Crawley Town vs Exeter City: How to Watch with Commentary from Gary Smith & Rich Wolfenden

Monday 21st April 2025 brings a crucial League One clash between Crawley Town and Exeter City, with multiple viewing options available for British football fans. The 15:00 BST kick-off at Broadfield Stadium features commentary from two distinct broadcasting teams across different platforms.

Broadcast Options Breakdown

BBC Radio Coverage:
Local listeners can tune into:

BBC Radio Surrey and BBC Radio Sussex - Both stations feature match commentary from experienced reporter Gary Smith
Gary Smith\'s broadcasting career spans over 15 years in regional sports journalism, having covered Sussex-based clubs since 2010

iFollow (Crawley Town):
The club\'s streaming service offers:

Gary Smith as lead commentator
Tony Vessey as co-commentator - Former Crawley midfielder (2008-2012) now providing analysis since 2019

Television Coverage:

Sky Sports+ features Rich Wolfenden - Established commentator with experience across EFL, FA Cup and international tournaments
ITV Football League Highlights also uses Wolfenden\'s commentary for their evening roundup programme

Commentator Profiles

Gary Smith has become synonymous with lower league football broadcasting in the South East, having called over 500 matches for BBC Local Radio since 2010. His encyclopedic knowledge of League One and League Two football makes him a favourite among purists.

Rich Wolfenden represents the national broadcasting contingent, having commentated on:

EFL Trophy Finals (2021, 2023)
FA Cup giant-killings for BBC Final Score
International feed commentaries for the English Football League

His career trajectory took him from local radio in the Midlands to Sky Sports\' EFL coverage through standout performances during the 2018-19 season.

Match Context

This League One encounter sees:

23rd-placed Crawley Town fighting relegation
14th-placed Exeter City seeking mid-table consolidation

The Broadfield Stadium encounter marks their second meeting of 2024-25, following December\'s 1-1 draw at St James Park. Recent form shows Crawley with 1 win in 5 matches (W1 D1 L3), while Exeter arrive with 2 victories from their last 5 (W2 D1 L2).

Viewing Experience Comparison

Platform	Commentary Team	Additional Features
BBC Local Radio	Gary Smith (solo)	Pre-match phone-ins, post-match interviews
iFollow	Smith & Vessey	Multiple camera angles, instant replays
Sky Sports+	Rich Wolfenden	Sky Sports News integration, live table updates

For tactical enthusiasts, iFollow\'s co-commentator Tony Vessey offers unique insights from his 127 appearances for Crawley between 2008-2012. His analysis frequently focuses on midfield battlegrounds and set-piece strategies.

Historical Context

This fixture carries particular weight given both clubs\' recent histories:

Crawley\'s rise from National League to EFL (2011-2012)
Exeter\'s successful academy system producing Premier League talent
Their first meeting as EFL clubs occurring in 2012-13 League Two

The English Football League\'s broadcast arrangements ensure comprehensive coverage through multiple platforms, reflecting the competition\'s growth under its current £595m TV rights deal.

Expert Predictions

While official team news remains embargoed until 14:00 BST, sources suggest:

Crawley may start 4-2-3-1 formation with emphasis on wide play
Exeter likely to deploy their characteristic 3-5-2 system

Commentator Rich Wolfenden noted in his pre-match briefing: "This represents a classic six-pointer at both ends of the table - Crawley\'s direct style against Exeter\'s possession game could produce an EFL classic."