Exeter City pre-season schedule takes shape as local teams supported

Exeter City’s pre-season schedule continues to take shape with four fixtures so far having been confirmed. The Grecians will take on Westcounty rivals Weston-super-Mare, Mousehole, Yeovil Town and Torquay United, as well as a home friendly at St James Park which is yet to be confirmed.

As was the case last season, Gary Caldwell’s men will take on some of the local clubs who they have a relationship with and where their youngsters go out on loan. Further friendlies are likely to be added before the start of the League One season.

City’s players will return to training on June 20 for the full start of the pre-season. But Exeter ’s players have been given training programmes for their off-season and players will be working with coaches even before the pre-season proper begins.

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“Pre-season will be pretty similar to last season,” Caldwell said. “We are coming back on June 20 and the players are actually back before that working with the coaching team three days a week so they are ready to go again.

“We will be fairly local in terms of our early games and plan to trip away again in Cornwall, then the games will broaden out a bit further afield and the quality improves as we get closer to the season.

“We are still trying to arrange a home game which is proving really difficult for early August but everything apart from that game is in place.

“It’s important for us to support our local teams that take our young players on loan. The crowds we got at Tiverton and Taunton were great to see. We will get to local clubs again and give them that support they need in terms of finances and thank them for everything they do for us.”

The first confirmed fixture will see Exeter City face Weston-super-Mare in a pre-season friendly on Friday 12th July at 7pm. Last season, City won 3-2 at the Optima Stadium in an exciting encounter thanks to goals from Sam Nombe, Joe O'Connor and Tom Dean.

After the success of last summer's pre-season training camp in Cornwall, City will once again be heading to Mousehole in July. City will face the Seagulls at Trungle Parc on Monday, 15th July, 7pm to kick off a three day trip to the far west coast, which will also include training and team building activities. Last summer's fixture resulted in an 8-0 win for the Grecians, thanks to goals from Vince Harper (2), Sam Nombe, Jack Aitchison, Reece Cole, Mitch Beardmore, Sonny Cox and Pedro Borges.

Then the Grecians head to face Yeovil Town at Huish Park on Friday, July 19, 7.30pm. The Glovers are newly promoted back into the National League after winning the National League South last season and will meet with City for the first time since July 2022, when City drew 1-1, again in a pre-season fixture.

Exeter City have also added Devon rivals Torquay United to the pre-season schedule, with the Grecians set to head Plainmoor on Tuesday, 30 July, 7.30pm. Last season for the Gulls, who finished 18th in the National League South last season after a difficult financial situation saw them deducted 11 points, win 4-1 in a tempestuous game in which Pierce Sweeney was sent-off.

On Saturday, August 3, City will take on a TBC outfit at St James Park.

Confirmed pre-season schedule so far:

• Friday 12 July, 7pm - Weston-super-Mare (A)

• Monday 15 July, 7pm - Mousehole (A)

• Friday 19 July, 7.30pm - Yeovil Town (A)

• Tuesday 30 July, 7.30pm - Torquay United (A)

• Saturday 3 August, 3pm - Home friendly, opponent TBC (H)

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