Former West Ham youngster Anthony Scully scored Exeter City’s winner against Rotherham United on Saturday, just hours after his signing was announced.
The 27-year-old marked his first appearance with the decisive goal in a 1-0 victory at St James Park, giving his new club an immediate return.
According to Exeter’s official match report, Scully went straight into Matt Taylor’s starting line-up and converted George Birch’s cross early in the second half.
For a player who spent the summer without a club after leaving Shrewsbury Town, it was a particularly significant introduction.
Anthony Scully makes instant impact at Exeter
Speaking to Exeter’s club website afterwards, Scully said: “That’s what I went to bed last night dreaming of”.
He also credited his team-mates for protecting the lead during the closing stages, making clear the result mattered as much as his own contribution.
West Ham supporters who followed the development side will remember Scully’s scoring record before his departure for Lincoln City in February 2020.
Lincoln’s announcement recorded 13 goals for West Ham’s under-23s that season, alongside a double in the EFL Trophy victory over Newport County.
He subsequently played for Wigan Athletic, Portsmouth, Colchester United and Shrewsbury before this latest move.
His story offers another example of the different routes taken by Academy graduates. While current West Ham striker Josh Landers is pursuing his first-team ambition on loan at Ayr United, Scully is rebuilding his career elsewhere.
One match cannot establish how his Exeter spell will unfold. It has, however, given him the strongest possible start.
