10. Dugout and Old Directors Seats
Back out to pitch side and it is good to note the story of the stands origins. Back in 1926 there was an even older stand here, similar to this one, but included a standing area at the front.
Then, for reasons never uncovered, the stand set fire, reducing the structure to ash and rubble... it even took with it the players kit and it was said that the fire was so hot, people on the Sidwell/High Street crossing could feel it!
The stand was later replaced, largely thanks to contributions from fans to cover half the cost, and so in 2016 the stand is 89 years old.
This makes it one of the oldest surviving stands in league football, with Fulhams 1904 stand being the oldest of them all.
One of the main modern features are the dug-outs where the home and away team base themselves... Those with a keen eye will also spot the little area saved for the fourth official.
Apart from a small period in the 2000s the dugout has always been on this side of the pitch, although these modern ones are more practical than the earlier versions, which, being literally dug-out, used to see players emptying them with pails of water when it rained heavily.
Given how long the stand has been here there have been many managers giving out orders and carrying out a watching brief over the years.
Home and Away managers alike, these include Alan Ball, Gerry Francis, Sir Alex Ferguson, Ruud Gullit, Brian Clough and Kenny Dalglish, and of course Paul Tisdale, who in 2016 saw his 10th anniversary as City manager and his record breaking 500th match in charge.
Another feature of the OG is the old Directors seats. In the centre of the stand, half way up, this is where the Directors used to sit prior to the redevelopment of the main stand on the opposite side of the pitch.
In the early days women were not allowed to sit in these seats, instead they had to watch matches from the window of a house in St James Road!
Thankfully this has all changed, and Exeter are proud to be one of few Clubs who have had a female Club Chairman – Denise Watts.
The seats are now used by Exec Club members.
Then, for reasons never uncovered, the stand set fire, reducing the structure to ash and rubble... it even took with it the players kit and it was said that the fire was so hot, people on the Sidwell/High Street crossing could feel it!
The stand was later replaced, largely thanks to contributions from fans to cover half the cost, and so in 2016 the stand is 89 years old.
This makes it one of the oldest surviving stands in league football, with Fulhams 1904 stand being the oldest of them all.
One of the main modern features are the dug-outs where the home and away team base themselves... Those with a keen eye will also spot the little area saved for the fourth official.
Apart from a small period in the 2000s the dugout has always been on this side of the pitch, although these modern ones are more practical than the earlier versions, which, being literally dug-out, used to see players emptying them with pails of water when it rained heavily.
Given how long the stand has been here there have been many managers giving out orders and carrying out a watching brief over the years.
Home and Away managers alike, these include Alan Ball, Gerry Francis, Sir Alex Ferguson, Ruud Gullit, Brian Clough and Kenny Dalglish, and of course Paul Tisdale, who in 2016 saw his 10th anniversary as City manager and his record breaking 500th match in charge.
Another feature of the OG is the old Directors seats. In the centre of the stand, half way up, this is where the Directors used to sit prior to the redevelopment of the main stand on the opposite side of the pitch.
In the early days women were not allowed to sit in these seats, instead they had to watch matches from the window of a house in St James Road!
Thankfully this has all changed, and Exeter are proud to be one of few Clubs who have had a female Club Chairman – Denise Watts.
The seats are now used by Exec Club members.
Collection
Files
Comments