Exeter City Football Club is preparing to celebrate its 125th anniversary and the 25th anniversary of Exeter City Women with a historic weekend of matches at St James Park. The men's team will host Tranmere Rovers on the weekend of September 19 and 20, 2024, while the women's side face AFC Bournemouth on the Sunday.

John Street, the club's Interim General Manager, said the dual celebration is a fitting tribute to the club's unique history. "This is a fantastic opportunity to celebrate everything about the Club," Street said. "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."

Roots in a Sidwell Street pub

The club's origins trace back to the formation of St Sidwell's United near the end of the 1900-01 season at the Drum and Monkey pub on Sidwell Street. Playing in green and white, they recorded their first match on September 21, 1901, a 4-2 home win against Dawlish on a ground off Pinhoe Road. That victory sparked an 11-match unbeaten run before the club moved to its current home, St James Park, in 1903. At the annual meeting in May 1904, St Sidwell's United formally became Exeter City AFC.

That community spirit was cemented in 2003 when Exeter City became a supporter-owned club, a model it maintains today. Debbie Hewitt, Chair of the English Football Association, highlighted this unique identity. "Exeter City is a truly special club," Hewitt said. "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."

Weekend celebrations and new vision

To honour the milestones, the men's team will wear a specially-designed 125th anniversary kit for the Tranmere match. The club is producing a double-headed souvenir programme and bespoke anniversary merchandise. Former players from across the eras are hoped to attend both fixtures. Thanks to a partnership with St Austell Brewery, pints of Carlsberg and Tribute will be priced at £3 all weekend, with hot drinks costing £1.25.

The anniversary season was kick-started earlier in the year with the launch of a new vision built around the message 'Our City, Our Club, Our Way'. This reaffirms the club's commitment to its supporter-owned roots and community focus while aiming for sustainable success on and off the pitch. You can explore the club's current campaign and check all upcoming dates on our fixtures page.

As the club looks ahead to its next chapter, the current first team sits 20th in League Two with 5 points from six matches. Their most recent outing was a 1-0 defeat away to Port Vale on September 12. The team's recent form shows they have scored an average of 1.2 goals per 90 minutes this season. The next challenge is a home game against Northampton Town on January 9, 2027, a side currently positioned 17th in the table.

The anniversary weekend serves as a powerful reminder of the club's enduring legacy as it continues to build for the future, with the next home league fixture scheduled for January.

Background and full detail: Exeter City Football