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Key information about St James Park

St James Park was built in 1904 and now houses the League Two outfit Exeter City. The ground is located by the St James Park railway station which has been adopted by the club and continues to help in its upkeep.

Its current capacity stands at 8,830 and it has a pitch that measures 104m by 64m. The surface is covered with grass but has no undersoil heating and no running track surrounding the field.

The record attendance at St James Park was set in 1931 for an FA Cup Sixth Round Replay when Exeter lost 4-2 to Sunderland in front of 20,984 supporters.

A history of St James Park

St James Park, not to be confused with Newcastle United’s home that goes by the same name, was built in 1904 but its history goes all the way back to the 17th century and well before Exeter City first settled into it.

Back in the years gone by, it was owned by Lady Anne Clifford who rented the land for fattening pigs of all things. This was reportedly done so that the money made could be put towards the apprenticeship of a child from the nearby parish of St. Stephen, a deal that was supposed to be renewed ‘yearly to the world’s end’.

And then, in 1904, almost 250 years after that, Exeter City moved in after merging with St. Sidwell’s United, leasing the ground with a deal that stated ‘no menageries, shows, circuses or steam roundabouts’ were allowed there. The pigs were finally gone and football could be played there but not all of the issues were immediately resolved.

At first, the length of the pitch was not right and some teams even refused to play there because of it. This was then resolved in 1920 when the club bought the land to the east of the stadium and subsequently extended the field.

Following some successful sales and a boost in finances, Exeter City bought the site in 1921 and finally started redeveloping it. A roof was added to the Cowshed stand and in 1926 they also rebuilt the Grandstand that was destroyed by fire the previous year. However, problems returned in the early 1990s with more financial difficulties.

St James Park was then sold to Beazer Homes only to later be purchased by Exeter City Council who would then lease it back to the club. With that move, the financial situation improved and developments could continue with the erection of the Big Bank stand in 2000 and the conversion of Cowshed stand into an all-seater.

But more nightmares ensued with the club going into administration following the arrest of chairman, his wife and the vice-chairman in the 2002/03 campaign, leaving the handling of the club to the Supporters Trust. But they weathered that particular storm too and in 2016, the plans for a redevelopment of the Old Grandstand were outlined, and that was the final refurbishment project to take place at St James Park.

Tickets to watch Exeter City at St James Park

All tickets to watch Exeter City play at St James Park can be found on the club’s official website. The price will vary depending on the stand chosen but adult tickets can be purchased for a sum between £17 and £23 if you buy it in advance.

Exeter City also offer a season ticket scheme and more information can be found on the aforementioned website.

Related links

https://www.exetercityfc.co.uk/ – Official website of Exeter City

Tottenham Hotspur are set to battle Manchester United for Valencia star Geoffrey Kondogbia in the summer. 

Tottenham boss Jose Mourinho has identified Kondobgia as the signing he needs to rebuild the midfield. According to Foot Mercato, as relayed by Ricky Sacks, Spurs are interested in signing him this summer.

Valencia are now open to offers for the veteran as he has entered the last two years of his current contract.

Mauricio Pochettino wanted to sign the African during his time in charge of White Hart Lane and it looks like his successor will manage to land the £30m-valued ace in the summer.

The Bats are in turmoil as a power struggle has broken out between the players and backroom staff.

Valencia have struggled to fend off financial pressures and may have to resort to a quickfire sale of key players to cover the costs of these uncertain times.

Kondogbia, 27, has made 27 appearances in La Liga this season, scoring one goal, supplying one assist, making 2.3 tackles per game, averaging 2.1 interceptions, and completing 1.2 clearances so far (via WhoScored).

Tottenham and Man United have entered the race to sign the box-to-box midfielder, amid interest from overseas. The powerhouse is pushing for a move to the Premier League, which should give both clubs a boost.

The Lilywhites were linked to the former Inter Milan man several years ago but a move never materialised.

Standing at 1,88m tall, he cuts an imposing figure in the midfield, which explains why Mourinho is determined to get his man.

The Portuguese spent huge sums of money on Nemanja Matic to bring him first to Stamford Bridge and then to Old Trafford, and Kondogbia is a similar build to the Serbian.

Valencia will be without Champions League football next season, which has weakened their position in the transfer window, and this is something Daniel Levy could be looking to exploit. They will not be able to demand a hefty asking price as a result.

Tottenham fans, should Levy sign Kondogbia in the summer? Let us know down below!

Chelsea could be looking at an extremely successful transfer window as a figure is revealed as their summer budget.

No Premier League side has had a window quite like the Blues. We are only a few days in and Roman Abramovich has already signed off on two new signings and is willing to splurge on more big names as they continue to be linked. According to ESPN, the Russian businessman is set to fork out huge sums to give Frank Lampard the best possible chance at success next season with a reported sum of £120million.

Chelsea are undergoing a full refurbishment ahead of what promises to be an exciting 2020/21 season. The figure quoted by ESPN does not include signings already made, which would take Abramovich’s spending to more than £200million for this window alone.

Marquee signing Timo Werner is a very important purchase as the West London outfit look to re-establish themselves in the Premier League. Hakim Ziyech will also bolster Lampard’s attacking options along with potential big money transfer Kai Havertz, who is all but sporting the Chelsea crest, according to recent reports.

The Blues are further linked to the likes of Declan Rice and Jan Oblak, who will complete a well-rounded summer window. The Atletico Madrid goalkeeper has a £110m release clause which the club are sticking by, so the deep transfer fund will come in handy if Chelsea are serious about bringing him to England.

Chelsea have struggled over the last few seasons, looking a shadow of their former selves. Now, under Lampard, they look as threatening as ever and a healthy summer haul will only make them more terrifying to the opposition.

They have secured Champions League football for next term after finishing on level points with Manchester United and bagging a top four spot. The promise of Europe, a decent Premier League title run and money in the bank will undoubtedly attract players to the club. Now the real question boils down to who will the Blues snap up next?

Who can you see Chelsea signing next, Blues? Join the discussion in the comments below!

Mikel Arteta has been doing a tremendous job at Arsenal ever since taking over not so long ago. The biggest testament to that has perhaps been their FA Cup victory over Chelsea as the Gunners clinched their first silverware under the new coach. The first of many, the fans are hoping.

But the squad is not yet complete and there are at least a couple of deals reportedly on the cards for the ongoing summer transfer window. One of the players who was heavily linked with a move to the Emirates is Atletico Madrid’s Thomas Partey. According to the latest report from The Athletic, however, the midfielder’s wage demands have emerged and they just might be a big blow for Arsenal’s hopes of snatching him up.

The same outlet suggests the player wants a £200,000-a-week deal if he is indeed to replace La Liga with the Premier League this summer. Not only that but negotiating with Diego Simeone’s men could be an increasingly difficult task, especially given the club’s advances in the Champions League.

Partey is currently a part of a good project and even though he himself could be convinced, the papers say the Gunners would still have to get him through paying his £45m release clause. At the moment, however, this is something they are largely reluctant to do.

And yes, various swap deals including the likes of Alexandre Lacazette and Matteo Guendouzi have been mentioned but also promptly dismissed by the Rojiblancos. That, alongside the huge £10.4m deal Partey wants in his contract, could indeed derail Arsenal’s attempts to snatch him away.

Verdict

There is no denying Partey’s overall quality. The young midfielder has the capacity and the ability to become one of the best in his position in the immediate future. Presently, he’s already one of La Liga’s top prospects and will only continue to grow.

The price, however, might just be too big for Arteta to pay. For that reason, and due to Atletico’s reluctance to sell, it might be for the best to look elsewhere instead.

Many Aston Villa fans have reacted to a transfer report claiming they are set to hijack Fulham’s bid to sign Nottingham Forest defender Matty Cash.

Arguably one of the most consistent performers in the Championship last season, Cash made himself a first team regular and key squad member for Forest under French boss Sabri Lamouchi.

Making a total ofÂ42 appearances in the league last term, the 23-year-old’s impressive performances have gained plenty of interest with West Ham United being the team most often linked with the defender.

Cash, who helped Forest to 14 clean sheets through the 2019/2020 season, also managed to net three goals and gain five assists, playing at right back.

Villa narrowly survived relegation in the last season, and it is now claimed that they are ready to hijack a bid from Fulham for the defender.

Reacting to the report which was shared by Twitter account @villareport, fans gave their opinion on a potential move for the full-back. A couple suggested it would be karma if they did pip the Cottagers, referring to the fact that Fulham stole in at the last minute to hijack the Villans’ deal for left-back Joe Bryan in 2018.

Do you think Matty Cash would be a good signing for Aston Villa? Let us know in the comments section below…

Aston Villa could land a devastating one-two sucker punch on the rest of the Premier League this summer if emerging reports are to be believed…

What’s the word?

As the club close in on the £28m signing of Ollie Watkins from Brentford, it appears Dean Smith is keen to also add Liverpool starlet Rhian Brewster to his ranks.

According to The Sun, Villa have inquired about the possibility of signing the 20-year-old in a £20m deal but they face stiff competition from the likes of Sheffield United, Crystal Palace, Brighton and Burnley.

And now, Sky Sports claim that the Premier League champions could be willing to let him go on a permanent deal just as long as it includes a buy-back clause.

Imagine him and Watkins

Given Villa’s struggles with scoring goals, Smith would be a fool to not consider at least one extra signing on top of Watkins and a move for Brewster would be quite the coup.

Perhaps there’s a chance that the Bees talisman is played out wide, thus allowing skipper Jack Grealish to move back into the middle of the pitch with the young Englishman then preferred over Wesley and Mbwana Samatta.

The struggling striking duo combined for just six goals all season last term, so adding Watkins, who bagged 26 times and Brewster, who netted 11 goals, would certainly be one way to improve that major issue.

It’s quite the shame that Jurgen Klopp simply cannot fit Brewster into his Reds side as he’s a hugely talented youngster, but their loss has to be Villa’s gain.

During a loan spell with Swansea last season, teammate Andre Ayew claimed the 20-year-old starlet “has it all” whilst England U17 teammate Jadon Sancho believes he can cause defenders to have “nightmares”.

Also dubbed as “exceptional” by the man that scouted him, Brewster would continue to meet the home-grown priorities of Smith.

Just imagine him and Watkins tearing it up in attack, they’d quickly make you forget about Wesley and co in a heartbeat.

AND in other news, Smith set to table £16m bid for yet another striker…

If at first you fail, try and try again. This is probably the motto Dean Smith is currently preaching at Aston Villa as they struggle to finally seal the deal for Emiliano Martinez.

Arsenal have already rejected two offers from the Villains, the last one said to be within the £15m mark, and are adamant on holding out for their initial £20m evaluation of the goalie.

Of course, the Argentine shot-stopper is looking for regular minutes ahead of the 2020/21 Premier League season so he is keen to move on from the Emirates. However, Mikel Arteta won’t just part ways with him for any price whatsoever.

According to the latest report from the Daily Mail, Aston Villa are preparing their third attempt to finally snatch the goalkeeper up and bring him to the club. But one thing is for sure, that bid will simply have to be at least much closer to Arsenal’s asking price if they are to be more successful this time around.

Martinez has already rejected a contract renewal with the London side so there is certainly hope for Villa that he will indeed leave for greener pastures in the immediate future.

Smith wants to add more depth to his defence and the 28-year-old could indeed be the answer to his prayers. The only thing in the way is money and it remains to be seen whether the Villains have the financial power to get the deal over the line.

Only time will tell.

Verdict

Since Martinez is looking for steady football and Villa need a new goalie, this does seem like the perfect match on paper. Of course, the Villains’ goalkeepers have been a sore spot for the team for a while now and the Argentine could help fix that for the upcoming campaign.

Nothing is set in stone just yet, however, and there’s still a lot of work left before they can celebrate a new signing.

Global talent and Liverpool target Kylian Mbappe could have his price tag lowered by Paris Saint-Germain if he doesn’t pen a new deal with the club.

The highly sought-after young talent will have just one year left on his current contract once this season is over. According to L’Equipe (relayed via @AnfieldEdition), the Ligue 1 champions may be willing to slash his transfer fee to £91m.

The Reds have been loosely linked with Mbappe over the course of the last 12 months, but recently talks seemed to have reignited. Recent reports claimed that Liverpool and Real Madrid had both entered talks with the World Cup winner over a potential move.

Mbappe’s current Transfermarkt value is a whopping £162m, which makes him the most expensive player on the database. Signing him for £91m will be a huge discount on what he is really worth.

Many Liverpool fans love the idea of making a move for him and are hoping that Michael Edwards can work his magic on a deal.

One supporter has tweeted ‘please I beg’, whilst another thinks that ‘we could get him’ next year.

Read more replies from the Anfield faithful here:

Do you think Liverpool can make a move for Mbappe happen? Join the conversation in the comments below!

After arriving as a free agent following his spell at Bournemouth coming to an end, Ryan Fraser delivered the kind of performance on Sunday that would have left Newcastle boss Steve Bruce grinning from ear to ear.

The 26-year-old has only played a bit-part role for the Magpies since joining, completing the 90 minutes just once, and playing only twice in the Premier League.

But having been given the nod to start from the off in Scotland’s Nations League clash against Slovakia at the weekend, Fraser proved why he could be one of the bargains of the summer in the top-flight.

Despite not getting to the score-sheet, or even being credited with an assist, the former Cherries flier was voted as Scotland’s Man of the Match, and when you look at some of the underlying numbers behind his performance, it’s easy to see why.

As per Sofascore, he had a 100% dribble success rate, provided two key passes and sent in a whopping ten crosses, with a lovely piece of play down the left-hand side eventually seeing Oli McBurnie’s header cannon off the crossbar.

That snippet of action alone would have had one man on Tyneside salivating at the prospect of being his teammate over the course of this season: Andy Carroll.

The Englishman – like Fraser – has been in and out of the starting line-up, but there’s no doubting that if he’s fully fit and firing – and it is a massive ‘if’ – then he can be a real attacking weapon for Bruce.

Carroll thrives on service into the box, and instead of feeding off scraps, having an old-school winger like Fraser just simply get to the by-line before standing up a cross into the penalty area could see him feast on Premier League defences.

It’s no surprise that left-sided players like Aaron Cresswell, Stewart Downing and Jose Enrique all feature in the top ten when it comes to goal participations with Carroll.

Described as someone who gives Scotland that “little bit of spark” by manager Steve Clarke, Fraser appears to have all the makings of being Carroll’s dream teammate.

And in other news, Newcastle must surely regret selling this ace for just £650k.

Former Premier League defender Kenny Cunningham questioned Jurgen Klopp’s tactics which saw Takumi Minamino and Divock Origi withdrawn early from the action against FC Midtjylland on Tuesday night.

The Reds made hard work of their 2-0 victory against the Danish side as they maintained their 100% record in the Champions League. Diogo Jota scored the opening goal of the game, which was the club’s 10,000th goal in competitive action, before substitute Mohamed Salah sealed the deal with a late second half penalty.

Klopp opted to make several changes to his starting line-up, which featured both Minamino and Origi in attack. Both players received match ratings of 6.5 (Sofascore) and were brought off just after the hour mark.

Speaking to RTE Soccer, Cunningham was baffled by this decision and expressed his disappointment that they were both substituted at the time that they were and even made references about private planes, even though the game was taking place at Anfield.

With this in mind, some supporters were astonished by what they heard from Cunningham and were quick to make their feelings clear on social media after the match had ended.

Fans blast Kenny Cunningham’s views

In other news, Liverpool fans howl at Jurgen Klopp’s FC Midtjylland verdict on “awful” asset.