TT PREVIEW
Steve Harris – @steveharris84
MATCH DETAILS
Match details: Torquay United versus Exeter, Pre-Season Friendly
Venue: Plainmoor
Date: Friday 31st July 2026
Kick-off: 7.30pm
EXETER FACT FILE
Year founded: 1901
Nickname: The Grecians
Last season’s league finish: 21st in League One
Notable honours:
Division Four/Division Three/League Two champions: 1989-90
MANAGER – MATT TAYLOR
Matt Taylor was first appointed manager of Exeter City on June 1, 2018, following the departure of long-serving boss Paul Tisdale. His first season in charge of the Grecians saw them finish ninth in Sky Bet League Two. This was followed by an appearance in the League Two play-off final where they lost to Northampton Town in the 2019-20 campaign. Two years later, he guided Exeter to promotion from League Two as runners-up behind Forest Green Rovers.
He left St James Park in October 2022 to become manager of Rotherham United, a role which he held until his dismissal in November 2023. A month later, he became manager of Bristol Rovers and remained in charge at the Memorial Stadium until December 2024. He was re-appointed as Grecians manager in March 2026
As a player, Matt made more than 150 appearances for the Grecians and helped them win to back-to-back promotions from the Football Conference to League One under Tisdale before going on to play for Charlton Athletic and Cheltenham Town, whilst with the latter he served under Gary Johnson.
He had started his playing career off at non-league Burscough as a goalkeeper and helped the Linnets to an FA Trophy win over Tamworth in the 2002-03 season. He spent a number of years at non-league level, before joining Exeter from Team Bath in 2007.
PLAYER TO WATCH – GEORGE BIRCH
A product of the Grecians youth academy, George Birch signed his first professional contact with the club in 2025 and made his debut on the opening day of the 2025-26 season against Doncaster Rovers.
He was loaned out to Weston-super-Mare later in the campaign, and featured against the Gulls at Plainmoor on Boxing Day 2025. Birch was later recalled by the Grecians, and featured in their 10-1 FA Cup third round defeat to Manchester City, where he scored Exeter’s consolation goal.
PLAYER STATS:
Position: Midfielder
DOB: 24/09/06
Previous Clubs: Weston-super-Mare, Chippenham
L1 Stats 25/26: Appearances: 35, Goals 16, Assists 2, Yellow/Red Cards 5/0
OLD BOYS
Torquay United: Jordan Dyer, Dan Hayfield, Matt Jay
Exeter City: Kieran Wilson, Ed James
LAST MEETING
Last meeting: Friday 25th July 2025, Torquay United 1 Exeter City 1
A late equaliser from Jordan Young guaranteed a share of the spoils between Torquay United and Exeter City in the final pre-season friendly at Plainmoor.
Jayden Wareham had scored early in the second period for City but Young’s equaliser arguably told the story of what was an evenly contested fixture.
PRE-SEASON RESULTS
Buckland Athletic A W 6-0 Isaac Westendorf, Dylan Morgan, Callum Morton, Jonah Shaw 2, Sonny Blu Lo-Everton
Cullompton Rangers A W 5-1 Isaac Westendorf 2, Deon Moore 2, Callum Morton
Brixham A W 2-0 Deon Moore (pen), OG
Plymouth Parkway A L 0-1
Weston Super Mare A W 2-1 Kian Jenkins, Callum Morton
Plymouth Argyle H L 0-1
Cardiff City Under-21s W 5-0 Matt Worthington, Deon Moore 2, Jordan Young, Matt Jay
COYY – STEVE
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