Exeter City Football Club is a professional association football club based in Exeter, Devon, England. The club competes in EFL League Two, the fourth tier of English football, following relegation in the 2025-26 season. 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.[3] As a result, City and Brazilian side Fluminense are now also partner clubs.[4] 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 gewann in der Saison 1989/90 unter Trainer Terry Cooper die erste Meisterschaft und stieg als Meister der Vierten Liga auf . Nach dem Abstieg 1994 verlor der Verein am Ende der Saison 2002/03 seinen Status in der Football League . Fünf Spielzeiten verbrachte er in der Conference und erholte sich von der Niederlage im Play-off-Finale 2007, um im darauffolgenden Jahr den Aufstieg über die Play-offs zu schaffen . Trainer Paul Tisdale baute auf diesem Erfolg auf und führte Exeter in der Saison 2008/09 zum Aufstieg aus der League Two . Drei Spielzeiten lang hielt sich Exeter in der League One . Nach der Rückkehr in die League Two im Jahr 2012 scheiterte der Verein unter Matt Taylor 2017 , 2018 und zuletzt 2020 im Play-off-Finale . Am Ende der Saison 2021/22 gelang der direkte Aufstieg in die League One, doch nach der Saison 2025/26 stieg Exeter wieder in die League Two ab.

Geschichte

Frühgeschichte

Ein Mannschaftsfoto von Exeter City aus den Jahren 1907–08

Exeter City FC entstand aus den beiden Vorgängervereinen Exeter United FC und St. Sidwell's United . Exeter United war ein Fußballverein aus Exeter, Devon, der von 1890 bis 1904 spielte. 1904 verlor Exeter United mit 1:3 gegen den Lokalrivalen St. Sidwell's United. Nach dem Spiel wurde beschlossen, dass die beiden Vereine fusionieren sollten. Die neue Mannschaft nannte sich Exeter City und trug ihre Heimspiele weiterhin im St. James's Park aus, dem Stadion von Exeter United, wo Exeter City auch heute noch spielt. Exeter United ging aus der gleichnamigen Cricketmannschaft hervor und war einer der ersten Fußballvereine mit dem Beinamen „United“. St. Sidwell's United (auch bekannt als St. Sidwell's Wesleyans und St. Sidwell's Old Boys) war ein Verein, der sich aus den Stammgästen des Foresters Inn in der Sidwell Street in Exeter zusammensetzte, obwohl das Gasthaus schon immer als Drum and Monkey bekannt war. Die Mannschaft spielte in den alten Vereinsfarben Grün und Weiß von St. Sidwell. [ 5 ]

Die Mannschaft, die 1914 gegen die brasilianische Nationalmannschaft spielte

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 match played by Exeter City in Rio de Janeiro during its South American tour of 1914

A wooden grandstand was erected, and the club entered into a leasing arrangement over the ground.[6] 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.[5]

City made an historic tour of South America in 1914, during which time it played eight matches against teams of Argentina and Brazil.[7] 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.[8]

Football League (1920–2003)

Exeter City vs Altrincham, a Conference National fixture played on 19 August 2006

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.[8][9] 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.[10] Fifty years later, City reached the sixth round again, but lost 2–0 to eventual winners Tottenham Hotspur.[11] 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.[8]

Die späten 1970er und frühen 1980er Jahre gelten als Citys erfolgreichste Zeit in der dritten Liga. Dazu zählen ein achter Platz in der Saison 1979/80 und die Teilnahme am FA Cup in der darauffolgenden Saison. Zu den Starspielern gehörten Tony Kellow , John Delve und David Pullar . 1990 gewann der Verein seinen ersten großen Titel mit dem Gewinn der Meisterschaft in der vierten Liga. [ 12 ] In dieser Saison gewann City 20 Ligaspiele im St. James' Park und blieb in 31 Heimspielen ungeschlagen. Darunter waren dramatische Unentschieden gegen Norwich City in der dritten Runde des FA Cups und gegen Sunderland in der vierten Runde des Ligapokals , in denen die Gäste jeweils in der Schlussphase den Ausgleich erzielten. [ 13 ] Nach diesem Aufstieg konnte City in der höheren Liga nur selten glänzen. Der Abgang von Trainer Terry Cooper und Schlüsselspielern wie Shaun Taylor, Richard Dryden, Clive Whitehead, Brian McDermott und Steve Neville stellte den neuen Trainer Alan Ball vor die schwierige Aufgabe, die Mannschaft wieder aufzubauen. Unter dem ehemaligen Weltmeister gab es einige Erfolge – darunter beide Siege gegen den Lokalrivalen Plymouth in den ersten Derbys der beiden Vereine seit zehn Jahren in der Saison 1992/93 [ 14 ] –, doch Ball wechselte im Januar 1994 zu Southampton , und der zurückkehrende Cooper konnte Exeter nicht vor dem Abstieg bewahren. [ 15 ]

Zurück in der untersten Liga kämpfte City fast ein Jahrzehnt lang ums Überleben. Der Vorsitzende Ivor Doble führte den Verein in die Insolvenzverwaltung und löste damit eine Reihe von Ereignissen aus, die schließlich zum Verkauf des Stadions führten. [ 8 ] Im November 1994 stand der Verein kurz vor dem Aus und verkaufte sein Stadion für 650.000 £ an Beazer , konnte aber nach der Übernahme durch die Stadtverwaltung dort bleiben. [ 16 ] Nach fast zwei Jahren am Rande des Abgrunds verließ der Verein am 1. August 1996 die Insolvenzverwaltung, obwohl die sportlichen Probleme noch lange nicht gelöst waren. [ 6 ] [ 8 ] 2003 belegte City den 23. Platz in der dritten Liga und stieg in die Conference National ab ; Exeter war der erste Verein, der ohne Tabellenletzten direkt abstieg. [ 8 ] City gewann sein letztes Spiel gegen Southend United mit 1:0, stieg aber dennoch ab, da Swansea Citys Sieg über Hull City den Grecians einen Punkt hinter dem rettenden Ufer zurückließ. [ 17 ]

Konferenzära (2003–2008)

The starting line-up for the Conference Premier play-off final win against Cambridge United on 18 May 2008, resulting in promotion to the Football League.

Following relegation to the Conference, the club was taken over by the Exeter City Supporters' Trust, purchasing a majority shareholding on 5 September 2003.[18] In May 2007 two of the Directors who had been in charge during season 2002–2003 were convicted of fraudulent trading at the club,[19] John Russell receiving a prison sentence and Mike Lewis a community service sentence.[20] 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.[21] The claim was finally dropped in June 2004.[22]

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,[23] 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[24] — 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.[25]

The Exeter team celebrates after the 2008 Conference National playoff final win.

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.[26] 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,[27] where they lost 2–1 despite taking an early lead.[28] 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.[29] 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.[30]

Return to the Football League (2008–present)

Chart of yearly performance of Exeter City in the Football League

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.[31] 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.[32]

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.[33] As a result, their next fixture against Dagenham & Redbridge on 14 August was postponed as a mark of respect.[34] Exeter recovered well, however, and finished 8th in the league that season, one point off a playoff spot.[35] 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.[36]

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.[37] At the end of the 2012–13 campaign, poor funds and lack of income led to an unfortunate squad trim.[38][39] In the following season, Exeter finished in 16th.[40]

In pre-season, the club went on a short tour in Brazil to commemorate 100 years since they played the Brazil National Football Team.[41] 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.[42][43][44] 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.[45] The Grecians finished tenth in League Two in 2014–15, their play-off push just falling short in the final few weeks.[46][47] 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.

Exeter City warming up at Estádio das Laranjeiras ahead of their pre-season friendly against Fluminense U23s in 2014

In the 2016–17 season, City started badly, and were bottom of the league by November.[48] However, a turnaround in form saw Exeter finish 5th in the league, and earn a play-off spot.[49] 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.[50] 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.[51]

In the 2017–18 season, they reached the play-off final, again being on the losing side, this time against Coventry.[52] 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.[53] On 26 April 2022, Exeter gained promotion to the EFL League One following a 2–1 win over Barrow at St James Park[54] and went onto finish the 2021–22 EFL League Two season in second place.[55]

Nickname

The club is nicknamedThe 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".[56] 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.[57]

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.[57] 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.[57]

Supporters and rivalries

Famous fans

Famous fans include David Earl, Coldplay frontman Chris Martin,[58]Adrian Edmondson,[59]Noel Edmonds, swimmer Liam Tancock,[60] 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.[61][62]

In 2002 pop singer Michael Jackson was made honorary director of Exeter City.[63] He visited St James Park with celebrity friend Uri Geller, who was also a director.[64] The crew of HMS Defender (D36) also adopted Exeter City as their home team and use their strip when playing games.[65]

Rivalries

A survey conducted by Football Fans Census in 2003 revealed that Exeter City supporters consider their main rival to be Plymouth Argyle.[66] The two clubs first met in a competitive fixture in 1908 when both sides were in the Southern League,[67] 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.[66] 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.[68] Matches between the three clubs are known as Devon derbies.[69][70] 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.[71]

Players

Current squad

As of 9 June 2026[72]

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
4 DF WALEd Turns
5 DF ENGJack Fitzwater
9 FW ENGJayden Wareham
11 FW ENGAndrew Oluwabori
12 MF ENGReece Cole
15 DF ENGJohnly Yfeko
19 FW ENGSonny Cox
20 DF ENGLuca Woodhouse
23 GK ENGJack Bycroft
26 DF IRLPierce Sweeney(captain)
No.Pos.Nation Player
31 MF IRLJake Doyle-Hayes
32 GK ENGFrankie Phillips
33 MF ENGTom Dean
34 MF ENGLiam Oakes
37 FW SCOKieran Wilson
40 DF WALEd James
41 MF PORPedro Borges
42 MF ENGGeorge Birch
45 MF IRLCharlie Cummins
— MF WALGwion Edwards

Academy

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.[73][74] 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.[75]

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.[8]

Other well-known players include the prolific 1930s striker Fred Whitlow, Arnold Mitchell, who played 495 games for City,[76]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.[77]

David Pleat erzielte zwischen 1968 und 1970 14 Tore für Exeter. Anschließend trainierte er mehrere erfolgreiche Vereine, darunter Tottenham Hotspur , [ 78 ] bevor er als Fußballexperte für ITV und BBC Radio 5 Live tätig wurde. In jüngerer Zeit schafften es die Absolventen der Exeter City Academy, Dean Moxey , George Friend , Matt Grimes , Ethan Ampadu und Ollie Watkins, in die Premier League , während sich Danny Seaborne und Elliott Frear als Stammspieler in der Scottish Premier League etablierten . Ampadu (Sohn des ehemaligen Arsenal- und Exeter-City-Spielers Kwame Ampadu ) gab 2017 sein Debüt in der walisischen Nationalmannschaft und spielte für sein Land bei der UEFA Euro 2020 . Watkins, der während seiner Zeit bei Exeter City zum EFL Young Player of the Season 2017 gewählt wurde und den Verein für eine damalige Rekordablöse verließ [ 79 ] [ 80 ], gab 2021 sein Debüt in der englischen Nationalmannschaft. Jamie Mackie , der von 2005 bis 2008 für die Grecians spielte, absolvierte anschließend 60 Premier-League-Spiele für QPR und kam auf neun Einsätze für Schottland . In einer Umfrage der Professional Footballers' Association (PFA) vom Dezember 2007 wurde Alan Banks von den Fans von Exeter City zum beliebtesten Spieler aller Zeiten gewählt.

Ruhmeshalle

Im Jahr 2014 rief Exeter City – in Zusammenarbeit mit dem Exeter College , dem Heritage Lottery Fund , dem South West Heritage Trust und der ECFCST History Group – die Hall of Fame ins Leben. [ 81 ] Ziel der Hall of Fame ist es, die Leistungen und Beiträge von „echten Legenden“ des Vereins zu würdigen. [ 82 ] [ 83 ]

Folgende Spieler wurden in die Hall of Fame aufgenommen:

Aufgenommen Name Nationalität Position Spielerkarriere Liga Ref
Apps Ziele
2014Alan BanksEnglandFW1963–66, 1967–73258101 [ 82 ]

[ 84 ]

Cliff BastinEnglandFW1928–29176 [ 82 ]

[ 85 ]

Reg ClarkeEnglandMF1927–3731518 [ 82 ]

[ 86 ]

Dermot CurtisRepublic of IrelandFW1963–66, 1967–6915733 [ 82 ]

[ 87 ]

Jimmy GilesEnglandDF1971–75, 1977–8131313 [ 82 ]

[ 88 ]

Tony KellowEnglandFW1976–78, 1980–84, 1985–88332129 [ 82 ]

[ 89 ]

Arnold MitchellEnglandMF1952–6649544 [ 82 ]

[ 90 ]

Dick PymEnglandGK1911–212030 [82]

[91]

2017Peter HatchEnglandDF1973–8234618 [83]

[92]

Graham ReesWalesFW1954–6634585 [83]

[93]

Adam StansfieldEnglandFW2006–1015839 [83]

[94]

Sid ThomasEnglandFW1904–083816 [83]

[95]

Non-playing staff

As of 2 November 2024[96]

Corporate hierarchy

Position Name
Club President, Associate Director of External Affairs Julian Tagg
Exeter City Supporters' Trust and Club Board Chairman Wilf Walsh
Exeter City Supporters' Trust Vice Chairman Laurence Overend
Chief Executive Officer Vacant
General Manager Clive Harrison
Director Julen Beer
Director Tony Badcott
Director Andrew Rothwell
Director Gary Quick
Director David Lee
Director Laurence Overend
Company Secretary John Street

Coaching staff

Position Name
Head coach EnglandMatt Taylor
Assistant Head Coach EnglandKevin Nicholson
Assistant Head Coach England Dan Green
Goalkeeping Coach EnglandKevin Miller
Head of Performance Analysis England Vacant
First-Team Analyst England Alex Mitchell
Club Doctor England Dr. Peter Riou
Head Physiotherapist Scotland Michael McBride
Strength and Conditioning Coach England Tom Yates
Kit Room Lead England Sue Matthews
Matchday Kit Co-Ordinator England Keith Stone
Technical Director England Marcus Flitcroft
Chief Scout EnglandMalcolm Crosby
Scout England Mark Flay
Club Secretary England Andy Gillard

Managerial history

As of match played 3 May 2025[97]
Name From Until Played Won Drawn Lost Win % Honours / Notes
Unknown 1904 1908 —————
EnglandArthur Chadwick1 April 1908[98]31 December 1922 113[99]31 32 50 27.43%
EnglandFred Mavin1 January 1923[98]1 November 1927 209[99]76 41 92 36.36%
ScotlandDave Wilson1 March 1928 1 February 1929 42[100]11 10 21 26.19%
Northern IrelandBilly McDevitt1 February 1929 30 September 1935 295[101]1176611239.66%
EnglandJack English1 October 1935 31 May 1939 168[102]48487228.57%
EnglandGeorge Roughton1 August 1945 1 March 1952 270[103]995511636.67%
EnglandNorman Kirkman1 March 1952 31 March 1953 52[104]14162226.92%
EnglandTim Ward1953 1953 —————
EnglandNorman Dodgin1 April 1953 30 April 1957 199[105]62508731.16%
ScotlandBill Thompson1 May 1957 1 January 1958 28[106]751625%
EnglandFrank Broome1 January 1958 31 May 1960 116[107]48264241.38%
EnglandGlen Wilson1 June 1960 30 April 1962 97[108]27244627.84%
EnglandCyril Spiers1 May 1962 1 February 1963 28[109]741725%
WalesJack Edwards1 February 1963 31 January 1965 102[110]41332840.19%
EnglandEllis Stuttard1 February 1965 1 June 1966 66[111]16193124.24%
EnglandJack Basford1 June 1966 30 April 1967 50[112]15161930%
EnglandFrank Broome1 May 1967 1 February 1969 91[107]23313725.27% Second tenure
EnglandJohnny Newman1 April 1969 21 December 1976 377[113]1389814136.6%
EnglandBobby Saxton1 January 1977 5 January 1979 109[114]45333141.28%
WalesBrian Godfrey1 January 1979 1 June 1983 240[115]88579536.67%
EnglandGerry Francis20 July 1983 14 May 1984 50[116]6162812%
EnglandJim Iley7 June 1984 30 April 1985 47[117]13142027.66%
EnglandColin Appleton1 May 1985 11 December 1987 128[118]35464727.34%
EnglandJohn Delve11 December 1987 8 May 1988 27[119]491414.81%
EnglandTerry Cooper9 May 1988 1 August 1991 157[120]67 26 64 42.68% Fourth Division Champions: 1989–90
EnglandAlan Ball6 August 1991 20 January 1994 135[99]36 43 56 26.67%
EnglandTerry Cooper24 January 1994[121]31 July 1995 69[120]14 16 39 20.29% Second tenure
EnglandPeter Fox1 August 1995 9 January 2000 235[121]69 70 96 29.36%
EnglandNoel Blake10 January 2000 24 September 2001 86[121]20 24 42 23.26%
WalesJohn Cornforth24 September 2001 6 October 2002 54[121]17 14 23 31.48%
Republik IrlandEamonn Dolan6 October 2002 17 October 2002 1[122]0 1 0 0% Caretaker Manager
SchottlandNeil McNab17 October 2002 25 February 2003 26[99]6 8 12 23.08%
EnglandGary Peters25 February 2003 24 May 2003 13[99]5 5 3 38.46%
Republik IrlandEamonn Dolan9 June 2003 7 October 2004 62[122]26 19 17 41.94%
EnglandSteve PerrymanEnglandScott Hiley7 October 2004 18 October 2004 2[123]0 2 0 0% Joint Caretaker Managers
EnglandAlex Inglethorpe18 October 2004 25 June 2006 89[121]44 16 29 49.44% FA Trophy Semi-finalists: 2005–06
EnglandPaul Tisdale26 June 2006 1 June 2018 626[124]241 159 226 38.50% Conference National Play-off Finalists: 2006–07Conference National Play-off Winners: 2007–08League Two Runners-up: 2008–09League Two Manager of the Year: 2009[125]Football League Trophy Area Finalists: 2010–11League TwoPlay-off Finalists: 2016–17, 2017–18
EnglandMatt Taylor1 June 2018 4 October 2022 227[126]100 67 60 44.05% League TwoPlay-off Finalists: 2019–20League Two Runners-up: 2021–22
EnglandKevin NicholsonEnglandJon Hill4 October 2022 24 October 2022 6 3 0 3 50% Joint Caretaker Managers
SchottlandGary Caldwell24 October 2022 Present 142[127]51 32 59 35.92% Current manager

Chairmen

The following have been chairman of the club:[128]

The ConservativeMember of parliament for Exeter, Edgar Vincent, 1st Viscount D'Abernon, was the second chairman of the club
Period Name
1904–05C Fey
1905–06Edgar Vincent, 1st Viscount D'Abernon
1906–08William Fenwick
1907F H Gardner
1908–10Captain F J Harvey
1910–36Michael J. McGahey
1936–42Colonel Frederick Joseph Collymore Hunter
1945–1957Sidney H Thomas
1957–1959Albert Stanley Line
1959–1961George Gillin
1961–67Reg Rose
1967–70Leslie Kerslake
1970–74Fred Dart
1974–82Gerald Vallance
1982–1985Clifford Hill
1985Byron Snell
1985–2002Ivor Doble
2002–03John Lewis †[129]
2002–03Uri Geller†[129][a]
2003–06David Treharne
2006–10Denise Watts
2010-14Edward Chorlton
2014–2020Julian Tagg
2020–2021Richard Pym
2021–2025Nick Hawker
2025Clive Harrison (interim)
2025Richard Pym
2026Laurence Overend (interim)
2026–Wilf Walsh

† 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.[129]

Honours

League

Cup

  • Third Division South Cup
  • 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.[130]
  • East Devon Senior Cup
    • Winners: 1953–54, 1980–81, 1981–82[131]
  • Trowbridge Charity Cup
  • Hospital Cup
  • Bill Slee Cup
  • Brian Lomax Supporters Direct Cup

Club records

See also

References

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