Pierce Liam Sweeney

Pierce Sweeney's route to Exeter City ran through Reading and a season at Bray Wanderers before that. When he joined Exeter on a free transfer in July 2016, backed by the club's '1931 Fund', few could have predicted he would go on to make more than 400 appearances in the shirt. He did leave once, signing for Swindon Town in June 2021, but the move unravelled almost immediately: his contract was cancelled by mutual consent within weeks and he returned to Exeter that same summer.

Back at St James Park, Sweeney became a fixture at the back and eventually captain, reaching 300 appearances in January 2023 and 400 in October 2025. He was named Exeter City Player of the Year for the 2022–23 season and was shortlisted for the Sky Bet League Two Player of the Month award in April 2022, the same campaign in which Exeter finished as League Two runners-up and won promotion. Across his time at the club he scored 24 goals.

Sweeney's development began at Ardmore Rovers before a move to Belvedere, where he won an Under-15 SFAI Cup and an Under-16 league and cup double. At international youth level he was capped by the Republic of Ireland at Under-17, Under-19 and Under-21, and was named FAI Under-19 International Player of the Year in 2013.

He left Exeter for Cheltenham Town on a free transfer in June 2026.