20 Years of Sandy Park
It seems like only yesterday, but it has been 20 years since we opened the doors to Sandy Park.
In a bold move, the club’s board of directors decided to sell the County Ground in the middle of the city and relocate to land on the outskirts next to the M5.
In July 2006, Sandy Park began life as a 5,000-seat state-of-the-art stadium for Premiership-chasing Exeter Chiefs but also as a brand-new events centre to generate income on non match days.
Nervous people would not make the journey to games; the club was only too delighted to delay the first match at Sandy Park to ensure everyone was through the gates. The turnstiles have been kept busy ever since.
Both sides of the business have grown together. The stadium now boasts a capacity of 15,600 with Exeter Chiefs claiming double Premiership titles and a European Cup following their promotion in 2010. The club also launched a professional women’s team in 2020.
Sandy Park has also become the South West’s leading conferencing and banqueting facilities, attracting whole building and multi-day bookings.
Twenty years on and it’s time to celebrate this milestone with three events designed to appeal to three different but nonetheless valued loyal Exeter Chiefs and Sandy Park audiences. There will 20-year merchandise too, including a clothing range.
Key milestones at the stadium
Scroll through some key milestones that Sandy Park has seen
Sandy Park Stadium
2006
Former Director of Rugby, Ian Bremner, oversaw the early years of the semi-professional era at the County Ground when the Chiefs would regularly challenge for the top division, only to be pipped by sides such as Leeds Tykes, Rotherham and Worcester. The Irishman’s input was hugely beneficial and although his time in charge eventually came to an end in 2006.
That same year, Exeter left their long time home at the County Ground and moved into Sandy Park where former player Pete Drewett was appointed to lead a new look full time squad. Ironically, their first match at Sandy Park ended in a 13 to 13 draw against Coventry, the same opponents from their final game at the County Ground.
Opened Sandy Park StadiumBrought first full-time coachModern facilities inspired growth
Promotion to the Premiership
2009/10 Season
Ahead of the 09/10 season Rob Baxter was named Head Coach, with former Northampton and England fly-half Ali Hepher as his assistant, whilst another former Exeter player, Ricky Pellow, was drafted in as skills coach. Together the group gelled instantly in the new-look RFU Championship.
Although the Chiefs had finished the normal season as runners-up to near neighbours Bristol, the two would subsequently progress through the latter stages to the first-ever Play-Off final, the victors of whom would advance into the Premiership.
After a tight first leg and in front of a record crowd at Sandy Park, the tactical nous of Baxter and his trusty lieutenants came to the fore when, on a cold and wet night at the Memorial Stadium, they crushed their more established rivals 29-10 thanks to a last-minute try from Simon Alcott and the boot of Steenson.
As the champagne flowed, the dream of Premiership Rugby had been realised.
Rob Baxter named head coachPlay-off against BristolPromotion to the Premiership
First Major Silverware
2014
The 2013/14 season will forever be etched into the memories of Exeter supporters as this was the campaign in which the Chiefs finally secured their first piece of major silverware. Victory on home soil against a strong Northampton Saints side saw Rob Baxter’s men lift the LV= Cup for the first time thanks to a 15-9 victory.
Skipper Dean Mumm and Chris Whitehead claimed the all important tries, whilst rising fly-half Henry Slade slotted the other five points with a penalty and a conversion. Sadly, that would prove to be Whitehead’s final game in club colours as he was one of three players – Tom Hayes and James Hanks the others – who would be forced to retire prematurely through the course of the season due to injury.
Dean Mumm joins the ChiefsJack Nowell makes England debutLV Cup trophy triumph
Premiership Champions
2017
Having made it to the league showpiece the previous season, but fallen at the final hurdle, Chiefs returned to Twickenham following a remarkable Semi-Final victory over Saracens at Sandy Park.
Level at full-time, it was the Chiefs who looked the stronger in the searing heat of extra time. Spurred on by thousands from the travelling tribe, the decisive moment came late in the second half of added time, as Gareth Steenson landed the decisive score that ensured a first-ever Premiership title was heading to Devon.
Unbelievable scenes both that day – and in the days that followed – helped to mark the occasion and put the Chiefs firmly top of the tree in terms of English rugby.
First Premiership FinalCrowned League ChampionsJack Nowell becomes club's first British & Irish Lion
Double Champions
2020
Playing in empty stadiums due to the Covid-19 pandemic and with games coming thick and fast, the Chiefs booked not only a fifth successive Premiership Final appearance, but also a first-ever Champions Cup Final appearance as well.
Chiefs faced a star-studded Racing 92 side at Ashton Gate, in what was one of the classic European finals of all time. Tries from Luke Cowan-Dickie, Harry Williams, Henry Slade and European Player of the Year, Sam Simmonds, guided the Chiefs to a memorable 31-27 triumph.
In just the space of ten years, the Chiefs had gone from plying their trade in English Rugby's second tier to that of becoming Kings of Europe.
Two weeks later - and they would be celebrating again - this time a historic double as they overcame rivals Wasps to land their second Premiership title at a rain-sodden Twickenham.
Covid-19 pandemic halts playHistoric domestic & European doubleFour more Chiefs named in the Lions touring squad
Exeter Chiefs Women
2021- 2023
The 2020/21 season also saw the creation of the Exeter Chiefs Women's side, headed up by coach Susie Appleby, who brought together a wealth of international talent from around the world to tackle the demands of the Allianz Premier 15s.
Although they went down in their opening game of the new season away to Gloucester-Hartpury, the initial signs were encouraging and as the weeks and months ticked by, so the Chiefs Women started to make their mark against some of the game's household names.
The following seasons saw Appleby recruit more world-class players, including a front-row consisting of Canadians DaLeaka Menin and Emily Tuttosi and Eagles prop Hope Rogers, to play alongside a core of talent England qualified individuals, including new captain Poppy Leitch and Ebony Jefferies. Younger players were also key in leading to back-to-back wins of the Allianz Cup in the 2021/22 and 2022/23 seasons.
Chiefs Women's team formedExeter Chiefs re-brandedFirst Allianz Cup trophy for the women
