Origins

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

22. St Sidwell’s United change name to Exeter City

In the three seasons they played as St Sidwell’s United, the Grecians certainly made their mark.  Winning the Exeter Junior League in both 1901/2 and 1902/3 paved the way to Senior status.  A solid third in the East Devon Senior League in 1903/4 was accompanied by a run to the Final of the East Devon Cup.  This was clearly an upwardly mobile Club, now with a Reserve team to bolster the playing staff.

And what gave St Sidwell’s more kudos was the fact that the previous top side in the city, Exeter United, had fallen by the wayside. Indeed, by the start of their third season St Sidwell’shad taken over St James’ Park, recognised as the premier association football venue in the area.

Over the years, local newspapers had debated ‘who are the leaders?’ when it came to football in the city. Now in the spring of 1904, the answer was clear. St Sidwell’s United were the ‘City Club’. But even so, there was no indication that a name change was about to occur.

Thankfully we have newspaper items on the St Sidwell’s United AGM held on 31 May 1904. And it’s in these reports that we learn of the momentous change of name.  The meeting was held at the Red Lion Hotel in Sidwell Street – long associated with the club through landlord Tom Oliver, a future board member. Indeed, he was thanked during the meeting ‘for the use of a dressing room during the season’.

The report in the following day’s Western Times gave details: ‘A dinner preceded the meeting. There was a large attendance, and the various toasts were heartily received.’  A summary of the ‘very creditable’ League season was given and then the results of various elections including W Morgan as Captain and E Eveleigh as ‘Sub-Captain’.

After mentioning the votes of thanks, it’s only towards the end of the report that a single sentence captures a major decision.  The Times simply notes: ‘It was decided to change the name of St Sidwell’s United to Exeter City Association Football Club.’ And that was it.  The report ends with brief reference to the songs that made up the post-meeting entertainment.

This vital piece of information about the name change has often been overlooked. For many years it was 1904, not 1901, that was given as the date of formation of Exeter City. The club even celebrated its centenary in 2004 with a game against the Brazil Masters.  

And so a thread of growth in the game going back to Exeter Association Club, Exeter AFC, and Exeter United was finally cemented by St Sidwell’s United becoming Exeter City. The opening game of their 1904/5 season against 110th Battery RFA at St James’ Park ‘aroused great interest with the Soccerites’, the Devon Evening Express tells us, with ‘a large attendance of about 600’. Exeter City won 2-1, and a new stage in its history was underway.  

Note: This is the final chapter in the Origins series.  Please contact us at museum@ecfc.co.uk if you have any information to add to these articles. We are particularly interested in any early photographs or documents that help tell the story of football in Exeter,  the emergence of St Sidwell’s United and  their journey to becoming Exeter City.