he was signed as Exeter’s 1931 fan-funded player and the 25-year-old now has well over 150 appearances for The Grecians.
34. Alex Hartridge
Another product of the Exeter City Academy, the 20-year-old signed his first pro contract in April 2017, and made his first team debut that November in the EFL Trophy. Since turning
Matt Taylor
Appointed: June 2018 Age: 37
Former Exeter City captain Taylor was appointed in his first managerial position in June 2018. The former goalkeeper and centre-back, played for The Grecians between 2007 and 2011, making 150 appearances. Taylor’s career started as a goalkeeper at Preston North End Boys, and then Everton Under-17s before joining Burscough. His next destination was Rossendale United, which was followed by spells at Matlock Town, Hucknall Town and Guiseley. While playing Taylor was also studying for a degree at Sheffield Hallam University where he represented the University team. He transferred to Team Bath, studying for a Diploma in Fitness Excellence at the University of Bath as well as featuring heavily in the team’s Southern Premier League campaign where they missed out on promotion to the Conference South in the play-off final to Maidenhead United. His spell at Exeter came next, followed by moves to Charlton, Bradford, Cheltenham, Newport and Bath City before returning to Exeter as a coach in 2016. Following the departure of longserving Paul Tisdale to MK Dons after 12 years in charge, Taylor took up the reins and finished ninth in League Two, just a point outside the playoffs, before last season’s fifth place finish and loss to Northampton Town in the Play-Off Final.
IN THE DUGOUT
pro, he has had five loan spells at Truro City and spent much of last season on loan at Bath City.
THE ENGINE ROOM 4. Nigel Atangana
Signing for The Grecians from Cheltenham Town in May 2019, Frenchman Atangana played for Avranches in the French Third Division and Riudellots in Spain before starting his career in England with Havant & Waterlooville where he was Player of the Year in 2013-14. The 30-year-old then signed a two-year deal at Portsmouth in 2014 and had a season with Leyton Orient before signing for Cheltenham Town in May 2017 where he made 58 appearances.
7. Nicky Law
Signing for Exeter in July 2018 from Bradford City, the 31-year-old first season at St James Park couldn’t have gone much better as 10 goals in 44 appearances saw him win all six ‘Player of the Year’ awards. Prior to joining the Grecians, the
former Sheffield United trainee signed his first pro contract with the Blades in 2005, making five first team appearances before joining Rotherham United in June 2009. From there he joined Scottish Premier League Motherwell and made 86 appearances before joining Rangers playing 122 times and scoring 26 times for the Ibrox club in Scottish League One and Championship. He joined Bradford City in June 2016 and racked up another 90 games for the Bantams.
8. Jake Taylor - Captain
Skipper Jake Taylor arrived at St. James Park for a second spell in January 2016 having previously been with The Grecians on loan in 2011-12 from boyhood club Reading, where he graduated from the Academy after joining as an eight-year-old. He made over 30 appearances for The Royals amongst various loan spells with the likes of Aldershot Town, Cheltenham Town and Motherwell, but he is now approaching the 250 mark for Exeter. The 28-yearold represented Wales from Under-17 to Under-21 level, captaining the latter, and he has made one appearance for the senior team, coming on as a sub against Cyprus in 2014.
Jake Taylor
Joel Randall
10. Archie Collins
20-year-old Collins is another off the Exeter production line and started to establish himself part way through the last campaign and this season has become a regular starter. Able to play up top, on the left, on the right, or behind the striker, the versatile front man is highly thought of and is expected to make a big impression.
11. Randell Williams
Signing for Exeter from Watford in January 2019 after a loan spell at Wycombe Wanderers in League One, the former Tottenham Hotspur youth player was one of League Two’s stand out performers last season, recording a league-high 14 assists and contributing five goals which also saw him win the Club’s Player of the Year and Goal of the Season awards.
14. Joel Randall
The Exeter City Academy graduate made his first-team debut as a substitute in the club’s Checkatrade.com match against Chelsea under-21s in the 2018-19 campaign. After making seven appearances last season, the midfielder has been a regular starter this campaign scoring eight goals already this season, which has led to speculation that Scottish giants Celtic and Championship promotion hopefuls Swansea City are poised to pounce for the Grecians Academy product.
29. Harry Kite
Joining the Exeter City Academy at the under-9 stage, the 20-year-old went on to make his first-team debut in August 2017 in the EFL Trophy group stage defeat to Yeovil Town at St James Park He has had loan spells at Dorchester Town and was at Taunton Town last season.
30. Josh Key
Joining The Grecians in July 2017 as an Under-16 after the Torquay United academy closed, the 21-year-old signed professional terms at Exeter City in February 2018. After prosperous loan spells at Bideford and Tiverton Town in the Southern Leagues, the midfielder has broken through into the first team this season, becoming a regular starter.
UP TOP 9. Ben Seymour
Yet another Exeter Academy Graduate, the 20-year-old made his debut in August 2019 in the Carabao Cup, and now has 16 appearances to his name in a red and white shirt. A regular goalscorer in the youth team, Seymour has had fruitful loan spells at Weston-super-Mare, Bideford (where he scored 21 goals in 33 games), Gloucester City and Dorchester Town. Ben was chosen to wear the number nine shirt this season, after it came out of retirement after nine seasons. The shirt had been retired in honour of muchloved striker Adam Stansfield, who sadly passed in 2010.
12. Ryan Bowman
The striker arrived in Devon in January 2019 from Motherwell where he scored 10 goals in 72 league games. Prior to his
spell north of the border, the 28-year-old started his career with hometown club Carlisle United before playing for a host of clubs including Darlington, Hereford United, York City, Torquay United and Gateshead before heading to Fir Park in August 2016. His partnership with Matt Jay this campaign has been key with 18 goals shared between them.
17. Matt Jay
Now in his eighth season with The Grecians, the 24-year-old Exeter Academy Graduate made his debut as far back as 2013 in the EFL Trophy and featured at least once in every season before appearing more regularly from the 2017-18 season. Aided by loan spells at Weston-super-Mare, Hayes
Ryan Bowman
Matt Jay
& Yeading and Truro City, the striker has been a regular this campaign and weighed in with nine goals and 4 assists so far.
18. Alex Fisher
Signing for The Grecians in June 2019 after Yeovil were relegated from the Football League, the 30-year-old started his career with Oxford United and had spells with Jerez Industrial in Spain, Tienen, Mechelen and Heist in Belgium before returning to England with Mansfield Town. He signed for Torquay United in 2015, but after half a season moved to Inverness Caledonian Thistle and then Motherwell in the Scottish Premiership before joining the Glovers in early 2018.
25. Nicky Ajose
Signing for Exeter in July 2019, the Bury-born striker, who came through Manchester United’s academy, but never made an appearance in the first team and spent much of the 2010–11 season on loan to Bury. He joined Peterborough United in July 2011, but spent time on loan with Scunthorpe United, Chesterfield, Crawley Town and Swindon Town, as well as another six months with Bury, before joining Leeds United in August 2014. After a spell on loan with Crewe Alexandra during the 2014–15 season, he rejoined Swindon. In June 2016, Ajose moved to Charlton Athletic, where he made infrequent appearances, resulting in loan spells with Swindon, Bury and Mansfield Town. He was released at the end of the 2018–19 season, when he signed for Exeter.
RECENT LINE-UP v Bolton Wanderers (H) D1-1 Tuesday, 12 January 2021
Randall
