Exeter City fans turn out in force to salute their promotion winning side
EXETER’S city centre High Street was painted red and white on Monday evening as their victorious football team enjoyed a bus parade and civic reception at the Guildhall to celebrate the Grecians’ promotion from League Two.
It has been ten long years in football’s basement for Exeter, including three Wembley defeats in the playoff finals of 2017, 2018 and 2020. But this year, there was no biting of the nails, or gut-wrenching heartache as the Grecians finished as runners-up to Forest Green Rovers to claim their place in League One for next season.
Promotion was achieved against Barrow on April 26 when on-loan striker Kieran Phillips and captain Matt Jay scored the goals that saw the Grecians up.
They came incredibly close to being crowned champions well, missing out only on goal difference. But that disappointment had long disappeared by the time the bus slowly worked its way down Sidwell Street and then the High Street to rapturous applause and plenty of cheering.
Fans young and old hailed their heroes with some strolling alongside the bus as it made the short journey from St James Park to the Guildhall where the majority of thousands in attendance had gathered to pay homage.
Captain Jay clung onto the trophy handed to the Grecians earlier that day by the EFL for finishing in second place. He was joined by several of his team mates, City’s media team and several directors and family of the staff and players on one of two busses laid on by Stagecoach.
Supporter and Exeter City Council leader Phil Bialyk said he thought the team had “done a great thing” as he and past Lord Mayor of Exeter, Cllr Yolonda Henson, welcomed the players, management and staff – and extinguished guests – into the Guildhall.
“The football club also does a lot
with their community trust, which we mustn’t forget - helping a lot of people in Exeter,” he said. “They helped people through the pandemic.
“They raise lots of money for good causes and concerns in Exeter. I think it’s a fantastic community club and I want to see it do even better.”
Shortly before 7pm and after the Civic reception, a number of players made their way onto the balcony where they celebrated with the trophy once more with the gathered supporters below.
On-loan goalkeeper Cameron Dawson, a key player in this wonderful triumph for the Grecians, was asked to start a song and duly obliged with a rendition of: “The Reds are Going Up!” before vice-captain Pierce Sweeney followed by mischievously starting a song of his own about City’s arch-rivals Plymouth Argyle. The two clubs will renew hostilities in League One next season, the first time since Exeter thrashed the Pilgrims 4-0 at St James Park in October 2019.
“It was brilliant,” said ten-year-old Stanley James, who was there with his Dad and Grandad. “I have seen Exeter lose at Wembley twice, so to win promotion has been amazing. I have never seen anything like it and I hope we can do it again in League One!”
The Grecians must now wait until Thursday, June 16 to find out their fixtures, where they will rub shoulders with the likes of Derby County, Sheffield Wednesday, Barnsley, Ipswich Town, Portsmouth, Bolton Wanderers and potentially Sunderland, if they fail to beat Wycombe Wanderers in the League One playoff final.
There are also plenty of local games to look forward to as well with Plymouth, Oxford United and Cheltenham Town already in League One, while Forest Green and Bristol Rovers join Exeter in coming up from League Two.
Meanwhile, defender Josh Key said he will cherish the memory of promotion with the club for the rest of his life.
The 22-year-old brought up a century of appearances for the Grecians on Saturday in the 1-0 defeat to Port Vale.
The academy product said that the squad were disappointed to have missed out on the title, which instead went to Forest Green Rovers after their 2-2 draw at Mansfield Town. But the goal for the season was always promotion and that success in achieving it was the main thing.
“We got promotion which was the goal and we never thought about winning the league and had the chance to win it and it would have been amazing to do it, but we got promotion and it has been a great season,” Key said.
“I always criticise myself and wasn’t completely happy with how I did. I always want to contribute more, but I have learned and grown.
“I wanted to score more but any academy lad coming through, it is an honour to play for the club and will cherish the moment for the rest of my life so it is a big thing.
“I just want to enjoy my football and have really enjoyed it this year. I will never forget this moment and I love the club and Exeter will always be in my heart.”
Sunderland had bids for the wingback turned down in the summer, and manager Matt Taylor confirmed a bid for one of the Grecians was made and rejected at the start of the January transfer window. City then late on deadline day at the end of the month rejected another bid for a player – Blackburn Rovers were rumoured to have bid for Key.
Key had admitted that some of the speculation around his future had initially affected him, with the ‘noise’ about where he would be playing making things a ‘bit hectic’.
“My heart is that I am a Devonshire lad and I wanted to help Exeter get promoted,” he added.
“I wanted the best for both Exeter City, and the best for me, and that was getting Exeter promoted.”