Getting Man City as a FA Cup Third Round tie can help save Exeter City after going facing financial problems recently.
The fan-owned League One club needed £600,000 in emergency loans from their Supporters’ Trust, dealt with overspending, an early sell-on fee payment, and had to crowdfund £100,000 after a fire damaged St James Park.
Club officials estimate that the Man City tie could bring in around £250,000 through gate receipts, prize money, and potential TV revenue, something which will come as huge help to help them get through and finish the season as well as have the possibility of planning the next one.
This is similar to back in 2005, when the Grecians landed a famous draw and replay against Manchester United, generating life-saving revenue that helped clear millions in debt.
“Sorry about that Gary!” 🗣️
It’s okay @Ally_McCoist9 we’re sure he doesn’t mind 😉#ECFC #SemperFidelis pic.twitter.com/tHxqOLfWSM
— Exeter City Supporters’ Trust (@ECFCST) December 9, 2025
🏆 WHAT A CUP TIE FOR EXETER CITY 🏆
Manchester City away in the third round 😍
Here’s what City boss Gary Caldwell makes of it – @jsvickery caught up with him just after the draw was made tonight.#ecfc pic.twitter.com/FIaVW0mLjr— BBC Sport Devon (@bbcdevonsport) December 8, 2025
Exeter City’s general manager Clive Harrison said, per BBC Sport: “You always watch the draw every year hoping for a really big tie and somehow it doesn’t quite work out, but this year we need it and we’ve got it.
“After the fire it felt like another bump in the road and we were really up against it. The win on Saturday and this draw really gives everybody that boost that we need at the moment.
“I think it’s important that we’ve been through this difficult period. Supporters have rallied around the club and our sponsors have rallied around the club.
“This is really no more than they deserve. We have a month of excitement leading up to this game, then the game itself, and everybody deserves this, I think.”
Exeter manager Gary Caldwell said: “It’s two clubs with totally different ownership models and it’ll be really interesting to see the difference in that.
“I think we have to sell our story, because I think it’s unique.
“We have an incredible football club that 20 years ago we nearly lost, and the supporters were the group that rallied round to keep it going and have fought hard to keep it going and build it up back through the leagues over the years.
“Now we’re at a point again where we need some support and to find new ways to be a club that can finance itself at League One level, and obviously days like this are a huge help in adding some much-needed finances at this time.”
Harrison continued: “It’s quite amazing how it’s worked out, to be honest. They say these things go in cycles and perhaps this is a 21-year cycle.
“We’ve done some quick workings out, and of course we don’t know what the gate price will be yet, we have no idea what the attendance will be and we don’t know if it’s on TV as well.
“But I’d assume something maybe around £250,000 upwards, but that’s a very early guess I think.
“It’s very important. We won on Saturday and when you take the second-round prize money and the third-round losing money into account, which is what we could guarantee, that was worth about £100,000 to us.
“So on top of that, this is really going to give us a boost getting through this season and planning for next season.”
Caldwell added: “It’s a team that I know how to beat in the FA Cup because we managed to do that back in 2013 with Wigan in the final, and actually beat them the following year as well, so who knows, maybe it can strike again.
“They’re an incredible team. I’ve seen them over the years win Premier Leagues and European Cups, FA Cups – just an incredible football team and an incredible club that has really come to prominence in recent years.
“So it will be a huge task when it comes around.”
Meanwhile, captain Pierce Sweeney said: “I’m excited to go up against one of the best teams in the world. It’s a little bit surreal.
“Hopefully we get it on TV, we get it on primetime TV and hopefully we can earn some good money and hopefully we can put a cup performance in against one of the best sides in the last 10 years.
“I don’t think my legs will be feeling good after half an hour in that game and I don’t think my body will be feeling good.
“But I’m really excited for the occasion and for the football club to get the exposure, to get the financial boost and for us to pull out Man City is unbelievable.
“It’s going to be a one-in-a-lifetime experience, a once-in-a-lifetime game.
“I’ve got friends and family who messaged me straightaway looking to book flights and book hotels in Manchester, so I reckon there could be a couple of thousand coming up from Exeter and probably a thousand of friends and family from players travelling.”
Financially-troubled League One club to make more redundancies to cut more costs
This is what Twitter users are saying, as it’s pointed out that the Man City FA Cup tie can help save Exeter City after facing financial problems…
@GeorgeHogg93: I’m pleased for you guys, getting a decent draw in amongst financial difficulties 👍
@granty__no1: Absolutely amazing – could genuinely secure the clubs future this for another decade or so
@geoff_searle: Thank you @petercrouch – a financial lifeline for us and a great weekend in Manchester for our fans! 🔴⚪️
@PhillipMPope: 21 years after our last trip to Manchester. That was also very helpful to club finances to put it mildly. Wonderful news.
@TVickers1: 2005, club in desperate need of some money, draw Man Utd away in the 3rd round. 2025, club in desperate need of some money, draw Man City away in the 3rd round. This is absolutely HUGE for the club! The players and us fans deserve this so much! Bring it on!! #ecfc
@Jamiedecfc: @petercrouch thank you for playing a hand in saving our football club you will never have to buy a pint in exeter again after such a difficult few weeks the players and staff deserve this so much #ecfc
@exetercity1904: Do not want to hear there’s no magic left in the FA CUP. For clubs like us, ties like this, they are more than season defining. Football is a funny old game and luck can strike just when you need it. Boy did we need it. UP THE CITY. ❤️🤍 #ECFC
@M14Moore: Up the skint city #ecfc
@bradtheobald93: Omg Man City Away Bring It On 💰 #ecfc
@Verschorenecfc: Fully screamed at full volume in my house on a Monday night I LOVE THIS CLUB #ECFC
@Gameday523: Great news for Exeter. They needed a big away game. Hopefully on tv so they get that money as well.
You must be logged in to post a comment Login