Gabriel (Gabe) Billington, a midfielder/defender, started his two-year scholarship with Exeter City in August 2021 and signed professional in March 2023. 

During 2021/22 Gabe played in defence for the under-18s in the EFL Youth Alliance and FA Youth Cup. He was also in the team that lost to Bideford on penalties in the final of the Devon St Luke’s Bowl in May 2022. 

Gabe was to make further FA Youth Cup appearances in 2022/23 and, on 4 October 2022, made his first-team debut as a second half substitute in the EFL Trophy tie at home to Southampton under-21. Gabe’s first start would come on 18 October 2022 against Forest Green Rovers in the same competition.

Rather than him play under-18 football the club was keen for Gabe to further experience the adult game. In January 2023 he joined Southern League Poole Town on a month’s loan that was subsequently extended to the end of the season. In February 2023, however, Gabe was switched to gain match experience at Plymouth Parkway instead.       

A few weeks later, in late March 2023, Gabe signed his first professional contract with the club before suffering the misfortune of sustaining an injury in a pre-season friendly at Exmouth in August 2023. Absent for many months, Gabe reappeared for the under-18 team towards the end of the season.