Bobby Saxton, who took over as Exeter City’s manager from John Newman in January 1977, was at the helm when the Grecians won promotion several months later. A player with Plymouth Argyle and Exeter City, he returned to Home Park as manager.  

A defender with Denaby United in South Yorkshire, Bobby Saxton had spent six years as a professional with Derby County before joining Plymouth Argyle in 1968 where he was to make 231 league appearances. Seen by John Newman as a key signing in September 1975, the 32-year-old moved up the A38 in a £4,000 deal and immediately helped the Grecians to a 7th place finishing position at the end of his first season. 

Helping City to make a solid start to the next campaign, a promotion bid appeared to be in the offing when manager John Newman opted to move to Grimsby Town in December 1976. With the directors desperate to retain momentum Bobby Saxton, who had made a favourable impression during his fifteen months at the club, was offered the job in the same way as Newman (another former Plymouth player) had been at the time of Frank Broome’s departure form St James’ Park in 1969. The transfer of power worked smoothly and, with Mr Saxton making 28 league appearances that season, City finished runners-up in Division Four and secured promotion for the first time in thirteen years.

Yet, no sooner than Exeter had safely ridden out the first season in Division Three, than Bob Saxton was back down the road to Home Park to take over the managerial mantle at the end of Malcolm Allison’s second spell with the Pilgrims. The Grecians, somewhat disappointed by the event, turned to Brian Godfrey who brought about a host of exciting moments over the next two or three years.

Meanwhile Bobby Saxton moved on to Blackburn Rovers in May 1981, where the club promptly enjoyed several top-half placings in the old second division, before a later spell in charge of York City ahead of working at Newcastle United (where he served as caretaker-manager) and Sunderland.