06. Exeter Wesleyan United & Exeter Athletic

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

6.  Exeter Wesleyan United & Exeter Athletic

If your matchday walk to the Park takes you up Sidwell Street, then soon after The Duke of York you’ll pass a magnificent-looking building.

This Methodist Church dates to the early 1900s. Not only is it a symbol of the successful growth of the Wesleyans in Exeter, it recalls a possible link to the origins of nearby Exeter City AFC.

 

Following on from the Exeter Schools League, clubs sprang up, many from within church organisations. Along with the Church Lads’ Brigade sides, there were boys’ clubs, one of which was Exeter Wesleyan United. It was made up largely of players who had attended St Sidwell’s School.


The club was formed sometime before the 1900-01 season, most probably with connections to the Wesleyan Chapel and Sunday School on Sidwell Street, next to which a much larger church was later built, which is the one we see today.

Wesleyan United – as they were also known – made an impressive start to the season. By January 1901, in 18 games, they’d only been defeated twice, one of these losses against Exeter United Reserves at St James’ Park.

It prompted the Western Times ‘Football’ correspondent to write: ‘I am pleased to know that that smart combination of youngsters who style themselves Exeter Wesleyan United and play under the Association code are winning much favour. The formation of the team is, I believe, due to Mr George West, who is the Hon. Secretary, and its success must be particularly gratifying to him.’

Now a clue to a possible link between Wesleyan United and Exeter City’s origins is the fact that George West was St Sidwell’s United’s first secretary. But whereas the Wesleyans wore red and black-striped shirts, St Sidwell’s colours were green and white, an indication that there was a new identity.

Still, in later years, Grecian legend Sid Thomas insisted that City’s origins went back to Wesleyan United. Personnel – players and officials – were indeed similar to St Sidwell’s. But evidence of the Wesleyans being the same formal organisation as St Sidwell’s is needed to push City’s foundation date back further from 1901.

Thomas himself played for the Wesleyans in April 1901, and he also turned out for several other clubs that season – including St James United, Exeter Athletic, and St Thomas Past. It was typical of the freedom players had to get a game for whoever they wanted.

In fact there appear to be close links between Exeter Athletic and Wesleyan United. Both shared a ground, a sloping field at Mount Pleasant. Both disappear with the formation of St Sidwell’s United. And a good number of the Athletic side later play for the green and whites.

Files

Comments

Allowed tags: <p>, <a>, <em>, <strong>, <ul>, <ol>, <li>