(2025/26)
Hopes and Expectations
Pre Season Friendlies
The Squad
Under 18’s Pre-Season
Hopes and Expectations 2025/26
Leadership Changes at ECFC
19th June 2025
Exeter City Football Club can confirm the following changes in the Club’s leadership.
Nick Hawker, chair of the Supporters’ Trust, is stepping down from his role as chair of the Club board and Joe Gorman will be leaving his role as chief executive.
Nick’s involvement dates back to 2012 when he was first appointed as Trust secretary. He was elected by the membership in 2017 and became chair of the Trust later that year.
Nick said: “It has been an honour to guide the Club over the last eight years. During this time, we have seen the Club promoted to League One, built a £3 million training facility, and purchased the training ground and properties surrounding St James Park. These milestones have been achieved through extraordinary teamwork and the backing of our fantastic supporters. I am truly grateful to everyone who has contributed to the success of this remarkable club.”
Chief executive Joe Gorman will also be stepping down from his role. Since joining the club as CFO in September 2023, Joe has played a central role in strengthening the club’s operational and strategic foundations.
Joe said: “This has been an extremely difficult decision, made after careful consideration and reflection. I want to express my deepest gratitude to the staff, coaches, academy team, the many volunteers whose dedication and passion are the true foundation of this club. Working alongside them all has been a privilege, and I am immensely proud of what we have achieved together, from being the only League One club to record a profit last year to consistently punching above our weight in terms of playing budget.
“As well as the amazing staff and volunteers, thank you especially to our supporters. You are all the reason Exeter City Football Club is such a special place. I wish you all continued success.”
We are sincerely grateful to both Nick and Joe for their dedication, vision and leadership. Their contributions have left a lasting legacy and we wish them every success in their future endeavours.
Exeter City Football Club remains firmly focused on its strategic goals as preparations continue for the season ahead. To ensure continuity, Clive Harrison will serve as interim chair of the Club Board.
Later in August the Trust announced
Following his departure as Chair of the Exeter City Football Club Board earlier this summer, the Exeter City Supporters’ Trust can confirm that Nick Hawker has now also stepped down from his role as Chair of the Trust Board and as a Trustee. Nick has played a pivotal role in shaping the direction and values of the Club and Trust. His years of service have seen us reach new heights both on and off the pitch, including promotion to League One, the Cliff Hill Training Ground Facility, and purchases of the training ground and properties surrounding St James Park. The Trust Board would like to extend its heartfelt thanks to Nick for his tireless work and dedicated service over the years. Nick Edwards is currently fulfilling the responsibilities of Chair in his capacity as Vice Chair of the Board. An interim Chair of the Trust will be appointed at the next Board meeting,
Gary Caldwell on pre season plans
Ahead of the players returning for pre-season training, Gary Caldwell has provided an update on the pre-season schedule and work in the transfer window. The young pros return to the Cliff Hill Training Ground on Thursday morning for pre-season testing, before the first team squad are in on Friday. Speaking about returning to training, Gary said: "I'm ready to go into the new season full of energy and hope. When you come back there is that hope and expectation of a new season and what it can bring. "The first few days are a lot of testing - medical and fitness testing in the gym and on the grass. There will be some very low level football to start with to build the players up. They have been working for a few weeks on their fitness programmes at home or on holiday, so the first few days are very much looking at where they are and then next week we can start to push the physical levels in terms of running and football."
Pre Season Friendlies
See The individual reports
The Squad
1. Joe Whitworth (GK)
2. Jack McMillan
3. Ryan Ryder
4. Ed Turns
5. Jack Fitzwater
6. Ethan Brierley
7. Carlos Mendes-Gomes
8. Ed Francis
9. Jayden Wareham
10. Jack Aitchison
11. Andrew Oluwabori
12. Reece Cole
14. Ilmari Niskanen
15. Johnly Yfeko
16. Sil Swinkels
17. Akeel Higgins
19. Sonny Cox
20. Luca Woodhouse
21. Danny Andrew
23. Jack Bycroft
26. Pierce Sweeney
27. Josh Magennis
29. Kevin McDonald
31. Jake Doyle-Hayes
32. Frankie Phillips (GK)
33. Tom Dean
34. Liam Oakes
37. Kieran Wilson
40. Ed James
41. Pedro Borges
42. George Birch
45. Charlie Cummins
Under 18's Pre-Season 2025/26
Exeter City Under-18s have confirmed five pre-season fixtures in July to kick off their preparations for the 2025/26 season.
David Oldfield welcomed eleven new scholars into his squad this summer, with ten players stepping up from City's under-16s, as well as Marshall Murray who has also joined from Millwall's academy.
The young Grecians will face a variety of opponents in July, and we will catch up with David and some of the squad next week!
July pre-season fixtures:
- Cardiff City (A) - Saturday, July 12
- Yeovil Town (H) - Tuesday, July 15
- Bristol City (H) - Saturday, July 19
- Port Vale (A) - Saturday, July 26
- Birmingham City (A) - Tuesday, July 29
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