PILGRIMS v GRECIANS

Looking out the window at the snow falling, I have no live football to watch. many games around the country will continue however and I hope that the wintry conditions will not affect today's Devon Derby of Plymouth Argyle v Exeter City. The first match between the two was held on the 6th February 1909 at Argyle's ground.

The Pilgrims have just flown back from Marbella where their forward thinking manager Derek Adams had arranged a "winter break" for a squad that includes 5 new players from the transfer window, a good way to integrate the new comers. They will, no doubt, have completed their initiation at the club's training ground, Harper's Park, with the club hoping to maintain its good form that has kept them 2nd in League Two so far.

Argyle FC was formed in 1886 and adopted their present name when they joined the Southern League in 1903. Their ground, Home Park, is an impressive stadium rated as 37th largest in the Football League.

The Grecians, Exeter City FC, were once known as Exeter United FC and they played St Sidwell's United in 1901. After losing to St Sidwell's in 1904 the present name was adopted. Their home is St James' Park, Exeter United's original ground. Like many other clubs, Exeter United was also a cricket club, St Sidwell's was a Weslyan Church and they all gathered at the Forresters' Arms, a pub!

In 1908 the Exeter City joined the Southern league, taking the place left by Tottenham Hotspur, who moved up into the Football League.

In 1914 the club toured South America to promote the game of football and they played fixtures in Brazil, one against the national team, the first "international match" with a South American country and then in Argentina. As a result Exeter are still linked to the Fluminese club and celebrated the 2014 century by visiting Brazil again drawing with Fluminese U23s 0-0 and beating Tupi FC from Minas Gerais and the Rio Cricket club.
Exeter became founder members of the Third Division of the Football league in 1920. We all know about the club's decline and subsequent return to the Football League in 2008.

Paul Tisdale's improving side hope to reverse the score of this season's earlier League Two derby match played at Argyle that ended 2-0.
If City win today it will complete an 8th consecutive victory, a club record. This will please their owners, the Exeter City Supporters' Trust.