Sean McCarthy, signing from Plymouth Argyle, made twenty-six league appearances for Exeter City during 2001/02 at the end of a long professional career. As well as his time at Home Park, Sean is best-remembered for his exploits at Swansea City, Bradford City and Oldham Athletic. 

Sean began his career with Bridgend Town, his home town club, ahead of joining Swansea City in October 1985. After 25 goals in 91 league matches he moved to Plymouth Argyle in August 1988 in a £50,000 deal where he added a further 19 goals in 70 league appearances. Sean then joined Bradford City for £250,000 in July 1990 and, having scored 60 league goals for the West Yorkshire club, transferred to Oldham Athletic for £500,000 in December 1993. Finding the net 44 times in league matches during his time at Boundary Park - and after a brief loan to Bristol City - Sean returned to Plymouth Argyle in August 1998 where he was to notch another 19 league goals.

Leaving Home Park in the summer of 2001, the 33-year-old Sean - now with 168 Football League goals to his name (and another 46 in cups) - moved up the A38 to St James’ Park. Making his debut on the opening day of the 2001/02 season, Sean never really won a regular berth in the side and only appeared 28 times in all competitions scoring six times in the process.

Although a registered player during 2002/03, Sean made no further appearances for the Grecians before briefly playing for Taunton Town and becoming involved in youth coaching in the Plymouth area. He returned to senior football as manager of Truro City between 2008 and 2009 and later became a coach at Ipswich Town alongside former teammate Paul Jewell. Sean then served as first-team coach, and subsequently joint- caretaker manager, during a relatively brief association with Newport County in 2016.