Exeter City

Exeter City was founded in 1904 when two existing clubs, Exeter United FC and St. Sidwell’s United, combined with each other. When the two clubs joined, Exeter City continued to play their home games at Exeter United’s old ground St. James Park, where they still play to this day. 

During City’s first competitive season in 1904, they won the East Devon League and transferred to the Plymouth & District League for 3 seasons. In 1908, City officially became a fully professional club and applied for membership to the Southern League, replacing the now giant Tottenham Hotspur. In this year the club also recorded its first FA Cup win over Weymouth.

After a poor start to the season in 1910, two wins in 11 games, the club moved on from their traditional green and white jerseys to the current club colors of red and white, in an effort to ditch the unlucky colors.

In 1920, after a successful tour of South America, the Football League invited Exeter to become founding members of the 3rd Division. For the next 83 years Exeter became somewhat of a yo-yo club, bouncing between Divisions 3 and 4, while picking up some notable cup wins and placements. In 1933 they finished 2nd in the Third Division South, but failed to be promoted because only champions were promoted at the time. Following the 1964 season, Exeter picked up their first promotion, moving from the Fourth Division back to the Third. Exeter picked up their first major trophy win in 1990, after winning the Fourth Division.

Some poor  luck struck Exeter in during the 90s when, after a long stretch of poor performances on the pitch led to the club filing for administration (bankruptcy) and nearly went out of business before they sold their stadium to a local company. Their poor luck continued in 2003 when they were relegated from the Third Division to the Conference National. Several years later, ​​two of the Directors who had been in charge during Exeter’s relegation were convicted of fraudulent trading at the club and faced prison time.

During the mid 2000s, the club was still in serious financial debt and to solve this used fan fundraising. After drawing Manchester United away in the 3rd round of the FA Cup, Exeter fought to a 0-0 draw at Old Trafford, forcing a televised replay to be played at St James Park. This matchup against Manchester United in the cup proved invaluable to Exeter and allowed them to pay off their remaining debt. (By the way, the FA has since done away with most of these replays, since the bigger clubs don’t like them.)

One of the outcomes of all that chaos, though, was that the Exeter City Supporters’ Trust bought the club in 2003, and they own it to this day, making the club one of the earliest and longest-running examples of fan ownership in English football.

After failing to advance through the play-offs the previous season, Exeter finally made it through in 2008. This victory promoted Exeter to League Two and got them back into the Football League for the first time since 2003. The very next year Exeter finished second in League Two to earn promotion back to League One. Exeter spent 3 seasons in League One before being relegated, but they have recently made it back to League One.

They had a nice run in last season’s FA Cup, getting four home games and winning the first three before losing to Premier League Nottingham Forest on penalties.

2024–25 SEASON: 6th in League One, 4th Round FA Cup, 1st Round League Cup

2025–26 SEASON: League One (promoted in 2022)

Exeter City’s main rivals are Plymouth Argyle, with matches being played against the two known as West Country Derbies. That one is back on for this season after Plymouth’s relegation from the Championship. Exeter also share a West Country Derby with rivals Torquay United, although the two have not met in league play since 2014.

Exeter City does have a women’s team called Exeter City Women FC. The club was formed in 1997 as Elmore Eagles LFC, but merged with Exeter City in 2001, resulting in the club’s name change. They currently play in the FA Women’s National League South, with some games at St. James Park and the rest at Coach Road in Newton Abbott.

Nothing that jumped out at us.

Exeter City have played at their home, St James Park, since the founding of the club over 100 years ago! Over the years St James Park has gone through a number of renovations, including a 2016 renovation that replaced the over 90 year old main stand. This replacement of the main stand brought the total capacity to 8,219.

Its best known feature is the Big Bank, which was rebuilt in 2000 and, at 3,960 capacity, is the largest standing-only terrace left in the Football League.

Both stands on the sides are modern, comfortable rebuilds; away fans are in an old-fashioned terrace opposite the Big Bank.

TOURS: Exeter City also offers free stadium tours the morning of each home matchday. Tours start at 11 AM and allow you to view the dressing rooms, Hospitality Suites, Directors lounge, Museum Room and the Security Center.

GETTING THERE: St. James Park train station is just minutes from the ground and served by trains from Exeter Central and Exeter St. David’s, the the main stations you will arrive at from out of town. It’s also a pleasant 20-minute walk from the center to the ground.

PUBS: There is a big pub next to the ground called The Park, abut at this writing it seemed to have been closed. Check up on it if you go. Next to that is a large “fan zone” with the usual food carts and another bar called The Centre Spot. That’s also where the club shop is located. In town, there are several lovely pubs, most famously the Turks Head, which claims a history of 700 years, and the Ship Inn, where Sir Francis Drake carved his name on the wall in 1857. 

GRUB: The usual fare at the ground, plus many options in town, from chains to the historic pubs to plenty of options in the walkable city center. Paul had a lovely meal at the Fat Pig Freehouse.

AROUND TOWN: Exeter’s history stretches back to Roman times, and its cathedral was founded in the 11th Century. The current building was completed around 1400 and is spectacular inside and out. The city centre, while largely rebuilt after World War II, retains many very old buildings and much of its medieval charm; today it’s filled with shops and places to eat and drink. Also well worth a visit is the redeveloped Exeter Quay, where numerous bars and restaurants line the river and canal, canoes can be rented, and a manual ferry is still in operation.