2019–20 Exeter City F.C. season


The 2019–20 season is Exeter City's 118th year in existence and their eighth consecutive season in League Two. The club reached the semi-finals of the EFL Trophy. City were eliminated in the second round of the FA Cup, and in the first round of the EFL Cup.
The season covers the period from 1 July 2019 to 30 June 2020.

Background and pre-season

The 2018–19 was Matt Taylor's first season as Exeter City manager, having taken over from Paul Tisdale in the summer of 2018. Exeter finished the season in 9th place, one point outside the play-offs, and were knocked out of all domestic cups in the early stages.
The Grecians' prospects for the season were further hit by the departures of Christy Pym and Hiram Boateng on free transfers to Peterborough United and MK Dons respectively. Goalkeepers James Hamon and Felix Norman; defenders Troy Brown, Luke Croll and Jimmy Oates; and midfielder Max Smallcombe also departed following the expiration of their contracts. Goalkeeping coach Chris Weale, who had also been named on the subs bench during the previous season, also left the club, as did assistant manager Eric Kinder, strength and conditioning coach Andrew Wiseman, physiotherapist Adey Saunderson and sports rehabilitator Jess Preece. Former Exeter City midfielder Wayne Carlisle was promoted to the role of assistant manager, Steve Hale was brought in as goalkeeping coach, Connor Durbridge became the club's new strength and conditioning coach, and Gareth Law and Dan Feasey joined as club physiotherapists.
Nine new players arrived at St James Park during July, eight on a permanent basis and one on loan. The loan arrival was Robbie Cundy, who had spent the previous season on loan at Bath City, joining from EFL Championship side Bristol City until the end of the season. Nigel Atangana and Tom Parkes signed from fellow EFL League Two sides Cheltenham Town and Carlisle United on free transfers, while goalkeepers Lewis Ward and Jonny Maxted, and striker Nicky Ajose dropped down from higher divisions. Veteran defender Gary Warren signed on a free transfer from Yeovil Town, as did journeyman striker Alex Fisher. Noah Smerdon signed from Gloucester City, and soon after was loaned out to Tiverton Town until January 2020.
A further four City youngsters departed St James Park on loan to clubs in the south-west of England before the start of the season. Theo Simpson joined Barnstaple Town on loan, initially until August; Joel Randall and Will Dean joined the recently-relegated Weston-super-Mare and Truro City until January; and Alex Hartridge signed a six-month loan deal with National League South side Bath City.
A new fluorescent yellow and purple away kit, replacing a fluorescent yellow kit that had been worn the previous three seasons, was unveiled on 3 July 2019. The Grecians unveiled a new black and red third kit during the early stages of the season. Both kits were supplied by Joma and sponsored by Flybe.
The club announced their pre-season schedule on 16 June 2019.
DateOpponentsVenueResultScore
F–A		ScorersAttendance
28 6 2019JerseyAW5–0R Bowman, P Sweeney, L Holmes, B Seymour 367
5 7 2019Truro CityAD0–0396
9 7 2019Tiverton TownAW1–0B Seymour
12 7 2019Bath CityAW3–0R Bowman, A Collins 367
16 7 2019Weston-super-MareAW3–0R Bowman, J Randall, J Sparkes
21 7 2019Swansea CityHL1–3N Law 2,486
25 7 2019Taunton TownAD2–2B Seymour, W Dean 683
27 7 2019Torquay UnitedAW2–1T Parkes, R Williams 2,744

Review

August

A late Ryan Bowman goal sealed an opening day victory for Exeter against Sol Campbell's Macclesfield Town at St James Park, in a game watched by 4,502. City made it two on the spin against Stevenage Town, again courtesy of a late goal, this time through Nicky Law. In good form, an away EFL Cup tie against Coventry City F.C. beckoned. City however failed to carry over their league form, with a young side being defeated 4–1, with Sweeney scoring a consolation goal.
Exeter were on the wrong end of a late goal in their third league game of the season, against Swindon Town, though they moved up to second in the table despite dropping points. They were further frustrated against Oldham Athletic, failing to win despite creating good chances against the Latics. Another late goal, again scored by Nicky Law, helped Exeter return to winning ways in a 2–3 win over Morecambe, moving them to the top of the table – one point above fierce rivals Plymouth Argyle. Ryan Bowman's early goal against Mansfield Town was enough to secure victory, and ensure that City finished the month unbeaten in the league. Manager Matt Taylor subsequently won the EFL League Two August Manager of the Month award.
There was relatively little transfer activity in the second half of the summer transfer window for Exeter, with Matt Taylor in advance ruling out any late moves in the transfer market. Jayden Richardson joined from Nottingham Forest on a season-long loan on 16 September, while young midfielder Harry Kite embarked on a loan move of his own, to Taunton Town, that same day. Barbadian striker Jonathan Forte, who had signed for Exeter the previous summer, was forced to retire aged 33 due to a 'severe' knee injury during sustained the previous season.

Transfers

Transfers in

Transfers out

Loans in

Loans out

Fixtures

League Two

On Thursday, 20 June 2019, the EFL League Two fixtures were revealed.
DateLeague
position		OpponentsVenueResultScore
F–A		ScorersAttendance
03 08 20196thMacclesfield TownHW1–0R Bowman 4,502
10 08 20193rdStevenageAW1–0N Law 2,398
17 08 20192ndSwindon TownHD1–1M Jay 5,435
20 08 20194thOldham AthleticAD0–02,805
24 08 20191stMorecambeAW3–2J Taylor, L Martin, N Law 1,517
31 08 20191stMansfield TownHW1–0R Bowman 4,316
07 09 20191stCarlisle UnitedAW3–1L Martin, A Martin, N Law 4,167
14 09 20191stLeyton OrientHD2–2P Sweeney, N Law 4,933
17 09 20191stPort ValeHW2–0R Bowman, K Kennedy 3,765
21 09 20191stNewport CountyAD1–1L Martin 4,762
28 09 20191stGrimsby TownHL1–3R Bowman 4,973
05 10 20192ndCrewe AlexandraAD1–1D Moxey 5,131
12 10 20192ndForest Green RoversHW1–0R Bowman 5,312
19 10 20194thCambridge UnitedAL0–43,816
22 10 20195thScunthorpe UnitedAL1–3M Jay 3,055
26 10 20192ndPlymouth ArgyleHW4–0N Law, T Parkes, R Williams 7,924
02 11 20195thBradford CityAL0–214,002
16 11 20195thCheltenham TownHD0–04,956
23 11 20194thCrawley TownAW1–0D Moxey 2,170
07 12 20192ndNorthampton TownHW3–2R Williams, A Martin, A Fisher 3,971
14 12 20192ndSalford CityAW1–0R Bowman 2,922
21 12 20192ndWalsallHD3–3R Bowman, L Martin 4,323
26 12 20192ndNewport CountyHW1–0L Martin 5,968
29 12 20192ndColchester UnitedAD2–2J Taylor, R Bowman 4,739
01 01 20202ndForest Green RoversAW1–0N Atangana 3,012
11 01 20202ndCambridge UnitedHW2–0R Bowman, R Williams 4,517
18 01 20202ndGrimsby TownAW1–0N Law 6,021
25 01 20202ndColchester UnitedHD0–04,745
28 01 20202ndPort ValeAL1–3N Ajose 3,347
01 02 20204thSwindon TownAL1–2R Williams 13,095
08 02 20203rdStevenageHW2–1R Williams, M Jay 4,458
11 02 20203rdOldham AthleticHW5–1J Richardson, M Jay, A Collins,R Bowman, B Dickenson 3,527
15 02 20202ndMacclesfield TownAW3–2N Ajose, P Sweeney, R Bowman 1,389
22 02 20203rdNorthampton TownAL0–25,046
29 02 20203rdCrawley TownHD1–1B Dickenson 5,404
03 03 20204thCrewe AlexandraHD1–1T Parkes 4,221
07 03 20204thWalsallAL1–3R Bowman 5,521
14 03 20204thSalford CityHPv
17 03 20204thScunthorpe UnitedHPv

League table

Play-offs

FA Cup

The first round draw was made on 21 October 2019.
RoundDateOpponentsVenueResultScore
F–A		ScorersAttendance
First round9 11 2019Cambridge UnitedAD1–1A Fisher 2,302
First round replay19 11 2019Cambridge UnitedHW1–0A Fisher 2,719
Second round01 12 2019Hartlepool UnitedHD2–2R Bowman, N Atangana 3,638
Second round replay10 12 2019Hartlepool UnitedAL0–1 2,398

EFL Cup

The first round draw was made on 20 June.
RoundDateOpponentsVenueResultScore
F–A		ScorersAttendance
First round13 8 2019Coventry CityAL1–4P Sweeney 1,555

EFL Trophy

On 9 July 2019, the pre-determined group stage draw was announced with Invited clubs to be drawn on 12 July 2019.
RoundDateOpponentsVenueResultScore
F–A		ScorersAttendance
Group stage3 9 2019Cheltenham TownHW1–0N Ajose 786
Group stage8 10 2019Newport CountyAW2–0M Jay 635
Group stage14 11 2019West Ham United U21HW3–1J Randall, J Tillson 807
Second round04 12 2019Oxford UnitedHD0–0 483
Third round04 01 2020Ipswich TownHW2–1N Ajose, L Martin 2,299
Quarter-final21 01 2020StevenageHW3–0N Ajose, M Jay 1,190
Semi-final18 02 2020PortsmouthAL2–3J Taylor 79', C Burgess 89' 14,735

Table (group stage)

Statistics

!colspan=14|Players who left during the season:

Goals record

Disciplinary record