Excitement is building for Exeter City as season start looms

Julian Tagg talks pre-season, the off-field developments, and Ollie Watkins nearly bringing football home

Julian Tagg is the Club president and director of external affairs of Exeter City FC

We’re now a couple of weeks away from the first league match of our next season in League One and the excitement is building as we prepare to host Rotherham United at St James Park on August 10.

As usual the summer has been just as busy – if not busier – than the season, with improvements continuing across the club, focused on improving the all-important supporter experience, so expect to see a few changes when you return to SJP!

Over on the footballing side, they’ve also been busy, with new signings coming in as Gary and his backroom team look to strengthen the squad to meet the serious challenges which await us ahead as we take on the big spenders which include the likes of Birmingham City, Huddersfield Town and Reading

In preparation for the season ahead, the squad set off down to the now annual destination of Mousehole for a couple of days of matches, physical challenges and of course some team bonding. It was also the location for the big tennis grudge match of Connors Caldwell versus Fred Perry Perks – which went to a gripping finish, with Gary taking the title.

Everyone at Mousehole is so welcoming, so our thanks go to them for their hospitality. We’re very fortunate to have excellent relationships with lots of clubs across the south west, who provide opportunities for our younger players to go out on loan and gain valuable experience.

And of course there’s the newly named Ollie Watkins Cup, which takes place at Weston super Mare as part of our pre-season activity, another example of a great partner club.

Talking of Ollie, things certainly hit fever pitch after his amazing 90th minute goal to secure England’s place in the Euro’s final. The crowds had been building at SJP and they went wild when he scored, although not quite the same as being there for real, it was still an amazing atmosphere, with the singing of ‘Ollie Watkins, he’s one of our own’ swiftly followed by ‘It’s coming home...’

Ok, so it didn’t come home, this time, but what an incredible and crucial role our boy Ollie played and what a fantastic reflection that was on our Academy.

If you saw any of his TV interviews, you’ll have seen what a genuine and humble person he is. Of course, we all think he should have had more minutes, but I think that semi-final goal will live long in the memory.

It was good to see seven Academy players signing contracts for the coming season, they are a talented bunch and some of them have been with the club since they were under eight years old.

The Academy players certainly made their mark in the recent game at Yeovil Town, with Kieran Wilson and Santino Ohanaka scoring, as well as Sonny Cox, to secure the game 3-1.

Our Academy model remains as essential as ever to our success and it’s important this next generation of players are given time to grow and develop.

And if that’s the next generation, then the little under nines, who recently were reunited with everyone’s favourite goalkeeper Vil Sinisalo on a trip to Aston Villa, must be the next, next, next, next generation! And good luck to Vil having being transferred to Celtic – Schmeichel had better look out!

This week we announced that our front of shirt sponsor, the brilliant HEL Performance, have committed to the club for a further five years in a record-breaking sponsorship deal. Thank you so much to Simon and his team for their support, they are a brilliant company and so proud of their Exeter roots – it’s partnership that’s surely made in heaven, not Hel…

The final plans are being put in place for the start Exeter City Women’s season. Following its promotion in May, the team has transferred from our partner charity, Exeter City Community Trust to the club and will play its first four matches, beginning with MK Dons on Sunday August 18, at St James Park. Tickets are now on sale, so get along and support our girls as they embark on their next footballing adventure.

The team may have moved across to the club, but Exeter City Community Trust continues its great work developing women’s and girls’ football across the county, whether that’s through girls’ only holiday sessions, or its Girls’ Development Centre, where more than 100 girls and young women train each week. It’s also planning its first girls’ football festival at Exwick Sports Hub for under 12s and under 14s

Back to the men’s game. Coming up, we have the remaining pre-season games which include trips to Torquay United, where we’ll get to see a few of our old boys – Dean Moxey, James Hamon, Ben Seymour and Dan Hayfield – and then it’s up the A30 to Okehampton Argyle.

These are swiftly followed by the last pre-season match which is against Eastleigh at St James Park on August 3. Then the old rollercoaster kicks off again on August 10, jump in and buckle up, it’s going to be one heck of a ride!

From An Article published in Devon Live

July 25th 2024

League One Teams 2024/25

The following teams will compete in League One in 2024/25

Barnsley, Birmingham, Blackpool, Bolton, Bristol Rovers, Burton, Cambridge, Charlton, Crawley, Exeter, Huddersfield, Leyton Orient, Lincoln City, Mansfield, Northampton, Peterborough, Reading, Rotherham, Shrewsbury, Stevenage, Stockport, Wigan, Wrexham, Wycombe.

Squad numbers (July 2024)

EXETER CITY

1. JOE WHITWORTH (GK)

2. JACK MCMILLAN

3. BEN PURRINGTON

4. TRISTAN CRAMA

5. JACK FITZWATER

6. RYAN WOODS

7. DEMETRIMITCHELL

8. EDFRANCIS

10. JACK AITCHISON

11. MILLENIC ALLI

12. REECE COLE

13. YANIC WILDSCHUT

14. ILMARI NISKANEN

15. JOHNLY YFEKO

16. PATRICK JONES

17. CALEB WATTS

18. VINCENT HARPER

19. SONNY COX

20. KAMARI DOYLE 

21. AMANI RICHARDS

22. HARRY LEE (GK)

26. PIERCE SWEENEY

27. JOSH MAGENNIS

31. JAY BIRD

33. TOM DEAN

34. GABRIEL BILLINGTON

36. MITCH BEARDMORE

37. SHAUN MacDONALD (GK)

38. MAX EDGECOMBE

39. CHEICK DIABATE

40. ED JAMES

41. PEDRO BORGES

45. CHARLIE CUMMINS

47. JAKE RICHARDS