PIERCE SWEENEY IS THE CLUB CAPTAIN OF EXETER CITY FC
As you might imagine, we’re still on a bit of a high following our victory over Championship side Oxford in the third round of the FA Cup.
What is more, we can’t wait for the visit of Premier League title contenders Nottingham Forest towards the beginning of next month – albeit we have the small matter of five League One fixtures between now and then.
Unfortunately, the visit of the two-time European Cup winners will come just a bit too soon for me, although I’m hoping to be back in time for our fifth round tie at Old Trafford!
In the meantime, I’ve got around 40 friends and family wanting me to get them tickets for the Forest game. Unfortunately, I think one or two are going to be disappointed, unless, that is, all trains are cancelled for the day and the club constructs some kind of temporary grandstand between the Adam Stansfield Stand and the big bank!
It’s remarkable to think that it’s more than 40 years since the club last made it to the fourth round of the FA Cup. However, I thought we were much the better side in Saturday’s game against the Os and good value for our 3-1 victory.
Admittedly, we didn’t get off to a great start – going 1-0 down inside the opening 15 minutes – but the visitors rarely threatened after that and once Demetri Mitchell had fired us ahead with a brace of goals before half-time, we always looked the most likely winners.
After almost a year out through injury, Demi has now got four goals in his last four games and looks back to something like his silky best.
Fortunately, Johnly Yfeko’s absence with a hamstring injury only kept him out of action for a couple of months. Nevertheless, it was good to see the Rangers loanee back in the starting line-up on Saturday and while he went off at half-time, to be replaced by Ed Francis, that was always the plan.
Touch wood Johnly will have come through his return unscathed and be ready to play a full 90 minutes at the weekend.
With regard to my injury, the rehab is going pretty well and, as long as that continues to be the case, I’d hope to be back in six or seven weeks.
Of course, no-one wants to be injured but, on a positive note, it did at least mean I was able to spend a few days at home in Ireland over the festive period, which, prior to this year, is something I hadn’t been able to do for more than a decade.
It’s a slightly odd injury in that I haven’t real felt any pain since it happened. However, I have a tear in my calf which is pinching at the top of my Achilles’ and if I’m not careful could make things a whole lot worse. As it is, I have a scan at the end of the month and, assuming all goes well with that, should be back on the grass shortly afterwards.
In the meantime, my rehabilitation demands I do a lot of bike work and, that being the case, I’m probably spending more time at the Cliff Hill Training Ground right now than those who are fit and playing.
What’s more, as club captain, I feel it’s important that I continue to participate in all our meetings, while on a matchday I make a point of being in the changing room before the game, at half-time, and again on the final whistle to offer my support and encouragement.
Exeter City team huddle before during the FA Cup Match between Exeter City and Oxford United at St James Park, Devon on 4 January 2025. Photo: Phil Mingo/PPAUK
While I’m not expecting too much movement in or out before the transfer window closes at the beginning of next month, the club has already pulled off quite a coup to land Cardiff youngster Joel Colwill on loan.
Having scored nine goals on loan at League Two Cheltenham in the first half of the season, it’s little wonder a host of League One clubs were interested in securing the attacking midfielder’s services for the remainder of the campaign and to the credit of the manager and the club that he has been persuaded his future will be best served by a spell at Exeter.
For what it’s worth, I’m not at all surprised Joel opted for Exeter. The gaffer prides himself on the presentations he puts together to persuade players to come to the club and I’ve no doubt his pitch to Joel will have played a big part in getting the deal over the line.
Having only put pen to paper over the weekend, I can’t pretend to have seen a great deal of Joel just yet, but, on the basis of what little I have seen and the videos the club has shared via its social media channels, he reminds me a bit of Luke Harris and it’s clear he’s going to be a great addition to the squad.
That said, we have no shortage of attacking midfielders, all the more so if Caleb Watts agrees to prolong his stay at the club. Caleb didn’t have the best of luck with injuries after arriving at Exeter in September of last year, but touch wood that’s in the past now.
No-one ever doubted there was a player there and, for sure, Caleb’s been exceptional over the past few weeks. Hopefully he will be around for some time to come.
Saturday sees us travel to Birmingham to face the big-spending Blues for the third time this season. They were a class apart when winning 2-0 in the league game at SJP at the end of November. However, I thought we were a little unfortunate to lose 2-1 in the Football League Trophy Game a fortnight later and hopefully we can get closer still at the weekend.
Goal celebrations for Pierce Sweeney of Exeter City after beating Bailey Peacock-Farrell, Goalkeeper of Birmingham City from a corner during the English Football League Trophy Match between Exeter City and Birmingham City at St James Park, Devon on 10 December 2024. Photo: Phil Mingo/PPAUK
I’m going up to the West Midlands on Friday night, and will be staying with Jay Stansfield and his partner for a couple of days.
Having bagged 14 goals in all competitions by the turn of the year, Stano has missed the Blues’ last three games through injury. I don’t think it’s anything major and am sure he will be back out there scoring very soon. That said, he’s a top, top player at this level and our task would be made a whole lot easier if he were to miss out.
Should that happen, we’ll watch the game together, which is sure to be interesting; otherwise, I’ll be watching with Jay’s partner and family.
For sure, there should be a crowd of almost 30,000 and it promises to be a brilliant occasion – let’s just hope it’s the 1,500-plus Exeter fans who have most to smile about come 5pm on Saturday!