I have always felt that when Exeter City negotiated their way out of League Two I wanted it to be at the right time. The buoyancy of the club in recent seasons has been an enjoyable journey to be part of, losing consecutive Play Off Finals may well have left an overriding emotion of disappointment, but rarely has the club been so competitive over such a lengthy period of time. Talented players have come and gone, we have experienced a change in manager and a serious development of the club’s infrastructure, yet through it all we have won a lot more matches than we have lost. So, should Matt and his squad find a way past Northampton Town on Monday evening, are Exeter City Football Club ready for the task of competing at a higher level?
In 2008, after consecutive promotions, City entered League One with the club at one of the peak points in it’s history. The squad of that era had the aggression of Matt Taylor, the tenacity of Matt Gill, the guile of Ryan Harley and the industry of Adam Stansfield and Richard Logan. Matched against Clubs with the type of budget we could only look upon in awe, City competed, and ultimately survived, that initial season. Just. After a final day victory over Huddersfield Town, newly crowned Player of the Year Matt Taylor would state that the Club would need to increase their spending power to compete better. Taylor, understandably, left that summer for the lure of Charlton Athletic to underline the point he had made.
In the second season the restraints placed on Paul Tisdale were loosened. Daniel Nardiello, John O’Flynn, Jamie Cureton, Troy Archibald-Henville and David Noble all arrived at SJP and the squad was given a new lease of life. Better results followed. A stunning finish to the 2010/2011 season saw City finish in 8th position, one place outside a Play Off for Championship football. Then, as it can do, reality hit. A squad that needed to be kept together and gradually improved upon was instead dismantled. The competitive budget that had been given to Tisdale had one major drawback, the Club could simply not afford it. Key players departed and, with respect, less talented replacements arrived. Relegation followed, more cuts came with it and, without any income from Player sales, the struggle to keep the club in the black was once again a topic of discussion. Paul Tisdale would often talk of financial cycles, much eye rolling from the public usually accompanied it, but it was a reality the club had to live with. From Troy Archibald- Henville slaloming his way across the Hillsborough turf to Jack Stacey smashing in a late winner in front of a packed Big Bank, the gap would be six uneventful years.
So when I talk of the timing being right, this is what I mean. A three season blast at League One level, only to see a far greater period of time recovering, it is not a cycle I wish to see repeated. However, Exeter City then was a different Club to what it is now. St James Park stands as a quaint, compact venue. Would travelling Sunderland supporter’s mistake it for the other St Jame’s Park? Clearly not, but they would be covered, well accommodated and have adequate facilities for their trip south to be a pleasant one. A far cry from the experience offered up to disgruntled Leeds United supporters in 2009. The Cat and Fiddle based Training Facility has also improved. Seeking alternative pitches during the Winter season, as our own had flooded, was not unusual when we last resided in League One. Paul Tisdale’s not so subtle Press comments that this situation was the cause of certain player’s injuries appeared a plea for help. The implementing of the 3G surface has been a significant advancement, upon signing, many players have commentated positively on the facilities at the Cat and Fiddle, something you would not have found too often in 2009.
Those Financial Cycles that were a popular topic before, well, Matt Grimes changed a lot of that. Grimes departed SJP for a fee that would set a precedence for all that followed. It was not a fee the club settled for in a desperate grab for funds, it was obtained through hard work. Not only did Grimes set the level for what the Club wanted for it’s Academy products, but, alongside Ollie Watkins, showed the quality at Exeter City. Preston North End would, in my opinion, not have paid £750,000 for a player as inexperienced, although clearly talented, as Jordan Storey had those players who had left before him not shown the value for money an Exeter City Academy Product could offer. We may be losing one or two at a younger age, but the ability of the club to produce the type of footballer that will be able to generate income certainly seems more certain now than it was then.
Financially, promotion may prove an unexpected blessing. There can be no more motivational graphic before Monday than the one that illustrates just how “Northern” League Two will look next season. Another year in the fourth tier will see a lot of miles covered. However, promotion could see a welcome boost to attendances at the Park. Portsmouth, Sunderland, Ipswich Town, Bristol Rovers, Swindon Town and Plymouth Argyle would all likely fill the away facilities, while many other clubs would travel in better numbers than is currently the case. It would not be inconceivable to see an average away attendance of 500 supporters over a season, if not more. As a League One club our funding from the EFL and Premier League would also receive a boost. The jump from £902,000 to £1,220.00 would surely help fund the anticipated increase in playing budget.
As for on the pitch, it is unlikely to be easy. Of those promoted from League Two last season, Lincoln, Milton Keynes and Tranmere, all have found life tough. However, clubs with similar budgets to ourselves, Wycombe, AFC Wimbledon, Burton, Shrewsbury, Rochdale and Accrington, have managed to find ways to survive and develop in League One. We should also not underestimate that, as previously in League One, we have a talented young manager. Matt’s ability to be flexible in his tactics, set a team up to be defensively sound and make decisive calls on selection should be a positive if the trip to Wembley proves successful. As with last time, some of the current heroes will make that step up, some will not. Making those tough decisions is not something Taylor seems to have an issue with.
The comfort of being comfortable is a luxury the club has enjoyed for a considerable period now. I admit, I am comfortable with it to. Watching competitive, often winning, football is what we want from a Saturday afternoon, but perhaps now really is the time. The COVID impact will help level the field, it will have a far reaching impact on many of those clubs who were already struggling to survive and, with an array of talented youngsters at our disposal, Exeter City should be in as good a position as any. The Leasing.Com Trophy competition highlighted just how good that next group can potentially be. Finally, and without any logical summation, we deserve this don’t we? Play Off Final number three in four years, no club has knocked on the door of League One harder. So, are we ready or not? Certainly ready to improve on our last efforts in the third tier. With the City of Exeter growing exponentially and the possibility of a summer cash influx from the sale of Ollie Watkins, who knows, maybe the club is about to embark on the start of it’s most exciting era to date? First it is Northampton Town and Wembley, our bogey team at our bogey stadium, what could possibly go wrong…
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