By the end of the 2002-03 season things were bad for Exeter City, having been relegated from the football league down to the Conference after finishing 23rd in Division Three (now known as League Two). After the club had been relegated, it was taken over by the Exeter City Supporters Club. Not only had Exeter been relegated down to the Conference, they were also millions of pounds in debt. They were at their nadir.
However, in the 2004-05 season City had a great FA Cup run, beating Braintree Town, Grimsby Town and Doncaster Rovers to make it to the third round, where they got the mother of all away ties against Manchester United. Talking of teams in their nadir, Man Utd were also suffering and by January 2005 found themselves in the middle of a period of three years without winning the league. Granted, Exeter’s predicament was slightly worse, but hey, it’s all relative.
Man Utd were in a decline that many believed would see them permanently displaced as the kings of English football, largely due to a bizarre series of inept signings such as Eric Djemba Djemba, David Bellion and Liam Miller. Still, a goal fest against non-league opposition would brighten things up. No-one had explained this plan to Exeter City, who drew 0-0 at Old Trafford, receiving £650,000 from sharing gate receipts from the 68,000 attendance.
FA Cup 2004-05: Manchester United 0-0 Exeter City
A replay at St James Park live on television brought in more income for the Grecians. However, Manchester United brought in the big guns who had been rested in the first game and won 2-0 with goals from Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney. Rarely has the off-field disparity of modern football been so clearly illustrated as in the effect this match had on these two teams. Exeter gained the most, and were out of debt and financially secure by December 2005, largely thanks to this third round fixture. Man Utd earned a few hundred grand, but more importantly perhaps got as clear a picture as ever as to how inadequate their squad had become.
The replay did provide one of those moments that remind us why we still watch footy, as recalled by celerycare3 on YouTube:
Unknown Conference amateur greengrocer Scott Hiley nutmegs overpaid over-here Manc Euro cheat and alround swine Chris Ron Al Doh!
What a fine day that was, I was at the game and the sense of desperation among the ManU players and fans was palpable. One cup tie saved our team.