Bobby Rackley was born in Teignmouth and on the clubs books as a professional in 1958. "An engineer in Newton Abbot after he left school in Teignmouth, curly-haired Bob Rackley threw up his job a year later to join Exeter" 
"Bob Rackely, 18 year old Teignmouth lad has been signed as a full time professional by Exeter City, He is a strongly built outside left who has played for Teignmouth and Newton Spurs before joining City's 'A' side this season, Frank Broome has studdied reports on Rackley and watched him several times."

He was retained for the following season, playing as forward in the reserves. 
He scored the first goal of six against Plymouth Argyle in the Devon Championship in April 1959.