Exeter City are back on the road this week as a trip to Salford City is on the cards.
Ahead of the game, here's a chance to familiarise yourself with the side from Greater Manchester.
- Founded: 1940
- Nicknames: The Ammies
- Honours: National League North (2017/18), National League Play-Offs (2018/19), Papa John’s Trophy (2020*)
- Home Kit: KAPPA Red shirt, White Shorts and Socks
- Away Kit: KAPPA White shirt with black trim, black shorts and socks
- Third Kit: KAPPA Black shirt with pink trim, black shorts and socks.
- Form: WDLDL (9th in League Two)
*Due to COVID-19, the 2020 Final was played 13th March 2021.
The origins of Salford City are obscure though a club having been founded as Salford Central in 1940 developed to become the modern team we see today. In 1980, Anson Villa (not a typo) merged with Salford before changing their name in 1990 to Salford City. The club nickname The Ammies derives from another former name, Salford Amateurs.
The City of Salford is a metropolitan borough in the Greater Manchester sub-urbs, with the name adopted by the largest Town there. Salford is of course famous for its quays and Media City UK which houses the BBC amongst other major media corporations.
Salford became a large silk distribution centre during the industrial revolution and was a major inland port for the Manchester Shipping Canal.
In true community spirit, Salford City are now owned by ex-players from another local club, who have made rapid progress in their project. Salford won four promotions in six seasons to now become a Football League club for the first time in their history. They’ve found their fledgling Football League years tough and have since changed managers three times in two years.
Its not been the greatest start to the 21/22 campaign, as the Ammies sit in 17th ahead of Saturday’s clash.
Manager
Gary Bowyer
Salford’s was third manager of the 2020/21 season, Gary Bowyer is now at the helm. The 49-year-old came into the Peninsular Stadium just weeks after Richie Wellens guided the Ammies to Papa John’s Trophy success.
Bowyer joined the job with experience at the higher levels managing the likes of Blackburn and Blackpool in the past. His playing career was cut short due to injury though experience at Hereford, Nottingham Forest and Rotherham United has taught him well in management.
Bowyer was manager at Blackpool when they won promotion via the League Two play-offs from in 2017.
Stadium
- Name: Peninsula Stadium
- Capacity: 5,108
- Year opened: 1979
- Record Attendance: 4,518 (v Leeds United, League Cup 1st Round, 13th August 2019)
- Address: Moor Lane, Salford, Greater Manchester, M7 3PZ
Moor Lane has had some radical developments in the last six years and has been well documented in the BBC Documentary Class of ’92: Out of Their League. The capacity grew from a humble 1,600 to now over 5,000.
In October 2017, Sir Alex Ferguson re-opened the now sponsored Peninsular Stadium and in 2019 the ground hosted its first C-team international when England took on Wales.
City took nearly 700 fans to the ground on our inaugural visit in 2019.
One To Watch
Matt Lund
Former Rochdale man Matty Lund joined Salford at the start of last season after a half decent season with the otherwise below par Dale side. Lund scored eleven goals last campaign and was crucial throughout the Blues bid for survival. Alas, ‘twas in vain. Lund was involved in 26% of all of Dale’s goals last year and the Northern Ireland international will be looking to spearhead the attack again, this time in League Two.
He began his career at Stoke in 2009 and after loans to Hereford, Bristol Rovers and Southend ended up permanently at Spotland for his first spell. He moved to Burton, Bradford and Scunthorpe after, though he re-found his home at Rochdale in 2020.
With two league goals already this term, Lund is hoping to drag Salford out of this early spell of bad form as the Ammies target a promotion campaign.
Head to Head
Exeter are unbeaten against Salford City in all three games played between the sides.
Exeter City wins: 2
Draws: 1
Salford City Wins: 0
Recent encounters
Exeter City 1 Salford City 0 | SkyBet League Two | St James Park | March 28, 2021
Matt Jay found the net in a cagey affair at the Park.
Salford City 2 Exeter City 2 | League Two | Peninsula Stadium | August 12, 2020
Matt Jay and Joel Randall opened their accounts for the season when City had to twice come from behind to snatch a point at Moor Lane.
Salford City 0 Exeter City 1 | League Two | Peninsula Stadium | December 14, 2019
Ryan Bowman’s decisive header proved the difference on Exeter’s first trip to Moor Lane.
And Finally
Salford only reached the first round of the FA Cup for the first time in the 2015/16 season. That year they beat Notts County in Round 1 before being knocked out by Hartlepool in the second round. All three of their games were shown live on TV. And they’ve been chose for tele again when they face Dagenham and Redbridge next week.