City v Grimsby Town

All you need to know about Saturday's game at St James Park

10 November 2017

Exeter City will be looking to record back-to-back home wins on Saturday when they take on Russell Slade’s Grimsby Town.

The Mariners go into the game unbeaten in their last seven League Two matches, while the Grecians will be looking to pick up their first victory in League Two since a 4-1 victory over Morecambe on September 30.

However, manager Paul Tisdale has a strong squad to choose from going into the match.

“We have players who have been out for a long time who are gradually making progress,” said Tis. “Lloyd James has picked up an injury but he is suspended for Saturday anyway.

“It brought him off the pitch on Sunday but it is small injury and should keep him out for just the one week. Apart from that everyone is okay and we have got a good squad. Yes, we have got injuries but I have got no worries about the ones who will be selected on Saturday.”

REMEMBRANCE DAY

Saturday, November 11, is the 99^th anniversary of the Armistice that ended World War One. As such there will be a number of activities taking place at the game. The club will be holding a minute’s silence prior to kick-off. We also welcome representatives from the Devon branch of the Royal British Legion and Royal Marines from Commando Training Centre in Lympstone who are going to give a short unarmed combat display also before kick-off.

Exeter City is also pleased to welcome any serving member of the armed forces into the match free of charge. They will just need to go to the ticket booth in Red Square and show their military identification card to collect their ticket for free admission.

A number of wreaths will be laid in front of the IP Office stand by a representative from both clubs, The Royal British Legion, The Royal Marines, a Grimsby Town supporter and an Exeter City supporter.

The players will also be wearing their purple kit for the match with poppies on the front of them and poppy armbands. As the third kit is closely linked with our sponsors Flybe, representatives from the company will also be at the game to pay their respects to those who lost their lives fighting for our country in both world wars and conflicts that have followed.

Fans are also reminded that the turnstiles will not be in operation whilst the minute silence’s is taking place as the clicking of fans coming through the gates can be heard by supporters inside the ground. Therefore, we urge fans to get in to the ground before 2.50pm.

FLYBE PHOTO COMPETITION

Flybe will be running a photo competition prior to kick-off in Red Square for a chance to win a purple shirt signed by all the players. All you have to do is get your photo taken with their board to be in with a chance of winning.

The IP Office Stand is sold out for the match for Saturday’s against Grimsby Town, meaning that there are only standing tickets in Thatchers Big Bank available. Fans can purchase these tickets by calling 01392 411243 or by clicking on the following link. Tickets will then be available to collect on the day from the ticket booth in Red Square.

Standing tickets in the Thatchers Big Bank will still be available on matchday, but there is a £1 increase on the day so again we advise purchasing tickets in advance.

For more details on pricing visit the following link.

Thank you to our match sponsor Exeter College, our associate match sponsor Thatchers and our ball sponsor Shield Environmental Services.

Exeter College is a large, thriving and growing tertiary college, which places teaching, learning and student success as its top priority. They enjoy an excellent regional reputation. The College was judged as outstanding by Ofsted in a pilot ‘no notice’ inspection in 2012, and again in a full inspection in 2014. The college was also awarded the Times educational supplement outstanding provider of the year in 2012 and BTEC College of the Year in 2014. For more information about Exeter College click here.

Thatchers Cider has, for over four generations, been crafting quality cider on our family farm in Somerset. You can find more information about their products here.

Since 1979 Shield has been one of the UK's leading Environmental Service Solutions specialists. You can find out more about the services they offer by clicking here.

GROUND INFO

Redevelopment work: The away terrace and the Stagecoach Family Stand will not be open to supporters for Saturday's game due to redevelopment work at the club.

All entry for home fans will be via the Stadium Way turnstiles into the IP Office Main Stand or the Thatchers' Big Bank. There will be no entry possible from the Jungle Path/Well Street side to the Thatchers' Big Bank. For more information read the following article.

FACEPAINTERS

Facepainters will be in attendance at Saturday’s game for any fans who want to add a bit of colour to their support. You can find them in Red Square, the Junior Grecians family zone, the Thatchers’ Big Bank and in the IP Office Stand.

The service is free of charge and they have black-and-white, as well as red-and-white, should any Grimsby supporters wish to join in.

Lee Holmes is the feature interview for Saturday’s programme where he gives some fascinating thoughts on social media and abuse players suffer at football grounds along with his great relationship with the City supporters and why he enjoys going to events in the community.

We also have an interview with Jon Brown, who drove down from Barnsley last October for the Eamonn Dolan Memorial match. Jon who represented City in the early 1990s recalls his first, best and worst moments of his career.

There is also a feature, on the Old Grandstand, with a piece from Pete Martin on the grandstand fire that brought down the old, old grandstand in 1921.

You can pick up a copy of the matchday programme in the club shop & reception and around the ground for just £3.

The Junior Grecians family zone will be open to its members from 12.30pm on Saturday and then to the general public, including away supporters, from 1.30pm. The zone has video consoles, large TV screens, a refreshments stall and table football.

For zone is located in Red Square. For more information on it read the following article.

KIOSKS

Please note that the kiosk in the Junior Grecian family zone is open to fans during half-time. If fans from the IP Office stand wish to use these kiosks it will reduce the queues at the other vending points in the ground.

MASCOTS

There are eight mascots at today’s game. They are as follows: Jessica Ferlie-Nolan, Daniel Pritchard, Alexander Foley, Frankie Mason, George Roberts, Toby Haywood, Josh Saunders, Tyler Gregory. You can read their profiles on page 39 of the matchday programme.

If you would like to be a matchday mascots at one of our games contact our operations manager Andy Gillard via email at andy.gillard@ecfc.co.uk.

CLUB SHOP

The club shop will be open from 11am to 5pm on matchdays. The club shop is located in Red Square at the back of the IP Office stand.

Match Reports

City 2 Grimsby Town 0

Goals from Jayden Stockley and Liam McAlinden give City victory at home

11 November 2017

Exeter City took all three points in Sky Bet League Two as they beat Grimsby Town 2-0 at St James Park.

Jayden Stockley got City's first of the afternoon in the first half with a tidy finish at the back post, before Liam McAlinden confirmed the victory with an excellent finish in the second half.

Match report sponsored by Speedy Freight

Paul Tisdale made two changes to the side that beat Heybridge Swifts in the FA Cup last weekend, as Lee Holmes and Liam McAlinden replaced the suspended Lloyd James and striker Reuben Reid.

The Grecians started the opening minutes well with Holmes delivering some dangerous crosses from set-plays.

Both central defenders, Troy Brown at Jordan Moore-Taylor, had opportunities with headers early on, but were unable to force their efforts past James McKeown in the Grimsby goal.

City continued to dominate possession in the opening 20 minutes, consistently looking for the likes of Jayden Stockley and the spritely McAlinden in the Town box in blustery conditions.

But Tisdale’s side made their good start count on 27 minutes when they took the lead through Stockley.

The lively Holmes took a quick free-kick with Dean Moxey, before cutting in on his right foot to curl a cross towards goal, and the City number 11 was on hand at the back post to knock the ball in from close range.

Pierce Sweeney then had a good opportunity to double City’s lead on 38 minutes when he won possession back in the centre of the field and unleashed an effort from distance which edged just over the Town goal.

The away side had to wait until the 41^st minute to create their first meaningful chances when they forced Christy Pym into two saves.

The first, a good clearance from a dangerous corner, but the City keeper had to be at his best as he tipped over from Sam Jones’ close range header to keep the scores level going into the break.

With the away side looking for a way back into the match, they begun the second half with much of the ball, but City did well to reduce them to a Luke Summerfield effort from distance.

But with the away side pushing forward, the Grecians broke well to find their second of the afternoon.

After winning back possession, Hiram Boateng broke well centrally and played a fantastic ball forward for McAlinden. The City forward did brilliantly as he ran at two Town defenders before cutting in on his left foot to curl a fantastic effort into the far corner.

Rusell Slade’s side continued to battle, though, with substitute Diallang Jaiyesimi and Sikiri Dembele looking to work the channels and test the City full backs as they searched for a way back into the match. But credit to City who defended resolutely as they frustrated the away side and looked dangerous on the counter-attack.

Tisdale’s side had a golden chance to add their third of the afternoon on 77 minutes when excellent running from McAlinden saw him win back possession high up the pitch and deliver a wonderful cross to Stockley’s head, but the forward was unable to keep his attempt on target as it flashed just over.

But a third wasn’t to be, despite Stockley's late effort from distance, as the Grecians saw out what was a professional performance at St James Park as they took all three points against the side from Lincolnshire.

Exeter City: Pym, Sweeney, Woodman, Holmes, Stockley, Moore-Taylor, McAlinden, Moxey, Taylor, Brown, Boateng (Byrne, 83)

Subs not used: Hamon, Jay, Wilson, Edwards, Reid, Storey

Booked: Stockley

Grimsby Town: McKeown, Davies, Dixon (Mills, 72), Clarke, Collins, Berrett, Jones, Summerfield, Vernon (Matt, 69), Woolford (Jaiyesimi, 57), Dembele

Subs not used: Killip, Rose, Hooper, Osborne

Booked: Davies, Dixon

Attendance: 3,854 (Inc, 254, away)

Ticket News

IP Office Main Stand sold out for Grimsby Town match

8 November 2017

The IP Office Main Stand has sold out for City's match against Grimsby Town on Saturday, November 11.

The stand has sold out for all of City's home league matches so far this season.

Standing tickets in the Thatchers' Big Bank, the largest standing terrace in the football league, for the match should still be available to purchase on the day, but again the club is advising that supporters buy tickets in advance to avoid disappointment, and to take advantage of advanced discounts.

To purchase tickets online, please click here. You can also call the club during the normal office hours on 01392 411 243 (option 3) or visit the club shop and reception in person between 9am and 5.30pm Monday to Friday.

Match Hospitality:

Hospitality has also sold out for this match, but can be booked for City's matches in November against Accrington Stanley on November 25 and Chelsea on November 28, with prices starting at just £30.

To find out more, or to book today, email: jake.wood@ecfc.co.uk or call 01392 413957.

Exeter City FC

Standings

City v Grimsby Town

City 2 Grimsby Town 0

IP Office Main Stand sold out for Grimsby Town match