Vertu Trophy
Group Stage - Game 1
St James Park
Tuesday, September 16th, 2025 - 7pm KO
TICKET INFORMATION & CARDIFF CITY TV
Away tickets are still available for our trip to Devon. 570 tickets have been sold so far.
Cardiff City will sell tickets until 5pm Monday (15th). Any tickets not picked up before 1pm on matchday will be sent with stewards for collection at the ground. Collections at the ground will be made available from the Ticket Booth in the FanZone. Sales will be available on the night, from 5pm onwards from the Ticket Booth in the FanZone – Cash and Card purchases. Please note: ticket prices will increase by £2.
To purchase now, visit the ticketing website - tickets.cardiffcityfc.co.uk
Unlike Carabao Cup and Emirates FA Cup fixtures, supporters with an international IP address can watch live coverage of our Vertu Trophy fixture with the purchase of an International Match Pass. Click here to buy your Match Pass.
Vertu Trophy fixtures are included in International Monthly and Seasonal Passes.
KNOW YOUR OPPONENT | KEY STAFF
Clive Harrison: Interim Club Chair
Justin Quick: Chief Operating Officer
Gary Caldwell: First Team Manager
Kevin Nicholson: Assistant Manager
David Perkins: First Team Coach
Kevin Miller: First Team Goalkeeper Coach
Since October 2022, former Scotland international Gary Caldwell has been in charge of the Grecians.
He has led the team to 14th, 13th and 16th placed finishes since taking over, helping to establish Exeter City as a competitive League One club.
KNOW YOUR OPPONENT | IN THE CUPS
Exeter City exited the Carabao Cup in the First Round, being defeated 2-0 by Cheltenham Town.
With the second round draw taking place before this game took place, we knew it had an impact on the Bluebirds with the winners facing City. Brian Barry-Murphy's side would go on to defeat the Robins, 3-0.
Last term, the Grecians topped their Vertu Trophy group with three wins from three matches, before losing out to eventual finalists Birmingham City in the knockout stages.
Pictured above is Bluebirds academy graduate, Josh Magennis, who at 35-years-old is still heavily involved for the Grecians. Magennis linked up with Exeter City at the start of the 2024/25 season. He departed the Welsh capital back in 2010 after making 10 First Team appearances for City.
Exeter City's 2025/26 Squad
GK | Joe Whitworth, Jack Bycroft, Frankie Phillips
DEF | Jack McMillan, Ryan Rydel, Ed Turns, Jack Fitzwater, Johnly Yfeko, Sil Swinkels, Luca Woodhouse, Daniel Andrew, Pierce Sweeney, Liam Oakes, Ed James.
MID | Ethan Brierley, Ed Francis, Reece Cole, Ilmari Niskanen, Kevin McDonald, Jake Doyle-Hayes, Tom Dean, Pedro Borges, George Birch, Charlie Cummins.
FOR | Carlos Mendes Gomes, Jayden Wareham, Jack Aitchison, Andrew Oluwabori, Akeel Higgins, Sonny Cox, Josh Magennis, Kieran Wilson.
IN DAYS GONE BY
12/11/02 | Exeter City 0-3 Cardiff City
Our last competitive trip to St James Park came in this very competition in November of 2002.
1,360 saw City hit Exeter City for three goals without reply, with Jason Bowen, Andy Campbell and Leo Fortune-West on the scoresheet.
Interestingly, Ryan Green, who broke Ryan Giggs' record as Wales' youngest player in 1998, made his one and only appearance for the Bluebirds during this victory. Green, born in the Welsh capital, was signed on a short term agreement and helped the Bluebirds keep a clean sheet before moving onto Sheffield Wednesday later in the month.
City: Margetson, Green, Collins, Simpkins, Legg, Barker, Bonner, Hamilton, Bowen, Campbell, Fortune-West. Subs Not Used: Alexander, Boland, Maxwell, Croft, Thorne.