Exeter City Football Club is inviting supporters to be part of history on the weekend of September 19 and 20, as St James Park plays host to a landmark double celebration - the club's 125th anniversary and the 25th anniversary of Exeter City Women.
The men's fixture against Tranmere Rovers has been chosen as the official anniversary match, falling just two days after the date in 1901 when something extraordinary was set in motion. It was on September 21 of that year that St Sidwell's United - the club that would become Exeter City - played their first recorded match: a 4-2 home win against Dawlish.
Now 125 years later, the Grecians come together to celebrate everything that has followed. And this is not just one anniversary. The weekend also marks 25 years of Exeter City Women's Football Club, who will be playing Bournemouth at St James Park on the Sunday - making the weekend a historic one for everyone associated with the club.
The story of Exeter City began near the end of the 1900-01 season, when a group of young footballers gathered at the Drum and Monkey pub on Sidwell Street - close to where the Odeon is today - to form something new. St Sidwell's United were born, playing in green and white, with a first ground off Pinhoe Road. They went 11 matches unbeaten from that opening victory against Dawlish, moved to St James Park in 1903, and in May 1904, at the club's annual meeting, they became Exeter City AFC.
Since then, the Club has experienced both highs and lows, but one thing has remained constant – the supporters love for the club, which was brought to the fore when Exeter City became supporter-owned in 2003 and remains so to this day.
John Street, Interim General Manager, said: "This is a fantastic opportunity to celebrate everything about the Club. It's an institution which has been an important part of this city ever since those early days, so being able to mark these significant milestones in the club’s history over one weekend, incorporating both the men’s and women’s teams is a fitting tribute to everything and everyone that has made the club what it is.”
The men’s team will be playing in their specially-designed 125th anniversary kit and the Club is producing a double headed souvenir programme, as well as other bespoke 125 and 25 anniversary merchandise. It is hoped that a number of former players will also be in attendance for both the men’s and women’s teams to join in the celebrations for their respective matches.
Special guests include Debbie Hewitt, Chair of the English Football Association, and Sue Hough, Chair of the FA Women's National League Board.
Debbie said: "Exeter City is a truly special club. Its unique supporter-ownership model, its commitment to developing local talent and, above all, the incredible connection between the club and its supporters reflect so many of the values that make football such a powerful force for good.
"For 125 years, Exeter City has been woven into the fabric of the city and the lives of generations of supporters. That is something to be enormously proud of. The passion, loyalty and sense of belonging that surround this club are a wonderful reminder of what football can mean to people and to communities.”
Sue said: “I am delighted to be joining Exeter City Women as the club celebrates their 25th anniversary. Anniversaries such as these are an important opportunity to recognise the dedication, passion and commitment of everyone who has contributed to a club's journey over the years.
“Exeter City Women have played an important role in the development of the women's game in the region, and it is wonderful to see the continued progress being made both on and off the pitch. The recent opening of the dedicated Women's Team Hub is a fantastic example of that ambition and investment for the future. Congratulations to everyone connected with the club on this special milestone, and I look forward to celebrating the occasion with players, staff, volunteers and supporters at St James Park.”
A new vision was launched earlier in the year to kick-start the Club's landmark 125th anniversary season. Built around a simple but powerful message and set of values - Our City, Our Club, Our Way - it reaffirms Exeter City's commitment to its unique identity as a supporter-owned football club, rooted in its community and committed to creating sustainable success both on and off the pitch.
- Click here to buy tickets for the Men's match against Tranmere Rovers
- Click here to buy tickets for the Women's match against AFC Bournemouth