Exeter City Football Club were formed in 1904 by soccer enthusiasts following the merger of two local clubs and moved into St James Park, then nothing more than a field, entering a team in the East Devon League.
The Grecians quickly switched to the stronger Plymouth and District League, before taking the big step of turning professional, and at the same time entering the Southern League in 1908.
Whilst never winning any honours in the Southern League, Exeter nevertheless progressed greatly both on and off the field during their 12 year stay in the competition, although of course they, like so many other clubs, stopped playing for the duration of the First World War.
The club did make an historic tour of South America in 1914, during which time they played against teams in Argentina and Brazil. In the latter country they became the first club to play against the Brazilian international team. Exeter City were invited by the Football League to become founder members of the Third Division in 1920, which became regionalised into a southern section twelve months later. The historic first match in the Football League took place on Saturday 28th August 1920, when Brentford were the visitors to St James Park.
Disaster struck in the mid 1920's when the grandstand was destroyed by fire. For several matches the players had to change in a nearby public house in Sidwell Street. Gradually however, funds were raised to construct a new stand, the same one that is still at the Park today. Exeter City soon found that the increased costs involved in being a Football League side were a real burden, and they had to sell some of their best players in order to balance the books. These included, goalkeeper Dick Pym and inside forward Harold Blackmore who were both sold to Bolton Wanderers, although part of the transfer fee received for Pym helped towards the purchase of St James Park, the club continuing to own the ground until 1995.
Another player who was to go on to great things, was locally born winger Cliff Bastin. The 16 year old made an instant impact, and was quickly snapped up by Arsenal, where his name was later to feature among the clubs all time greats, in the all-conquering Highbury side of the late 1920s and early 1930s.