Former Newcastle United player Frans Koenen had a short trial with Exeter City in November 1981. From the Netherlands, he had previously played for NEC Nijmegen and later spent a couple of seasons with Vitesse Arnhem. 

Having made around fifty appearances for NEC Nijmegen, his home town club, the Dutch under-21 international had joined Newcastle United for £80,000 in July 1980. Making a dozen league appearances for his new club, he then returned to Holland a year later to play for De Treffers. 

Still hoping for another chance in England, he travelled to Exeter City during the same autumn and played in a friendly against Bridgwater in November 1981 that was staged at Cullompton.

Not being offered a deal by the Grecians, Frans went on to appear for KFC Diest (Belgium) and Vitesse Arnhem and GVVV Veenendaal in the Netherlands.