History of Exeter City F.C.

It will not, I think, be questioned by the staunchest supporter of Exeter that the Saints proved themselves a distinctly smarter and more scientific side in the game which ended in their favour by three goals to nil.

In August 1903, St. Sidwell's United, who had the previous season been crowned Junior champions and had beaten 'Rest of the League' 10–2, began training at St James Park.

[5] City failed to win any honours during their initial seven-year spell in the Southern League,[5] but when both Nottingham Forest and Southampton turned down the Football Association's request to tour South America, the Grecians were asked to fill in.

[6] In February 1914, The Herald reported that City had agreed to "£20 for each member of the party with first class return fare and all hotel and travelling expenses for account of the AFA" to go on tour, the same terms offered to Tottenham Hotspur.

Club chairman Michael McGahey, directors Fred Parkhouse and George Middleweek (who paid for his own trip) and their wives, and fifteen players set sail in May 1914.

McGahey was introduced to two Fluminense officials, Mário Pernambuco (of the Ground Committee) and Marcondes Ferraz (a board member), who, together with Harry Robinson, suggested that City break their return trip in Rio by staying five days and playing three matches.

We accordingly all boarded a tram-car, with the sergeant and policeman in charge of us and the fellow who had complained.Once both sides had been heard, the 'Commissioner of Police' dismissed the complaint and the travelling party made it to the ship in time.

This game was marred by a bizarre incident however, as when City took the lead Racing Club's secretary threatened the referee with a revolver, attempting to persuade him to send off Lagan (who had kicked Ochoa in the stomach, meaning he had to be carried off).

However, the Rosario League Committee had not been consulted and refused to accept the arrangements, resenting the fact that their game would be the day after one of the main fixtures of the tour and claiming that City would not be able to produce their best form.

This game saw many changes to City's XI, with trainer Charlie Pratt having to play in goal due to an injury to Dick Pym and Reg Loram having influenza.

[4] Newspapers in Argentina were left disappointed with City's performances during the tour, Tribuna describing them as "the most mediocre team of professionals sent out by the FA from the home of football", and the Buenos Aires Herald complaining that the Grecians were not "sufficiently superior".

[4] When the idea of playing three extra matches was discussed with McGahey on 8 June, what Harry Robinson and the Fluminense officials had in mind were games involving players based in Rio de Janeiro.

[9] City achieved their highest ever league position in this period, finishing runners-up in 1933, but the fact that there was only one promotion place at the time meant the club remained in the division.

[13] The cup run inspired the name for the 1931 Fund, which was set up in 2009 with the purpose of financing an additional member of the first team squad, who wears the number 31 shirt.

The Grecians were losing 2–1 at the time, and when the referee tried to restart the match with only half of the floodlights working, City fans invaded the pitch and sat in the goalmouth.

[5] On 26 April 1997, illusionist Uri Geller attempted to use psychic energy (by placing crystals by the goalposts) to help the club beat Chester City.

On 14 June 2002, singer Patti Boulaye, magician David Blaine and Michael Jackson attended an event at St James Park in which the latter spoke about AIDS and Malaria.

John Cornforth, Eamonn Dolan (as caretaker), Neil McNab and Gary Peters all managed the club during the season, as City were relegated to the Conference.

[53] City lost 2–0 in the televised replay at St James Park 11 days later, Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney scoring the goals.

[56] The adoption of the plan brought with it a boardroom shake-up which saw chairman Dr David Treharne replaced by Denise Watts (who was also chairwoman of the Supporters' Trust).

[9] Inglethorpe's last action as City manager was to sign Adam Stansfield from newly promoted Hereford United,[59] before leaving for Tottenham Hotspur as youth coach.

[80] City retained their League One status on the final day of the 2009–10 season, with Ryan Harley scoring an 82nd-minute winner in a 2–1 win over Huddersfield Town.

[9] In a 2020 interview with The Coaches' Voice -in which he also mistakenly claimed that the Grecians "had never finished in the top third of League One"- Tisdale explained how the club had decided to disregard its business model during the 2010–11 season due to "a chance for a once-in-a-generation achievement",[82] recalling: "We missed out on the playoffs by one point, and the next year we plummeted.

[...] To this day, I still maintain it was the right decision".The return trip to Brazil in 2014 could not have come at a worse time from the club's perspective, having been placed under a transfer embargo for taking out a loan of £100,000 from the PFA on 3 June.

[86] City were later able to permanently sign loanees Ryan Harley, David Noble and Alex Nicholls;[87] whilst also adding Clinton Morrison and Tom McCready to the squad.

[113] City came from behind to beat Os TF 4–1 on 16 July, with goals from Elliott Frear, Tom Nichols, Callum McNish and Daniel Nardiello.

[113] On 17 July, City rounded off their tour with a 1–1 draw against Follese Fotballklubb, Nardiello having a goal disallowed before Jake Gosling equalised for the Grecians.

[114] Talking about the trip, then club captain Scot Bennett said: "I know bits and bobs, I've read a lot in the newspapers recently, learning what the game was all about, with Exeter playing Brazil a hundred years ago and being the first team to do that.

[131] Taylor also brought about a reshuffle of the playing squad ahead of the season, with eight players signing for the club -most notably Nicky Ajose, Nigel Atangana and Tom Parkes- and nine leaving -most notably Hiram Boateng joining Tisdale at MK Dons,[132] Christy Pym leaving for Peterborough United[133] and Jay Stansfield, son of Adam, signing for Fulham[134]- whilst Jonathan Forte was forced to retire due to a knee injury he picked up the previous season.

[135] The club were in fourth place in the league when the EFL suspended matches due to the COVID-19 pandemic,[136] having controversially lost their final game before the suspension 3–1 against Walsall.