Martin, Pete
Pete Martin was a board member of the Exeter City Supporters’ Trust at various times between 2005 and 2022. This included a spell chairing the communications and engagement group.
Educated at Hele’s School and Exeter College, Pete worked as a civil engineer with West Midlands County Council, West Midlands Fire and Civil Defence Authority and Devon County Council until retiring in December 2013.
Having previously been a trustee during the early days of trust ownership. Peter returned as to the role in October 2015 through until 2022. During his time on the trust board he was a member of the ownership and membership group, chair of the communications and engagement group and also a member of the football club's gates committee.
Contributing to the Grecian Archive in May 2026, Pete explained how he initially became interested in Exeter City in the late 1960s:
"I came to the game of football relatively late. Having gone to an all-boys high school, where they tried hard to get me playing “rugger”, which I strongly (and successfully) resisted, I was a latecomer to the game – but even then – no more than a spectator. My father used to watch ‘the football’ on our black and white TV (much to my mother’s annoyance) and it was not until 1966 that I joined dad watching a game on the ‘telly’. In fact, several games, as it was the World Cup finals, and in my home country. Much to my surprise, I actually got a tad excited by it all and, of course, that final win is ever ingrained in me – as it is with many of my vintage.
So, what happened next? Well, for some inexplicable reason, I decided to take myself off (alone) to watch the pre-season friendlies at my local club which was, and is, Exeter City. Again, I surprised myself by enjoying the experience and, consequently, I began watching league games (and cup games when they came along). That was it, I was hooked. Now, a situation developed that is probably quite unusual. My father was originally from Hertfordshire (near to Watford). He had never been to watch Exeter City and, when I began going regularly, he showed interest in joining me. He was keen on sitting down, so we ended up in the old grandstand, just to the right of the player’s tunnel. Fairly soon afterwards we both had season tickets and I have the figure of £20 per season stuck in my mind, but unsure if that is accurate, 60 years on. In any event, it was a case of the son introducing his dad to SJP as opposed to what normally happens! Whilst my father was coming with me, we also started bringing a neighbour with us and, also, my uncle used to come periodically – although he stood in what is now the away end.
Big early memories are taking a, then, girlfriend, who was originally from Leeds, to watch City vs Sheffield Wednesday at SJP in the League Cup in September 1968. Wednesday were a force in the old First Division back then and came to us, if I recall correctly, when 2nd in Division 1 after beating Manchester United the weekend before. We were in the bottom echelons of Division 4 and ended up beating Wednesday 3-1 before a crowd of around 16,500. Later that month we went to White Hart Lane in the following round, losing 6-3. We were, however, the only team to put 3 goals past Spurs that season. Quite remarkable really.
The following January, 1969, we were drawn against Manchester United in the 3rd round of the FA Cup, losing 1-3 on the day, but with a very fine goal from the legend that is Alan Banks. Then it was in September 1972 that we were playing a league game at SJP against Stockport County, when the referee was taken ill, collapsing on the pitch during the game. It was later announced that the referee, Jim Finn, had passed away – at the age of just 39. The incident is mentioned in the Grecian Archive.
By 1981 I had moved to Birmingham for work and although I did go to Villa Park and St. Andrew’s a few times, my real love was for ECFC and I even used to have the ‘Express & Echo’ sent to me so I could read the match reports and news of City. No TV coverage of that level back then, nor any internet or ‘social media’. It was in January 1981 when we were drawn away to Leicester City in the FA Cup and I well recall doing the local trip on the train to Leicester to watch us at Filbert Street. I didn’t make the journey down for the replay, which we won 3-1, but did come down for the 4-0 win over Newcastle in the next round in February ’81.
Early in 2005 I was elected to the Supporters’ Trust’s ‘Board of Society’ for the first time and enjoyed three separate spells on the Board between then and 2022, being the chair of the Communications and Engagement sub-group between 2016 and 2022, enjoying my timeand learning more about the club and its workings that any rank-and-file supporter ever would in a football club run under the traditional ownership model.
I was, of course, like many others, at Old Trafford in January 2005 and at SJP for the replay, then the Wembley trip in the Conference playoff final vs Morecambe in May 2007 and, again, against Cambridge in May 2008, which heralded our return to the Football League after a 5 year absence.
In summary, so many memories, both good and bad,and many friends made (and some lost) over the past 60 years. As is always the case, as I write this after the seasons’ end in May 2026, I can’t wait for the start of the new season, my 61st. Yes, it will be in League 2, but my club is still here, fighting on, as it has done for 125 years and, when all is said and done, that’s good enough for me!"
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