Tristan Benjamin was a vastly experienced player with nearly 350 Football League games to his name when he arrived at Exeter City in search of a contract in the summer of 1987. 

Joining Notts County as an apprentice in 1973, he went on to make 311 league appearances for the club over the next fourteen years before leaving to sign for Chesterfield in 1987. Spending a single season at Saltergate, he added another 34 league games to his overall tally.  

Then aged thirty-one, he was hopeful of remaining in the professional game with Exeter City when he attended pre-season training in July 1987. Whether there was no offer or if terms couldn’t be agreed is unclear but Tristan dropped out of the professional game, returned to the East Midlands and carried on playing for Shepshed Charterhouse, and Corby Town and finally Sutton Town.