Retro Exeter City Shirts – The Grecians Through the Decades

Exeter City were founded in 1904, formed from the merger of St Sidwell's United and Exeter United. They were elected to the Football League's newly formed Third Division in 1920 and have spent the vast majority of their existence in the lower reaches of the English pyramid – but what a journey it has been. One of the club's most extraordinary claims to fame comes from 1914, when Exeter City toured Brazil and played against the Brazilian national team in what is considered one of the first-ever international matches for Brazil. A small Devon club helped birth a footballing giant. That story alone cements Exeter's place in football folklore. The club spent many decades in the Third and Fourth Divisions, occasionally flirting with promotion but more often battling to preserve their league status. The late 1970s and early 1980s brought some of their better league finishes, with the side briefly threatening the upper reaches of the old Third Division. A dramatic and painful chapter began in 2003 when Exeter were relegated from the Football League altogether, dropping into the Conference. Rather than collapse, the club's newly formed Supporters' Trust rallied the fanbase and stabilised the ship. It proved to be a turning point not just in survival, but in identity. Under manager Paul Tisdale, who would go on to become one of the most respected coaches in non-league and lower-league football, Exeter rebuilt with intelligence and purpose. In 2008, they returned to the Football League via the Conference play-offs, sparking jubilant scenes at St James Park. The FA Cup has provided some of the club's most electric moments. In January 2005, still in the Conference, Exeter held Manchester United to a stunning 0-0 draw at Old Trafford in the third round – one of the great giant-killing near-misses of the era. The replay at St James Park drew a packed house and massive national attention. More recently, Exeter have established themselves in League One, reaching the third tier for a sustained period under various managers, before relegation back to League Two confirmed for the 2026–27 season. Through it all, the Grecians' supporter-owned model has ensured the club remains anchored in its community.

Exeter City's roll call of notable players stretches from pre-war legends to modern cult heroes. Arguably the most famous product of St James Park is Cliff Bastin, who joined Exeter as a teenager in the late 1920s before Herbert Chapman whisked him away to Arsenal, where he became one of the most decorated players of the pre-war era and a genuine Gunners legend. That Exeter spotted and developed him speaks to the club's eye for talent even in modest circumstances. In the modern era, no name is more sacred at St James Park than Adam Stansfield. The energetic, wholehearted striker joined Exeter in 2006 and became the heartbeat of the side that climbed back into the Football League. His goals, his work rate, and his infectious personality made him adored by supporters. Stansfield's tragic death from cancer in 2010, aged just 31, devastated the club and the wider football community. Exeter retired his number 9 shirt in tribute – a gesture that speaks volumes about what he meant. Paul Tisdale himself deserves mention; his eight-year stint as manager from 2006 to 2018 was transformational, bringing stability, a coherent footballing philosophy, and consistent Football League survival. His touchline demeanour – calm, thoughtful, often in a flat cap – became as synonymous with Exeter City as red and white stripes. Other influential figures include goalkeeper Artur Krysiak, whose consistent performances helped keep the Grecians competitive, and forwards like Lee Holmes and Jamie Reid who delivered in crucial moments. The club has always relied more on collective spirit than individual stars, and that ethos runs through every era of Grecians history.

The Exeter City retro shirt is instantly recognisable: red and white vertical stripes on the shirt, black shorts – a classic English football aesthetic that has remained remarkably consistent throughout the club's history. That consistency is part of what makes collecting Exeter kits so satisfying; you're tracing a clear visual thread across the decades. The kits of the 1970s and early 1980s reflect the era's broad-collared, slightly oversized aesthetic, with simple badge embroidery and minimal branding – pure football. The 1990s brought in the kit manufacturer logos more prominently, and Exeter wore some particularly well-regarded designs during this period, with the stripes occasionally given bolder or more stylised treatments. The early 2000s Conference-era kits carry enormous emotional weight for supporters who lived through that period of near-collapse and renewal. A retro Exeter City shirt from the promotion-winning 2007–08 Conference season is essentially a historical document for any true Grecian. Shirt sponsors have changed across the decades but the club's colours have held firm. Collectors particularly prize earlier replica shirts with embroidered badges rather than printed ones, as they indicate age and craftsmanship. With 11 options in our shop spanning different eras, there's real breadth here for anyone looking to own a slice of Devon football history.