2017–18 Exeter City F.C. season

Exeter City
2017–18 season
Owner Exeter City Supporters' Trust
Chairman Julian Tagg
Manager Paul Tisdale
Stadium St James Park
League Two 4th (lost play-off final)
FA Cup Eliminated in Third Round by West Bromwich Albion
EFL Cup Eliminated in First Round by Charlton
EFL Trophy Eliminated in Group Stage
Top goalscorer League: Jayden Stockley
(20 goals)
All: Jayden Stockley
(25 goals)
Highest home attendance 5,645 (17 May 2018, vs. Lincoln City)
Lowest home attendance 1,294 (28 November 2017, vs. Chelsea under-21)
Average home league attendance 4,072
All statistics correct as of 28 May 2018.

The 2017–18 season was Exeter City's 116th year in existence and their sixth consecutive season in League Two, where they finished in fourth place. The Grecians progressed to and lost their second consecutive promotion play-off final[1][2] City progressed to the third round of the FA Cup after beating 8th-tier Heybridge Swifts in the first round, and fellow League Two side Forest Green Rovers in a second round replay. Exeter were knocked out in the third round by Premier League side West Bromwich Albion.[3] The Grecians were knocked out of the EFL Cup in the First Round, losing at home to Charlton Athletic,[4] and were also eliminated in the regionalised first round (group stage) of the EFL Trophy, finishing bottom of Southern Group D.[5]

The season covers the period from 1 July 2017 to 30 June 2018.

Transfers

Transfers in

Date from Position Nationality Name From Fee Ref.
1 July 2017CBEnglandLuke CrollCrystal PalaceFree transfer[6]
1 July 2017LBEnglandDean MoxeyBolton WanderersFree transfer[7]
1 August 2017CFEnglandRyan BruntFree agentFree transfer[8]
31 August 2017CFEnglandJayden StockleyAberdeenUndisclosed[9]
31 August 2017DMEnglandHiram BoatengCrystal PalaceFree transfer[10]
1 December 2017CBEnglandDanny SeaborneFree agentFree transfer[11]

Transfers out

Date from Position Nationality Name To Fee Ref.
1 July 2017CMEnglandTom McCreadyAFC FyldeReleased[12][lower-alpha 1]
1 July 2017CFJamaicaJoel GrantPlymouth ArgyleFree transfer[14]
1 July 2017DMEnglandMatt OakleyRetired as player, became assistant manager[15]
1 July 2017GKAustriaBobby OlejnikMansfield TownReleased[12][lower-alpha 2]
1 July 2017RBEnglandConnor Riley-LoweTruro CityReleased[12][lower-alpha 3]
1 July 2017CFRepublic of IrelandRyan SwanCabinteelyReleased[12][lower-alpha 4]
1 July 2017DMWalesEthan AmpaduChelseaFee to be agreed[19]
18 July 2017CFEnglandOllie WatkinsBrentfordUndisclosed (>£1.75 million)[20]
31 August 2017RMEnglandDavid WheelerQueens Park RangersUndisclosed[21]
20 October 2017CFNorthern IrelandJamie ReidTorquay UnitedFree transfer[22]
1 January 2018CBEnglandToby DownTaunton TownFree transfer[23]
5 January 2018CFEnglandReuben ReidForest Green RoversUndisclosed[24]

Loans in

Start date Position Nationality Name From End date Ref.
31 August 2017RBEnglandKane WilsonWest Bromwich AlbionJanuary 2018[25]
31 August 2017CFEnglandKyle EdwardsWest Bromwich AlbionJanuary 2018[26]
4 January 2018GKEnglandPaul JonesNorwich City30 June 2018[27]
22 January 2018CFEnglandRyan LoftTottenham Hotspur30 June 2018[28]

Loans out

Note: this section may be inaccurate, due to insufficient information released by the club about loans out.

Start date Position Nationality Name To End date Ref.
1 July 2017CFNorthern IrelandJamie ReidTorquay United20 October 2017[lower-alpha 5][30]
4 July 2017CBEnglandToby DownWeymouth31 December 2017[31]
10 July 2017CBEnglandKyle EganDorchester TownUnknown[32]
10 July 2017CMEnglandJordan StoreyDorchester TownOctober 2017[lower-alpha 6][32]
14 July 2017LBEnglandAlex HartridgeTruro City30 June 2018[34]
18 July 2017FWEnglandBen SeymourWeston-super-Mare28 September 2017[35]
7 August 2017FWEnglandArchie CollinsWeston-super-Mare7 October 2017[36]
August 2017FWWalesMax SmallcombeBidefordUnknown[37]
October 2017FWEnglandBen SeymourBidefordJanuary 2018[37]
18 December 2017FWEnglandArchie CollinsDorchester Town18 February 2018[38]
4 January 2018GKGuernseyJames HamonGloucester CityApril 2018[39]
19 January 2018RBEnglandSam HaynesBarnstaple Town19 February 2018[40]
22 January 2018FWEnglandJoel RandallTaunton TownUnknown[41]
31 January 2018CMEnglandJosh KeyBidefordUnknown[42]
  1. ↑ McCready joined AFC Fylde following his release.[13]
  2. ↑ Olejnik joined Mansfield Town following his release.[16]
  3. ↑ Riley-Lowe joined Truro City following his release.[17]
  4. ↑ Ryan Swan joined Cabinteely following his release.[18]
  5. ↑ Reid was originally going to remain on loan until January 2018, but was released by Exeter City on 20 October 2017 and immediately joined Torquay on a permanent basis.[29]
  6. ↑ Storey was recalled from his loan in late October 2017.[33]

Pre-season

Exeter City played five pre-season fixtures in July 2017, all away from home at teams based in Somerset and Dorset. The club's pre-season schedule began with a trip to Twerton Park, where they faced off against Bath City for the Brian Lomax SD Cup – an annual fixture held between two supporter-owned clubs.[43]

There were no pre-season friendlies at St James Park due to redevelopment work taking place over the summer.[44]

Brian Lomax SD Cup

Friendlies


Competitions

League Two

League table

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion, qualification or relegation
2 Luton Town (P) 46 25 13 8 94 46 +48 88 Promotion to EFL League One
3 Wycombe Wanderers (P) 46 24 12 10 79 60 +19 84
4 Exeter City 46 24 8 14 64 54 +10 80 Qualification for League Two play-offs[lower-alpha 1]
5 Notts County 46 21 14 11 71 48 +23 77
6 Coventry City (O, P) 46 22 9 15 64 47 +17 75
Source: BBC Sport
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored
(O) Play-off winner; (P) Promoted.
Notes:
  1. ↑ Four teams play for one spot and promotion to EFL League One.

Matches

The fixtures for the 2017–18 season were announced on 21 June 2017.[45]

August
September
October
November
December
January
February
March
April

League Two play-offs

FA Cup

On 16 October 2017, the Grecians were drawn at home to Heybridge Swifts in the first round of the FA Cup.[46]

City eventually overcame the Swifts 3–1 with all the goals being scored in the final 45 minutes after an uneventful first half. Jayden Stockley scored a quick brace before Heybridges' Sam Bantick scored a consolation. Liam McAlinden then sealed the win for Exeter in the 86th minute.[47] The following day, the Grecians were drawn away to Forest Green Rovers for the Second Round.[48]

Prolific goalscorer Christian Doidge netted for Rovers after 26 minutes, the only goal in the first half. Grecians skipper Jordan Moore-Taylor equalised in the 58th minute and Jayden Stockley scored not long after to give City a 2–1 lead. However, Forest Green equalised through Scott Laird in the 88th minute and Doidge scored again in the 92nd to turn the game on its head. To make the game's conclusion even more dramatic, Stockley scored his second goal in the 94th minute as the match finished 3–3.[49]

The Grecians achieved an incredible comeback from a goal and a man down to triumph 2–1 in the replay to set a Third Round tie against Premier League side West Bromwich Albion. Forest Green had opened the scoring with a 30th-minute penalty scored by Christian Doidge. City were down to ten men after 63 minutes due to Jordan Tillson's second yellow card. However, Rovers conceded a penalty only ten minutes later and Pierce Sweeney converted. The score was 1–1 at the end of 90 minutes, and the next significant event was a second sending off, this time the culprit being Rovers defender Manny Monthe, leaving both teams with ten men. Jayden Stockley scored the winner in the 115th minute, netting his 11th goal of the season.[50]

City's third round tie against West Bromwich Albion started very poorly, conceding after only 75 seconds after Christy Pym failed to keep Salomón Rondón's long-distance shot out. The Baggies scored again in the 25th minute through Jay Rodriguez. The BBC match report attributed both goals to mistakes by Danny Seaborne.[51][3]

EFL Cup

On 16 June 2017, Exeter City were drawn at home to Charlton Athletic in the first round of the EFL Cup.[52] Lee Holmes opened the scoring for the Grecians after 54 minutes by netting a free kick. However, goals by Billy Clarke and Regan Charles-Cook saw the Reds eliminated in the First Round for the first time since 2014.[4]

EFL Trophy

City were placed in the Southern Group D, alongside the other two southwestern-most EFL League One and Two teams Plymouth Argyle and Yeovil Town. The Chelsea F.C. Academy was announced to be the other side in the group. On 13 July 2017, it was revealed that the Grecians would play Chelsea and Yeovil Town at home and Plymouth Argyle away.[53]

City began with a 3–1 loss at home to Yeovil Town, when City failed to repeat the heroics of the previous season against the same opposition by coming back from 3–0 down, with just the consolation goal from Jack Sparkes, his first in professional football.[54] The Grecians' second match of the group stage took place at Plymouth's Home Park, where they lost 5–3 on penalties to the Pilgrims after a 2–2 draw.[55] City's elimination was confirmed after a 3–1 loss at home to Chelsea under-21s.[5]

Table

Pos Lge Team Pld W PW PL L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 L2 Yeovil Town 3 2 1 0 0 6 3 +3 8 Round 2
2 ACA Chelsea U21s 3 1 0 2 0 6 4 +2 5
3 L1 Plymouth Argyle 3 0 2 0 1 5 6 −1 4
4 L2 Exeter City 3 0 0 1 2 4 8 −4 1
Updated to match(es) played on 28 November 2017. Source: EFL.com

Results

References

  1. ↑ "History". Statto.
  2. ↑ Lang, Ben (28 May 2018). "Coventry City vs Exeter City on 28 May 2018". Exeter City FC official site. Retrieved 12 June 2018.
  3. 1 2 Lang, Ben (6 January 2018). "City 0 West Bromwich Albion 2". Exeter City FC official site. Retrieved 7 January 2018.
  4. 1 2 "City 1 Charlton Athletic 2". Exeter City FC. Retrieved 8 August 2017.
  5. 1 2 Strange, Ben (28 November 2017). "City 1 Chelsea under-21s 3". Exeter City FC official site. Retrieved 29 November 2017.
  6. ↑ "Luke Croll signs permanent deal at Exeter City". Exeter City FC. Retrieved 26 June 2017.
  7. ↑ "Dean Moxey 'happy as Larry' at Exeter City return". Exeter City FC. Retrieved 27 June 2017.
  8. ↑ "Ryan Brunt signs for Exeter City". Exeter City FC. 1 August 2017. Retrieved 1 August 2017.
  9. ↑ "Jayden Stockley pens permanent deal". Exeter City FC official site. 31 August 2017. Retrieved 31 August 2017.
  10. ↑ "Hiram Boateng signs permanent deal". Exeter City FC official site. 31 August 2017. Retrieved 31 August 2017.
  11. ↑ "Danny Seaborne rejoins Exeter City". 1 December 2017. Retrieved 1 December 2017.
  12. 1 2 3 4 "Exeter City retained list announced". Exeter City FC. Retrieved 5 June 2017.
  13. ↑ Whitney, Steve (23 August 2017). "Midfielder McCready Joins Coasters After Impressing In Pre-Season". The Vanarama National League. Retrieved 23 August 2017.
  14. ↑ "Joel Grant: Plymouth Argyle sign striker from rivals Exeter City". BBC Sport. 23 June 2017. Retrieved 23 June 2017.
  15. ↑ Larkins, Simon (29 May 2017). "Matt Oakley to retire at the end of the season". Exeter City Official Site. Retrieved 29 May 2017.
  16. ↑ "Bobby Olejnik: Mansfield Town agree deal for Exeter goalkeeper". BBC. Retrieved 8 June 2017.
  17. ↑ "Eve of season signing for City". Truro City FC. Retrieved 4 August 2017.
  18. ↑ "Ryan Swan Signs for Cabinteely FC". Cabinteely FC official site. Retrieved 30 September 2017.
  19. ↑ "Exeter City in negotiations with Chelsea over fee for teenage star Ethan Ampadu". Retrieved 2017-07-01.
  20. ↑ "Brentford sign Ollie Watkins". Brentford FC. 18 July 2017. Retrieved 18 July 2017.
  21. ↑ "David Wheeler signs for Championship side QPR". Brentford FC. 31 August 2017. Retrieved 31 August 2017.
  22. ↑ "Jamie Reid joins Torquay United on permanent basis". Exeter City FC official site. 20 October 2017. Retrieved 20 October 2017.
  23. ↑ "Taunton Town FC on Twitter: TERMS AGREED: The club is delighted to announce the signing of Toby Down from @OfficialECFC". Taunton Town FC on Twitter. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
  24. ↑ Larkins, Simon (5 January 2018). "Reuben Reid joins Forest Green Rovers for undisclosed fee". Exeter City FC official site. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
  25. ↑ "Kane Wilson signs on loan". Exeter City Official Site. 31 August 2017. Retrieved 31 August 2017.
  26. ↑ "Kyle Edwards signs on loan". Exeter City Official Site. 31 August 2017. Retrieved 31 August 2017.
  27. ↑ Larkins, Simon (4 January 2018). "Paul Jones signs loan deal at Exeter City". Exeter City FC official site. Retrieved 4 January 2018.
  28. ↑ Larkins, Simon (22 January 2018). "Ryan Loft joins City on loan until the end of the season". Exeter City FC official site. Retrieved 23 January 2018.
  29. ↑ "Jamie Reid joins Torquay United on permanent basis". Exeter City FC official site. 20 October 2017. Retrieved 28 October 2017.
  30. ↑ "Jamie Reid joins Torquay United on six-month loan deal". Exeter City Official Site. 30 June 2017. Retrieved 30 June 2017.
  31. ↑ "Exeter City defender Toby Down joins Weymouth on loan". Exeter City FC. Retrieved 4 July 2017.
  32. 1 2 "Kyle Egan, Jordan Storey and Ben Seymour all go out on loan". Exeter City Official Site. 10 July 2017. Retrieved 10 July 2017.
  33. ↑ Walton, Neil (27 October 2017). "Magpies: Jordan Storey in Grecians recall before Dragons tie". Dorset Echo. Retrieved 28 October 2017.
  34. ↑ Whitney, Steve (14 July 2017). "Exeter Youngster To Spend Season With Truro". The Vanarama National League. Retrieved 14 July 2017.
  35. ↑ "Ben Seymour joins Weston-super-Mare on loan". Exeter City Official Site. 18 July 2017. Retrieved 18 July 2017.
  36. ↑ "Latest loan signing announced at the Woodspring". Weston-super-Mare AFC. 8 August 2017. Retrieved 8 August 2017.
  37. 1 2 "Loan Report: 4/10/2017". Exiled Grecian. Retrieved 15 October 2017.
  38. ↑ "Archie Collins joins Dorchester Town on one-month loan deal". Exeter City FC official site. 18 December 2017. Retrieved 18 December 2017.
  39. ↑ Larkins, Simon (5 January 2018). "James Hamon joins Gloucester City on loan". Exeter City FC official site. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
  40. ↑ Grecian, Exiled. "Loan Report: 24/1/2018". Exiled Grecian. Retrieved 25 January 2018.
  41. ↑ "Joel Randall joins Taunton Town on loan". Exeter City FC official site. 22 January 2018. Retrieved 24 January 2018.
  42. ↑ Larkins, Simon (1 February 2018). "Josh Key joins Bideford on loan". Exeter City FC official site. Retrieved 1 February 2018.
  43. ↑ "Grecians to compete for Brian Lomax SD Cup against Bath City". Exeter City FC. 16 June 2017. Retrieved 24 June 2018.
  44. ↑ "Redevelopment update: June 28". Exeter City FC. Retrieved 28 June 2017.
  45. ↑ "City to open 2017/18 campaign home to Cambridge United". Exeter City FC. Retrieved 21 June 2017.
  46. ↑ "City to face Heybridge Swifts in the FA Cup first round". Exeter City FC official site. 16 October 2017. Retrieved 16 October 2017.
  47. ↑ "City 3 Heybridge Swifts 1". Exeter City FC official site. 5 November 2017. Retrieved 6 November 2017.
  48. ↑ "City drawn away to Forest Green Rovers in second round of Emirates FA Cup". Exeter City Official Site. 6 November 2017. Retrieved 8 November 2017.
  49. ↑ Strange, Ben. "Forest Green 3 City 3". Exeter City FC official site. Retrieved 3 December 2017.
  50. ↑ Lang, Ben. "City 2 Forest Green Rovers 1". Exeter City FC official site. Retrieved 12 December 2017.
  51. ↑ Pilnick, Brent (6 January 2018). "Exeter City 0-2 West Bromwich Albion". BBC Sport. Retrieved 7 January 2018.
  52. ↑ "Carabao Cup: City draw Charlton Athletic at home". Exeter City Official Site. 16 June 2017. Retrieved 16 June 2017.
  53. ↑ "Exeter City to face Chelsea under-21s and Yeovil Town at home in Checkatrade Trophy". Exeter City FC. 13 July 2017. Retrieved 13 July 2017.
  54. ↑ "Exeter City 1 Yeovil Town 3". Exeter City FC official website. 29 August 2017. Retrieved 30 August 2017.
  55. ↑ "Plymouth Argyle 2 City 2 (5-3 pens)". Exeter City FC official site. 3 October 2017. Retrieved 4 October 2017.
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