The long road to League One glory begins for Exeter City Football Club

And here we go again! The excitement has been building over the summer break, and finally it’s here - the start of Exeter City’s fourth season in League One!

As ever, our supporters - and our players and staff - remain among the furthest-travelled in the league, clocking up a massive 4,975 miles over the season.

Only topped by that other team down the road… And straight out of the blocks, a brilliant NUMBER of you made the 500+ mile round trip to Doncaster for the opening game of the season, where we battled bravely before losing to a solitary late goal.

Back at St James Park, the pitch looks like a perfect green carpet (shout out to Chaz and his team), there are exciting new players through the door, and the SJP team is prepped and ready to go. The only thing missing now is you - our fantastic supporters.

The first home game of the season is this Saturday (August 9) against Blackpool, who usually travel in good numbers, so it promises to be a lively encounter.

Our pre-season friendly against Swansea last month also marked a special occasion – the start of Pierce Sweeney’s testimonial year.

Aside from a small blip when he accidentally signed for Swindon for a couple of days, Sweens has given an incredible 10 years of loyal service to Exeter City.

Some might say those years have taken their toll on him and judging by the amount of hair he’s lost since his debut, they might be right… though he swears it’s just for better aerodynamics.

The match itself was fantastic, and the evening do was great fun - a fitting way to honour a bona fide club legend!

We approach every season with optimism - but the reality is, it’s getting harder each year. If the last few seasons were a rollercoaster, this one promises more of the same. With huge amounts of money flying around the league, we’re facing clubs with massive playing budgets.

So, once again, we have to do things differently - bringing through younger players, using our data smartly, and continuing to innovate off the pitch. Our budget might be among the lowest in the league, but what we lack in cash, we make up for in character.

Gary’s worked wonders in recent years, and while the dips in form can be tough, they’re when we most need your support. We’re not just here for the good times – we want to be here for a long time.

Meanwhile, Exeter City Women begin their second season in the FA Women’s National League South. Their campaign kicks off on August 17 away to Cheltenham, followed by a second away match against Portishead Town on August 21.

You can then catch them back at Coach Road, Newton Abbot, as they take on Lewes FC on August 24. With the brilliant performances of the Lionesses still fresh in our minds, it’s bound to be a season of growing crowds and growing momentum.

And if you’ve got a budding Lioness at home, don’t forget to check out our partner charity, Exeter City Community Trust. They offer opportunities for girls to play football from as young as four, run girls-only holiday clubs throughout the summer, and manage the Girls’ Development Centre, which is training 120 girls and young women right now.

So, here’s to a season of fresh starts, fierce determination and that unbeatable Grecians spirit - let’s make it one to remember.