DENISE WATTS.
HOPES FOR A SEASON TO REMEMBER

A very warm welcome to you all this evening particularly to the players, staff and supporters of Crawley Town. I trust that you have had a good journey here and a I wish you a safe one on your return.

As this is the very first 'home' programme of the season, it gives me great pleasure not only to welcome our visitors, but to welcome all our many fans both new and old. I trust that this season will be as eventful as the last.

As we all know the end of last season was a roller coaster of a ride. With high drama in the play-off semi-finals, our prize was Wembley versus Morecambe on 20th May after our away leg at Oxford, which put Exeter City on the map once again for all the right reasons.

Sadly as we all know now, a win at Wembley and promotion to League 2 was not to be, but I want to take this opportunity of thanking Paul Tisdale and his team for such a magnificent effort despite the result. As I keep saying, it was disappointing, but you must understand that it is better to have gone to Wembley and lost than never to have been there at all.

The support of 30,000 travelling fans was the very best that the team could have wished for. All I hope is that some of our new supporters are here today to sample the Exeter City matchday experience and we look forward to welcoming you here again very soon.

Despite it being 'close season' there has been much going on at the Club. I actually think that it is busier during this period than during the season itself.

Some players have moved onto pastures new, whilst we have welcomed others into the Exeter City 'fold'. They are good signings and I have already had the privilege of watching them play. A very big welcome to Andy Marriott, Neil Saunders, Matt Taylor, Steve Basham and Frankie Artus.

What else is new at The Park? Well, perhaps the most exciting news is that we have changed the catering arrangement at the ground. Exeter City have taken the task in hand and, as you will see this evening., Lyn Hedley now heads this up.

Lyn and Paul Wynne (Projects) have worked tirelessly to present a strong business case and I am glad to say this has been successful. You will have already noticed that there are far more products on offer and prices are reduced without quality being compromised. I would like to take this opportunity of thanking Lyn Hedley and her team for their sterling work on this project. Your feedback would be appreciated too! Clive Pring and his team have also been busy during the close season, re-seeding the pitch, the result of which looks good today - thank you for all your efforts.

The Work Parties have also been busy within the ground ensuring that essential maintenance and painting is carried out. Adrian Sproston, Dacre Holloway and their band of volunteers do a wonderful job so thank you all for all your efforts the results are excellent. In fact whilst I am here can I, on behalf of the Club and the Supporters Trust, say a big THANK YOU to all those people who worked to get the stadium to match-day standard today, too many to mention but you know who you all are. Our success on the pitch at the end of last season generated a huge surge in Trust memberships - several hundred at least (last count). Our very small team of volunteers are working tirelessly to get these applications processed. Many of you have expressed concern that you haven't received your Trust Membership packs. We did put a notice on the web site regarding the reasons for the delay. Thank you all for your patience in this matter - your packs will be on their way as soon as we can do them. On the above point if anyone wants to get involved with the Trust please contact myself or any of the Trustees - we are always happy to welcome new faces... why don't you attend a Board of Society meeting (BOS) soon? These meetings are 'open' to anyone so come and get involved - we would be pleased to see you all. By the time you read this Trust members will have received details of the Annual General Meeting and their chance to stand as Trustees on the Board of Society.

I very much hope that this season is another 'season to remember' and I would like to thank you in advance for your support in the coming months.

Denise Watts
Chair 
Exeter City Football Club and Supporters Trust

HERE WE GO AGAIN.
Another new season, and a 'new' league, as it is now called the Blue Square Premier League.

The pre-season matches and there were a lot of them! - are over with and now we begin in earnest the real quest of earning league points.

Our first visitors at St James' Park are Crawley Town, and we welcome everyone who have travelled to be with us this evening. The Grecians kicked off at Altrincham on Saturday and it is hoped we got off to a good start on what is sure to be a season of many twists and turns, as it was last season, which culminated in us reaching the Play-off Final at Wembley. On the playing side, since that game, we have 'promoted' five of our youngsters onto full contracts, which is great news for our thriving youth scheme.

We also welcome newcomers, Andy Marriott (Boston United), Steve Basham (Oxford United), Neil Saunders and Matt Taylor (both from Team Bath) and Frankie Artus, the latter being on loan from Bristol City. A huge amount of work has been undertaken during the short close season, and a big thank you goes to all the volunteers who have been beavering away painting, repairing etc at St James' Park and the Cat and Fiddle training ground. There is always plenty that needs doing as an ongoing project, so do please keep a look out for work parties that are organised from time to time. Our successful after-match clear-up parties will also be a feature once more this season. if you are interested in volunteering for this, or a work party, then do please contact the club.

The commercial team have also been busy attracting sponsors, both match and long term, and this is an area of the club that has really grown significantly in the last couple of years, and continues to do so. The catering at the ground has now been brought 'in- house' and following a product tasting evening at the St James' Centre, a number of new lines have been introduced and/or improved. A visit to one of the outlets is now a well worth it both in terms of quality and price. The match magazine that you are now reading has also been given a 'makeover' introducing new features, new writers and generally given a more colourful look and modern feel without compromising our long-time reputation for it being an issue full of content and a good read. But at the end of the day it's the football on the park that we are all waiting for, and as far as St James' is concerned, that means tonight and for the next nine months.

THE NEW BOYS!

Let's welcome the new players to the club, Steve Basham, Neil Saunders, Matt Taylor, Andy Marriott, and also congratulations to Dean Stamp, Liam Sercombe, Chris Shephard, Neil Martin, and Matty Bye on getting their first-year pro deals. I used to play against Matty's dad, Norman, and it's fair to say that I would have preferred to have been on the same side as him! Matty, whenever I have seen him, displays the same attitude, work ethic and other tenacious qualities that his did had, although he does seem slightly quieter! (Sorry Norman!) Steve Basham is a player that has always impressed me a lot with his eye for goal, and his strike rate over the years in the League with Oxford United shows that he can do the business for us. I saw Neil Saunders play for the first time during the Cornish tour, and what stuck out for me immediately was his first touch. One of the debates I often have with my buddies is about which player has the best first touch in the club, and I think that Neil could be right up there on that one. It's interesting that he spent so long at Watford, both as a schoolboy, as well as 3 years as a pro (including a spell under Gianluca Vialli), before he went to Team Bath to start his degree. Tis, when he signed him, said that he could play in any position across the middle, so it will be interesting to see where he starts. In the enforced absence of Gilly today, it could be in the middle. Neil also has represented England at Futsal, but that's for another programme article I think!

Matt Taylor's signing will give Tis those options on the bench that he loves so much, as Matt used to be a keeper before he became a centre half. The thing that strikes you about Matt is how similar he looks to Nemanja Vidic!

I guess prior to signing for City (!) Matt's finest hour was playing at Villa Park for Burscough in the Trophy final against Tamworth, and winning 2-1. With odds of 400-1 at the start of their cup run, let's hope he put some money on his team! Andy Marriott will give us experience in goal, and is the perfect foil for Paul Jones to learn from. Communication from the back is vital for the team, and the one thing that stood out during the Cornwall tour was just how vocal Andy is!

Welcome to all our new players, and also to any fans that are visiting the Park for the first time this year.

Finally, a thought for one of our promising youth players, James Berry who, as I am sure you all know, suffered an horrific injury in the pre season friendly at Crediton.

Exeter City Reserves 

Exeter City reserve team will once again be playing in the Pontin's Holidays Football Combination for the coming season. All home fixtures will be staged at St James' Park, with a 7pm kick off, unless otherwise stated nearer the game. Fixtures are subject to alteration, so do please keep a look out in both 'The Grecian match magazine and the local press for any changes that may occur. Last season manager Paul Tisdale commented on how valuable the reserve side were, a sit gave him the opportunity to use squad players, plus up and coming youngsters, who were making the step up from youth to senior level. It is also a useful means of giving players a run out if they have returned from injury. City fans are encouraged to come along to St James'; park for matches, with the Flyby Stand only being open. The St James' Centre will also be available for drinks, plus the usual refreshments. Its a good night out, so why not give it a try this season.

Kirstie Bowden reports on City's Cornish Tour

I joined the tour on Wednesday, missing the 7-1 victory at St Blazey the previous night. The ground of Bodmin Town is best described as a playing field with one stand. Behind one goal was a steep bank, the newly adopted 'big bank'. Most Exeter supporters stood/sat there, with others engaging in the classic non-league practice of changing ends at half time. The game itself wasn't overly exciting. More interesting were the group of men on the 'big bank' who provided much entertainment with their singing and dancing. A personal favourite of mine was the chant of "Meat pie, sausage roll, Andy "Taylor give us a goal", sung as Andy Taylor prepared to take a corner at the 'Exeter end' in the second half. Such was their excitement when we scored from the corner that they fell over and rolled down the bank.

Bodmin Town weren't exactly welcoming to our team on the pitch and in no way could you call the match a 'friendly'. They liked to tackle, as sadly only Danny Seaborne now knows too well. Despite calls from the Exeter supporters to walk off the pitch in protest the Grecians stuck it out to the end and drew 1- 1.

We stayed at the Crossroads Lodge in Scorrier which was a lovely place, no doubt enhanced by its close proximity to a pub, The Plume of Feathers. Indeed, drinking was a key theme of Thursday as our long suffering driver Colin took the majority of the Crossroaders to St Austell for a tour of the brewery.

We all met up again later that night, along with the Grecian campers from Rosecliston, at Perranporth beach for a barbeque with the players. Although the barbeque didn't materialise, the players did and a great time was had by all Later that night the Crosroaders paid a final visit to The Plume for karaoke night. We were particularly loved by the locals, especially the man wearing a Brazil shirt. 'Brazil man' was subjected to chants of "Have you ever played Brazil?" as he took to the stage, performed, and left the stage!

We also befriended Smudge the dog, who when not lying on the floor with his legs in the air, was eating beer mats. We murdered a range of songs, excelling ourselves on a group collaboration for 'Amarillo', with Mark Taylor on lead vocals, Ian Jubb on percussion, and the rest of us on backing vocals.

We saved the best until last - 'I am a cider drinker' - an apt song for the day. We enjoyed it so much we convinced the landlord to let us sing it twice more despite it being nearly lam.

Whilst planning our last day on Friday morning, the hotel manager informed us that there had been a murder in the bar last night. He wasn't referring to our singing ability, but instead Smudge (clearly a popular animal name in Scorrier) the cats killing of a shrew behind the bar. Cue "The Taming of the Shrew' jokes.

After a day spent sheltering from the rain in the Wetherspoons of Newquay and Truro, we took our places at Treyew Road for the match. They appeared to have one single M-People CD which was played pre-match, half-time and for some time as the second half began. City played really well, winning 3-0 with two goals from Dean Stamp, definitely one for the future.

With the final whistle the Cornish Tour came to an end, and everyone set off home tired, but with great memories to which the phrase 'what happens on tour stays on tour', most definitely

Friendly Matches Appearances

Joe Allanson 0(1); Frankie Artus 0(1); Steve Basham 0(3); Mickey Bell 0(1); Rul Braguinha 1(3); Matthew Bye 3(4); Wayne Carlisle 3(3); Luke Cole 2(3); Rob Edwards 6(1); Lee Elam 4(4); George Friend 5(4); Matthew Gill 5(3); Paul Jones 4(1); Richard Logan 5(3); Jamie Mackie 4(3); Andy Marriott 5(1); Neil Martin 2(4); Dean Moxey 7(2); Mitch O'Donnell 2(1); Ben Pagett 1; Jon Richardson 4(5); Neil Saunders 2(4); Danny Seaborne 1(1); Liam Sercombe 5(3); Dean Stamp 3(4); Adam Stansfield 8; Andy Taylor 6(2); Matt Taylor 6(3); Steve Tully 4(1); Aidan Way 1.

Note: Substitute appearances shown in brackets.

Friendly Matches Goalscorers

Adam Stansfield 5; Richard Logan 3; Dean Stamp 3; Jamie Mackie 2; Rul Braguinha 1; Wayne Carlisle 1; George Friend 1; Neil Martin 1; Matt Taylor 1; Own goals 2.

GRECIANS FIRST AWARD OF THE SEASON

Exeter City FC recently picked up their first award of the season when they won the Wales and Westcountry regional heat of the Corporate Social Responsibility section of this year's National Business Awards programme.

Club officials were presented with the accolade during a Gala dinner at the Royal Lancaster Hotel in London. City beat competition from Llanelli RFC, Principality Building Society and Tetra Pak UK. The club will advance to the November finals of the National Business Awards, sponsored by Orange, which recognise and reward excellence, innovation and success. City FC director Frances Farley said: "The award is for corporate social responsibility which, as well as success on the pitch, is what this club is all about. The club is owned and run by supporters for the benefit of the community it serves." Open to all organisations from any industry sector, the scheme allows the best of British businesses to showcase their achievements and benchmark successes against organisations of all types. Exeter City's awards success is attributed to the fact that the club has been owned by its supporters since 2003. At the centre of its mission is that it is run for the benefit of the community. The club believes that social responsibility is about using the attraction of football to benefit the local community. Steps taken by Exeter City include partnering with Devon County Council, Stagecoach and Wessex Trains to develop a travel plan encouraging fans to attend fixtures using public transport. The club also works with Exeter City Council, the Environment Agency, EDF Energy and South West Water to be more environmentally friendly and reduce its carbon footprint. "We concentrated our entry on our efforts towards social responsibility," added Farley. "With things such as our unique travel plan made possible with our links with Devon County Council, Stagecoach and Wessex trains, our Football in the Community Scheme, the link between our academy and Exeter College and the club's determination to minimise our environmental impact.

CONTACT DIRECTORY

Exeter City AFC, St James' Park, Exeter, Devon EX4 6PX

Commercial Department: 01392 413954
Centre of Excellence: 01395 233883
Football in the Community: 01392 255611
Cat & Fiddle Training Ground: 01395 232784
Official Club Website: www.exetercityfc.co.uk
Supporters' Trust website: www.ecfst.org.uk
Honorary Life President: Clifford Hill
Honorary President: Ivor Doble

Board of Directors:
Denise Watts (Chairman)
Julian Tagg (Vice Chairman & Sporting Director)
Frances Farley (Operations Director)
Paul Morrish (Commercial Director)
Steve Williams (Finance Director)
Roger Hamiton-Kendall
Company Secretary/Financial Controller: Justin Quick

Football Secretary: Sally Cooke
Director of Football: Steve Perryman MBE
Team Manager: Paul Tisdale
Physiotherapist: Tamsin Clake
Head of Youth Football: Daniel Connelly
Youth Football Director: Mel Gwinnett
Youth Development Officer: Mike Radford
Football in the Community Officer: Jamie Vittles
Club Scouts: Simon Pullen, Kevin Lee & Ron McKinnon
Club Doctor: Dr David Kernick
Consultant Orthopedic Surgeon: Peter Schranz FRCS
Head of Operations: Andy Gillard
Press Officer: John Fournier
Commercial Manager: Mark Jenkins
Shop Manager: Kelly Ingleson
Catering Manager: Rose Clace
Bar Manager: Jude Kelly
Estates and Stadium Manager: Dacre Holloway
Head Groundsman: Clive Pring
Assistant Groundsmen: Dave Richards, John Fox
Ground Safety Officer: Jim Eastment.