😊 Matchday Family Fun: Charlton Athletic

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.

On Good Friday your extra attractions (subject to the weather being supportive) will be a mascot race-off, Easter Egg hunt; Ballon modelling and magic with Lez the Fez, face painting in the Junior Grecian Zone and Play Your Cards Right for a shirt of your choice.

After a 13-day international break we look forward to welcoming you back to SJP on Good Friday for the visit of Charlton Athletic. The Addicks come west boasting an 8 match unbeaten run under new manager Nathan Jones, so it should be an interesting afternoon.

The Exeter weather is always changeable as we approach a match day. It’s currently forecast to be a mild (13c) afternoon with a chance of sunshine and a light shower. So please remember to come prepared with suitable clothing. 

Regardless of the weather at your SJP, there will always be a warm welcome.  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 and opening of the Club shop, ticket office and the staggered opening of bars (with TVs). 

If you encounter any that does not seem right, facilities as well as behaviour, please text “Help” or a short description immediately and anonymously to 62277.

For your visit you will have plenty on offer for you pre-match to keep you involved and entertained.

If it is your first visit to SJP please email customerservices@exetercityfc.co.uk or let an Ambassador know and we will endeavour to make it memorable for you.

Grecian and Lexi

No trip to SJP is complete without a picture with our mascots Grecian and his younger sister  Lexi the Lions. Keep an eye out around the Park for the mischievous pair! You'll find them in the Junior Grecians Zone before the match and inside the stadium.  You can follow their antics on Twitter @GrecianLexi. Why not send them a picture for them to hang up in their Lions Den. Those important times for our Pride of Lions:

Lez the Fez

Back by popular demand and definitely something not to miss if he is around your area! You might even get a souvenir to take away! His schedule is from 1:15pm to 2:45pm:

1.15pm Starting in the Family Room; strolling through Your Fan Zone; then into Hospitality; before entering the stadium family areas - Nevada Construction Stand Block E and the Big Bank. Our apologies if Lez does not get to your area as he is often delayed by mystified groups.

What’s On?
If it is your first visit to SJP please email customerservices@exetercityfc.co.uk or let an Ambassador know and we will endeavour to make it memorable for you.
 
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 birthday message. Email: customerservices@exetercityfc.co.uk.

Getting to SJP

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 all around the Stadium (York Road, Pennsylvania Road, Prince Charles Road, Union Road, Sidwell Street, Old Tiverton Road, Pinhoe Road).

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 £2 fare is still in place for all local Stagecoach services. If you use Park & Ride you can alternatively purchase a £10 return ticket for a party of 5.

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

TRAIN: St James Park boasts the only operating matchday station in the whole of the EFL! The station shares a name with our ground, sits on the London Waterloo line out of the City & has regular services running from Exeter St. Davids, Exeter Central, Exmouth & Paignton.

Recent timetable changes mean that trains from Okehampton and Barnstaple usually extend to the station on your matchday. 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 further north should change at Exeter St. Davids. A return fare from Exeter St. Davids costs £2.60 but is free if travelling from further afield and selected at the time of booking (ie. set St James Park (Exeter) as your destination).

CYCLING: There are a handful of 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 locations

• 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 very 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.

Fan Zone Activity

Your Entertainment Time Table

10:30am – your 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).
10:30am -  your Home Ticket Boot will be open if you haven’t purchased your math tickets or other matches currently on sale. The ticket office is also the place to head for if you have tickets for collections.
11am - Pre-booked guests are welcomed on to the highly acclaimed Stadium Tour. To book your place on a FREE Stadium Tour click here.
11am - Bars start to open on a staggered basis beginning with the Centre Spot. Big screens showing Sky Sports News and from 12:30 televised coverage of Wolves vs Coventry and Swansea vs Cardiff.
Noon - Ticket offices open. Charlton ticket booth in St James Road opens for Albion supporters collections and ticket sales.
Noon - 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).
12:30pm - players start to arrive and are happy to sign autographs or pose for selfies. Why not tweet your picture to #SemperFidelis or our other social media platforms.
12:30pm - Junior Grecians Zone opens for members.
1pm – Optimising IT Adam Stansfield Stand opens (under croft “Strikers” bar and kiosk)
1:30pm - Junior Grecian Zone opens to all families.
1:45pm – Subject to the weather Play your Cards Right. 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.
2pm - turnstiles open (Red & Fed Kiosks)
2:05pm – Teams announced in the Fan Zone.
2:55 – Guard of Honour take to the field.
3pm the Big Kick Off. Enjoy the match.

Half-time – Weather permitting half time shoot out featuring local youth teams on the Match Day Experience package. Junior Grecian Zone, Club Shop, Fan Zone and Centre Spot open to home supporters in the Nevada Construction Main Stand. Temporary bars open in the Jungle path and Away Terrace. Optimising IT Stand under croft TVs (result service) kiosks and Striker's bar.

Final Whistle – why rush away. Sky Sports results and goals in the Centre Spot as well as the Man City vs Newcastle United and Fulham vs Spurs match live. Some pints reduced to £3.75. Your Club Shop and Ticket Booth will close when the last customer has been served.

5:51pm - Post match trains start from St James Park (Exeter) station from 17:51 to mainline St David’s and 17:58 to Exmouth.

Fan Zone updates include away travel latest, Women’s football with a Grecian and Brewers supporter announcing your respective teams around 2pm.

Your First Visit?

Apart from Lez the Fez starting his Stadium Stroll, the Fan Zone activity on Saturday will be 'Play Your Cards Right' to win a shirt or a football – your choice.  Another shirt was won at the last match!  But we still have a barrel full of other prizes available.

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

Three helpful tips for you on your first visit:

1. The stadium can be noisy – especially when City score a goal. Consider era defenders (which will also minimise any local deviation from the King’s English);
2. Make sure youngsters have an emergency contact number in case they get split up from you;
3. And always check the weather before your journey so that you have appropriate clothing.

The Club has over 40 affiliated groups by age or location. You now have the opportunity to officially affiliate with the club by being part of established group or become a new supporters’ group, you can find out more information by email to customerservices@exetercityfc.co.uk.

Extra Assistance? We Care

• Autism packs are available to you including ear defenders.
• Soccer Sight commentary headsets for you if you have vision restrictions.
• Changing Places facility available for you in the Optimising IT Adam Stansfield Stand.
• 5 Accessible facilities.
• 4 Baby changing facilities.

Stadium Tours

Why not start your visit early? If you have not been on our outstanding Stadium Tour why not join this Saturday? To make advance booking please click here. The tours are FREE and start at 11am, meeting in the Fan Zone beside the entrance to the Centre Spot and provide a wonderful opportunity to go behind the scenes of your club on a match day when the ground is coming alive and visit the Changing Rooms, Security centre and Museum. Tours last between an hour and 90 minutes.

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. Pocket money items are also available.

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). Visit shop.exetercityfc.com.

Announce the City team or Join the Guard of Honour

If you have the drive and feel you can get supporters cheering you can announce the City team in the Fan Zone. Just turn up at the Information Point.

Want to be on the pitch as the players enter SJP? Then be part of the flag waving, Guard of Honour!

Your Guard of Honour for Friday has 2 vacancies. If your child would like to be part of the flag waving team welcoming the players and officials onto the pitch on Saturday or at a future game please email customerservices@exetercityfc.co.uk. Children taking part not only get on the pitch but also receive a certificate of participation and a bag of sweets.

Eating and Drinking options

Apart from the hospitality and bar options locally 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 Navada Construction stand.

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 screen while you much your pasty or drink your coffee. Adults in the Main Stand can of course watch the half-times in the Centre Spot over a quick pint and pasty.

Information Point

The information Point is the ideal meeting place and will have programmes (home and away) and team sheets available for a donation to the Academy.

Trust Queries & Membership Applications Ticket Booth

There is now a dedicated Trust window at the Ticket Booth in the Fan Zone. The Trust Membership secretary will be pleased to meet prospective new members who want to be a part of the Club or those who want to find out about all the work the Trust does and benefits of becoming a member. He will also have 20th Anniversary badges and pens available.

The Trust recently celebrated 20 years of majority shareholding of the Club.  Commemorative pens (£1.50) and badges (£3) are now available at the window .

Junior Grecians Lounge

The Junior Grecians are the Official Junior Supporters Club of Exeter City FC. New this season is face painting back after Covid by popular demand.

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 from 13:30pm.

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 bar. Post match some pints are discounted in these bars. 

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. In the stadium the Big Bank has a half-time break-out bar. The refreshment kiosk behind the Away Terrace also has alcohol on sale.

ECFC Museum Trust

The brim full Museum Room is open for FREE Stadium Tours on most match days, hospitality guests and 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 at every opportunity at SJP. 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.

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, IP Office and Big Bank)

Tracks Suzuki St James Road - Gate 5 Visiting Supporters

Soccer Sight

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

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: media@ecfc.co.uk, or message us on Twitter: @officialecfc

If you want to report and incident:

Please either contact your nearest steward, or text 'help ecfc' to 62277.