EXETER UNITED. 

It was the fourth attempt to set up a ‘City’ team, but the establishment of Exeter United Association Football Club in September 1896 was the most successful yet. United lasted a little over six seasons. With St James Park now being used for rugby, the new club had to seek out a home and was successful in renting the St Luke’s Training College ground on Magdalen Road.  United’s first season was very successful with 20 of their 26 matches ending in wins.
by Martin Weiler 
Origins 

SATURDAY 3rd OCTOBER 1896,

TRAINING COLLEGE 1,
EXETER UNITED 3,

Scorers 
COLLEGE Payne, 
EXETER U.  Mayben 2, Davey.

SATURDAY 10t October 1896.

TAVISTOCK 4. EXETER UNITED 1,

Scorers

SATURDAY 17th OCTOBER 1896,

EXETER UNITED 1, PLYMOUTH 0.

Scorer:-
EXETER Davey,

Before a fair attendance, the United kicked off and at once pressed, A minute after commencing, Bailey on the left centred in front of the Plymouth goal, where from the melee Davey put the ball through the posts, registering the first goal, The Plymouth forwards made a big rush down the field for Exeter, and the Plymouth goalkeeper had his work cut out two or three times, unlucky with a shot which went over the bar. Buchan played a good game in defence for Plymouth, but the half ended with nothing scored, Hunt shot over the bar and had another effort stopped by Conry, who was playing a very fine game in goal for Plymouth, Exeter pressed on the opening of the 2nd half, and Littlehales was

SATURDAY 24th OCTOBER 1896, 
At Baring Crescent,

EXETER UNITED 5,
DEPOT DEVON REGIMENT 2,

Scorers 
EXETER Bailey 2, Maben 3, DEVON

Bailey opened the scoring for Exeter, and Maben then got another goal, Maben 2, and Bailey scored further goals for Exeter,

SATURDAY 31st OCTOBER 1896,

EXETER UNITED 6,
CHARD 0.

Dowle; Denning, Marden; Blood, Town, Gawler; Chambers, McLachlan, Hill, Ireland, Chubb, 

Scorers EXETER

The game opened very fast, Chard showing better combination than Exeter at the commencement, Exeter's play was very loose, several wild kicks serving to no useful purpose, and putting the ball over the line and out of play. Maben made several long return shots. Exeter's combination greatly improved as the game went on, and they kept up a persistent attack, scoring once, and sending the ball over and beside the posts many times. In the 2nd half Chard quite fell to pieces, their method vanishing and Exeter's improved,

SATURDAY 7th NOVEMBER 1896, 
At Baring Crescent,

EXETER UNITED 1. TAUNTON 0.

Scorer 
EXETER UNITED Duncalf, 

In the first half Exeter attacked, and kept their opponents well up on their goal line. The Exonians were awarded a penalty kick, but failed with the shot at goal, Tyler, the Taunton goalkeeper, saved a succession of shots good and bad alike, and when Exeter were awarded another penalty kick, they again missed, Duncalf kicked a splendid goal for Exeter at a sharp angle, having received the ball from a throw in, in Taunton's territory. Payne tried to dribble the ball through but was shouldered off. In the closing stages Symonds saved several shots from Taunton,

SATURDAY 14th NOVEMBER 1896, 
At Baring Crescent,

EXETER UNITED 2, ROYAL ARTILLERY 1,

Scorers 
EXETER:- Lang 2. 
Royal Artillery:- Lesley.

The match was played in very bad weather, The Exeter team was weak, Conry, Davey and Payne all being absent, Exeter had the best of the game, but the Artillery team were near to scoring several times, In the first half Lang scored for Exeter, being followed by Lesley scoring for the soldiers, On the change of ends, Lang scored again for Exeter.

SATURDAY 5th DECEMBER 1896, 
At Baring Crescent,

EXETER UNITED 9.
MOUNT RADFORD SCHOOL 0, 

Scorers EXETER Bailey 3, Davey 3, Swan 2, Lang. In the first half Exeter scored three times. The 2nd half was of a still more runaway character, 6 goals being got, Peters, Bailey, Vine and Tozer were the best for Exeter.

SATURDAY 9th JANUARY 1897,

EXETER UNITED 5, WELLINGTON 0,

Scorers EXETER Davey 2, Mayben 2, Cole,

The teams met in Exeter in damp weather, the ground being in a very sloppy condition, The visitors kicked off, Mayben stopping the rush and passing to Bailey, who raced off, but kicking too hard, put the ball several yards wide, There was fine dribbling on the part of each side, From a throw in, Bailey next eluded several opponents and sent in a centre which Davey received and scored the first goal. The visitors tried hard to shoot at goal, but Simonds was equal to everything, and either managed to kick to touch or send the ball behind for a corner, Cole scored for Exeter at the commencement of play in the 2nd half. This was followed by two goals from Mayben and one from Davey,

SATURDAY 30th JANUARY 1897. 
At Devonport.

PLYMOUTH 1, EXETER UNITED 0.

Scorer 
PLYMOUTH Not known 

SATURDAY 6th FEBRUARY 1897,

EXETER UNITED 4, TAVISTOCK 0.

Scorers 
EXETER Mayben 2, Cole 2,

Played in the drizzling rain, great pools of water lay all over the field, which was more than ankle deep in mud, and football was nigh impossible in conditions as these, Exeter winning the toss, played up the hill, Conry sending a long kick into the area of the Tavistock backs, who punted it back. The visitors sent in some high shots to the home goal, where Symonds got the ball out splendidly, Payne received, and dribbled right to the corner, from which he centred to Mayben, who shot the ball through. On the kick out, Tavistock managed to get a corner, but failed to do anything with it, J.L,Conry then got the ball and gave to Cole, who scored a 2nd goal for Exeter. After the interval Exeter had the best of the play, Mayben and Cole adding further goals,

SATURDAY 20th FEBRUARY 1897,

EXETER UNITED 6,
ROYAL ARTILLERY 0, 

Scorers 
EXETER Cole 2, Conry 2, Payne 2,

The ground was sloppy, but a fast game was witnessed, Exeter's form in the first half was good, and from Bailey the ball went to Davey who put it through to Cole, and the latter, runningin close, scored a very lovely goal, Cole showed consistently good form, and made Exeter's 2nd goal, scored by Conry, Payne played well in midfield, but his shooting was erratic, but he scored the 3rd goal, receiving from Conry. The Citizens kept up a brisk attack, and Cole was the next player to score, the Artillery goalkeeper rushing out and missing. Conry next put through, from a pass by Payne. The last named scored just on the call of time.

SATURDAY 6th MARCH 1897,

DEVON CUP ABANDONED, TAVISTOCK LEAVE THE FIELD,

EXETER UNITED 4, TAVISTOCK 0,

Scorers
EXETER Davey, Payne, Conry 2.

Tavistock started down thehill, but Holman missed the ball, and J. L. Conry at once put them on the defensive. The ball went out to Cole, who did not allow for the wind and it went behind, Tavistock then went off with a fine dribble, but F.D. Conry stopped this by sending out to Davey, who centred, and Payne receiving, went away down the middle, and tried to score, but Lang (Goalkeeper) put the ball out to Davey, who by a splendid and difficult shot put the ball into the net. Payne sent to Cole, who scored, but being offside at the time, the goal was disallowed, Payne then got a 2nd goal for Exeter, who led at half time by 2-0. Soon after the restart, Lang was knocked out by J.L. Conry in a hot scrimmage around the Tavistock goal, Conry eventualy scoring. In the next 5 minutes another scrum took place, and Lang rushed out of his goal and missed the ball, it was fisted out by Merrifield, and the Referee promptly awarded a penalty to Exeter, An altercation then took place between the Referee and some of the visiting players, The Referee adhered to his decision, and F.D. Conry, who took the kick, shot into Lang's hands, but J.L, Conry came up and rushed the ball through. Tavistock then left the field and would not return, The Tavistock ground is already suspended, and this matter is to be reported to the Devon Association,

SATURDAY 20th MARCH 1897,

WELSH REGIMENT 2
EXETER UNITED 0.

Scorers Not known