FOREST AWAY: Exeter City, FA Cup Fourth Round, Tuesday 11th February – Fan Guide

‘It’s FA Cup weekend!!’ (loud cheers)

‘When do your lot play?’

‘Tuesday’

‘Tuesday?!’

‘Yeah’

‘Who you got again?’

‘Exeter away’

‘Jesus.’

***

I actually let out a little cheer when we were drawn at Exeter. When it comes to cup draws in the earlier rounds I tend to have two primary rules:

RULE ONE – A home game that gives us a good chance of progressing

RULE TWO – A new ground to visit

I spoke in an earlier issue of this away guide about how difficult it is to keep ticking off new grounds with Forest. Exeter will be my 79^th of the current 92 (all but two being with Forest). It’s a little higher when counting friendlies and exhibition games but I personally don’t’ include these in my count.

Exeter certainly ticked off the second but also covered the first part too. It’ll likely be a very different starting line up to the one that demolished Brighton last week, but we do have a very good and talented set of players who can come in and cover these days as we saw in the last round.

Rule 2 will generally carry more weight with me than Rule 1. Visiting a new ground is a real thrill these days and I can’t help but look forward to a visit to somewhere like Exeter more so than a bigger and shinier stadium in the Premier League. It’ll be lovely to be on an old-fashioned terrace and experience a ground that I suspect is full of character.

My delight was, however, severely tempered by the subsequent news that this would be switched to a Tuesday. A move for television always felt likely and understandably that was important to our hosts in particular who, I gather, are in the fourth round for the first time since 1981.

Was it really necessary for this particular fixture to be pushed to such a god-awful slot, given the distance supporters will have to travel? Why does the FA Cup weekend even need to be extended to five days? It feels constantly these decisions are taken by people who disregard supporters in their thinking. I sadly don’t expect the football authorities to give us any thought either, they’ll just count their money, but I always live in hope that our own football clubs might be prepared to pick up the phone and have a polite word with someone to question whether this is reasonable.

All together now… ‘ITV is fucking shit’.

***

As I was pulling this guide together I received an e-mail from Nottinghamshire Police. They have been advised by their colleagues in the British Transport Police that they are anticipated disruption to services on the day we play Newcastle on 23^rd February (our second visit to a St James’ Park this month) due to ‘major works’ on the East Coast Mainline.

I’ll no doubt carry some more info on this in the guide for that fixture but please be mindful when arranging your travel plans.

EXETER GENERAL INFORMATION

Last Visit: A 5-0 victory in 1951, our promotion season from the old Division Three (South).

Famous Visit: Another 5-0 victory for the testimonial of Exeter’s Nicky Jennings in February 1979. The game is most significant from a Forest perspective for being the first appearance of Trevor Francis following his £1m transfer from Birmingham City. Francis came off the bench in the second half.

Having not visited St James’ Park before, there isn’t much I can offer but I believe the terracing behind the goal which houses the majority of the away contingent is split into two separate stands. I’m unsure if access between the two is possible and whether we are allocated to different parts. It’s likely this won’t be an issue but I thought I’d mention for the benefit of people looking to stand together as going in different turnstiles could cause you to end up in different sections.

 

TRAVEL

RAIL: There isn’t much hope of those travelling from Nottingham being able to get there and back on the same day. It’s not actually a bad route with only one change required at Derby into Exeter St David’s Station, but the only realistic option of train travel is for those staying over, unless you want to depart at half-time.

Exeter actually has a few train stations from the look of it. Right by the ground is the appropriately named St James’ Park which might be useful for those making their way from the city centre (about a mile or so away).

 

ROAD: First of all, good luck. It’s really not fair that supporters are expected to make this sort of journey in midweek when the original fixture could easily have been played at the weekend.

Having not visited Exeter’s ground before I’m afraid the details will be lacking but it appears the most direct route to use the M5 south and then to depart onto the A30 / A3015 at Sowton (Jct 29). This route will take you fairly directly toward both the city centre and St James’ Park, although I’d recommend trying to find a way to peel off before getting too close to the middle of Exeter.

In terms of parking I’ve been advised that there will be pockets of parking around the area of the ground but parking restrictions will likely be in force. I’ll refer here to Forest fan David Marples who visited St James’ Park earlier this season:

‘The ground is surrounded by houses. I tried north west of the ground up towards the university but it was street to street residents permits. So I headed back to the city centre and found a big old car park.’

I believe this car park was Howells Car Park on Howell Road (EX4 4LZ) but David has advised it wasn’t easy getting away afterwards.

I’d think its worth trying to get somewhere in between the M5 junction and the stadium. Residents permits will likely persist for a way off the ground but if you can get a mile or so away and are prepared for the walk, it feels like you might have a bit more luck. There is even a couple of further flung train stations such as Polsloe Bridge which might offer parking or might have some street parking close by and allow you to hop on to St James’s Park Station.

Hopefully this is of some use, sorry I can’t be more specific on this one but this will be one of the few grounds of the current 92 I haven’t yet done.

 

PUBS

PC Simon Travell at Nottinghamshire Police, via his Devon counterparts, have advised that St Anne’s Well near the ground is the designated away pub.

In the middle of town, there will be likely be several places which will welcome Forest supporters. Ludo Sports Bar have contacted us to advise that there is 20% for all Forest fans at their establishment on the day of the game; I’m not certain how you go about claiming this but it will at least one option to aim for and isn’t too far from the ground.

***

See you down there.

You Reds

Matt

 

Thanks to David Marples for the use of his photographs