Matchday Family Fun: Oxford United

Matchday Family Fun: Oxford United

Family Fun Oxford

Are you up for the Cup? City are in Emirates FA Cup third round action on Saturday, hosting Oxford United in a 3pm kick-off.

Your match day at SJP is not just about the 90 minutes of football! There is far more to Exeter City and not just on a match day. 

FA Cup competition

As with both previous rounds we will be staging an art competition for City youngsters in the Fan Zone at 1:45.
 
Three prizes on offer:

  • Best FA Cup colouring
  • Best FA Cup Poster
  • Best silver foil covered FA Cup to hold up at the match.

A template that can be used can be found here.  
 
To enter please bring your efforts on the day or send us a picture to customerservices@exetercityfc.co.uk
 
You can also create your entry on the day in your covered Fan Zone.

Our opponents

The visit of Oxford might be the time to start putting our 3rd round record straight. Over the years your Grecians have won 100 FA Cup ties but only 7 in the 3rd round. We have progressed to this round 24 times (playing 33 matches). The last victory came in 1981 when a 4-2 victory over Maidstone. Subsequently beating Leicester and Newcastle after replays before bowing out at Spurs.

Travel info

It's best to arrive early on Saturday. Travel to SJP might be more restricted. The M5 and in particular junction 30 might be congested as kick-off approaches and please check the times of rail services to SJP online before you travel.

And there is extra help for you to get to your SJP on Saturday.  Great Western are extending their Okehampton and Barnstaple services to start and finish at SJP (Exeter) station.  Thanks to the Devon Bus Partnership, you'll also be able to take advantage of single bus journey costing just £1. Eligible Super Saturday services throughout Devon and Torbay.  To help with even more active travel there are cycle racks at the stadium and in Sidwell Street.

Matchday Timetable - don't miss a thing!

Your Match Day Timetable

Tickets are still available at tickets.ecfc.co.uk! Please note the £2/£1advance discount is no longer available after midnight on Friday.

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match info for a 3pm kick-off

11am: FREE Stadium Tour - The highly acclaimed Stadium Tour is available to supporters who have pre-booked . You can book your place on future Match Day Tours (Saturdays 11am) at the Academy Stall in the Fan Zone, in the shop or by email to stadium.tours@ecfc.co.uk

11am: The Club Shop opens until the last customer leaves post-match. Youngsters can enter a guess the time of the first goal to win a £20 voucher (no purchase necessary).

11am: The Home and Away Ticket Booth (Fan Zone) will be open if you haven’t purchased your match tickets or other matches currently on sale. The ticket office is also the place to head for if you have tickets for collections. 

11am: The bars start to open on a staggered basis beginning with the Centre Spot and Fan Zone. Big screens showing Sky Sports News followed by a pick of many matches including Crystal Palace vs Liverpool.

12pm: Junior Grecian Family Zone open for members. Booked birthday parties take their places in the VIP area. Hospitality (Heritage, Trust Suite and Executive boxes) opens for guests.

12pm: Hospitality is open for two-course meal and interviews.

12pm: You can catch Grecian the Lion and his younger sister Lexi posing for selfies starting from the Junior Grecian Zone, before moving out to the Fan Zone to welcome supporters and players and into the Stadium by noon. 

12:30pm: Sky Sports News on the big screen in the Centre Spot give way to the televised match.

1pm: Players are arriving and are happy to sign autographs or pose for selfies in the Fan Zone. Why not tweet your picture to #SemperFidelis or share on our other social media platforms.

1pm: Undercroft in the Optimising IT stand activities include Legends bar, TVs, history display and Red & Fed kiosk.

1:30pm: Subject to weather it’s the return of “Play Your Cards Right”. Your host is still smarting with two winners at the last match. Prizes include shirt of your choice, footballs, EAFC24 games and t-shirts for adults. OR your chance to use the “City Board” for family pics which you can tweet to #SemperFidelis. 

1:30pm: Match Day Experience youngsters enter the Optimising IT Adam Stansfield stand. Programmes, food and drinks supplied as part of their package.  

1:30pm: Familiarisation Mini Tour for first time visitors starts from the Academy Stall.  

1:45pm: The volunteer run Information Point and Academy stall open in the Fan Zone.  Your meet and greet Ambassador team volunteers are available for help and directions.

2pm: All turnstiles are open. 

2:05pm: Teams announced by rival supporters in your Fan Zone.

2:35pm: Guard of Honour take to the field.

3pm: The Big Kick Off. Enjoy YOUR Match.

Half-time: Bars open on the Big Bank and Optimising IT Adam Stansfield stand under croft TVs,  kiosks and “Legends” bar. Junior Grecian Zone (kiosk available) open for all Nevada Construction ticket holders.  Club Shop, Fan Zone, Kenniford Farm Food and Centre Spot open to home supporters in the Nevada Construction Main Stand.

Red & Fed kiosks close when all customers have been satisfied.

Final Whistle: Why rush away? Your FA Cup televised match on the big screens is Man City-Salford. Some pints reduced in price if you are a member of the Supporters’ Trust. Discounted purchases for Trust Members. The Fan Zone is also open!

4:51pm: Post match trains start from St James Park (Exeter) station to mainline St David’s and 4:58 to Exmouth. Buses running their normal timetable, again with maximum £3 single fare.
 

Travel Guide

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St James Park Station

Getting to SJP on match days (EX4 6PX – visiting fans EX4 6PU) cannot be easier for you.  

Despite being in the heart of Exeter’s bustling city centre, getting to SJP on match days couldn’t be easier!

BUS: Local Stagecoach buses drop off on several streets in the local vicinity all around the stadium (York Road, Pennsylvania Road, Prince Charles Road, Union Road, Sidwell Street, Old Tiverton Road, Blackboy Road etc.).

All of Exeter’s Park & Ride services drop off in the City Centre, which is a short walk away from the stadium gates.

A maximum £3 fare is still in place for all Devon local services. 

Exeter Coach Station is also less than half a mile walk away, offering both regional and nationwide services.

TRAIN: St James Park boasts one of the frew operating matchday station in the whole of the EFL! The station sits on the London Waterloo line out of the City & has become a match day hub with regular services running from Exeter St. David’s, Exeter Central, Exmouth & Paignton, Okehampton and Barnstaple.

Match Day timetable changes mean that trains calling at all stations from Okehampton and Barnstaple are extended to finish/return from St James Park (Exeter) station.  Passengers from London Waterloo should change at either Pinhoe or Exeter Central for services to St James Park. Passengers from London Paddington, Cornwall and from Liverpool/Manchester or further north should change at Exeter St. David’s. A return fare from Exeter St. David’s costs £2.70 but is free if travelling from further afield and St James Park selected as your destination at the time of booking. Services for you this Saturday are at 3, 17 and 43 minutes past the hour. Returns start at 4:51, 5:10 and 5:21 for St David’s and 5:58 to Exmouth.

CYCLING: There are racks available at the stadium, with extra capacity on nearby Sidwell Street should these areas be full. Exeter’s cycling network is continually improving and many of the surrounding streets have dedicated cycling infrastructure.

CAR:

  • Sat nav: Home fans: EX4 6PX
  • Visiting fans: EX4 6PU

There is extremely limited parking at our stadium, with several city-centre car parks within fairly close range. There is also limited on-street parking for considerate drivers. Wherever possible, we recommend the use of public transport, Park & Ride services, or active transport (walking & cycling) to reach St James Park on matchday.

There are no major traffic delays expected. However, sport event traffic could make the M5 Junctions and in particular J30 congested.

Fan Zone Activity

Regardless of the weather at your SJP, there will always be a warm welcome for you.  

With genuine commitment to see you spend an enjoyable match day with us. And for supporters who love a variety of great food and drink alongside fun and games, your Fan Zone is the ideal pre-match venue.

Starting at 11am with the FREE stadium Tour. Before the opening of the Club shop, ticket office and the staggered opening of bars (with TVs) and local farm food outlet. Please note that because of the early kick off the Optimising IT Adam Stansfield stand will only open 1 hour before kick-off at the same time as the other stands.

Your Activity on Saturday you will be “Play Your Cards Right” to win a shirt or a football – your choice.  Despite shirts being won at recent matches we still have a barrel full of other prizes available.

Announcements will include away travel update, Women’s football with a Grecian and Trotters’ supporter announcing their respective teams around 2pm.

Your first visit?

Head for the Fan Zone Academy Stall or Information Point by 1:30pm to join our brief Familiarisation/Induction Tour with a picture opportunity.  The ideal pre-courser to returning for the full 11am outstanding and free match day Stadium Tour.

First Time visitors can also register for free entry in a draw for a signed match ball at end of season. Youngsters will also receive a certificate celebrating their first match.

If it is your first visit please let us know by emailing customerservices@exetercityfc.co.uk and we will endeavour to make it memorable for you. 

Your Activity on Saturday you will be “Play Your Cards Right” to win a shirt or a football – your choice.  Despite shirts being won at recent matches we still have a barrel full of other prizes available.

Announcements will include away travel update, Women’s football with a Grecian and Trotters’ supporter announcing their respective teams around 2pm.

Family Areas at SJP and Tickets

We pride ourselves that your SJP is virtually a family stadium. 

Block E in the Nevada Construction Main Stand is the principal area. The second area we recommend is Black A in the Optimising IT Adam Stansfield Stand. The stand has been decorated by the Museum Trust with lots of standout pictures and impressive stories regaling the history of your club.  

The newest stand features in its under croft two Red and Fed kiosks, a Legends bar for grownups, a plethora of widescreen TVs featuring the televised game pre-match and the half time results service. The stand now boasts a new retail outlet where you can purchase all your genuine Grecian merchandise.  There is also a changing places facility. With so much going on it’s no wonder the stand normally opens an hour earlier than all the other stands. The final area is on the Big Bank denoted by a red floor and white barriers.

To buy tickets, please click here.

The Weather

The Exeter weather looks extremely settled for your Cup tie. It’s currently forecast to be a mild (10c) but overcast.

Announce the team or join the Guard of Honour

Announce the City team

If you have the drive and feel you can get supporters cheering you can announce the City team in the Fan Zone. You can volunteer on the day or in advance by contacting customerservices@exetercityfc.co.uk.

Join the guard of honour

Want to be on the pitch as the players enter SJP? Then be part of the flag waving, Guard of Honour! Saturday's has TWO places available! Please email: customerservices@exetercityfc.co.uk

If your child would like to be part of the flag waving team welcoming the players and officials onto the pitch at a future game please email: customerservices@exetercityfc.co.uk.

Guard of Honour

It’s FREE. Children taking part not only get on the pitch but also receive a certificate of participation.

Junior Grecians Family Zone

Junior Grecians Lounge

New this season is face painting to show your colours!

The room provides a safe comfortable environment for families to enjoy pre-match entertainment, such as a large screen TVs, Playstation consoles and Table Football, as well as the option to enjoy refreshments from the Zone’s very own kiosk. The family room also has a volunteer providing face painting  to “show your colours. 

Opening exclusively for Members at 12pm, it is available to all children/families from 1:30pm.

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Shaun Macdonald in the Junior Grecians Lounge

Meet Grecian and Lexi!

Grecian and Lexi

Introducing your principal Match Day Hosts:  our Pride of Lions, Grecian and his younger sister Lexi. They will be pleased to see you and help you Rrrroar on your team.

The pair will be Red and Fed and prowling around the stadium waiting for you! Keep an eye out for Grecian and Lexi! They will be in the Junior Grecian Zone and the Fan Zone from 1pm before moving into the stadium to greet you. 

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Grecian and Lexi the Lions with a young fan

Keep an eye out around the Park for the mischievous pair! You can follow their antics on Twitter @Grecianlexi. Why not send them a picture for them to hang up in their Lions Den.

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Grecian and Lexi

Grab a matchday programme!

Saturday's programme, the Grecian is on sale for £2.50. To avoid disappointment buy your copy from the various locations outside the stadium.  

Programmes will also be on sale at the Red and Fed Kiosks!

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The Grecian programme promo. Text reads: THE GRECIAN // MATCH DAY PROGRAMME // ON SALE NOW! // £2.50 // Subscriptions are available at Curtis Sport. Above that text are the Exeter City and Curtis Sport logos. To the right of the text is an image of the cover, with a smiling Gary Caldwell on the front of it.

Visit the Club Shop

The shop runs its own match day competition for younger supporters. Predict the time of the first goal and the prize is yours.

Make your way to the Club Shop before or after the match. It is the only way to obtain your official City souvenirs and check out what’s new or any special offers. Everything for you from current and retro replica kits to pocket money items. And remember if you are a member of the Trust or Junior Grecians there is a 10% in store discount (Excl. match programmes and reduced/sale items). Click here to shop online.

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New away shirt

Eating and Drinking options

Eating and Drinking Options

Apart from the hospitality and bar options locally farm sourced hot snacks are available in the Fan Zone from Kenniford Farm. For your delight they will be providing their usual farm produced pre-match fare (including chips) and will also be open at half-time for users of the Nevada Construction stand.

And look out for specially themed “Brazilian” themed offering.

Inside the Stadium the kiosks have a range of food, confectionary and drinks available to you. If you are in the Navada Construction stand please remember that the JG Zone is open for all at half-time and also has a kiosk. Giving you the opportunity to catch the half time results on their big screen while you much your pasty or drink your coffee. Adults in the Main Stand can of course also watch the half-times in the Centre Spot over a quick pint and pasty.

Bars

You are spoilt for choice! The Fan Zone has its own bar area.  Leading off from the Fan Zone is the Centre Spot bar which also houses the Famous Exeter City Real Ale & Cider Emporium.

On the other side of the Stadium you will find the Optimising IT Adam Stansfield stand under croft 'Legends' bar. 

Other bars are the Trust Suite for our Hospitality Guests. The Legends Lounge for guests of our Match, Ball and Programme Sponsors. Finally the Heritage Lounge for Members. If you are in any hospitality area you are welcome to visit the cram full City Museum.

In the stadium the Big Bank has a half-time break-out bar.

City Museum Trust

ECFC Museum Trust

Your burgeoning Museum Room is open for FREE Stadium Tours on most match days, hospitality guests and for everyone on Wednesday afternoons. The purpose of the museum is to collect, preserve, share and celebrate the history and heritage of ECFC.

Our stadium-wide approach has produced a range of displays at every opportunity at St James Park.  In the Optimising IT Adam Stansfield stand you will find the Hall of Fame displays and History of ECFC Timeline. The Road to Brazil in the entrance to the JG Zone (by the way the 1917 match ball is in the Museum and well worth a look), a list of every player behind Gate 3 and many other picture boards across the walls. You can ask our Ambassador Team at the entrances about the Church under the car park or other points of interest.

Accessibility on matchdays

Soccer Sight

Headsets are readily available for you to collect from your ticket office ahead of kick-off. To book one in advance, please contact reception on 01392 411 243 or by emailing tickets@ecfc.co.uk

Autism

To further the football club’s commitment to making matchdays inclusive to all, please remember Exeter City have some Autism packs available. Please ask at the Information Point. 

Wheelchair Access Points:

Stadium Way - Gate 1 (Optimising IT Stand, Nevada Construction Stand and Big Bank)

Tracks Suzuki St James Road - Gate 5 Visiting Supporters

If you find you need a wheelchair please ask at the Information Point where an Ambassador will let you use one of our reserve chairs.

Extra Assistance? We Care

  • Autism packs are available for youngsters including ear defenders – ask an Ambassador.
  • Soccer Sight commentary headsets for you if you have vision restrictions – ask at the Ticket office. 
  • Changing Places facility available for you in the Optimising IT Adam Stansfield Stand.
  • 6 Accessible facilities.
  • 4 Baby changing facilities.

Information Point

The information Point is the ideal meeting place and will have programmes and team sheets available for you. It also runs a “Bring and Buy” stall of football memorabilia to raise funds for the Academy.

Special Occasion?

As well as letting us know if it is your first visit please let us know if you are celebrating a special occasion. We will try and make it special for you and/or arrange a half-time message. Email: customerservices@exetercityfc.co.uk

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Family fun at SJP

Three helpful tips for parents you on your first visit:

  • The stadium can be noisy - especially when City score a goal. Consider ear defenders (which will also minimise any local deviation from the King’s English);
  • Make sure youngsters have an emergency contact number in case they get split up from you;
  • And always check the weather before your journey so that you have appropriate clothing. The forecast for your Match Day Saturday is for a warm afternoon!

Feedback

We hope that you enjoy your day with us at St James Park! We would really appreciate any feedback you may have about the experience. Please either email: customerservices@exetercityfc.co.uk, media@ecfc.co.uk, or message us on Twitter: @officialecfc

If you want to report any incident (facilities or behaviour): please text immediately “Help” to 62277.