Carl Pettefer, on loan from Portsmouth, played around thirty league matches for Exeter City during the 2002/03 relegation season. He later appeared for Oxford United and Southend United before moving into non-league.  

Carl became a Portsmouth trainee in July 1997 and signed professionally in November 1998. Making his debut for Pompey in April 2001, he played twice more - in February and March 2002 - ahead of joining Exeter City on a season’s long loan in October 2002 together with team mate Lewis Buxton (who stayed for four matches). 

Carl’s first game for the Grecians was in a Football League Trophy game against Bristol Rovers on 22 October followed by a league debut four days later in the 0-4 home defeat against Darlington. Although the season proved disastrous for Exeter, Carl was a regular in the team playing through until the final league game against Southend United on 3 May 2003. In total he appeared in thirty-one league games plus six cup-ties.

Returning to Fratton Park, Carl didn’t make another first-team appearance and signed for Southend United in February 2004 for whom he made 68 league appearances prior to moving to Oxford United, then in the Conference, in July 2006. Appearing against Exeter in the end-of-season play-offs in May 2007, Carl was a regular before being transferred-listed and eventually released at the end of 2007/08. He then had a brief week-to-week deal with AFC Bournemouth - making a couple of substitute appearances in league and cup - before playing for Bognor Regis Town and, between 2008 and 2013, AFC Totton. Carl next enjoyed a similarly-productive five-year stay with Poole Town eventually moving to Wimborne Town in December 2018.