📝 Match Preview: Macclesfield Town

A look ahead to the season opener at St James Park.

2 August 2019

Exeter City open their 2019/20 campaign when they welcome Macclesfield Town to St James Park in Sky Bet League Two in a 3pm kick-off.

The Grecians have been put through an intense pre-season period which began at the end of June, and manager Matt Taylor believes his squad are in good shape going into the new season.

He explained: “We’ve played the best part of eight or nine intense games and done a lot of hard work which started the best part of six weeks ago. I think we’re ready for a proper game of football and a league game and it’s one we’ve got to look forward to.

“We feel the lads are fit and in good shape but it’s about producing a performance.”

LAST TIME WE MET

The Grecians came up against Sol Campbell’s Macclesfield towards the end of last season. They went ahead on to occasions at Moss Rose but were pegged back and ended up being beaten 3-2 with an own goal proving the difference between the two sides.

Archie Collins in action against Macclesfield last season

TICKET NEWS

Tickets are on sale at advance prices until 5pm in person and midnight online, on Saturday, August 2, so you can save time and money, and pick your seat in advance.

Tickets are available online via Mobile, tablet or desktop by visiting: tickets.ecfc.co.uk, by calling: 01392 411 243 or by visiting the club shop/reception at St James Park.

Screenshot 2019-08-01 at 14.11.28.png

*Junior Grecians members get access to free match tickets when purchased alongside a paying adult. There are two family friendly areas available at St James Park, section E in the IP Office Main Stand and a section of the Thatchers Big Bank which is identified by the white barriers)

MATCH DAY PROGRAMME

Our award-winning match day programme from the 2018/19 season returns for the new campaign and once again it’s packed full of engaging content for readers of all ages. New features include an ‘On this day in history’ piece which profiles the upcoming week and all the things City related that have happened on individual days. We’ve also introduced a new ‘City and Me’ feature which gives supporters the chance to tell their Exeter City story. Familiar faces in journalists Matt Bamsey and Alan Richardson return to cast their eye over pre-season and discuss the new campaign and lifelong fan Tony Morris is also back to give his view on things as well as recall some of his earlier memories following the club. We’ve also got updated quiz pages so you can test your City knowledge!

MASCOTS

You can read the mascot profiles in the match day programme which you can pick up in the stadium for £3.00 on the day. For mascot booking or information, please contact andy.gillard@ecfc.co.uk

CLUB SHOP

The club shop will be open from 11am to give you the opportunity to make some purchases ahead of the match and will close after supporters have dispersed.

The club shop opens from 11am on match day

MATCH DAY ACTIVITIES

Rodeo Bull!

How long can you hold on to the spinning, jumping and Bucking Bronco Rodeo Bull? Once again it’s a free to participate activity, but if you want to you can make a donation to the Exeter City Academy. Just tip some odd coins (or notes) in the bucket nearby.

Rodeo Bull 2.jpg.png

Join the guard of honour!

Want to be on the pitch as the players enter SJP? Then be part of the flag waving, Guard of Honour! This Saturday lucky children will be chosen from the Stagecoach Adam Stansfield Stand at 2:25pm.

After assembling, the Guard of Honour (and parents) move to the far side of ground to get some practice in waving their flags, which also presents an opportunity for Grecian to pose for photographs.

When the players finish their warm up the Guard of Honour go on their 'lap of honour' in front of the stands to the players’ tunnel. After they have been on the field and welcomed the teams and officials onto the pitch they receive their “gift” (normally a packet of sweets) and certificates of participation.

If your son, daughter or grandchild has not been involved in the Guard of Honour, please email customerservices@exetercityfc.co.uk.

Junior Grecians Lounge

The Junior Grecians are the Official Junior Supporters Club of Exeter City FC.

The room provides a safe comfortable environment for families to enjoy pre-match entertainment, such as a large screen TVs, Playstation consoles and Table Football, as well as the option to enjoy refreshments from the Zone’s very own kiosk.

A feature wall displaying a packed Big Bank also provides a photo-sharing opportunity using the #jgzone hashtag. There are activities and competitions to suit all junior age groups, from FIFA19 and Table Football tournaments to free Activity Packs for younger children.

The Zone also features a VIP party area and there are several party packages available to book throughout the season.

The Family Zone and Stadium Family areas are supervised by Junior Grecians volunteers who have undergone DBS checks and our aim is to make a family visit to St James Park as enjoyable and trouble-free as possible.

So, if you are visiting St James Park on a matchday with children, be sure to pop in to the family zone!

Stadium Tours

Did you know that the Supporters' Trust offer FREE tours around St James Park?

The free guided tours are great for anyone who’d like to get a behind the scenes view, whilst finding out about the history of their club. The tours and are open to all; you don’t have to be a Trust member to come along.

Tours start at 11am on matchdays from Red Square and take in many parts of the ground that you wouldn’t otherwise get to see, including the boardroom, the brand new players’ changing rooms, match officials’ facilities and the security hub.

Lasting around 90 minutes, you will almost certainly learn something you didn’t know before, and maybe you’ll be able to tell us something from your experiences of coming to City that we didn’t know!

To book your place, please contact reception on: reception@ecfc.co.uk or call 01392 411 243, or email: andybratt1@gmail.com.

Matchday timetable

Take a look below to familiarise yourself with the key matchday timings here at St James Park.

FREE Face Painting

The face painters are a valuable addition to matchdays and judging by the sights around the ground it is just as popular with adults as well as youngsters.

Their normal route if you want to catch them is: Starting at the Tombola Stall they head through Red Square for the Centre Spot before heading back to the family Junior Grecian Family Zone. Leaving the zone for the stadium, they start with the IP Office Main Stand and Thatchers Big Bank, before finishing on the Stagecoach Adam Stansfield Stand.

Other Activities

You can also pick up some free player stickers, featuring players that have come through the Exeter City Academy on the day in Red Square.

You can also take part in the Exeter City tombola where the first prize is a signed Exeter City football. All funds raised go directly to the academy to support the future of the club.

FREE Ice sticks are available for kids from the Tombola stall. Any leftovers will be distributed in the Big Bank at half-time.

🎟 PLACE YOUR TRUST IN CITY 🎟

Season tickets for the 20/21 campaign are now on sale and play a huge part in enabling your club remains financially stable and well prepared

By purchasing a season ticket in the super saver period, you will not only make huge and the best savings on admission for the campaign, but enable the club to operate fully whilst we have a period of no matches and minimal income. Find out more by clicking here.

Match Reports

📝 REPORT: City 1 Macclesfield Town 0

Ryan Bowman's late goal gives Exeter City opening day victory

3 August 2019

Exeter City picked the first win of their 2019/20 campaign with a 1-0 win over Macclesfield Town on the opening day of the season.

It took until the 88^thminute for the all-important goal to come, and it came from a Ryan Bowman finish which came from Nicky Law’s effort towards goal.

Manager Matt Taylor named the same side that started last week’s final pre-season match with Torquay United as three players made their competitive debuts in Lewis Ward, Tom Parkes and Nicky Ajose.

For much of the opening quarter of an hour there was little by the way of chance with both sides finding their way into the match. The Grecians’ threatened the Town goal on 14 minutes when Pierce Sweeney crossed well from the right after a throw-in, but Ryan Bowman’s header edged just over.

Nicky Ajose then had his first effort on 20 minutes when Jake Taylor burst into the box before the ball fell to the striker who curled an effort towards goal, but for Owen Evans to collect.

The away side then went close to going in front just a few minutes later when a free-kick caused havoc in the City box before the ball fell to Ben Stephens at the far post, forcing an excellent save from Lewis Ward.

Joe Ironside was then found in behind the City defence after good work from Town on the right, but after Tom Parkes got back well to narrow the angle, Ward collected the low shot comfortably.

Macclesfield continued to have the better of the chances as they went close just before the break when they broke down the right before Theodore Archibald saw his left footed effort blocked behind by Dean Moxey, as the sides went into half-time level.

The away side would have the first chance of the second period when Ward was forced into another really good save when the ball found its way to Stephens, whose low effort was saved low by the new City keeper.

The Grecians then had Dean Moxey to thank when he made a crucial interception after a low cross to the far post found Ironside, and despite what seemed like a simple finish, the City left back’s interception saw the ball bounce up kindly for Ward to catch.

City then had a glorious chance to go ahead when a free-kick came back to Pierce Sweeney before he delivered an excellent cross to the far post to find the unmarked Parkes, but he was unable to keep his header on target as the ball nestled wide going into the final 20 minutes.

It was Parkes who was involved again as the Grecians won a succession of corners, and despite connecting well with Nicky Law’s delivery, the ball was unfortunately blocked by Lee Martin as Town managed to clear.

"As time ticked by the Grecians continued to looked to go ahead, and it eventually came when Nicky Law had a bit of good fortune to ride a challenge before firing an effort into a crowded box before the ball met Bowman, who swept home, as the Grecians made a winning start to their league campaign.

Exeter City: Ward, Sweeney, A. Martin, Law, Williams (Warren, 90+3),, Bowman, Ajose (L. Martin, 53), Parkes, Moxey, Taylor, Collins

Subs not used: Maxted, Woodman, Jay, Fisher, Seymour

Booked: Bowman

Macclesfield Town: Evans, Clarke, McCourt, Kelleher, Vassell (Horsfall, 90+1), Harris, Ironside (Blyth, 60,) Stephens (Fitzpatrick, 79), Archibald, Welch-Hayes, Osadebe

Subs not used: Ntambwe, Fitzpatrick, Rose

Booked: McCourt, Osadebe

Attendance: 4,502(Inc, 157, away)

Ticket News

🎟 TICKETS: Grab advance tickets for City's season opener against Macclesfield Town

Tickets now on general sale to all supporters

29 July 2019

Exeter City kick-off the 2019/20 EFL Sky Bet League Two season on Saturday, August 3 against Macclesfield Town in a 3pm kick-off.