Exeter City FC: St James' Park, Well St, Exeter, EX4 6PX, Devon Tel: 01392 411 243 History: Formed in 1904 after a merger between Exeter Utd and St Sidwell's Old Boys, who had played at St James' Park for 10 years previously. The city was a rugby stronghold but a friendly between Arsenal and West Brom on the ground saw enough appetite for Exeter turn professional and replace Tottenham in the Southern League. Famous fact - in 1914 they became the first club side to play Brazil, on a tour of south America. Founder members of the Third Division in 1920, the Grecians spent 40 years in Division Four before winning their first promotion in the mid 1960s. Exeter faced near bankruptcy in the mid 1990s and again in 2003, when the club also lost league status before being helped by its supporters trust and a money-spinning FA Cup tie against Man Utd, having drawn 0-0 at Old Trafford in 2005. They then reached the Conference play-off final in 2007 at the new Wembley. Record Attendance: 21,014 v Sunderland, FA Cup, 1931. Capacity: 9,036 Last season: Conference play-off final winners Honours: Div 4 champions 1989-1990 Record victory: 8-1 v Coventry City, Div 3S 1926 Defeat: 0-9 v Notts Co, Div 3S 1948 Nickname: The Grecians. Colours: Red and white stripes Manager: Paul Tisdale Director of football: Steve Perryman Chairman: Denise Watts Players in: Marcus Stewart (Yeovil), Manny Panther (York), Craig McAllister (Oxford), Jack Obersteller and Ben Watson (both Grays). Players out: Lee Elam, Jon Richardson, Andy Taylor Famous fans/players/connections: Cliff Bastin (player), Richard Logan (ex-Darlo), Adrian Edmondson, Uri Geller (fans) Click for Streetmap of ground

Leave the M5 at Junction 30, follow the Sidmouth Rd and signs for middlemoor Park. Take Honiton turning at Exeter Arms roundabout, down hill to lights - left towards city centre onto the B3212 for about two miles into Blackboy Road, near the ground. Parking: Some street parking away from the ground, but there is a residents-only scheme operating, so it's suggested you use the council carparks in the city centre and walk.

The ground is an easy, straight 15 minute walk from the city centre. From the High Street, walk over the roundabout and into Sidwell Street, past more shops until you reach the Blackboy Rd roundabout (then it's a left sharp up the hill to the ground.) Take bus H1 or H2 from St David's Station into town (£2.40 return) or alternatively walk across the concourse and up St David's Hill. You catch the return either in the High Street (outside River Island and Next) or further on near Marks and Spencer, in Queen Street. Buses E, F1 and F2 run from the city centre to the ground, should you need them. Bus map

A1 Cars Tel: (01392) 218888 Castle Cars Tel: (01392) 436363 Gemini Cabs Tel: (01392) 666666 Darlington FC Supporters Club Coach: c6.30am cost TBC. Contact: 01325 243911. See Darlington Supporters' Club for more details. Great Western HotelLocated close to Exeter St David's station, this has accommodation from about £40 per night B&B, as well as the CAMRA-recommended Loco Bar. Tel: 01392 274039 Clock Tower Hotel 16 New North Road Short walk from Queen Street station in the city centre, £30 single, £45 twin B&B. Tel: 01392 424545 Oakliffe Hotel 73 St Davids Hill Guest house close to St David's station, singles from £18.50, twins from £36. Telephone: 01392 258288 Thistle Exeter Queen Street Comfortable three-star hotel right in the city centre. 0870 333 9133

Trains (TIMES UPDATED JAN '09): Darlington 07:13-arr Exeter St Davids 12:43, Returning by train leaves you tight for time as the last train (via London Paddington and Kings Cross) leaves at 17.01, so you really need to leave the match early. London Paddington: 09.06-arr 11.18; rtn: 18.02-20.37. Fares: Advance from £24 to £63 off-peak return Cardiff Central: 09.30-(Bristol TM, 10.18) 10.44-arr 11.43, rtn: 17.23-Bristol TM (18.27) 18.53-arr 19.40. Fares from £41.20 return Birmingham New Street: 09.12-arr 11.43, rtn 17.23-19.56. Fares from £52 advance to £70.70 off-peak return

Real ale/Near the stadium Brook Green, 31 Well Street/York Road Close to the ground with a range of ales on, recommended by CAMRA in the past. Brook Green now has four hand pumps with Tribute and Speckled Hen as regular ales.Click for map Other - city centre If you don't want to try any of those listed, there are plenty of decent student-y style bars in town, if the ones listed here don't take your fancy...like the Duke of York, Sidwell Street, with the Paradise Tandoori in the same street having chicken tikka and chips for £3. Also, on the cheap side, there's a cellar bar Bar Bomba in Queen Street which has beer at 89p a pint a la Hogan's! There's also a Hogshead and a Walkabout on the road to the Quay. The Jolly Porter, around from the Great Western near the St Davids station had no hand-pulls available when we popped in.

Real ale/City centre & near station Great Western Hotel Near Exeter St David's station, has Exe and Otter ales in the CAMRA-recommended Loco Bar, a past winner in the best in the city for real ale, with around a dozen to choose from and friendly service. Serves food from 10am and a big choice, including all-day breakfasts. Tel: 01392 274039. Well House Tavern, 16-17 Cathedral Yard Part of the ABode hotel, with up market restaurant food. Real ales from £2.70, with a range including Otter, O'Hanlons, Exe Valley, Scattor Rock, Branscombe, Skinners - there were three on during our visit. Overlooking the cathedral green, an excellent and historic spot for a drink. Cafe-bar feel, similar to 22 in Darlington. Lunch menu in the bar is a bit pricey, but the range is from sandwiches and jacket potatoes, through gourmet burgers. Double Locks Hotel, Canal Banks A bit of a trek from the ground, the other side of the city.Spacious pub, by a canal - the clues are all there. Marsh Barton, Otters, O'Hanlon's and Young's ales and food served all day. Click for Streetmap The Ship Inn, Martin's Lane Historic city centre pub in a narrow side-street between the High Street and the Cathedral green. Fairly decent ales and food served upstairs. Allegedly once frequented by Sir Francis Drake. Abbot's Otter and Old Speckled Hen. City Gate Hotel Iron Bridge Lower North St, EX4 3RB Young's pub, not far from the Central Station

Near/at the stadium Bowling Green, Blackboy Road Another near to the ground, cheerful Greenalls pub, friendly with pool and Sky TV. DAFTS recommended St James's Centre, Exeter FC. Downstairs conversion in an old school has replaced the much-loved old Centre Spot club at the ground, with not quite the same atmosphere. Away fans are welcome again and they'd dropped admission charges on the last visit. Courage/Worthington beers, Sky, pool, skittles and table soccer. Country pubs The Jack In The Green Inn is a pub and restaurant on the old A30 near the airport in the village of Rockbeare, with good food - bar and restaurant menus - and a decent inn.

St James's Park is less than 10 minutes walk from the city centre, which has all the usual take-away chains. The nearest - close to the cinema - is KFC, and there is a Subway nearby too. While there's a decent chippy in Old Tiverton Road near the ground. Inside the ground, they do Domino's pizzas (£4 each, two for £6), reasonable pies (£2.40, inc balti) and drinks at the kiosk in the corner of the terrace.

Rail timetables Virgin Trains GNER National Express Online map Hotels/B&Bs Express & Echo Exeter Magazine Surfing there... Exeter City websites include the ExeWeb - which has changed into more of a forum than the excellent independent site it once was. The official site is OK although lacking basic information like ticket prices (!) Next away matches: Gillingham (Tuesday March 10th, 7.45pm) and Port Vale (Saturday March 14th, 3pm) No responsibility is taken for accuracy, if in doubt check before travelling. © DAFTS 2009 Anything worth adding? Please e-mail us any suggestions. Back to index page If you'd like to be e-mailed a regular bulletin with the latest updates on this site - including details of DAFTS members known to be travelling then E-mail DAFTS