We check out where and when City will be in action during the 2008/09 season. And reveal that Exeter based Grecians will travel 10,664 miles to the 23 League Two games.
AUGUST
We launch our L2 campaign on Sat 9 Aug with the 338 mile trek to Darlington. After that epic journey, we`ll be glad of two home fixtures, against Southampton in the Carling Cup on Tues 12 Aug and Shrewsbury on Sat 16 Aug.
Our second away game is the season`s local derby, the 84 mile tip to Bournemouth on Sat 23 Aug followed by troubled Luton`s visit to the Park on Sat 30 Aug.
SEPTEMBER
We kick-off the month with a Paint Pot tie against Shrewsbury on Tues 2 Sep. On Sat 6 Sep we’re at home to Accrington, then head back up north with a 286 mile jaunt to Bradford on Sat 13 Sep.
City host Notts County on Sat 20 Sep before getting a reminder of Blue Square Premier crowds at Macclesfield on Sat 27 Sep. Moss Rose is 229 miles from Devon`s fair City.
OCTOBER
Gillingham visit on Sat 4 Oct, after which City travel 258 miles seeking to avenge last year`s FA Cup defeat at Bury on Sat 11 Oct. A happier FA Cup memory from City`s non league days will be rekindled when Grimsby return to the Park on Sat 18 Oct.
Our first midweek L2 game is a mere 207 miles away at Port Vale on Tues 21 Oct, followed by a day return to Barnet on Sat 25 Oct (a 213 mile trip if you go via the M5, M4 and M25).
We finish the month with our first home midweek L2 fixture, against Chesterfield on Tues 28 Oct. No offence, but I`ve honestly not given Chesterfield or its team a second`s thought since we went all Conference!
NOVEMBER
Chester home on Sat 1 Nov is followed by the first round of the Cup (no qualifying!) and the 139 mile amble to dear sweet Aldershot on Sat 15 Nov.
We want revenge at Morecambe on Sat 22 Nov – a 293 mile trek to see City make up for Wembley heartache – followed by Rotherham at Devon`s capital on Tues 25 Nov. The last Saturday in the month is free for FA Cup second round action.
DECEMBER
We have three games before Christmas, at home to Lincoln on Sat 6 Dec, away on Sat 13 Dec to Dagenham – a 243 mile journey by the wise Grecians to see the star at Dagenham East – and at home to Rochdale on Sat 20 Dec.
During the holiday period, we have 184 miles to travel on Boxing Day to see City at Wycombe, followed by a rare Sunday fixture when Brentford visit on Sun 28 Dec.
JANUARY
Happy New Year! With no game on New Year`s Day, Macclesfield kick-off 2009 at St James`s on Jan 3. On Sat 10 Jan we enjoy a 217 mile trip to Notts County, with Bury coming to Exeter on Sat 17 Jan.
Three games are squeezed into the last week of January. Trips on Sat 24 Jan to Gillingham (183 miles) and on Weds 28 Jan to Chesterfield (240 miles) precede Barnet`s return to Devon on Sat 31 Jan.
FEBRUARY
On Sat 07 Feb we go to Grimsby, or, as every schoolboy statto knows, to Town`s ground in Cleethorpes, 307 miles north-east of Exeter. A week later, love will be in the air as Aldershot provide the Valentine`s Day entertainment on Sat 14 Feb. When I think of them, my heart goes bang bang bang bang bangy bangy bang bang bang…
A 253 mile trip to Chester on Sat 21 Feb, is followed by Darlington`s arrival at Exeter on Sat 28 Feb.
MARCH
Two away games to start the month, Shrewsbury`s new ground will be a popular one, a mini-derby on Tues 3 March just 205 miles from Exeter. On Sat 7 March we have another shortish awayday, a 215 mile mosey over to Luton.
A pair of home games – Bournemouth on Tues 10 March and Bradford on Sat 14 March – are followed by Lancastrian outings on Sat 21 March to Accrington (270 miles) and Sat 28 March to Rochdale (262 miles).
APRIL
Dagenham come to Exeter on Sat 4 April, before City visit fellow Londoners Brentford (193 miles) on Sat 11 April. Two days later, Wycombe are our Easter Monday guests on Mon 13 April.
We go to fellow Supporters Trust ambassadors Lincoln on Sat 18 April, a longer than you might expect 261 mile journey.
City`s final home game of the season is against Morecambe on Sat 25 April.
MAY
Just the one scheduled fixture in May, a Sat 2 May game at Rotherham, 252 miles away from the sun-kissed beaches of East Devon.
We then have play-offs and the F.A. Cup Final to plan for.
MILEAGE CHART
| Opposition | Miles from Exeter |
|---|---|
| Darlington Bournemouth Bradford Macclesfield Bury Port Vale Barnet Aldershot Morecambe Dagenham Wycombe Notts County Gillingham Chesterfield Grimsby Chester Shrewsbury Luton Accrington Rochdale Brentford Lincoln Rotherham Total |
338 84 286 229 258 207 213 139 293 243 184 217 183 240 307 253 205 215 270 262 193 261 252 5,332 |
Why not use the Comment section below or the Club Forum to tell us which Exeter City fixtures you’re most looking forward to…
you do have some round trips to contend with. Mind you with our roads a local Derby takes at least an hour.