Grecians chase FA Cup history

The stage is set at St James Park as Exeter City look to make history in their Emirates FA Cup Third Round clash against Championship side Oxford United this Saturday at 3pm. It's been 44 years since the Grecians last reached the competition’s fourth round, and they’ll be hoping to reignite the magic of 1981, a year when City stunned fans by going all the way to the quarter-finals.

That fateful season began with a thrilling 4-2 victory over Maidstone United to set up a fourth-round tie with Leicester City. Fast forward to the present, and Gary Caldwell’s men are just 90 minutes away from another slice of club history.

Standing in their way is Oxford United, a side City know all too well from recent encounters. The U's, promoted to the Championship via the play-offs last season, have shown resilience under their new manager and currently sit 17th in the league. With an upturn in form and a squad brimming with confidence, they won’t make life easy for City.

For Exeter, this will be their fifth appearance in the third round in the last two decades. Fans still fondly recall the Grecians' unforgettable trip to Old Trafford in 2005 and the electric atmosphere when Liverpool came to St James Park in 2016. Could this year add another iconic moment to the club’s FA Cup journey?

Assistant manager, Kevin Nicholson is under no illusions about the challenge ahead but remains optimistic about his side’s chances.

“The FA Cup is the great leveller, but we've got to make sure we are ready for what is coming. We have to stick to our processes and prepare properly. We will work hard on the training pitch and give the players all the information they need on Oxford and how we can nullify their threats.

"We will work hard on the things that we know we do well. We are familiar with Oxford and have a lot of players still involved from the times we have played them in recent years. They have a new manager which has shown an upturn in form, but the FA Cup is a great leveller.

While Nicholson emphasised the importance of preparation and process, he also injected a touch of humour: "I know it can be quite boring sometimes for fans to listen to these things when you talk about process, but there's no magic wand. If it was easy to tell a player once and they did it, we’d all be Pep Guardiola – and even Pep has had his struggles lately."

The Grecians may have had a slow start to 2025 in League One, but they’ll be buoyed by their FA Cup ambitions. A spirited performance could see them join the ranks of this year’s giant killers and etch their name in the competition’s folklore once again.

 Nicholson is urging his team and fans alike to embrace the occasion, highlighting the unique energy that comes with a historic FA Cup run. “We want to feel the excitement, and feel the history, and we want to feel the opportunity to make history and be able to watch that fourth-round draw with real excitement," he said.

While the team remains focused on their preparations, Nicholson acknowledges the added buzz surrounding the match. “It's business as usual for us, but with a whole lot more going on on the outside that the fanbase can go and enjoy,” he added, emphasising the special connection between the players and their supporters during moments like these.

So, grab your scarves and head to St James Park to witness the magic of the FA Cup firsthand. History is calling – can Exeter answer?