The Squad
Exeter City Pen Pics

MANAGER - ALEX INGLETHORPE -
was appointed in succession to Eamon Dolan who had taken over as manager in June 2003, the Club having had no less than three different men in charge during that season which ended in relegation to the Nationwide Conference. Alex was a decent player, making his name at Watford, He was subsequently player- manager at Ryman League Leatherhead. Arrived at Exeter via Leyton Orient where he was coach to the Brisbane Road Youth side. Has since joined the England non-league coaching set-up.

LES AFFUL:
Striker: Born Liverpool 4th February 1984 Pint-sized pacey player who signed a one-year contract in April 2002 after completing his spell as a trainee. Has since signed a further two-year contract in May 2004, having featured prominently in the first team last season. Originally signed by City after playing for a Merseyside youth team in Toxteth, brought to Exeter for a friendly fixture by former Birmingham City and Liverpool player Howard Gayle.

PAUL BUCKLE
Midfield Born Hatfield 16th December 1970 In his fourth spell with the Grecians, he was signed from Tivvy after making twelve appearances for us in the New Year. He had been surprisingly released by City after playing four games over the festive period, all of which were won. Started his career at Brentford before playing for Torquay, Northampton, Wycombe, Colchester United and Aldershot. He joined Weymouth from the Shots and took over the managerial reins briefly following the departure of Steve Claridge.

DANNY CLAY:
Defender: Born: Doncaster 15th December 1985 A first year professional, having signed a two-year deal in May 2004. A former trainee, Danny has progressed via the youth scheme and overcome a long period out with glandular fever last season. Expected to gain a place in the first team squad this season.

JON CHALLINOR:
Defender Born Northampton 2nd December 1980 Started his career at Rushden & Diamonds before moving to Stamford at the start of the 2000/1 season. Moved onto Dr Martens Premier side Cambridge city in February 2001. Signed by St Alban's City in August 2002 then by Conference newcomers Aldershot Town. Moved to Exeter City this summer.

GLENN CRONIN:
Midfield: Born: Dublin 14th September 1981
Capped by the Republic of Ireland at Under-18, Glenn had made excellent progress via the youth ranks at Exeter City, and on completion of his spell as a trainee was signed on a full contract during the summer of 2000. Was last year's Player of the Year. Highly influential, his consistent displays have put him on the fringe of further international honours. A broken leg last season hampered the teams promotion push but he is almost fully fit now.

JAKE EDWARDS
Striker: Born 12/5/76 Signed last summer from Yeovil Town for whom he had netted 10 goals in 31 games. Scored 6 times last season taking his career tally to over fifty. He has previously played for Wrexham and Telford United. Will be looking to take over the Sean Devine role.

STEVE FLACK:
Striker. Born: Cambridge 29th May 1971. Has previously played for non-leaguers Foxton and Cambridge City, moving to Ninian Park midway through the 1995-96 season. Was the club's leading goalscorer in 1998-99, and that attracted six-figure offers from Hull City and Bristol Rovers during the course of the campaign, and a further £80,000 bid from Hartlepool United in September 2001. Steve is an excellent target man and shields the ball well to enables his team mates to get in the game alongside him.

SANTOS GAIA:
Defender: Born Sao Matheus 8th September 1978 Recommended to the club by a North East agent, Santos was outstanding in the pre-season matches prior to the 2002-03 season and immediately offered a contract by then manager John Cornforth. Santos previously played for Brazilian sides, AA Sao Matheus, Esporte Clube Vitoria De Bahia and AAS Arapiraquense. Signed a new two-year deal in May 2004.

SCOTT HILEY:
Defender: Born Plymouth Scott originally began his career at Exeter City as a trainee, but returned in September 2002 when being signed on loan from Portsmouth. Was transferred to Birmingham City in March 1994, before moving onto Manchester City two years later. Injury wrecked his stay at Maine Road and he joined Southampton and later Pompey. Scott was signed on permanent deal by the Grecians in December 2002 and during the summer of 2003 was appointed assistant to manager Eamonn Dolan.

BILLY JONES:
Defender Born Shrewsbury 24th March 1987. A product of the highly successful Youth scheme at Crewe Alexander, he broke into the first- tem at just 16 and quickly became a regular. He represented England at Under-16 level and played almost 30 games for Alex before moving to Kidderminster from where the Grecians signed him during the summer.

PAUL JONES:
Goalkeeper Born 28th June 1986. Teenage keeper who shot to fame with the Grecians last season after arriving on loan from Leyton Orient. Alex Inglethorpe already knew his capabilities and he has continued to shine going on to play 24 games.

BARRY MCCONNELL:
Utility: Born: Exeter 1st January 1977 Barry has been associated with the Club since first joining as a schoolboy and worked his way through to the senior ranks via the youth teams as a trainee to earn a full contract in August 1995. He can operate in a variety of positions, wing-back, midfield, as a striker. Player of the Year in 2001-02.

DEAN MOXEY:
Defender: Born: Exeter 14th January 1986 The first team 'find of the season' the season before last. Dean made his debut whilst still a trainee and went on to feature regularly in the squad with a string of consistent and impressive displays, as well as notching his first senior goals. Signed a two-year deal in May 2004 and scored a couple of memorable goals last season.

LEE PHILLIPS
Striker Born: Penzance 16th September 1980 Started his career at Plymouth Argyle and moved to Weymouth on an initial three-month loan spell. Scored a hatful of goals and the Terra's made the deal permanent. Top scorer for Weymouth in his last two seasons with 33 goals in total, he was a firm favourite with the Wessex Stadium faithful. Took time to settle at St James' Park, but scored 4 times in just 11 games, could be the one to watch this season.

MARTIN RICE:
Goalkeeper: Born: Exeter 7th March 1986
Another product of the City youth scheme, Martin made his first team debut last season in a 3-2 win at Barnet in October 2003. Went on to make a handful of accomplished appearances standing in for first-choice keeper James Bittner. Martin signed a two-year contract in May 2004.

GARY SAWYER
Defender, Currently on loan from Plymouth Argyle as he was last season. Can play left-back or in the middle of defence. Great things are expected of him this season after a number of impressive displays last term.

GARETH SHELDON:
Winger: Born Birmingham 31st January 1980 Gareth became manager Cornforth's first signing when he moved from Scunthorpe United in May 2002. The City boss had played alongside Gareth in midfield when at Scunthorpe. Making over 100 senior appearances for United, Gareth earned a full contract in February 1999. Played at Wembley for Scunthorpe in the Division Three 1999 Play off Final. Enjoyed his best season last term which resulted in him winning England non-league honours.

ANDY TAYLOR:
Midfield: Born Exeter 17-09-82. Signed by the Grecians on non-contract forms in October 2003. The Exeter-born player had started his career as a trainee with Manchester United and successfully made his way via their youth teams to earn a full contract in the 2000-01 season. However, after sustaining an injury, he was released and joined Northwich Victoria for the 2003-03 season.

CHRIS TODD:
Defender: Born Swansea 22nd August 1981 Chris commenced his career with home town club, Swansea City, where he had been a trainee, before earning a full contract in July 2000. He spent the summer of 2001 coaching in the USA before returning to the Swans where he made over 50 first team outings. Linked up with Republic of Ireland side Drogheda United in 2002-03, and signed for Exeter City on a free transfer at the end of their season in March 2003.

Other players who could feature this include Danny Seaborne, former Youth team striker who scored against the Italian Masters recently. Colin Marshall is a midfielder who is on trial after playing in Scotland, he also featured in the Italian Masters game. Striker Ali Chaaban could also feature. He was due to play for the Grecians last season but failed to make an appearance after signing from Farnborough Town. He previously played for Dorking and Leatherhead, scoring 44 goals in just two seasons. 'Boro signed him in August 2003, and he has also represented Lebanon in the Olympic Games qualifier against Jordased Jamie Mackie is a 19-year-old midfielder who can also pay upfront and has been released by MK Dons.

Alex Inglethorpe before the first match of the season 

The pre-season preparations and planning are over. The Conference season has started. and i would like to welcome everyone, as well as our visitors, Kidderminster Harriers, to St James' Park for our first home fixture, the start of a long and hopefully successful season for the Grecians.

We will of course have played at Gravesend and Northfleet by the time you read these notes. Due to the print deadlines, it is impossible for me to comment on what may or may not have happened.

The whole point of pre-season is to make sure your squad have bonded, are fit and without any major injuries and in those terms I am very happy. Pre- season started on 1 July and I tried to work in a modular fashion, starting with our defensive structure and moving forward through the team.

I used various techniques, such as PowerPoint presentations detailing what I wanted, which we then took out on to the training ground. I have been in a number of pre-seasons that I really did not enjoy, it all seemed to be run, run, run - and I believe it is important to make them as enjoyable aspossible.

We brought players in over the summer but our budget is £130,000 less than last season so everyone at the club - behind the scenes as well as the playing staff must really represent value for money. I believe that the signings we have made will only enhance the squad that we had.

With the benefit of hindsight, what I would not do again during pre-season is to play three games in six days. The club did not really have any choice because Birmingham changed the date of our match with them. The chance to play a Premiership side and one that allowed us to keep all the gate receipts - was too much to turn down.

In addition to the cash benefits it was a good chance for my players to test themselves and I'm convinced that if we can gather some sort of momentum when the season starts we can really pose a challenge.

Last season we missed out on a play-off place by just one point and were only three off second. Introducing the play-offs to the Conference has breathed new life into the divisionWe have a lot of heart and spirit at the club and there is a lot of togetherness. I am ambitious and have aspirations in management and I would like to fulfil them at Exeter.

So many people have worked really hard behind the scenes since the end of last season, that it is impossible to mention them all. Suffice to say they all wear Exeter City 'on their sleeve' and have worked tirelessly for the cause.

A special mention to the various work parties who have beavered away improving facilities here at the Park and at the Cat and Fiddle training ground. If ever there is an example of what a community football club should be like then is it these lads and lasses who engender such a spirit.

We were one of the best supported clubs in the Nationwide Conference last season, and it showed what a good support base we have. It is now up to Steve Perryman, myself and the players, to repay that faith you have in the Club by giving you, the supporters, something to cheer about. We will be doing our utmost to do just that. Thank you for coming along tonight, and we would like to see you all back here again on Saturday afternoon for the visit of Morecambe.