August 18, 2009
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All Change - as published in The Grecian
Back in the day when Yeovil Town was better known as a non-league giant killer, after several successful cup runs, long before the Grecians met their darkest days, your humble chronicler headed to St James’ Park for a Boxing Day lunchtime kick off which saw victory against York (if my fading memory serves me correctly).
After the final whistle, I jumped in to my car and headed north-east a few kilometres to the famous sloping pitch of Yeovil to watch my first ever non-league game between the Glovers and Weymouth. Compared with Exeter, the atmosphere was quiet, almost eerie, and there was not much in the way of singing as I joined the home crowd. The hosts quickly went in to a 2-0 lead, and half time came with Weymouth looking completely out of sorts, and as though they would be sent home with a stuffing that would have more suited the turkey from the previous day’s lunch. As I grabbed myself a beer at the catering stand, smiling Yeovil fans around me were already celebrating 3 points, and I have to say, I could not see things turning around.
But a break often brings change, and whatever the Weymouth manager said at half time brought a remarkable turnaround in fortunes. As soon as the second half kicked off, you could sense that there was only one team with the bit between their teeth. Weymouth scored one, then a second, and just a few minutes from the end, a third to complete a remarkable victory. It was not the way they played – but the way Yeovil did, a classic snatching defeat from the jaws of victory.
As I left the ground, all those fans who had been smiling and laughing at half time were muttering and grumpy, trudging out to their cars to make a swift getaway.
In the years since then, Exeter’s demise has been as well documented – if not more so – as the rise of Yeovil Town. It shows that things can change incredibly quickly in football, and that nothing can be taken for granted. The recent issues with Chester City show that in these troubled economic times, a football club with a history of over a hundred years can simply vanish if it is not looked after properly.
Back to back promotions for the Grecians have restored pride within Exeter and much of Devon for a football club which has – for all the right AND wrong reasons – attracted a lot of publicity over the years, but remembering those years when the clouds were darkest should not be forgotten. With good solid management, Exeter City FC has been able to transform in to the model Trust-owned football club, gaining admiration not just from clubs in the UK but worldwide. It is a good time to be a City fan, but in truth, it always has been. Especially when City snatches victory from the jaws of defeat!
