Exeter City
Once again we meet an old foe in Exeter City, who came runners up to Forest Green Rovers in last season’s League Two campaign.
Including last season’s league encounters, the sides have now met in 80 games, 28 of which have ended in draws, with Rovers and The Grecians both winning 26.
We met twice at St James’ Park last season, once in the League and once in the League Trophy, being humbled on both occasions. Following a 4-1 loss in the league, there was a 5-3 defeat in the Trophy. It was after the league defeat that manager Joe Barton said he thought his Rovers side could win promotion; that was last August and few of those present when he uttered those words really believed him. How he proved us all wrong!
By the time Exeter visited The Mem for the return fixture, in February this year, both sides were hoping for at least a play off place come the end of the season. That game ended in a 1-1 draw, watched by a crowd of 9,689 and, as we now know, we both gained automatic promotion.
Our first meetings took place in the inaugural Third Division campaign of 1920/21 when Rovers were 5-0 winners on May 2nd 1921 (even back then it was a date to remember!) though Exeter gained their revenge with a 1-0 win at their ground just five days later.
The win against The Grecians at The Mem in 2016 is the one that stands out for me. Needing a win to maintain a push for an automatic promotion spot, Darrell Clarke’s side eventually eased to a 3-1 win thanks to goals from Billy Bodin, Lee Brown and Matty Taylor in front of a crowd of 10,254.
As for disappointments, look no further than the opening day of the 2013/14 season when John Ward’s side lost 2-1 at St James’ Park. Former Rovers defender Danny Coles gave Exeter the lead, future Exeter player Eliot Richards equalised and Sam Parkin scored a winner for the Grecians in front of a crowd of 5,196.
On a bright, sunny day down in Devon, it seemed obvious, even on that first day, that Rovers would struggle to do anything other than finish mid table. Relegation at the end of that campaign, and with 50 points, came as quite a shock at the season’s end.
Players to have played for both clubs are many and, when you study the following names, you could easily choose a couple of decent sides, so here goes; Pat Baldwin, Frankie Bennett, Hiram Boateng, Ryan Brunt, Ian Davies, Jamie Cureton, Danny Coles, Peter Cawley, Wayne Carlisle, Brian Doyle, Richard Dryden, Rhys Evans, Richard Evans, Gerry Francis, Joe Gadston, Brian Gayle, Matt Gill, Jake Gosling, Bert Hoyle, Lee Hodges, Ian Hamilton, Alan Gow, David Lee, Aidan McCaffery, David Mehew, Kevin Miller, Trevor Morgan, Tom Nichols, Eliot Richards, Frankie Prince, Graeme Power, Dick Plumb, Martin Phillips, Tom Parkes, Mark O’Connor, Phil Roberts, Gary Sawyer, Liam Sercombe, Marcus Stewart, Robbie Turner, Lee Zabek, Danny Woodards, Graham Withey and Adam Virgo.
Gerry Francis, as well as playing for both clubs, has also managed both. Paul Tisdale played for, and managed Exeter and also managed Rovers, while Paul Buckle played for Exeter and managed Rovers.
Former Rovers’ goalkeeping coaches Len Bond and Stuart Naylor both played for Exeter, while Wayne Carlisle, who played for both clubs, is now part of the management team at St James’ Park.
Post war Rovers players who have made their debut against Exeter include; Edward Parsons, Michael Tippett (both 1949/50), Ken Ronaldson (1965/66), Steve Bailey, Errington Kelly (both 1981/82), Ian McLean, Dave Pritchard (both 1993/94), Neil Ross, James Quinn, James Thomas (all 2001/02), Tom Eaves, Derek Riordan (both 2012/13), Shaquille Hunter (2013/14) and Rory Gaffney (2015/16).
Next season sees Rovers travel to St James Park on 1st October, with the return fixture being played at The Mem on 29th December.
Distance from the Memorial Stadium to St James’ Park, which has a capacity of 8,541, is a round trip of 164 miles.
Exeter City FC
St James Park
Stadium Way
Exeter
EX4 6PX
Keith Brookman
(all photos courtesy of Keith Brookman)