Former Exeter City player Bob Rackley returns to St James Park after 60 years

A former South Devon amateur footballer and then professional with Exeter City made an emotional return to St James Park after more than 60 years.

Bob Rackley was supported by the team at Claremont Manor Care Home, Dawlish, part of the Maria Mallaband Care Group and where he now lives.

Bob played for Exeter City between 1958 and 1960, and this visit to watch City take on Huddersfield Town marked his first live football match in many years.

Born in Teignmouth in 1940, Bob began his football career with Teignmouth and Newton Abbot Spurs before signing professionally for Exeter City in 1958, giving up an engineering apprenticeship to follow his passion.

He spent two seasons with the club, making the ‘A’ team as well as reserve appearances and scoring in the Devon Professional Championship final against Torquay United. He later played for Bristol Rovers and Oldham Athletic, where he made 19 league appearances and scored five goals, including one against Exeter City!

He was welcomed back by Martin Weiler, club historian and curator at the Exeter City Museum, who shared archive photos and stories from Bob’s time with the club.

The visit also included a full tour of the ground, where Bob met the groundskeeping team and club officials before taking his front-row, pitch-side seat for the match.

The visit included all the match-day traditions - from a pasty and Bovril to reminiscing about his time on the pitch.

Bob said: "It brought back so many memories. It was wonderful to see the grounds again and reminisce after all these years. Thank you to everyone who made me so welcome."

The outing was arranged by Claremont Manor’s team as part of their commitment to helping those living in the home continue to connect with their passions and past experiences. Club staff took time to speak with Bob about his playing days and share stories from the club’s history.

Although the result went Huddersfield’s way with a 1-0 win, the day was brightened by a warm, welcoming atmosphere and shared memories. The event brought staff, supporters, and guests together for a memorable afternoon celebrating football and the community.

Carla Bowman, Claremont Manor Home Manager, said: "We love creating experiences that bring people joy and remind them of the things they love. This visit was very special for Bob, marking his return to a place which meant so much to him.

“The club truly pulled out all the stops for his visit, and we couldn’t have been more grateful for their support with this."

Claremont Manor Care Home, part of the Maria Mallaband Care Group, provides high-quality residential, nursing and dementia care in a supportive and engaging environment, with a full lifestyle programme designed to help people stay active, connected and fulfilled.