Post by QPR Report on Apr 25, 2009 8:57:06 GMT
Always liked Exeter. Think John Delve was there. USed to have a prolific striker called Fred Binney. Remember back in the early 1970s they were fined for some infringency which crippled them. And I think Man Ut or some other big club received the same fine for something which obviously had no effect/
The Guardian Blog - Faaez Samadi
Fan power fuels Exeter's rise from the ashesExeter City stand on the brink of promotion to League One six years after dropping out of the Football League amid financial turmoil
With Southampton's demise highlighting the growing financial gloom haunting the Football League, a heart-warming success story is needed like never before. Cue Exeter City, who are on the verge of promotion to League One, potentially a remarkable achievement for a club that in 2003 was relegated to the then Conference and facing grave financial turmoil.
Since those dreary days, fans have bought the club through the Exeter City FC Supporters' Trust and helped balance the books through financial negotiations and fundraising. An FA Cup draw against Manchester United in 2005 that spanned two legs and a television appearance was also a contributing factor.
The club is now close to winning a second successive promotion, achieving Exeter City's highest league status for 15 years. Denise Watts, chairman of both the club and trust, finds the situation a welcome positive in these turbulent times for football finance.
"It's been a fantastic season for us. We are now at the point where we have a club that is owned by its fans on the brink of League One football. It's just amazing," she says. "We always said we could get out of the Conference, but we have had struggles as a club. Five years in the Conference is a long time, but it takes all that time to get out and now we are just very excited. We've exceeded all our expectations for the season."
Currently third in League Two, City face stiff competition for automatic promotion from Bury, who are one point and one place behind them. City's recent form is encouraging for the 2,754 trust members, the Grecians having taken 14 from a possible 18 points. However, Watts is careful not to start popping champagne corks just yet.
"I am cautiously optimistic about the weekend [Exeter play Morecambe, who beat them two years ago in the Conference play-off final to win promotion], but there's nothing as strange as football results, as we all know. We have to continue playing at our best to win the last two games, but whatever happens we are in that great position whereby we are still in the play-offs. But there's no need to start celebrating yet. As Paul Tisdale [the Exeter manager] and I believe, the job is not done yet. We have had a lot of heartache in the past."
It is hard to believe a club which has not finished below seventh in the last five seasons would be burdened with hardship. Yet the efforts of the trust members, 75% of whom are volunteers, have helped bring rewards to Exeter City. Watts, as well as becoming English football's only female football chairman three and a half years ago, is a full-time dental consultant and single mother.
"Most of us are volunteers," she says, "which is why it is such a real victory for a fan-run club. We are expecting a completely packed house on Saturday, almost 9,000 people. We had 40,000 people [at the play-off final] at Wembley last year. This season we've had average attendances of 5,000 so where have the other 35,000 gone? I think there will be a lot of them hoping to get in on Saturday, but I say we have to look after those 5,000 first. If you want to be part of Exeter City Football Club, you need to join the trust."
As much as the trust members have achieved, the players and manager also deserve their plaudits, something Watts is more than happy to acknowledge. "All credit to the players and Paul. He's had a clever selection policy and a great attitude. Nothing but the best is good enough for him. Our dream this season was to be in the play-offs and we have almost bettered it. So the expectation has grown, which is a good thing, but, as I said, it's not over yet."
It's not too difficult to imagine Grecian victory in the last two matches of the season being politely toasted outside Exeter. Everyone loves the plucky, courageous underdog in the script, and City's football journey fits the bill nicely.
As Watts summarises: "We have faced financial ruin, we have been to the very lowest, and now we are so much higher because we have been through so much."
.
www.guardian.co.uk/sport/blog/2009/apr/24/exeter-city-league-two-promotion-battle
The Guardian Blog - Faaez Samadi
Fan power fuels Exeter's rise from the ashesExeter City stand on the brink of promotion to League One six years after dropping out of the Football League amid financial turmoil
With Southampton's demise highlighting the growing financial gloom haunting the Football League, a heart-warming success story is needed like never before. Cue Exeter City, who are on the verge of promotion to League One, potentially a remarkable achievement for a club that in 2003 was relegated to the then Conference and facing grave financial turmoil.
Since those dreary days, fans have bought the club through the Exeter City FC Supporters' Trust and helped balance the books through financial negotiations and fundraising. An FA Cup draw against Manchester United in 2005 that spanned two legs and a television appearance was also a contributing factor.
The club is now close to winning a second successive promotion, achieving Exeter City's highest league status for 15 years. Denise Watts, chairman of both the club and trust, finds the situation a welcome positive in these turbulent times for football finance.
"It's been a fantastic season for us. We are now at the point where we have a club that is owned by its fans on the brink of League One football. It's just amazing," she says. "We always said we could get out of the Conference, but we have had struggles as a club. Five years in the Conference is a long time, but it takes all that time to get out and now we are just very excited. We've exceeded all our expectations for the season."
Currently third in League Two, City face stiff competition for automatic promotion from Bury, who are one point and one place behind them. City's recent form is encouraging for the 2,754 trust members, the Grecians having taken 14 from a possible 18 points. However, Watts is careful not to start popping champagne corks just yet.
"I am cautiously optimistic about the weekend [Exeter play Morecambe, who beat them two years ago in the Conference play-off final to win promotion], but there's nothing as strange as football results, as we all know. We have to continue playing at our best to win the last two games, but whatever happens we are in that great position whereby we are still in the play-offs. But there's no need to start celebrating yet. As Paul Tisdale [the Exeter manager] and I believe, the job is not done yet. We have had a lot of heartache in the past."
It is hard to believe a club which has not finished below seventh in the last five seasons would be burdened with hardship. Yet the efforts of the trust members, 75% of whom are volunteers, have helped bring rewards to Exeter City. Watts, as well as becoming English football's only female football chairman three and a half years ago, is a full-time dental consultant and single mother.
"Most of us are volunteers," she says, "which is why it is such a real victory for a fan-run club. We are expecting a completely packed house on Saturday, almost 9,000 people. We had 40,000 people [at the play-off final] at Wembley last year. This season we've had average attendances of 5,000 so where have the other 35,000 gone? I think there will be a lot of them hoping to get in on Saturday, but I say we have to look after those 5,000 first. If you want to be part of Exeter City Football Club, you need to join the trust."
As much as the trust members have achieved, the players and manager also deserve their plaudits, something Watts is more than happy to acknowledge. "All credit to the players and Paul. He's had a clever selection policy and a great attitude. Nothing but the best is good enough for him. Our dream this season was to be in the play-offs and we have almost bettered it. So the expectation has grown, which is a good thing, but, as I said, it's not over yet."
It's not too difficult to imagine Grecian victory in the last two matches of the season being politely toasted outside Exeter. Everyone loves the plucky, courageous underdog in the script, and City's football journey fits the bill nicely.
As Watts summarises: "We have faced financial ruin, we have been to the very lowest, and now we are so much higher because we have been through so much."
.
www.guardian.co.uk/sport/blog/2009/apr/24/exeter-city-league-two-promotion-battle