{"id":688675,"date":"2026-01-11T10:09:21","date_gmt":"2026-01-11T10:09:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/688675\/"},"modified":"2026-01-11T10:09:21","modified_gmt":"2026-01-11T10:09:21","slug":"ive-never-celebrated-a-goal-at-9-0-down-in-my-life-inside-exeters-dressing-room-on-a-day-to-remember-exeter-city","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/688675\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2018I\u2019ve never celebrated a goal at 9-0 down in my life\u2019: inside Exeter\u2019s dressing room on a day to remember | Exeter City"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u201cThe team to win today, lads\u201d begins Gary Caldwell. Exeter City are two hours from kicking off against Manchester City<\/a> in the FA Cup third round, and their manager is addressing his players at a hotel shortly before they travel to the Etihad.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou know why I said that?\u201d he continues, his thick Scottish accent filling the room. No one knows. He explains the phrase is borrowed from Roberto Mart\u00ednez, under whom Caldwell won the competition with Wigan<\/a> in 2013. It was used to bring humour and break tension when his team were inevitably written off.<\/p>\n

The words spilled out before Wigan\u2019s Wembley win against the same opponents Exeter are about to face, and they too are underdogs \u2013 albeit to another degree or three. Sadly, Caldwell\u2019s manifesting proves ineffective.<\/p>\n

Exeter\u2019s staff begin their morning with a parkrun, a tradition whether home or away. David Perkins, Caldwell\u2019s first signing when he managed Wigan to the 2016 League One title, is always quickest, although his snoring doubtless slows stride of his roommate, Michael McBride, the head physio. A niggle restricts Caldwell to 30 pool lengths.<\/p>\n

A carb-loaded group brunch is followed by a staff-only pre-mortum. Caldwell\u2019s team model various permutations, potential changes and actions when winning, losing and drawing.<\/p>\n

Information on Exeter City\u2019s opponents, Manchester City, on a whiteboard in their dressing room ahead of kick-off at the Etihad.<\/p>\n

The conclusions are by no means final, but they do provide a touchstone when in-game adrenaline is flowing. \u201cI think the best managers and the best days are decided on instinct, on making decisions in the heat of the moment,\u201d Caldwell says.<\/p>\n

Caldwell sits at the back, encouraging a collaboration between all present. His say is final, but he finishes each section with: \u201cAnyone disagree?\u201d The question is genuine. Caldwell is undoubtedly the leader, and his words carry gravitas. But he is no dictator, nor is he closed-minded.<\/p>\n

As players arrive for the team meeting, Caldwell loiters outside the room, pulling a handful aside for a word. He clasps his hands on Jake Doyle-Hayes when informing him that, with Pierce Sweeney suspended, he will captain the team. Doyle-Hayes\u2019 eyes explode at the news. \u201cExactly the reaction I wanted,\u201d Caldwell later says.<\/p>\n

Caldwell\u2019s message is clear, concise and brief. He does not rehearse his speeches but carefully considers his points, aware that each individual will take something subtly different from his words. One coach has given a warning that Caldwell is quite the orator, and that is borne out.<\/p>\n

Exeter City players stretch in their dressing room prior to their FA Cup third-round tie.<\/p>\n

On the bus, Caldwell sits opposite head of emotional intelligence, Mike Holden, a colleague he discovered on Twitter shortly after his October 2022 appointment. Holden had profiled Caldwell from online interviews and the results were so accurate that the Scot got in touch.<\/p>\n

Holden completed a similar exercise on all staff in pre-season so Caldwell could ensure appropriate responsibilities were allocated and has since been working with the players. The focus is helping Caldwell et al tailor their treatment of each individual, and the group believe the fruit of that has begun growing.<\/p>\n

Squeezing every single thing from every single thing while maintaining an elite approach is how Caldwell operates. He has to: Exeter have League One\u2019s smallest playing budget and his 14th-, 13th- and 16th-placed finishes are to be celebrated. Most important, his players respect him wholeheartedly: that much is obvious.<\/p>\n

The last three seasons have helped Caldwell develop towards the manager he aspires to be massively. \u201cI won the league at Wigan with an amazing squad and thought: \u2018This is pretty easy,\u2019\u201d he says wearing a smirk of humility. Spells at Chesterfield, Patrick Thistle and Exeter have since taught him the folly of his naivety.<\/p>\n

Preparation is meticulous now, with Exeter training at Manchester United\u2019s base on Friday via Caldwell\u2019s friendship with his former Scotland teammate Darren Fletcher<\/a>. \u201cPossession is your freedom,\u201d he shouts as they run through an 11 v 11 exercise at Carrington.<\/p>\n

Coaches Perkins, Kevin Nicholson and Dan Green have his full trust, but he is more hands on as matchday approaches. \u201cPossession is the moment you fill your lungs and enjoy the game,\u201d he bellows. \u201cAs soon as you lose it, you know you\u2019ll have to react.\u201d<\/p>\n

Exeter\u2019s preparation was meticulous but nothing could prepare them for a Manchester City onslaught.<\/p>\n

Exeter\u2019s travelling party have navigated the Etihad\u2019s cavernous underworld and are stretching in a vast dressing room. Elsewhere, Macclesfield take a 2-0 lead<\/a>, a goal that is met by whooping. If they can, why not us? The last hour before kick-off is Caldwell\u2019s worst, the thumb-twiddling time unwelcome. He seeks out Pep Guardiola, clutching a bottle of single malt as a gift. That is an example of Caldwell\u2019s warmth, but he later shows a fierce side when Pep Lijnders laughs at his touchline protestations. Caldwell responds by making his point sternly.<\/p>\n

Post warm-up the music is blaring but the goalkeeper Joe Whitworth can be heard above it as motivator-in-chief. Suddenly, a piercing beep signifies kick-off nears. That is the only prompt the entire room needs to lock arms tightly and form an oval. A pause. Then Caldwell begins: \u201cYou have to start at 100% intensity. Do not wait. We can forgive everyone for a mistake that\u2019s made with courage.\u201d Exeter begin strongly and Caldwell patrols his technical area intently, trying to ensure all the shapes, the pressing, the patterns are implemented. An early Jayden Wareham strike gets deflected wide. Caldwell turns angrily. \u201cPass it,\u201d he shouts, the words preceded by an expletive.<\/p>\n

Promising and yet, by the break<\/a>, Exeter are four in arrears.<\/p>\n

Liam Oakes reacts after a near miss with a header as Exeter make a bright start before the hosts take control.<\/p>\n

Caldwell\u2019s voice reverberates in the tunnel, audible from the dressing room as he approaches. The players get a few minutes to themselves while the staff gather around head of performance analyst Lauren Jones\u2019 laptop to view her findings.<\/p>\n

As with his previous addresses, Caldwell keeps it minimal, no space left for misunderstanding. Yet this time he is angry, fuming even. A lack of commitment to the plan is cited, his disappointment pouring out as he talks through a small handful of clips to reiterate the desired approach.<\/p>\n

Gary Caldwell and performance analyst Lauren Jones check out the findings on the laptop.Gary Caldwell keeps his half-time team talk to a minimum with anger over a lack of commitment to the plan.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt doesn\u2019t matter what the shirt is, it doesn\u2019t matter what the name on the back is, that is what we do,\u201d he exclaims. \u201cCommit to it and the second half will be much more enjoyable.\u201d Then he leaves.<\/p>\n

\u201cNow we\u2019ll see what you\u2019ve got,\u201d says Green. \u201cDon\u2019t start looking after yourselves, look after each other.\u201d<\/p>\n

Exeter\u2019s players were urged to commit to their gameplan as they headed out for the second half.<\/p>\n

Exeter concede a further six goals, albeit the 19-year-old academy graduate George Birch gives their near 8,000-strong away support something to celebrate. Despite the score, Caldwell breathes and lives every moment, his body twisting and contorting into what, out of context, could (with a squint) be yoga poses. Dialogue with Perkins and Nicholson is constant.<\/p>\n

Teenager George Birch gave the near 8,000 away support something to smile about with a consolation goal.<\/p>\n

\u201cEverybody look up,\u201d Caldwell demands once his dejected players are gathered after the final whistle. \u201cThat is a world class team.\u201d And then a lesson begins. \u201cTell me some of their behaviours?\u201d Silence. \u201cGo on, tell me some of their behaviours?\u201d \u201cThey\u2019re relentless,\u201d offers a voice in the corner. Precisely the answer Caldwell seeks, and he then explains the beauty in Manchester City\u2019s simplicity. Effective; nothing flashy; and they do. Not. Stop.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe aren\u2019t going to be defined by that,\u201d Caldwell continues. \u201cBut we do have to learn from it. It\u2019s a good experience if you learn from it, but only if you go away and do that.\u201d Shoulders around the room stand proud once more.<\/p>\n

Naturally, there is disappointment, but Caldwell lavishes praise on Birch for his courage, \u201coutstanding\u201d contribution and goal. \u201cI\u2019ve never celebrated a goal at 9-0 down in my life,\u201d he tells everyone.<\/p>\n

Gary Caldwell and his players applaud the travelling Exeter fans after a match which will at least provide significant financial relief.<\/p>\n

It will have been of little consolation on Saturday night, but the \u00a3250,000 or so earned from the tie will provide Exeter welcome financial comfort. The Exeter City<\/a> Supporters\u2019 Trust, the fan group that owns the club, has put loans of \u00a3600,000 in since last summer.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ll be defined by the next 22 league games,\u201d Caldwell concludes, before giving everyone three days off. \u201cBack in Wednesday to get ready for Stevenage.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"\u201cThe team to win today, lads\u201d begins Gary Caldwell. Exeter City are two hours from kicking off against…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":688676,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8813],"tags":[748,393,4884,2465,16,15],"class_list":{"0":"post-688675","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-manchester","8":"tag-britain","9":"tag-england","10":"tag-great-britain","11":"tag-manchester","12":"tag-uk","13":"tag-united-kingdom"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@uk\/115875924423558026","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/688675","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=688675"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/688675\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/688676"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=688675"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=688675"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=688675"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}