Exeter players get open-top bus honour

Promoted City will celebrate on Monday

Exeter City's promotion-winning football team is to be honoured with an open-top bus parade through the city.

It will be followed by a civic reception hosted by the city council.

The team is going back into League One for the first time in 10 years - and on Saturday has the chance to be crowned League Two champions as well. A win over Port Vale at home will guarantee that honour. A draw may be good enough, depending on results at Forest Green Rovers, which has topped the table for much of the past few months.

The city parade will begin in Exeter High Street at 6 p.m. on Monday 9 May.

The street will be closed to traffic for the parade - which it generally is anyway, except for buses.

Two open top buses with he players and staff from the club on board will enter the High Street.

Stewards from the club will escort the buses as they slowly travel along High Street towards Exeter’s Guildhall.

At around 6.20 p.m. the coaches are expected to arrive for a reception, where the players will be met by past lord mayor of Exeter Cllr Yolonda Henson, who will congratulate the club and address the crowds from one of the parade buses.

At around 6.55 p.m. some of the players and manager Matt Taylor are expected to appear on the balcony at the Guildhall for photographs and to greet the crowds gathered outside.

Think of it like the royal family stepping onto the balcony of Buckingham Palace after a wedding, anniversary or winning a war.

At around 7.15 p.m. the players and staff will board the buses for departure. 

Depending on whether the players pre-load, they should be still vertical after such a dignified reception.

Supporters are welcome but are asked to be aware of safety and not step out in front of the buses. It's likely to be safer than a normal day in Exeter's High Street, where the chances of being hit by a bus are much higher.

Cllr Henson said: “On behalf of everyone in the city I want to congratulate Exeter City on their incredible achievement. We are very much looking forward to the parade and civic reception on Monday. It will be an amazing occasion and I know everyone is very much looking forward to it.”