Cobblers Past

History Never Forgotten

  • Founded: 1901
  • Nicknames: The Grecians
  • Honours: League 2 (1989-90)

The Grecians started out in 1901 as St Sidwell’s United. The new club drew on players from Exeter Wesleyan United, which included old boys of St Sidwell’s School among its members. After twice winning the Exeter & District Junior League, St Sidwell’s joined the new East Devon Senior League for the 1903/04 season, taking St James Park as their home ground. 

In November 1910 City wore red and white stripes for the first time, replacing the green and white first worn by St Sidwell’s United in 1901.

Unfortunately, the close-season in 2003 proved to be the most traumatic in the club’s history. Police raided the club and took the chairman, his wife and the vice-chairman for questioning. Debts were mounting and the majority shareholder asked the Exeter City Supporters’ Trust to take over the day to day running of the club.

In June 2006, manager Alex Inglethorpe departed to take over a youth coach position at Tottenham Hotspur and he was replaced at St James Park by Paul Tisdale, who was formerly with Team Bath.

Tisdale transformed the club’s fortunes in his first three seasons in charge.

After failing to agree terms on a new contract ahead of the 2018/19 season, it was decided that Paul would depart the club after 12 years of service and left having provided a number of fantastic memories for all at St James Park.

Paul Tisdale departed Exeter City with the club in good health. After 12 years, Tis, along with former director of football Steve Perryman, left the Grecians in a strong position both on and off the field.

Sam Hoskins scored the winner as Northampton moved into second place in League Two with a hard-fought victory over Leyton Orient at Sixfields.

Hoskins’ scruffy goal late in the first half was enough to secure a fifth successive home win and end Orient’s 11-game unbeaten run.

Home goalkeeper Liam Roberts was busy in the early exchanges as he tipped over a Tom James free-kick and then held onto Aaron Drinan’s rasping shot.

Northampton were kicking with a strong wind in the first half and therefore had the territorial advantage but Orient went close again when Theo Archibald curled narrowly wide.

However, it was the hosts who struck four minutes before half-time when Max Dyche flicked on a long throw and the onrushing Hoskins poked into the bottom corner.

The conditions suited Orient in the second half but they struggled to take advantage, with Alex Mitchell heading their only chance over the crossbar.

Jack Sowerby and Mitch Pinnock could have made the win more comfortable with late chances but one goal was enough.

Harvey Knibbs struck a controversial late winner as Cambridge beat Exeter to reach the FA Cup third round for the first time in five years.

Knibbs headed in Wes Hoolahan’s cross two minutes from the end, but saw it disallowed for offside, only for the goal to then be awarded following Cambridge protests.

The visitors had earlier gone ahead when Jubril Okedina clipped Sam Nombe in the box, with Nombe scoring from the penalty spot after 10 minutes.

Cambridge were level 13 minutes later following good work by James Brophy, and his pull-back was dispatched by Adam May.

Three minutes before the break, Exeter’s Jevani Brown laid the ball off to Archie Collins, whose effort came off the inside of the post.

Cambridge substitute Sam Smith fired a great chance wide 10 minutes from time, then Conor Masterson rattled the post for the hosts before Knibbs, another late replacement, headed the winner.

With Exeter pressing for an equaliser, Cambridge broke and Jensen Weir was felled, only for Joe Ironside’s penalty to be pushed away by Cameron Dawson nine minutes into stoppage-time.

Keith Curle made six changes for the Papa John’s Trophy second round tie at Exeter City with Jonathan Mitchell, Joe Martin, Chris Lines, Ryan Watson, Morgan Roberts and Danny Rose all coming into the side. Despite being sent off at the weekend, Shaun McWilliams was eligible to play with his three-match ban only encompassing league matches. Academy players, goalkeeper Dylan Berry, midfielder Liam Cross and defender Max Dyche, were named on the bench.

Nicky Law went close with a strike from the edge of the area following a swift counter-attack from the home side in a largely uneventful opening twenty minutes.

The Cobblers made the breakthrough midway through the first half, a Morgan Roberts corner perfectly met by the head of Danny Rose.

Jack Sparkes saw a shot deflected wide as Exeter responded to falling behind but the Cobblers could have doubled their lead through Joe Martin, the defender unable to find the target after Jonny Maxted could only parry a cross/shot from goalscorer Rose.

Exeter equalised early in the second half, Nigel Atangana finishing on the follow-up after Jonathan Mitchell couldn’t hold on to the initial header. Ricky Korboa and Benny Ashley-Seal then replaced Mark Marshall and Harry Smith in a double change.

Nicky Ajose, having just come off the bench, had a chance to put the Grecians in front but having been put through one-on-one Mitchell got down well to make the save. Mitchell then made another good save this time to deny Nicky Law who was also one-on-one with the Cobblers keeper.

Caleb Chukwuemeka replaced Morgan Roberts in the Cobblers final change with the game still delicately poised and the possibility of penalties looming if neither side could find a winner.

Alex Fisher headed wide from an Ajose cross as Exeter probed but Benny Ashley-Seal put the Cobblers back in front with a terrific finish after latching onto a through ball from Michael Harriman, Ashley-Seal showing real strength to bring the ball down before unleashing a shot on the turn to beat Maxted.

That proved to be the winner as the Cobblers ensured their interest in this season’s Papa John’s Trophy would go into the New Year.

Highlights of the two clubs last meeting together.
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1Northampton are without a win in their last three home games against Leyton Orient in the Football League (D2 L1). The last time they went four home games without victory in the Football League against the O’s was March 1964.
2Northampton Town are without a win in each of their last three Football League trips to St James Park (D2 L1) having won six of their previous nine Football League away games against the Grecians (D2 L1). 
3Exeter City are unbeaten in their last 15 home games in the Football League (W7 D8) which is their longest run without recording a defeat at home in the Football League since a 23-game unbeaten run in May 1990 (W20 D3), which is their Football League record. 
4Northampton have eight points from their last six away games in League Two (W2 D2 L2), just one point fewer than they collected in their previous 15 games away from Sixfields Stadium (nine – W1 D6 L8)

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