Season Summary

Exeter City celebrated their third promotion in three years and a Cup victory at the end of another hugely successful campaign.

Having finished second in the table, Steve Tully's side were told in late April that they'll be playing in the Premier Divison next season as the South West League Divison One Western, winners Plymouth Argyle Reserves cannot go higher than their current level. To add to the injury, Greens Reserve side had been beaten a week earlier by Exeter in the Bristol SoccerWorld Cup Final by 3-2 after extra time. The team came very close to a treble, only losing the County Cup Final on penalties against Marine Academy.

Steve was "really pleased with promotion" after his team were only beaten once all season, and that was in September. He commented further "Having finished 2nd in the league we've been promoted again because Plymouth Reserves can't go higher than level 5. But we take it however we get it so it's onwards and upwards and I keep saying that to the squad. Next season will be even harder for the team but they are looking forward to the chance to test themselves. We've played a team higher up in the FA Cup this year and done well and we only lost on penalties to Marine Academy in the Cup Final, a team two leagues higher than us, so we have given a good account of ourselves. There is nothing to be scared of next season and the team believe that."

Steve was really enjoying his role as manager of the successful Women's side and he spoke of his desire to move into management when his playing days are over. "I'm doing my Level 2 B licence in the Summer so we'll see where that takes me. I love it and think I've got a lot to offer on that side of things. I want to see where it takes me after that" 

Girls Develpment Centre

The girls U-16 squad, managed by Chad Gribble played their first two games in late October, the squad included, Jessie Boston, Sam Burnham, Emily Fortune, Dani Garland, Marika Ghiglia, Rachel Gobly, Jazz Hervin, Meg Griffiths, Lauren Jones, Amber Lovelock, Leah Rawlings, Beccy Rose, Jade Salt, Sophie Lou-Simpson, Jo Spencer, Emily Steer, Natalie Volpini, Beth Willis, Hayley Worsley. 


The development centre was continuing to provide a supply of talented and technically gifted players for the first team. Many of the current 1st team squad had come through the ranks of the Centre and some of the U-16's were already training with the 1st team. The continued improvement was obvious from the progress of the 1st team. It was a vindication of the Club , the Supporters Trust (the club's owners) and the City Council's decision to support a local development centre following the Football Association's decision to focus their funding on a single Devon Centre of Excellence in Plymouth.

From the Exmouth Journal in May 2011