1995-2000 Peter Fox
Birth Date
5th July 1957
Birthplace
Scunthorpe, Lincolnshire
Occupation
Manager
Biographical Text
Peter Fox was manager of Exeter City between August 1995 and January 2000. A former Grecians goalkeeper, who had made over 400 appearances for Stoke City, his four seasons brought two mid-table finishes and two in the bottom four.
Starting his career with Sheffield Wednesday, and making his debut as an emergency choice aged 15 years 8 months, Peter moved to Stoke City in 1978 where he played over 400 league games in a fifteen-year stay. He then joined his former Stoke manager Alan Ball at St James' Park as player-coach in 1993. Remaining in the role when Ball departed for Southampton in 1994, he subsequently became City's manager in 1995 following Terry Cooper's brief return. Appointing Noel Blake as his own assistant - and Blake proving to be Fox's successor - a strong Stoke City connection flowed between three Exeter managers of the era.
Times were unsettled at St James' Park and, with the club having a spell in administration, the main task in front of chairman Ivor Doble and manager Peter Fox was ensuring City retained their league status. Given that just one team was relegated at time (and only since then 1987), Fox kept his side of the bargain as the club gradually improved from 22nd to 15th to a respectable 12th in 1998/99. There was then slippage to 21st in 1998/99 and, as the following season reached the halfway point, Ivor Doble wanted change meaning that Peter Fox was replaced by his assistant Noel Blake in January 2000.
From the prospective of history, Mr Fox's 12th place in 1998 was the best finish for fifteen years outside of the 1990 Division Four championship win and the resulting four-year stay in Division Three. It also represented a 'high' until the 2009 promotion from the fourth-tier to the third.
On leaving St James' Park after nearly seven years, Peter Fox worked as a scout and coach at a number of clubs. His son David, who went to school in Exmouth, was a youth player for Exeter City before playing for several clubs including Plymouth Argyle where he was later director of football.
Starting his career with Sheffield Wednesday, and making his debut as an emergency choice aged 15 years 8 months, Peter moved to Stoke City in 1978 where he played over 400 league games in a fifteen-year stay. He then joined his former Stoke manager Alan Ball at St James' Park as player-coach in 1993. Remaining in the role when Ball departed for Southampton in 1994, he subsequently became City's manager in 1995 following Terry Cooper's brief return. Appointing Noel Blake as his own assistant - and Blake proving to be Fox's successor - a strong Stoke City connection flowed between three Exeter managers of the era.
Times were unsettled at St James' Park and, with the club having a spell in administration, the main task in front of chairman Ivor Doble and manager Peter Fox was ensuring City retained their league status. Given that just one team was relegated at time (and only since then 1987), Fox kept his side of the bargain as the club gradually improved from 22nd to 15th to a respectable 12th in 1998/99. There was then slippage to 21st in 1998/99 and, as the following season reached the halfway point, Ivor Doble wanted change meaning that Peter Fox was replaced by his assistant Noel Blake in January 2000.
From the prospective of history, Mr Fox's 12th place in 1998 was the best finish for fifteen years outside of the 1990 Division Four championship win and the resulting four-year stay in Division Three. It also represented a 'high' until the 2009 promotion from the fourth-tier to the third.
On leaving St James' Park after nearly seven years, Peter Fox worked as a scout and coach at a number of clubs. His son David, who went to school in Exmouth, was a youth player for Exeter City before playing for several clubs including Plymouth Argyle where he was later director of football.
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