Exeter City: Just Football League Team of the Week

Here to revive an old feature on Just Football, the Football League Team of the Week, we welcome Marc Edwards, who did well enough just to find a game as bad weather brought chaos to the Football League schedule. As it was, a particularly impressive performance won it hands down:

Exeter City’s 5-1 demolition of Sheffield Wednesday last Saturday was outstanding for more than one reason. Following a rallying call from the club, fans joined staff shovelling the ubiquitous snowfall and miraculously, the game was allowed to go ahead (the only game in both League 1 and League 2). It was down to the players to ensure all this effort didn’t go to waste and they didn’t disappoint.

Jamie Cureton’s first of the game was quickly cancelled out by the high-flying Owls but the second half brought more goals and plenty of them. A long-range looping volley from Liam Sercombe regained the lead and the highly-rated Scott Golbourne then pounced on defensive indecision minutes later to get the third. A neat poke by Cureton secured his brace and made it 4-1 to Exeter before John O’Flynn rubbed the final salt into Wednesday’s wounds with a fifth – a great way to thank the 5,524 crowd at St. James’ Park for all their hard work. Manager Paul Tisdale, having been linked with the vacancy at Bristol Rovers, said that the game was “a perfect example” of why he has stayed with Exeter City FC.

A brief history…

83 years in the football league came to an end in 2003 when Exeter were the first to fall victim to the newly expanded drop zone at the bottom of Division Three. After 3 years in the Conference, changes were made with the appointment of Tisdale as manager. The former Southampton player guided the Grecians to the Conference play-off final in his first season at the club but they unfortunately lost out to Morecambe.

However, they were back at Wembley again the following May, beating Cambridge United to reach League Two. Not content with this, City continued to rise achieving automatic promotion at the first attempt. Last season in League One was a struggle but ultimately deemed a success, avoiding relegation on the final day.

The Main Men

Ryan Harley is Exeter’s current top scorer in all competitions this season, with goals including the all-important late equaliser in their Johnstone’s Paint Trophy semi-final penalty win over Bristol Rovers. Jamie Cureton has proven a useful acquisition in the summer, scoring plenty of goals for Exeter just as he has done for numerous teams throughout the years in the football league. Striker Richard Logan was responsible for the winning goal against Rotherham that won promotion in 2008/2009 and he’s also scored important goals this season.

Impressively, in the last two seasons the only money spent on incoming transfers was £50k on former loanee defender Troy Archbald-Henville. In the summer, goalkeeper Artur Krysiak and midfielder David Noble came to the club on free transfers from Birmingham and Bristol City respectively, both bringing experience of higher-level football.

The shrewd signings of Paul Tisdale contribute to a team that exhibits as much style on the pitch as he has in his match day outfits. But it’s not just his sharp cravats that have caught the eye. Tisdale is one of the youngest managers in the Football League and boasts a remarkable track record of two promotions in his four seasons in charge, as well as four promotions whilst at the helm at Team Bath, the university side of FA Cup fame. Exeter will fight to hold onto their man but will he be able to resist if a Championship club comes knocking? Newcastle United even confirmed they considered him before ultimately choosing Alan Pardew.

Hopes and Dreams

Currently in 9th, Exeter would be very happy to avoid a relegation battle and secure a mid-table finish this season. But in a very tight League One table they currently lie just one point off the play-offs and only four points from automatic promotion.

A more realistic chance of silverware this season is found in the Johnson’s Paint Trophy. The Grecians have reached the Southern Area Final after a penalty shoot-out victory away at Bristol Rovers. Only two legs against Brentford stand between them and another trip to Wembley to play the winner of northern finalists Carlisle United and Huddersfield Town. The two recent positive results will do something to make up for the disappointing 2-0 loss against rivals Plymouth earlier in the month.

Whether its Michael Jackson concerts, the spoon bending Uri Geller or even rule-bending former chairmen, Exeter City FC fans can hardly complain that supporting their club is ever boring. After a brief stint in the Conference, they’re back in the Football League and they’re here to stay.

Marc Edwards is a new contributor to Just Football. Find him on Twitter @bluebird_88.

English League One, Exeter City, Football League, Football League Team of the Week