The name of Sean Devine is synonymous with the time of Exeter City’s relegation from the Football League and the club’s early days in the Conference. In an era of turbulence and recovery Sean scored more than forty goals in just a hundred appearances for the club between 2003 and 2005.

Sean started his career at Millwall but, after having a period on loan with Woking, moved on to Bromley in 1992 without making a Football League appearance. He then featured for Fisher Athletic, Omonia Nicosia (Cyprus) and Barnet for whom he was to score over fifty first-team goals between October 1995 and April 1999.

After a serious injury - which had scuppered Sean’s chance of a trial with West Ham United - he returned to being a regular scorer during 1997/98 but far less so during the following season. Offered a loan opportunity at Wycombe Wanderers, Sean hit a streak of goalscoring form at Adams Park and soon signed permanently in a £200,000 deal. Twenty-five league and cup goals followed in 1999/2000 before Sean missed the entire 2000/01 campaign due to a knee injury. Returning to fitness Sean progressively featured less-regularly for the Chairboys and, in January 2003, was the subject of a successful offer from a struggling Exeter City. 

City paid a fee for Sean - variously reported as being in the region of £50,000 plus add-ons - that represented a massive gamble at a time when the club was in dire circumstances. Sean made his debut at Hull City on 11 January 2003 and opened his Grecians account at Scunthopre ten days later. Although his eight goals in 23 games represented a more-than-solid return, Sean’s efforts couldn’t save City from relegation and he was a member of the side that faced Southend United in the fateful final game of the season.           

Adapting to life in the Conference Sean was top scorer with 20 league goals in 2003/04 and added another eleven the following season when he appeared in both FA Cup ties against Manchester United in January 2005. 

Now aged 32, Sean left City in May 2005 and signed for the New Zealand Knights and later played for Metro FC (Auckland) before coaching and managing Canterbury United..

Returning to England, Sean lived in Exeter for a while - coaching Heavitree United and becoming a trustee at Exeter City - ahead of moving to Buckinghamshire and becoming involved in management at Leighton Town and Buckingham United through to the 2020/21 season. By this time Sean was also a director of two companies in partnership with former City player James Coppinger.

Sean played once for Republic of Ireland ‘B’ in February 1998.