Tony Frankland, a youth player, made four appearances during Exeter City’s 1989/90 Fourth Division championship-winning season as well as appearing against Norwich City in the FA Cup. Turning professional he played just three more times in the league before leaving the club.

Signing as a trainee in 1989, Tony was only seventeen when he made his league debut against Wrexham on 25 November 1989 in place of the injured Richard Dryden (having already appeared in the FA Cup against Dartford the previous Saturday). He then appeared on three subsequent occasions during City's title season between Boxing Day and mid-March alongside playing in both FA Cup games against Norwich City.  

Playing infrequently over the following two seasons, and suffering a nagging ankle injury, Tony was released at the end of the 1991/92 campaign. Now approaching twenty, and having had an unsuccessful trial at Bristol City, Tony played a few games for Bath City before departing the senior football scene.