“Be as loud as you can,” Reece Cole said, when asked if he had a message for those fans travelling to Manchester today. “Be our 12th man throughout the whole game because we are going to need you.
Stuart James Print Sports Editor
15:05, 09 Jan 2026
REECE Cole has called on Exeter City’s travelling masses to be loud and proud as the Grecians head to Manchester City looking to cause one of the great FA Cup shocks.
Officially, 7,800 Grecians are heading north, but with others believed to have purchased tickets in the home ends, there will be plenty of support for the League One side for their big third round clash.
They are sure to create some atmosphere as well with their allocation packed into the upper tiers of the South Stand at the Etihad Stadium – and Cole has said their support will be needed if the Grecians are to shock Pep Guardiola’s star-studded side.
“Be as loud as you can,” Cole said, when asked if he had a message for those fans travelling to Manchester today. “Be our 12th man throughout the whole game because we are going to need you.
“At times, it’s going to feel like they’ve got 15 players on the pitch and we’ve only got eight, but we’re going to need that support just to carry us through the game and you never know where it can take us.”
In recent weeks, Cole has been fighting it out with Jack Aitchison for a starting role in the City XI, but his stunning strike in last week’s 2-2 draw at Huddersfield Town might just give him the edge over his team-mate.
Either way, manager Gary Caldwell has made no secret at the importance of ‘finishers’ rather than ‘substitutes’ and whatever role he has today, Cole can’t wait for the occasion.
“We’ve got a saying here, it’s ‘team first,’ and regardless whether you’re a starter, you’re a finisher, whether you are not in the squad, whether you’re injured, everyone has a part to play in what we do,” Cole said. “Everyone knows their part.
“Obviously it will become clearer what the starting XI is over the next couple of days and after training, but everyone’s brought into it this season.
“We know whatever we are – starter, finisher or not in the squad, or injured - we all have a part to play and ultimately it’s team first.”