1988/89 Season Summary 
(From a programme article in 1998/99 v Plymouth) 

The building blocks for Exeter City's greatest ever season in 1989- 90 started during this campaign, with the club bringing manager Terry Cooper to St. James' Park after he had surprisingly parted company with Bristol City. Another incredible step was 'stealing' striker Steve Neville for an incredible £10,000 from his former club. Cooper set about creating a team that would eventually take the Fourth Division by storm. However, he ha inherited a poor side which was low in confidence having finished in the bottom four the previous season.

The 1989-90 season started with a disappointing 0-2 home defeat by Wrexham, and was followed by a 2- 1 reverse at Doncaster Rovers. City recovered to beat Halifax Town 4-1 at home, but could not build on this confidence booster as the next match ended in a 2-1 defeat at Rochdale.

The Grecians first away point came in a 2-2 draw at lowly Darlington and City then achieved the same scoreline at home to Scunthorpe United. Exeter proceeded to obtain an unlikely 1-0 win at promotion chasing Rotherham United and then comprehensively dispatched local rivals Torquay United 3-0 at the Park. Ten years ago it was almost unthinkable that Exeter would ever lose to Torquay, as they lost just one league game in twelve between 1984 and 1990.

City's goal form deserted them as they crashed 3-0 at Burnley, but then won the next two home games against Grimsby town (2-1) and Carlisle United (3-0). The Grecians then slumped to three successive defeats before ending this poor run with a 1-0 home win over Scarborough. Defeat at Lincoln left a bitter taste in manager Terry Cooper's mouth as results were not going City's way away from home. Exeter responded with two late goals at Hartlepool United to draw 2-2. Incidentally at this game manager Cooper went and stood with City's travelling fans towards the end of the game, and this no doubt had the desired effect. City then won four games on the bounce to move into the promotion frame beating Colchester (4-2), Hereford (3-1) and York City (2-0) at home and also winning 1-0 at Peterborough United.

Exeter continued to win at home, but lose away, to maintain a mid table position. Hopes of a play-off place were briefly raised on a Friday night at Halifax in mid March. City won 3-0 and it was hoped that the side was finally realising it's full potential, but unfortunately that would have to wait until the following season.

City only won three more of their remaining games to finish in a disappointing 10th position. One of those three victories included a 4-0 romp at Torquay in the days when officially, no away fans were allowed into Plainmoor. However, I was one of the lucky 200 or so unofficial away supporters who managed to obtain a ticket for the match.

In the FA Cup there was humiliation for City as they lost 2-1 at Bognor Regis Town. In the Football League Cup City lost 1-0 at home and away to Cooper's former club, Bristol City, who also put the Grecians out of the Sherpa van trophy, 3-0 at Ashton Gate.

Terry Cooper July 1988

"Looking back on the season we will all recall our high spots and our low spots. I shall be doing the same and trying to sort out where we went wrong and how I can improve the team.

I hope you have enjoyed our play this season, we have always tried to play attacking football, we have had our good games and bad games but can be well pleased with our overall performance.

My first job will be to produce the retained list for next season, and then try and get some new faces who can give us the extra lift to help take us up to Division Three.

To you our supporters, may the team and myself say thanks for all your great support, and a special thank you to our travelling supporters who have been with us at every away game."
TERRY COOPER