Celebrating 120 years of the Grecians - The St Sidwell’s United Story

The start of the 2021/2 season marked the 120th anniversary of the origins of our Club.  It was in June 1901 that St Sidwell’s United arrived on the scene. Three years later they changed their name to Exeter City Association Football Club.  

To celebrate this milestone, each issue of the season’s Exeter City programme -The Grecian - featured an aspect of the early days of football in Exeter and the emergence of St Sidwell’s as the City’s top team.  These articles, written by Martin Weiler and Aidan Hamilton, are now reproduced here on the Grecian Archive.

The series was part of a project on our origins carried out by the Exeter City Football Club Museum. This drew on Aidan Hamilton’s ‘The story of Exeter’s St James’ Park’ which chronicles the development of the association game in Exeter in the nineteenth century and the formation of St Sidwell’s United. His book is on sale in the Club Shop.

In addition, new research, particularly in the newspapers of the time, has been carried out by the Museum team, and the latest revelations shared. 

There is no doubt that many myths have built up over the years, often because of the repetition of past incorrect statements.  For example, many refer to 1904 as the year our Club was formed rather than that being the date of the name change. In the past, others have also quoted 1908 – when this was simply the year we went professional.

The series examines some of these myths and provides the latest information available. It also explores issues that are still inconclusive, including St Sidwell’s United’s relationship with other clubs such as Exeter United and Exeter Wesleyan United.

The story of St Sidwell’s United covers a variety of themes including their links with St Sidwell’s School, their first ground (off Pinhoe Road), their move to St James Park, their colours (green and white), their nickname (The Grecians), their first-ever match (versus Dawlish) and subsequent games, as well as looking at key players and officials including the legendary Sid Thomas.

The Museum continues to look for help from supporters and the wider public. Does anyone have any information, memorabilia, or photographs relating to St Sidwell’s United? Maybe an ancestor played for them. Incredibly we don’t have one photograph of the team or their Pinhoe Road ground. If you have anything that might be of interest, please contact the Museum at museum@ecfc.co.uk or via Reception.

You can check the names of players who turned out for St Sidwell’s on the Grecian Archive. All the known results and line ups are at:
St Sidwell's Results