After what feels like a long wait the Acorns are back in action on Saturday, as we face Exmouth Town in the FA Trophy.
The Acorns welcome the Devon based side to our temporary residence of the KMM Energy Stadium, for just our third competitive game of the season and our opening home game.
Ahead of the Town’s trip to Gloucestershire, here is everything you need to know about Saturday’s opposition.
THE OPPOSITION- EXMOUTH TOWN
STADIUM- Complete Infrastructure Stadium
NICKNAME- The Town
FOUNDED- 1933
MANAGER- Kevin Hill
LEAGUE POSITION- 13th (Southern League Div One South)
FORM GUIDE- W-D-W
SEASON SO FAR
Such as the Acorns, Exmouth have completed just one league game so far, playing out a 1-1 draw with Bideford AFC thanks to an Ethan Slater equaliser.
The Town were due to complete a second league fixture on August 15th but saw their home game against Melksham Town abandoned due to a serious injury.
This sees the Town sit 13th in the Southern League Div One South around a successful FA Cup campaign, to date.
The Town qualified for the first qualifying round following wins over Bovey Tracey and Bridgwater United.
Exmouth netted six goals across the two fixtures and conceded just once, setting an away tie to Southern League Premier Central.
FA TROPHY HISTORY
Exmouth enter just their sixth FA Trophy campaign, having re-entered the competition in 2022 following a 48-year absence.
The Town first featured in the competition in 1974 and were swiftly knocked out by Falmouth Town following a heavy 5-0 defeat.
Exmouth have only ever reached the second qualifying round, as their furthest achievement, doing so on two occassions.
On both occasions, the Town suffered 2-1 defeats to Kidlington (2023) and Horndean (2024) respectively.
Last time out in the FA Trophy, Exmouth held Swindon Supermarine to a 1-1 draw before eventually exiting the competition after a 4-3 defeat on penalties.
PREVIOUS ENCOUNTERS
The Acorns and the Town have met on just two previous occassions, both coming during the most previous campaign.
Exmouth got the better of the Acorns at the 4ED Hartpury Stadium, coming away 2-1 victors, before Nathan Jenkins’ strike down in Devon saw the Acorns seal 1-0 victory, away from home.
IN THE DUGOUT- KEVIN HILL
Kevin Hill took over the reins at Exmouth back in 2013 where he initially became a player/coach, as he approached the end of his playing career.
Since then, Hill has helped guide the Town to promotion from the Western League to the Southern League Div One South in 2022, for the first time in the clubs history.
During his time as manager at Step Four, Hill has guided the Town to fifth place finish during the 2025/26 season.
Hill came to Exmouth with a lavished playing career having been a former Football League player with Torquay United.
Hill joined Torquay in 1997, whilst they competed in the old Division Three, and went on to make 417 appearances for the club.
Following a decade at the club, Hill moved onto Dorchester Town before signing for Tiverton Town, where he went on to make 100 appearances
PLAYER TO WATCH- ETHAN SLATER
Ethan Slater has had a fine start to the season, already bagging himself two goals in the first three games.
Slater netted the Towns first goal of the Southern League campaign, before firing home during his side FA Cup triumph over Bridgwater.
Slater joined the Town in 2021 following spells with Sidmouth Town and Bovey Tracey after coming through the youth systems at Torquay United and Exeter City.
During his first season with the club, Slater helped the Town earn promotion to step four from the Western League.
RECENT FORM
08.08.26 – Bovey Tracey 0-3 Exmouth Town (FA Cup Extra Preliminary Round)
11.08.26 – Bideford AFC 1-1 Exmouth Town (Southern League Div One South)
22.08.26 – Exmouth Town 3-1 Bridgwater United (FA Cup Preliminary Round)
