The Grecians, along with Shrewsbury Town, were of course the clubs we and Doncaster Rovers replaced in the Football League in 2003, so we missed them again. Exeter were something of a joke around that period, in financial chaos, embarrassing associations with Uri Geller and Michael Jackson, and falling into the hands of John Russell and Mike Lewis. Both had previous of ruining other clubs, and eventually Russell received a prison term and Lewis a community service sentence for their fraudulent activities at St James Park.

However, back to the beginning. Exeter City were formed in 1904 out of two earlier clubs in the area, St Sidwell's United and Exeter United, and set up home at St James Park at the same time. They joined the East Devon League, and their first ever match was a 2-1 win against 110th Battery of the Royal Artillery (you don't get clubs like that today). Winning the East Devon League at something of a canter, the next season they moved up to the Plymouth & District League where they spent three years. In 1908 the club turned professional, and was elected into the Southern League to replace Tottenham Hotspur who had in turn moved into the Football League despite finishing seventh. Exeter's first season in the Southern League was a pretty impressive sixth, and they also racked up what still remains their record victory, a 14-0 demolition of our Weymouth friends (so worth mentioning) in an F.A. Cup First Qualifying Round. However that was as good as it got in the SL, and from then until football was suspended for the Great War the Grecians were generally a mediocre outfit treading water in the middle of the pack. It was during this period that they abandoned their green and white kit, deciding it was 'unlucky', and adopted the red and white striped shirts they wear today. In 1914 they made their famous tour of South America and are reputed to be the first ever opponents played by the newly formed Brazil national side.

Once football resumed in 1919-1920 they were back in the Southern League and back finishing mid-table. At the end of that season they were one of the twenty-two clubs invited to form Football League Division Three, finishing 19th. When Division Three South and Division Three North were set up for the following campaign it goes without saying Exeter found themselves in the former. The Grecians were to remain in Division Three South throughout its existence, a runners-up spot in 1932-33 being the only bright spot in four decades of mid-table finishes interspersed by six re-elections. Ahead of the Football League restructuring of 1958 they finished bottom and thus ended up in the new Fourth Division.

In 1963-64 Exeter, rather out of the blue since their previous three seasons had been fairly dire and required yet another re-election, finished 4th and so got promoted to the Third Division. They lasted two seasons before retreating into the basement for another eleven campaigns. The mid Seventies and into the early Eighties was the club's best spell to date. A runners-up spot in 1976-77 saw them then sustain Division Three status for seven seasons.

They were relegated to the Fourth Division again in 1984 and had the dubious honour of being one of the final clubs to be re-elected in 1986, after which that system was scrapped. Again somewhat out of the blue, after several seasons of stuggle, Exeter suddenly won the Fourth Division, the first title since that East Devon League one back in their founding season. Relegated in 1993-94 the next season saw them about to go out of the Football League when they finished 92nd, only to be saved at the eleventh hour when Conference Champions Macclesfield Town were deemed not to have a suitable ground. Year after year of lower mid-table followed until fate finally caught up with them in the season the Football League and the Conference agreed two up / two down for the first time and they inconveniently finished 23rd. This time there were no supposed ground issues to save them and the Grecians were back in Non-League.

It took the club five seasons to get back out, and it was ex-Glover Paul Tisdale who did the trick, managing them to a losing Play-off Final against Morecambe in 2006-07 but returning to Wembley the following year to defeat Cambridge United. Last term this became back-to-back promotions when Exeter finished runners-up to Brentford.

Exeter used to have a rather different mascot from the norm, but all we'll see is a stupid looking lion :

Grecian the Lion v Athena (Rachel Wherry)

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RECENT RESULTS

30/01/2010	Milton Keynes Dons	Away	CCL1	D	1-1	8740		Corr 90
06/02/2010	Southampton	Home	CCL1	D	1-1	7654		Taylor 49
13/02/2010	Millwall	Away	CCL1	L	0-1	9104
20/02/2010	Stockport County	Home	CCL1	L	0-1	4990
27/02/2010	Brighton and Hove Albion	Away	CCL1	L	0-2	6952
06/03/2010	Oldham Athletic	Home	CCL1	D	1-1	4997		Harley 60

FORTHCOMING FIXTURES

CLUB GOALSCORERS

Name	LGE	FAC	FAT	LGC	CC	Total
Adam Stansfield	7	1	0	0	0	8
Ryan Harley	7	0	0	0	0	7
Barry Corr	3	2	0	0	0	5
Stuart Fleetwood	2	0	0	1	0	3
Richard Logan	3	0	0	0	0	3
Matthew Taylor	2	0	0	0	0	2
Marcus Stewart	2	0	0	0	0	2
Bertrand Cozic	2	0	0	0	0	2
Craig Noone	2	0	0	0	0	2
Richard Duffy	1	0	0	0	0	1
James Dunne	1	0	0	0	0	1
Steve Tully	1	0	0	0	0	1
Alex Russell	1	0	0	0	0	1
Own Goals	1	0	0	0	0	1

ATTENDANCE STATISTICS

Highest League Attendance: 8549, vs Leeds United, 16/01/2010
Lowest League Attendance: 4106, vs Carlisle United, 26/01/2010
Average League Attendance: 5644

CURRENT LEAGUE SEQUENCE STATISTICS

Games Without A Win:	8		Games Without A Home Win:	4
Games Without An Away Win:	8		Games Without Defeat:	1
Games Without A Home Defeat:	1		Games Without An Away Defeat:	0
Games Without A Draw:	0		Games Without A Score Draw:	0
Games Without A No-Score Draw:	34		Games Without Scoring:	0
Games Without Conceding:	0		Home Results Sequence:	DWLDLD
Away Results Sequence:	LLLDLL		Overall Results Sequence:	DDLLLD

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Approaching via the A303 / A30, go past Exeter Airport and under the M5 bridge (J29). Carry straight on at the next set of lights, past the Met Office on your right to the next roundabout. Straight across this roundabout to the next set of lights (T Junction). Turn right at these lights then follow directions for the City Centre and the subsequently the stadium as detailed above.

Parking

Parking at the stadium is limited and therefore reserved for staff, visiting directors and sponsors. Most of the streets around St James Park are reserved for residents and permit holders only. According to the Exeter end this is vigorously enforced. Penalty charges range from £50 to £70.

The nearest council car park is Belmont Road. It's open 24 hours, but is tiny so unless you arrive very early and are very very lucky....... More realistic is the multi-storey King William Street with 730 spaces. Although normally closed at 9.00 p.m don't panic if you've returned and it looks locked up: the entrance/exit off Leighton Terrace is kept open until 11.00 p.m. when City have evening matches. Other car parks within an easy walk are: Triangle (24 hours, 288 spaces) and Howell Road (24 hours, 322 spaces). All the council car parks become free of charge after 6.00 p.m. so you might time your arrival accordingly if that concerns you.

The landlord of the Victoria Inn (see below) states the area around Victoria Street / Union Road has a mixture of two hour metered bays and resident slots that will empty as its mainly a student area and they will all be away for the summer. Whether you sufficiently trust the added claim that the local wardens have an unofficial stance of leniency on matchdays we leave entirely up to you. To be honest, we probably wouldn't......

By Rail

The stadium is adjacent to St James Park Station. This is roughly half way between Exeter St David's and Exeter Central and served by a 'branch line' starting at Exeter St David's and ending at Exmouth. There is one train after the match that allows you to get back to Yeovil the same might from the St James Park Station: take the 22.27 to Exeter Central, where your connection is the 22.34, arriving Yeovil Junction at 23.31. Given the walk from St James Park Station to Exeter Central is only ten to fifteen minutes, you might decide it's not worth hanging around post match for a mere two minute connecting train journey, and head straight to Exeter Central after the game where you'll probably be able to fit in a drink in the vicinity while waiting for the 22.34. Alternatively you can pick the same train up at Exeter St David's at 22.30, but that station is a longer walk from the ground, 15 to 20 minutes, than Central.

For the journey down South West Trains run roughly one train an hour throughout the morning and one every two hours in the afternoon from Yeovil Junction to Exeter Central and Exeter St David's. Journey time is just under or just over the hour. If you're not planning to spend the bulk of the day in Exeter the 16.37 (arrives Exeter Central 17.33) is the latest service that will allow you to make the start of the match.

By Bus

The main Bus Station is only about five mintes walk away from the ground. St James Park Stadium is close enough to the city centre that buses probably won't be a concern, but should you want one the services running closest past the stadium are the B, E and F1/2. A bus route map can be found here.

By Taxi

A selection of Exeter taxi companies can be found here.

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Club Bar :

Exeter City's Social Club at the ground is normally open to away fans. Inside the stadium food is the usual football ground fare.

Local Pubs :

When I first knew Exeter there was at least one pub that only served cider, and there weren't many that didn't have a barrel of the real stuff somewhere on the premises. Those days are long gone, but there are still a reasonable number of outlets around the city where a decent pint can be found, amongst them: Double Locks (Gray's Devon Farmhouse) - sadly, although one of the best pubs, at three and a half miles from the ground, too far to get a write up; First'n'Last (Thatchers Heritage and Taunton Traditional); Old Firehouse (Winkleigh Sam's Dry and Thatchers); Well House Tavern (Rich's Medium Farmhouse). If beer is your preference over cider, there are plenty of small local breweries in Devon, and one in Exeter itself: The Exeter Brewery.

Bowling Green: Standard old style boozer with the advantage of being five or six minutes walk from the stadium (a bit further for the away end). Has some unidentified real ale, a beer garden, juke box, pool table. Live music on a Saturday night. Bowling Green, 29-30, Blackboy Road, Exeter, Devon, EX4 6ST. Tel: 01392 422527. Map: Click Here.

Great Western Hotel: As Brunel did nothing on a small scale this is not a little place. Has two bars on different levels and a restaurant. Only 150 yards from Exeter St David's Station it is most useful for those alighting there. It's then about 20 minutes walk to the stadium. Opening is 10.00 a.m. to midnight seven days a week. There are up to fourteen real ales on at a time, with Branscombe Vale Branoc, Dartmoor Jail Ale, O'Hanlon's Yellowhammer and Original Port Stout and Fuller's London Pride regulars. Food is served all day. Disabled, child and dog friendly. Has an outside smoking area. Great Western Hotel, St David's Station Approach, Exeter, Devon, EX4 4NU. Tel: 01392 274039. Website: Click Here. Map: Click Here.

Imperial: Huge Wetherspoon - one of four in the city - close by Exeter St David's Railway Station, which makes it a 20 minute walk from St James Park, converted from the old Imperial Hotel in 1996. Has the usual strengths and weaknesses of that chain. Wide range of ales, with more effort than some in the stable make to source local beers. The majority of Wetherspoon pubs do a real cider these days, and this one's no exception. It will probably be Weston's, which is what the chain mostly dispenses though you do see other varieties occasionally. Large beer garden, and a number of distinct drinking areas inside. Standard Wetherspoon menu served all day. Opening is 9.00 a.m. - midnight Sunday to Thursday, 9.00 a.m. - 1.00 a.m. Friday and Saturday. Imperial, New North Road, Exeter, Devon, EX4 4AH. Tel: 01392 434050. Map: Click Here.

Old Firehouse: Close by Exeter Central Railway Station and the main Bus Station and about ten minutes walk from St James Park. Opening is officially noon - 3.00 p.m. and 5.00 p.m - 2.00 a.m. weekdays, noon - 3.00 p.m. and 5.00 p.m. - 3.00 a.m. Saturday, and noon - 1.00 a.m Sunday (though reports from customers suggest opening times, especially for the earlier parts of the day, can be somewhat random and it rarely seems to be open Saturday lunchtime for example). That said, when punters do manage to get inside reports are almost universally glowing. The pub spreads across three floors and food is served lunch times and in the evening. Very reasonably priced as it goes for the student market in term time, but should be relatively free of tax dodgers in the holidays. There are two house real ales, Sharp's Doom Bar and Wychwood Hobgoblin, and two changing guests, usually from local West Country breweries. Live music features on Saturday and Sunday nights. Beer garden for smokers and others. Old Firehouse, 50, New North Road, Exeter, Devon, EX4 4EP. Tel: 01392 277279. Map: Click Here.

Victoria Inn: Other side of St James Park from the city centre, across the railway line. A recent change of management, and the new team are getting good reviews. Clearly making an effort to build trade as the landlord, Ben, posted a number of messages on the Green Room welcoming Yeovil fans to sample his hospitality. Does real ale and good cheap food. A Tony Fort on Duncan Adams' generally very good Football Ground Guide also recommends this pub, but claims it's fifteen minutes from the stadium. Without wishing to cast aspersions, he either got lost or was staggeringly (pun intended) drunk. The landlord says two minutes but I'd give it five. Well used by home fans, but no issues. Victoria Inn, 36, Victoria Street, Exeter, Devon, EX4 6JQ. Tel: 01392 477740. Map: Click Here.

Well House Tavern: Fifteen minutes walk to the ground. The pub is attached to the Royal Clarence Hotel. Food is served lunchtimes from noon to 2.30 p.m. The pub and hotel are owned by renown chef Michael Caines, but as he owns at least half a dozen venues scattered all round the country it's not that likely he'll be on site frying your chips. Otter Bitter is the house ale, with three changing guests. There's Rich's Medium Farmhouse Scrumpy for those that like their real cider, and Becks Vier, Grolsch, Skinners Cornish Lager, Worthingtons, Guinness and Old English Cider for keg drinkers. Prices are at the more expensive end of the market but not outrageous. Currently O'Hanlon's Yellowhammer is on a special offer at £2.00 a pint between 5.00 p.m. and 7.00 p.m. Nowhere to smoke except the street. Opening times are: 11.00 a.m. - 11.00 p.m. Monday to Thursday; 11.00 a.m. - midnight Friday and Saturday; noon - 10.30 p.m. Sunday. Well House Tavern, 16-17, Cathedral Yard, Exeter, Devon, EX1 1HD. Tel: 01392 223611. Website: Click Here. Map: Click Here.

Wells Tavern: Closest pub to the stadium, in fact right by it, but reports are that away fans are welcome and there are no issues. Was the Brook Green Tavern until very recently, but has had a name change. As it was being deliberately run down and under threat of closure by the previous owning brewery this suggests it has now been sold on. Presuming it is under new ownership we're not sure how much of the following remains valid. Opening: 4.00 p.m. - 12.30 a.m. Monday to Wednesday; 4.00 p.m. - 1.30 a.m. Thursday and Friday; noon - 1.30 a.m. Saturday; 11.00 a.m. - 12.30 a.m. Sunday. Did up to six real ales. Small garden for smokers and others. Wells Tavern, 31, Well Street, Exeter, Devon, EX4 6QL. Tel: 01392 495699. Map: Click Here.

Likelihood the Natives Will Understand You :

Tis proper West Countree m' luvver.

Top-Tip :

If you're not working make a day of it. Exeter's not a bad city. Not exactly cosmopolitan on a World scale, but in West Country terms it's big and sophisticated enough to have abandoned witch trials and smocks while being small enough that most things are accessible with a stroll.

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[No responsibilty is taken for any inaccuracies. This page is entirely the product of bias and prejudice.]

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