PU PREVIEW 9: EXETER CITY

Exeter City came into being in 1904 when, after a game between Exeter United and local rivals St Sidwell's United (won 3-1 by St Sidwell's), an agreement was made to amalgamate the two clubs. The new club continued to play at Exeter United's ground, St James Park, which is still the club's home to this day. In 1908, Exeter City AFC became a full-time professional team and successfully applied to join the Southern League, replacing Tottenham Hotspur. The club made an historic tour of South America in 1914, playing eight matches against sides from Argentina and Brazil. It is believed that the Brazil national football team played its first ever game versus Exeter City on 21 July 1914 at the home of Fluminense FC. Exeter were invited by the Football League to become founder members of the Third Division in 1920. After 83 years as a League club, Exeter were relegated to the Football Conference in 2003 and were taken over by the Exeter City Supporters Trust. In January 2005, Exeter drew 0-0 at Manchester United in the FA Cup third round, and although United won the replay 2-0 the revenue from both games helped Exeter clear their outstanding debts. Exeter returned to the Football League in 2008 after defeating Cambridge United 1-0 in the play-off final. The club remains owned by its fans.

The club's number nine shirt is retired as a mark of respect to former striker Adam Stansfield, who died from cancer in August 2010.

Famous fans of Exeter City include Coldplay frontman Chris Martin, singer Joss Stone, comedian and actor Ade Edmondson and TV presenter Noel Edmonds. In 2002, the American pop singer Michael Jackson was made an honorary director of the Grecians. The illusionist and psychic Uri Geller was also a director.

The Grecians are managed by Matt Taylor (not the one of Pompey fame) and finished the 2018-19 League Two campaign in 9th place. Alan Ball, former manager of Pompey, managed Exeter between August 1991 and January 1994. Former Blues defender Noel Blake managed Exeter between January 2000 and September 2001.

Pompey and Exeter have met on twenty-seven occasions. The first match was in the FA Cup on 10 January 1914 when Exeter won 4-0 at Fratton Park. Pompey won 2-1 in the FA Cup at St James Park on 4 January 1992. Exeter won 1-0 in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy at St James Park in September 2015. The twenty-four League matches have resulted in twelve wins for Pompey and four wins for Exeter with eight matches drawn. Exeter won 1-0 at Fratton Park when the sides last met, in League Two in January 2017.

(Information via Wikipedia and www.11v11.com)