Mike Cecere, who had started at Oldham Athletic and gone on to Huddersfield and Walsall, had made over 200 league appearances by the time he arrived at St James’ Park in 1994. Affected by injuries he made relatively few appearances during his two-and-a-half seasons with Exeter City.

Mike joined Oldham Athletic as an apprentice in 1984 and, after signing his first full contract in January 1986, went on to make 52 league appearances (8 goals) for the Latics. Switching to Huddersfield Town for £100,000 in November 1988, Mike appeared in a similar number of league games for the Terriers (with an identical goal tally). Having had a short loan stint at Stockport County, Mike then moved to Walsall for £25,000 in August 1990 where he was to notch 32 times in 112 league games outings. 

Moving to Exeter City for £20,000 in January 1994 much was expected of the new arrival but, having made his debut at Reading on 22 January 1994, Mike made just one more appearance before an injury sidelined him for the rest of the season.

Mike had a better time of things in the 1994/95 season, especially in the second half of the campaign, as his ten goals helped him finish as City’s top league scorer. 

Unfortunately, due to injury, little was seen of Mike from then on and, in July 1996, he moved to Rochdale where he played just four times as his troubles continued forcing his retirement from the game.