New Era For Exeter City Women Under Club Management.
Exeter City Women are embarking on an exciting new chapter as they transition to the Club's management ahead of the upcoming season.
After an outstanding performance last season, the team secured their place in the third tier of women’s football – the FA Women’s National League Southern Premier Division – setting the stage for even greater achievements ahead.
This promotion brings several administrative changes. The management of the team will transition from Exeter City Community Trust, where it has grown and developed over the last eight years, to the Club.
The team will play an increased number of matches at St James Park in the upcoming season. Additionally, there are several ground requirements that must be met to compete at this level, and efforts are ongoing to address these needs ahead of the season starting in August.
Nick Hawker, chair of Exeter City Supporters’ Trust, said: “This is a very exciting chapter for the Women’s team and we’re pleased that the Club is in a position to support this move.
"We’d like to record our thanks to the team at Exeter City Community Trust, the sponsors and the many volunteers who have committed hours of their time to supporting the team and played a pivotal role in its growth.”
“Considerably more investment is required with the move to semi-professional and tier three status, and as agreed by the club board as part of their forthcoming season budget, this forms part of the strategic future plans of the Club.”
The team returned to pre-season training in June. Fixtures are due to be announced in mid July and their first match takes place on August 18.
Jamie Vittles, chief executive of Exeter City Community Trust, said: “The promotion and subsequent changes where the players are now being offered semi-professional contracts has made it challenging for the team to stay under Exeter City Community Trust, due to our charitable status. We continue to work with the club to ensure as smooth a transition as possible.
“We have developed a female football pathway in Exeter which offers opportunities for girls and young women to play football from just three years old. We’ll continue to develop that provision, which also includes our Girls’ Development Centre, where 200 girls train regularly in Exeter and North Devon, many with the ambition and talent to go on to our Women’s team. We also have an exciting new opportunity for girls in the Junior Premier League programme which has recently been extended to an under 18 league.”
Aaron Wakley, who was co-manager of the women’s team along with Abbie Britton, will remain with Exeter City Community Trust and continue to develop the charity’s female football provision both at Exeter College and across Devon. Abbie Britton has been appointed manager of Exeter City Women.
Abbie said: “We’ll be eternally grateful to the team at Exeter City Community Trust, and in particular its chief executive Jamie Vittles, who initially rescued the team and then, over the years have built it up to what it is today, alongside the development of girls and women’s football in Exeter.
“It’s not that long ago that the only opportunity for girls to play was on boys’ teams. Now we have a fully developed pathway for female football in our city.”
Abbie Britton
Abbie added: “Thank you to everyone who has been involved in the success of the women’s team, this season and in the past. Special thanks to Aaron Wakley who I have shared managerial responsibilities with. I’m pleased to say that we’ll continue to work closely as he builds on the brilliant work already done to develop female football under the Exeter City badge.
“Thanks also to Exeter City Supporters’ Trust for their commitment to the team and to our sponsors, we’re so grateful for their support. And, of course, our loyal fans who are just amazing, many of them have stuck with us from the early days. Their support means the world to us, and I know they will be cheering us on again this season! These are exciting times for women’s football in Exeter and we can’t wait to see where we can take this!"
City Women Secure Coach Road As Secondary Home Venue!
The 2024/25 season will see Exeter City Women play across two venues, St James Park and Coach Road in Newton Abbot.
The decision to play at the two locations comes following extensive research to find a suitable venue which complies with the new ground regulations after the team secured their place in the third tier of women’s football last season. St James Park is the only licensed venue in Exeter for tier three football.
However, the grass pitch is not yet of a technical specification able to cope with us playing all our fixtures here, whilst maintaining the required condition of the pitch throughout the winter months.
City’s Executive Chair for women's football Jen Dixon said: "Promotion to the Women’s National Premier League has brought new standards and challenges for us to navigate, including new ground regulations. Through the support and hard work across the Club, we have been able to secure Coach Road as a fantastic second venue for when we are unable to play at St James Park.”
“We felt Coach Road offered us, and our fans, a great second home for the team. With good transport links from Exeter, and a thriving grassroots football community in Newton Abbot, we are excited to have the opportunity to grow our fanbase in the local area and beyond.”
“Being able to play six of our 11 league games at St James Park represents a big step forward and is a clear sign of the continual progress of our women’s football programme at Exeter City. In the times we have played there, it has always been a special matchday experience and I’m looking forward to more of those matchdays this season.”
First Team
2024/25 Results and Information
Pre-Season
Results
| Date |
Versus |
Venue |
Result |
Score |
Att |
Goals |
|
|
|
| 2024-07-28 |
St Austell |
A |
L |
2-7 |
20 |
? |
? |
|
|
| 2024-08-25 |
Bideford |
A |
W |
5-0 |
30 |
Og |
? |
? |
|
First Team
Pre-Season
| Friendlies |
| Date |
Versus |
Venue |
Result |
Score |
Att |
Goals |
|
|
|
| 2024-07-21 |
Moneyfields |
A |
L |
3-4 |
? |
? |
|
|
|
| 2024-07-28 |
Swansea |
A |
W |
2-0 |
BCD |
? |
|
|
|
| 2024-08-11 |
AFC Bournemouth |
A |
W |
3-1 |
? |
Stacey |
Cunnngham |
Watkins |
|
| 2024-08-15 |
Torquay United |
H |
W |
10-1 |
150 |
Gillies 3 |
Cunnngham |
Watkins |
Trialist |
| Stacey |
Pollock |
OG's 2 |
|
League Results
Results
| Southern League Premier |
| Date |
Versus |
Venue |
Result |
Score |
Att |
Goals |
|
|
|
| 2024-08-17 |
Milton Keynes |
H |
W |
7-0 |
950 |
Stacey 2 |
Gillies 3 |
Toogood 2 |
|
| 2024-08-25 |
Lewes |
A |
W |
4-0 |
616 |
Stacey 2 |
Gillies |
Bowman |
|
| 2024-09-01 |
Ipswich Town |
H |
D |
2-2 |
612 |
Gillies 2 |
|
|
|
| 2024-09-08 |
Gwalia United |
A |
W |
3-2 |
195 |
Barbour-Gresham |
Gillies |
Stacey |
|
| 2024-09-15 |
Oxford United |
H |
L |
0-3 |
720 |
: |
|
|
|
| 2024-09-22 |
AFC Wimbledon |
A |
L |
1-4 |
208 |
Cunningham |
|
|
|
| 2024-09-26 |
Plymouth Argyle |
A |
W |
3-0 |
1927 |
Gillies |
Stacey |
Toogood |
|
| 2024-10-13 |
Cheltenham Town |
A |
W |
3-0 |
117 |
Stacey |
Gillies |
Watkins |
|
| 2024-10-27 |
Hashtag United |
H |
D |
0-0 |
390 |
: |
|
|
|
| 2024-11-10 |
Watford |
A |
L |
2-5 |
143 |
Gillies |
Stacey |
|
|
| 2024-11-17 |
Milton Keynes |
A |
W |
6-1 |
101 |
Pollock, Jackson, Zuurmond, Gillies, Og, Stacey |
| 2024-12-01 |
Billericay |
H |
W |
4-1 |
191 |
Watkins |
Stacey |
Barbour-Gresham |
Baker |
| 2024-12-15 |
Lewes |
H |
W |
1-0 |
190 |
Gillies |
|
|
|
| 2025-01-19 |
Gwalia United |
H |
D |
1-1 |
190 |
Taylor |
|
|
|
| 2025-02-02 |
Billericay |
A |
W |
4-2 |
120 |
Gillies |
Kendell |
Pollock |
Og |
| 2025-02-16 |
Ipswich Town |
A |
L |
1-2 |
939 |
Gillies |
|
|
|
| 2025-02-23 |
AFC Wimbledon |
H |
W |
2-1 |
317 |
Gillies |
Stacey |
|
|
| 2025-03-09 |
Oxford United |
A |
W |
1-0 |
452 |
Gillies |
|
|
|
| 2025-03-12 |
Plymouth Argyle |
H |
W |
1-0 |
696 |
Gillies |
|
|
|
| 2025-03-23 |
Cheltenham Town |
H |
W |
2-1 |
851 |
Pollock |
Kendell |
|
|
| 2025-04-13 |
Hashtag United |
A |
L |
0-2 |
101 |
: |
|
|
|
| 2025-04-27 |
Watford |
H |
D |
2-2 |
3791 |
Stacey |
Zuurmond |
|
|
Final League Table
Southern Premier Division
2024/25
|
Pos
|
|
P
|
W
|
D
|
L
|
GD
|
PTS
|
|
1
|
Ipswich Town
|
22
|
17
|
3
|
2
|
79
|
54
|
|
2
|
Hashtag United
|
22
|
15
|
3
|
4
|
33
|
48
|
|
3
|
Watford
|
22
|
13
|
5
|
4
|
40
|
44
|
|
4
|
Exeter City
|
22
|
13
|
4
|
5
|
21
|
43
|
|
5
|
Oxford United
|
22
|
13
|
3
|
6
|
20
|
42
|
|
6
|
Lewes
|
22
|
8
|
7
|
7
|
9
|
31
|
|
7
|
AFC Wimbledon
|
22
|
9
|
4
|
9
|
4
|
31
|
|
8
|
Cheltenham Town
|
22
|
7
|
2
|
13
|
-15
|
23
|
|
9
|
Gwalia United
|
22
|
6
|
4
|
12
|
-18
|
22
|
|
10
|
Plymouth Argyle
|
22
|
6
|
2
|
14
|
-28
|
20
|
|
11
|
Billericay Town
|
22
|
5
|
2
|
15
|
-31
|
17
|
|
12
|
Milton Keynes
|
22
|
0
|
1
|
21
|
-114
|
1
|
OTHER COMPETETIONS
Women's FA Cup
| WFA Cup |
| Date |
Versus |
Venue |
Result |
Score |
Att |
Goals |
|
|
|
| 2024-11-03 |
Keynsham Town |
H |
W |
4-0 |
185 |
Gillies |
Stacey 2 |
Pollock |
|
| 2024-11-24 |
Plymouth Argyle |
A |
W |
5-1 |
350 |
Gillies 2 |
Stacey 2 |
Barbour-Gresham |
|
| 2024-12-08 |
Worthing |
H |
W |
3-1 |
190 |
Gillies 2 |
Stacey |
|
aet |
| 2025-01-12 |
Sunderland |
H |
L |
1-7 |
588 |
Stacey |
|
|
|
Southern Premier League Cup
| League Cup |
| Date |
Versus |
Venue |
Result |
Score |
Att |
Goals |
|
|
|
| 2024-08-28 |
Portishead |
H |
W |
8-1 |
166 |
Baker 2, Zuurmond 2, Grove, Franichi, Gillies, Taylor |
| 2024-09-29 |
Ipswich Town |
H |
L |
1-3 |
402 |
Stacey |
|
|
|
Devon County FA Women's Challenge Cup
| Devon County FA Women's Cup |
| Date |
Versus |
Venue |
Result |
Score |
Att |
Goals |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 2025-02-02 |
Plymouth Argyle FINAL |
Devon FA |
W |
6-0 |
371 |
Stacey 3 |
Zuurmond |
Everson |
Watkins |
Appearances and Goals
|
|
Appearances
|
Goals
|
|
Phoebe Baker
|
27
|
3
|
|
Georgie Barbour Gresham
|
15
|
3
|
|
Stephanie Beck
|
0
|
0
|
|
Abbi Bond
|
20
|
|
|
Jess Cockayne
|
3
|
|
|
Zoe Cunningham
|
21
|
1
|
|
Rebecca Dandridge
|
1
|
|
|
Lily Dowling
|
2
|
|
|
Bethany Everson
|
7
|
|
|
Matilda Franchi
|
1
|
1
|
|
Olivia Giles
|
11
|
|
|
Sophie Gillies
|
28
|
23
|
|
Lemoni Gouldstone
|
3
|
|
|
Jade Grove
|
6
|
1
|
|
Beth Ireland
|
25
|
|
|
Bow Jackson
|
23
|
3
|
|
Courtney Jones
|
16
|
|
|
Maya Kendall
|
10
|
2
|
|
Paige MacDonald-Bale
|
1
|
|
|
Amber Pollock
|
26
|
4
|
|
Jasmine Read
|
|
|
|
Jess Sandland
|
22
|
|
|
Jaydee Seaman
|
26
|
|
|
Fearne Slocombe
|
9
|
|
|
Sarah Stacey
|
26
|
13
|
|
Mollie Taylor
|
25
|
2
|
|
Emily Toogood
|
28
|
2
|
|
Amy Wathan
|
1
|
|
|
Zoe Watkins
|
23
|
2
|
|
Ishbel Zuurmond
|
26
|
4
|
Reserve South West
Exeter City Development
Results
FA WNL Reserve South West
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date
|
Versus
|
Venue
|
Result
|
Score
|
Att
|
Goals
|
|
|
|
2024-09-08
|
AFC Bournemouth
|
H
|
L
|
1-4
|
50
|
Bucknall
|
|
|
|
2024-09-22
|
Swindon Town
|
A
|
L
|
2-3
|
86
|
Bucknall
|
MacDonald-Bale
|
|
|
2024-10-06
|
Moneyfields Res
|
H
|
W
|
4-3
|
57
|
Gouldstone, Bucknall,
|
MacDonald-Bale
|
Rumens
|
|
2024-10-13
|
Keynsham Town
|
A
|
L
|
0-5
|
50
|
:
|
|
|
|
2024-11-03
|
Portsmouth
|
H
|
L
|
1-4
|
75
|
Franchi
|
|
|
|
2025-01-05
|
Keynsham Town
|
H
|
D
|
1-1
|
47
|
Dowling
|
|
|
|
2025-01-12
|
Moneyfields Res
|
A
|
L
|
0-6
|
25
|
:
|
|
|
|
2025-01-26
|
Swindon Town
|
H
|
W
|
2-0
|
85
|
Barker
|
|
|
|
2025-02-02
|
AFC Bournemouth
|
A
|
L
|
0-5
|
54
|
:
|
|
|
|
2025-02-23
|
Portsmouth
|
A
|
L
|
1-3
|
47
|
?
|
|
|
Friendlies
| Date |
Versus |
Venue |
Result |
Score |
Att |
Goals |
|
|
|
| 2024-07-28 |
St Austell |
A |
L |
2-7 |
20 |
? |
? |
|
|
| 2024-08-25 |
Bideford |
A |
W |
5-0 |
30 |
Og |
? |
? |
|
FA WNL Reserve Cup
| FA WNL Reserve Cup |
| Date |
Versus |
Venue |
Result |
Score |
Att |
Goals |
| 2024-09-01 |
AFC Bournemouth Dev |
H |
L |
0-4 |
102 |
: |
Table
League Table
(All Development sides except Moneyfields)
|
|
P
|
W
|
D
|
L
|
GD
|
Points
|
|
AFC Bournemouth
|
10
|
10
|
0
|
0
|
43
|
30
|
|
Portsmouth
|
10
|
6
|
1
|
3
|
7
|
19
|
|
Swindon Town
|
10
|
4
|
1
|
5
|
-1
|
13
|
|
Moneyfields Res
|
10
|
4
|
0
|
6
|
-11
|
12
|
|
Exeter City
|
10
|
2
|
1
|
7
|
-23
|
7
|
|
Keynsham Town
|
10
|
1
|
3
|
6
|
-15
|
6
|
Appearances and goals
|
Player Name
|
Appearances
|
Goals
|
|
Jasmine Barker
|
9
|
1
|
|
Steph Beck
|
8
|
|
|
Maddie Brandon
|
3
|
|
|
Poppy Buckland
|
8
|
|
|
Rudy Bucknall
|
10
|
3
|
|
Jess Cockayne
|
10
|
|
|
Bronwyn Cousins
|
7
|
|
|
Ana Curtis
|
3
|
|
|
Ellen Dixon
|
2
|
|
|
Lily Dowling
|
11
|
3
|
|
Hope Dryden
|
2
|
|
|
Mandy Earle
|
|
|
|
Isabella Ferrante
|
1
|
|
|
Matilda Franchise
|
6
|
1
|
|
Lemoni Gouldstone
|
9
|
1
|
|
Keira Harvey
|
5
|
|
|
Eden Hurst
|
4
|
1
|
|
Marika Legg
|
11
|
|
|
Chloe MacDonald-Bale
|
12
|
2
|
|
Paige MacDonald-Bale
|
11
|
|
|
Skye Macdonald- Brown
|
10
|
|
|
Lilly Mearns
|
2
|
1
|
|
Isabel Nickels
|
11
|
|
|
Ella Pawley
|
11
|
|
|
Lauryn Proctor
|
1
|
|
|
Kitty Rumens
|
12
|
1
|
|
Jess Sandland
|
1
|
|
|
Josie Smith
|
2
|
|
|
Zoe Watkins
|
1
|
|
|
Simone Williams
|
2
|
|
Other information
A total of seven players will be departing the club, with two of those retiring from playing. Both loan players have also returned to their parent club, Bristol City.
As previously confirmed, Zoe Watkins will be leaving the club after an incredible seven years at City, while promotion winner Zoe Cunningham and one of our own, Georgie Barbour-Gresham, will be retiring.
Players departing:
- Zoe Watkins
- Jess Cockayne
- Jade Grove
- Steph Beck
- Lemoni Gouldstone
Players retiring:
- Georgie Barbour-Gresham
- Zoe Cunningham
Players returning to their parent club:
- Fearne Slocombe
- Maya Kendell
Players retained:
- Abbi Bond
- Bow Jackson
- Emily Toogood
- Jaydee Seaman
- Jess Sandland
- Phoebe Baker
- Beth Ireland
- Sarah Stacey
- Ishbel Zuurmond
- Beth Everson
- Mollie Taylor
- Matilda Franchi
- Sophie Gillies
- Olivia Giles
- Amber Pollock
- Jasmine Read
- Lily Dowling
- Skye MacDonald-Brown
- Grace Lee-Jones*
*Our honorary number 12
We would like to wish departing players all the best in their future endeavours, whether that's on or off the pitch.
Once a Grecian, always a Grecian!
Exeter City Women Player Of The Month:
A look back at this season's winners...
*Although the season began in August, the Player of the Month awards were not introduced until October.
October: Abbi Bond
In October, Exeter City Women’s keeper Abbi Bond was in brilliant form, keeping three clean sheets across the month. Solid and dependable at the back, she played a key role in helping City pick up crucial points, with a string of confident performances that showed exactly why she’s such a vital part of the side.
November: Emily Toogood
In November, Emily impressed throughout, after a continuous run of strong performances. Calm and composed at the back, she played with real confidence and energy, helping to steady the defence while also pushing forward to support the attack when needed.
December: Jaydee Seaman
In December, Jaydee's leadership and tenacity led her team to two highly competitive victories for the Grecians. December saw the best of Jaydee, she was a pivotal part in the team's league and cup success that saw out 2024.
January: Maya Kendell
In January, Maya joined the club on loan from Bristol City and hit the ground running straight away with a strong performance against Sunderland, then provided 90 minutes of problems towards Cardiff City's defence in a 1-1 draw.
February: Liv Giles
In February, 17-year-old Liv Giles took the spotlight after featuring in between the sticks of two wins away to Billericay and at home to AFC Wimbledon. Liv has formed a solid partnership with City keeper Abbi Bond throughout this season and is proving herself to be one of the most exciting prospects in the Women's National League.
March: Phoebe Baker
In March, central midfielder Phoebe Baker picked up the award for her dominant force in the middle of the park. Starting the month with a dominant display against Oxford United and powering the Grecians through in a Derby Day win, before ending the month with a standout performance in front of a good crowd at SJP against Cheltenham Town.
April: Ishbel Zuurmond
In April, Exeter City Women's no. 15 made a remarkable performance during the Devon FA Challenge Cup against Plymouth Argyle, consistently troubling the Pilgrims and contributing to a commanding 6-0 victory. Then, on the final day of the season, Ish scored her first league goal of the season at home, equalising for City in front of the Big Bank against Watford.
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