Q & A: Vital Exeter City

Exeter City on Tuesday night. Here's a Q&A with Vital Exeter City's Chris Cleaver.

01. Name:

Chris Cleaver

02. Supported City Since:

1996/7

03. First City Game Attended:

Can't quite remember as I was only about 7 at the time, but do remember having to wait a long time for a first victory; a 5-1 thrashing of Doncaster


04. All Time Grecian Hero(s):

Steve Flack, a tall beanpole of a striker who scored 99 goals for the club between 1996 and 2006. Not blessed with great ability but a bit of a cult hero

Also, Christian Roberts. We frequently had the 'Christian Roberts show' where he single handedly contriolled matches which his superb pace and skill. He is the single most exciting player I have seen for Exeter City, but unfortunately a talent unfulfilled as he had to retire prematurely last season.

05. All Time Grecian Villian(s):

Had quite a few poor players in my time. Perhaps Dwane Lee during our conference years - a good midfielder with a superb long range shot, but left the club to go onto supposedly better things. He didn't have the last laugh though as he still plays in non league


06. Many considered Exeter City a dark horse for promotion, is this possible?

Probably not. Consolidation is the objective, although saying that we didn't exactly expect promotion last season. However, League 1 is a different matter entirely. Moreover, we have lost two of our most influential players - Matt Gill and Dean Moxey, and the new look team haven't quite yet found their feet

07. Has League One met your expectations?

It has; obviously the teams are alot stronger, and we have played alot of the top teams already. Also nice to go to some impressive stadiums


08. Which Exeter City player has impressed the most in the 3rd tier?

Our central defensive partnership of Captain Matt Taylor and Spurs loanee Troy Archibald Henville have impressed.


09. Who needs to play better?

Alot of fans are concerned where the goals are going to come from, but Adam Stansfield has returned from injury, and we have re-signed Stuart Fleetwood on a season-long loan from Charlton. There are also concerns over the ageing Alex Russell and Marcus Stewart in midfield.



10. You've played most of the 'bigger' clubs at this level, possibly explaining your not-so-healthy position, which teams and players have impressed you in League One so far?

There have been no stand out performances against us. We acquitted ourselves well at both Leeds and Charlton. Obviosuly Jermaine Beckford is the hottest prospect in this division, and he scored two goals against us.


11. Exeter have one of the lower leagues most promising young managers. How long can you keep hold of Paul Tisdale?

I'm not sure, although Tisdale reportedly turned down alot of interest from Championship clubs in the summer. He is more of a long term manager and likes to build it as a project. However, I have no doubt he has the potential to manage at the highest level.


12. Swindon Town on Tuesday night and as far as the league is concerned... it's been a while! Our last league fixture was in March 1986. Are you feeling confident?

Home form will be the key for us this season. I anticipate a tight match which we may just scrape.

13. How's Barry Corr doing at SJP?

He got sent off in his first match at Leeds, and since then has a struggled to make an impact. His only start since then was against MK Dons where he missed a few chances bit also scored. He has only really featured from the bench so far, but I think he will become an important member of the team in time


14. ECFC vs. STFC: Scoreline prediction?

Exeter City 1 Swindon Town 1


Thanks once again to Chris Cleaver for answering those questions.


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