The 2019–20 Exeter City season was the club'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 was 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 (alongside young centre-back Jordan Dyer) 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.

+ Pre-season match detailsDateOpponentsVenueResultScoreF–AScorersAttendanceJerseyAW5–0R Bowman (20', 32'), P Sweeney (29'), L Holmes (55'), B Seymour (56')367Truro CityAD0–0396Tiverton TownAW1–0B Seymour (48')Bath CityAW3–0R Bowman (5', 30'), A Collins (29')367Weston-super-MareAW3–0R Bowman (25'), J Randall (87'), J Sparkes (90'+1)Swansea CityHL1–3N Law (56' pen)2,486Taunton TownAD2–2B Seymour (81'), W Dean (90'+2)683Torquay UnitedAW2–1T Parkes (43'), R Williams (52')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 (featuring Ben Chrisene, who aged 15 years, 7 months and 1 day, became the club's youngest ever player to make a senior appearance) being defeated 4–1, with Sweeney scoring a consolation goal.

Exeter were on the wrong end of a late equalising goal in their third league game of the season, against Swindon Town, though they moved up to second in the table (behind Swindon) 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 Date Position Nationality Name From Fee Ref. 1 July 2019 DM Nigel Atangana Cheltenham Town Free transfer 1 July 2019 CF Alex Fisher Yeovil Town Free transfer 1 July 2019 GK Johnny Maxted Accrington Stanley Free transfer 1 July 2019 CB Tom Parkes Carlisle United Free transfer 1 July 2019 GK Lewis Ward Reading Free transfer 1 July 2019 CB Gary Warren Yeovil Town Free transfer 3 July 2019 CF Nicky Ajose Charlton Athletic Free transfer 9 July 2019 DF Noah Smerdon Gloucester City Undisclosed 11 October 2019 GK Dino Visser Cape Umoya United Free transfer 17 January 2020 LM Brennan Dickenson Milton Keynes Dons Free transfer 19 February 2020 GK Jared Thompson Free agent Free transfer

Transfers out Date Position Nationality Name To Fee Ref. 1 July 2019 DM Hiram Boateng Milton Keynes Dons Compensation 1 July 2019 CB Troy Brown Dundee United Released 1 July 2019 CB Luke Croll Dagenham & Redbridge Released 1 July 2019 GK James Hamon Truro City Released 1 July 2019 GK Felix Norman Free agent Released 1 July 2019 RB Jimmy Oates Free agent Released 1 July 2019 GK Christy Pym Peterborough United Free transfer 1 July 2019 RM Max Smallcombe Free agent Released 1 August 2019 CF Jay Stansfield Fulham Undisclosed 20 August 2019 CF Jonathan Forte Retired 15 January 2020 DM Jordan Tillson Ross County Undisclosed 15 January 2020 GK Dino Visser Crewe Alexandra Released

Loans in Date from Position Nationality Name From Date until Ref. 5 July 2019 CB Robbie Cundy Bristol City 3 September 2019Loan deal was originally to end 30 June 2020. Cundy was recalled by Bristol City after only two months because of his lack of playing time at Exeter City. 16 August 2019 DF Jayden Richardson Nottingham Forest 30 June 2020

Loans out Date from Position Nationality Name To Date until Ref. 1 July 2019 CF Theo Simpson Barnstaple Town August 2019 12 July 2019 LB Alex Hartridge Bath City January 2020 19 July 2019 CB Jordan Dyer Tiverton Town 18 January 2019 19 July 2019 MF Noah Smerdon Tiverton Town 18 January 2019 1 August 2019 MF Joel Randall Weston-super-Mare 4 December 2019 2 August 2019 CM Will Dean Truro City January 2020 16 August 2019 AM Harry Kite Taunton Town January 2020 6 December 2019 AM Joel Randall Weymouth January 2020 9 January 2020 CB Gary Warren Torquay United February 2020

Fixtures League Two

On Thursday, 20 June 2019, the EFL League Two fixtures were revealed.

+ EFL League Two match detailsDateLeaguepositionOpponentsVenueResultScoreF–AScorersAttendance6thMacclesfield TownHW1–0R Bowman (88')4,5023rdStevenageAW1–0N Law (89')2,3982ndSwindon TownHD1–1M Jay (72')5,4354thOldham AthleticAD0–02,8051stMorecambeAW3–2J Taylor (21'), L Martin (25'), N Law (85')1,5171stMansfield TownHW1–0R Bowman (72')4,3161stCarlisle UnitedAW3–1L Martin (36'), A Martin (67'), N Law (90'+1)4,1671stLeyton OrientHD2–2P Sweeney (41'), N Law (90'+2 pen.)4,9331stPort ValeHW2–0R Bowman (81'), K Kennedy (89' og)3,7651stNewport CountyAD1–1L Martin (15')4,7621stGrimsby TownHL1–3R Bowman (90'+4)4,9732ndCrewe AlexandraAD1–1D Moxey (2')5,1312ndForest Green RoversHW1–0R Bowman (11')5,3124thCambridge UnitedAL0–43,8165thScunthorpe UnitedAL1–3M Jay (27')3,0552ndPlymouth ArgyleHW4–0N Law (42' pen., 83'), T Parkes (49'), R Williams (67')7,9245thBradford CityAL0–214,0025thCheltenham TownHD0–04,9564thCrawley TownAW1–0D Moxey (77')2,1702ndNorthampton TownHW3–2R Williams (38'), A Martin (64'), A Fisher (66')3,9712ndSalford CityAW1–0R Bowman (33')2,9222ndWalsallHD3–3R Bowman (32', 41'), L Martin (64')4,3232ndNewport CountyHW1–0L Martin (14')5,9682ndColchester UnitedAD2–2J Taylor (8'), R Bowman (77' pen.)4,7392ndForest Green RoversAW1–0N Atangana (5')3,0122ndCambridge UnitedHW2–0R Bowman (53'), R Williams (81')4,5172ndGrimsby TownAW1–0N Law (67')6,0212ndColchester UnitedHD0–04,7452ndPort ValeAL1–3N Ajose (22')3,3474thSwindon TownAL1–2R Williams (34')13,0953rdStevenageHW2–1R Williams (36'), M Jay (81')4,4583rdOldham AthleticHW5–1J Richardson (20'), M Jay (43' pen.), A Collins (51'), R Bowman (61'), B Dickenson (90+3')3,5272ndMacclesfield TownAW3–2N Ajose (11'), P Sweeney (17'), R Bowman (86')1,3893rdNorthampton TownAL0–25,0463rdCrawley TownHD1–1B Dickenson (82')5,4044thCrewe AlexandraHD1–1T Parkes (32')4,2214thWalsallAL1–3R Bowman (51')5,5214thSalford CityHPv4thScunthorpe UnitedHPv

League table

Play-offs + EFL League Two match detailsDateRoundOpponentsVenueResultScoreF–AScorersAttendanceSemi-final first legColchester UnitedAL0–10Semi-final second legColchester UnitedHW3–1 A Martin (10'), J Richardson (58'), R Bowman (111')0FinalNorthampton TownNL0–40

FA Cup

The first round draw was made on 21 October 2019.

+ FA Cup match detailsRoundDateOpponentsVenueResultScoreF–AScorersAttendanceFirst roundCambridge UnitedAD1–1A Fisher (34')2,302First round replayCambridge UnitedHW1–0A Fisher (70')2,719Second roundHartlepool UnitedHD2–2R Bowman (21'), N Atangana (29')3,638Second round replayHartlepool UnitedAL0–1 2,398

EFL Cup

The first round draw was made on 20 June.

+ EFL Cup match detailsRoundDateOpponentsVenueResultScoreF–AScorersAttendanceFirst roundCoventry CityAL1–4P Sweeney (81')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.

+ EFL Trophy match detailsRoundDateOpponentsVenueResultScoreF–AScorersAttendanceGroup stageCheltenham TownHW1–0N Ajose (5')786Group stageNewport CountyAW2–0M Jay (40', 71')635Group stageWest Ham United U21HW3–1J Randall (9', 88'), J Tillson (78')807Second roundOxford UnitedHD0–0 483Third roundIpswich TownHW2–1N Ajose (45'), L Martin (90+3')2,299Quarter-finalStevenageHW3–0N Ajose (25'), M Jay (30', 48')1,190Semi-finalPortsmouthAL2–3J Taylor 79', C Burgess 89' (o.g.)14,735

Table (group stage)

Statistics

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Goals record

Rank No. Nat. Po. Name League Two FA Cup League Cup League Trophy Total112CFRyan Bowman 1400014217SSMatt Jay 4004837 AMLee Martin 600178 CMNicky Law 70007511RWRandall Williams 5000514CFNicky Ajose 2003572 RBPierce Sweeney 2010318CFAlex Fisher 1200325CMJake Taylor 20013104 DMNigel Atangana 110025 CBAaron Martin 2000215CBTom Parkes 2000221LBDean Moxey 2000224LMBrennan Dickenson 2000226AMJoel Randall 00022176DMJordan Tillson 0001120RBJayden Richardson 1000127CMArchie Collins 10001Total 53311269

Disciplinary record