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Steve Harris

@steveharris84

MATCH DETAILS

Match details: Torquay United vs Exeter City – Pre-Season Friendly

Venue: Plainmoor, Torquay

Date: Tuesday 30th July 2024

Kick-off: 7.45pm

EXETER FACT FILE

Year founded: 1901

Nickname: The Grecians

Last season’s league finish: 13th in League One

Notable honours:

Division Four/Division Three/League Two champions: 1989-90

THE MANAGER – GARY CALDWELL

Former Scotland international Gary Caldwell was appointed as Exeter City manager in October 2023, following Matt Taylor’s departure to Rotherham United.

Caldwell started his playing with Newcastle United, but after failing to break into the Magpies’ first team he joined Hibernian in 2004. His form for Hibs earned him a move to Celtic in 2006 and he won all three domestic trophies (the SPL, the Scottish Cup and the Scottish League Cup) before moving to the Premier League to sign for Wigan Athletic in 2010. He was part of the Latics’ squad that shocked Manchester City to win the FA Cup in 2013; he was an unused sub, but he lifted the trophy together with playing captain Emmerson Boyce.

In addition to this, Caldwell was also capped 55 times by Scotland and scored twice – including the winning goal in the Scots’ 1-0 win at Hampden Park during their qualifying campaign for Euro 2008.

As a manager, Caldwell was appointed as Wigan manager in April 2015 and was unable to stop the Latics from being relegated to the Championship at the end of the 2014-15 campaign. However, under his guidance, Wigan bounced back to win the League One title in the 2015-16 season.

After a poor start to the 2016-17 campaign, Caldwell was dismissed by the Latics before he was appointed as Chesterfield manager in 2017, but was unable to prevent the Spireites being relegated from League One at the end of the 2016-17 season. Nevertheless, after a poor start to the 2017-18 campaign he was dismissed by Chesterfield.

A spell in charge of Partick Thistle followed before Caldwell had a brief stint as Under-23’s manager at Newcastle United. He then returned to Hibs as assistant manager under his former Celtic and Wigan teammate Shaun Maloney, a post which he held until Maloney was sacked in April 2022 following a Scottish Cup game semi-final defeat to city neighbours Hearts.

Since he was appointed as manager of the Grecians in 2022, he has led the club to successive mid-table finishes, 14th in 2022-23 and 13th in 2023-24.

PLAYER TO WATCH – JOSH MAGENNIS

After starting his career as goalkeeper, Northern Irishman Josh Magennis switched to playing up front and went on enjoy a successful career with Cardiff City, Aberdeen, Kilmarnock, Charlton Athletic, Bolton Wanderers, Hull City and Wigan Athletic.

Internationally, Magennis has represented Northern Ireland at Under-17, Under-19 and Under-21 level before progressing to the senior squad, who represented in Euro 2016. He was also on target in Northern Ireland’s 3-1 win over Greece, which ensured their qualification for the tournament.

OLD BOYS

Torquay: Dean Moxey, Jordan Dyer, Dan Hayfield, James Hamon, Ben Seymour

Exeter: Shaun MacDonald

LAST MEETING – 22.07.23, TUFC 4-1 EXETER CITY

Torquay claimed local bragging rights with an emphatic win against an Exeter City side who were reduced to ten men early in the first half.

The Gulls set the tone for the afternoon on two minutes when Brad Ash was denied by the reflexes of the Grecians’ Aston Villa loanee keeper Vin Sinisualo.

A minute later, United were in front as Lewis Collins struck with a volleyed effort from the edge of the area.

United doubled their lead in the 16th minute when Ash curled home from 20 yards after being teed up by Aaron Jarvis.

Within a minute, City found themselves at a numerical disadvantage as Pierce Sweeney saw red for an off-the-ball challenge on Tom Lapslie.

On the stroke of half time, Demetri Mitchell raced towards goal for the Grecians before forcing a routine save from United keeper Mark Halstead.

Four minutes after the restart, the Gulls added a third through Jack Stobbs, who found the target with a delicate lob.

In injury time, skipper Asa Hall added a fourth from the penalty spot after sub Ross Marshall had his shirt pulled in the area. Moments later, the Grecians were awarded a spot kick of their own for a foul by Marshall on Ryan Trevitt, which he stepped up to convert.