Big names drop into League One

The dust has settled on the 2024/25 campaign – and Exeter City supporters now know exactly who they'll face next season.

Bluebirds return to League One after 23 years

Cardiff City will be a fresh competitive opponent for the Grecians, with the two sides last meeting in 2002. Having endured a turbulent 2024/25 Championship campaign – including three different managers and a string of winless runs – the Welsh side’s fate was sealed with a goalless draw against West Brom. Caretaker player-manager Aaron Ramsey, a club legend, was unable to steer them to safety.

The Cardiff City Stadium, a 33,000-seater home also used by the Welsh national sides, will be a new ground for many Exeter fans. Their head-to-head record slightly favours Cardiff with 23 wins to Exeter’s 19, but this season marks a fresh chapter.

Luton Town relegated after Premier League drop

Following back-to-back relegations from the Premier League and Championship, Luton Town also join the third tier. Their season ended in heartbreak as they slipped out of the safety zone on the final day. Former Wycombe boss Matt Bloomfield, who took over in January, now faces the task of rebuilding the Hatters in League One.

Exeter fans will remember their most recent clash with Luton fondly – a memorable 1-0 Carabao Cup win in September 2023, with Demetri Mitchell’s late goal sending City into the fourth round for the first time since 1989.

Luton's Kenilworth Road remains one of the most iconic and compact grounds in English football, though plans are underway for a move to the new Power Court stadium before the 2028/29 season.

Old foes, new encounters

Both clubs have history with Exeter: Cardiff’s last competitive fixture with the Grecians saw a 3-0 away win in the LDV Vans Trophy, while Luton were on the wrong end of a cup upset at SJP. The 2025/26 campaign offers City a chance to write new chapters in both rivalries.

Fixture release day arrives in just a few weeks – and with both Cardiff and Luton now confirmed among the opposition, the stage is set for another dramatic season in League One.