This week marks the EFL’s annual celebration of Youth Development across its 72 member clubs. At Exeter City, that celebration feels particularly fitting. 

The Grecians are renowned for consistently promoting academy graduates into the first team, and this season alone has seen senior EFL debuts for George Birch, Kieran Wilson, and Charlie Cummins.
 
Among them, 18-year-old George Birch has quietly caught the eye. An attacking midfielder who joined City’s academy at under-14 level following the closure of Yeovil Town’s setup, George signed his first professional contract in May 2025. For many supporters, his rise may have seemed sudden, but behind the scenes his journey has been years in the making.

Speaking about joining the Club at a young age he said: “I remember coming from Yeovil and playing a few in-house games and 11v11s. I just wanted to enjoy myself, take people on, and play my football. A few of the lads from Yeovil came too, like Jake Richards, and Exeter just felt like the right place.”

Not only is the Academy’s goal to produce the next generation of footballers, but Exeter City also prides itself in developing well rounded young men and women - suitably fitting our ethos as a club for the community. For Everyone.

“They want you to be a good person away from football,” George said. “Of course, the football is important, but the academy puts a big focus on school too, because football doesn’t last forever.”

His journey hasn’t been without challenges. Injuries threatened to slow his progress, but the support of staff and coaches proved crucial.

“I’ve had loads of support from the coaches. I’ve spent a lot of my time injured, so the Strength and Conditioning coaches have really helped me to get back on pitch and to keep my morale up.

“You're seeing everyone else train you feel like you're behind and like you're missing out and you're not really enjoying yourself when you're in the gym seeing everyone else play football, but I think it motivated me, and I just gave it what I could to get back.”

The biggest milestone in George’s career came in May 2025 when he was offered the chance to sign a professional deal alongside teammates Liam Oakes and Kieran Wilson.

Speaking about signing the contract, George added: “I was the last person to go up and was a bit nervous, but once I got told it was a big relief. My parents were delighted. My dad was there when I signed, and they were so happy for me.”

Arran Pugh, Academy Director commented on George being offered the deal, he said: "George had a few injuries but has shown a lot of ability and great mindset to bounce back from set backs. He has really impressed in the opportunities he has had, whether that be the first team staff or the academy staff. We have been really impressed with his creativity and some of his technical skills and his football intelligence."

George joined Gary Caldwell’s first team for the 25/26 pre-season schedule which included local games at Weston-super-Mare, Torquay and a trip away to FC United of Manchester and a home match against Championship side Swansea City. George was given plenty of playing time as Gary Caldwell took a look to see what he could offer his side.

“It was really enjoyable. I had a good time, and the level was much more difficult.  Once I started playing, I thought I was doing well so I was happy with the minutes I was given. Gary said I was doing well - just the main thing was to keep doing what I'm doing and to just enjoy myself, go with my player and take people on!”

As well as the step up in football standards, George has had to adjust to the change in environment as he has joined the first team set-up and become a member of the changing room with his new teammates.

“It's more structured and it is better over all, I know when I can go in the gym and then go to places that we are allowed to go to, like the Golf and Country Club and those types of places for rehab.

“It's more of a strain on the body which takes getting used to. Even today after training I was blowing, and I know my body's just adjusting to the change. I've had to miss a couple of days now and then, but I feel my body's is getting up to speed.

“Everyone has been great welcoming us into the first team – the players and staff.”

After signing a professional deal, the next milestone to tick off is the prestigious EFL League appearance – and George wouldn’t have long to wait for this moment. George was named on City’s first team sheet of the 25/26 season away at Doncaster Rovers and took to the pitch after 77 minutes, replacing Reece Cole.

Speaking about the special moment George added: “I don't think I was as nervous as I should have been. I think with a bit more nerves I would have played a bit more like safer and maybe that would have allowed me to go into the game a bit more. To play was huge for me. I was proud.”

Just days later George would make his first professional start for the Grecians as City headed to Cheltenham Town in the first round of the Carabao Cup. Whilst the result didn’t go as City hoped, and a 2-0 defeat saw the club exit the Cup – it was a special occasion and something George will learn from.

“Playing the whole game with the first team players behind you is so helpful,” said George. “Getting that experience and just being able to get a proper feel of first team football for 90 minutes was really helpful for me.”

For inspiration, George doesn’t have to look far. Former academy graduates like Ethan Ampadu and Ollie Watkins have shown the path from Exeter to the highest level.

“It shows you there's a path through Exeter that you can go to, to get to the top. Seeing them, especially Ollie Watkins and what they're doing is really motivating for me.

None of George’s career so far would have been possible without the support of his parents and he was keen to show how thankful he is to them for their sacrifices. 

“My dad used to just take me down to the park for a bit of football, and then he ended up driving me like an hour and a half to training because Exeter was so far from when I lived. 

“The amount they have done for me so far is so much, three times a week for an hour and a half there and back. They've done so much for me.”

George has made three appearances so far this season and when asked what his hopes for this season are, he said: “I just want to play as much football as I can. I want to enjoy myself, learn and to get as much game time as I can.”

George’s story is like so many who have put the time and effort in during the early days in the academy to impress and push to become a professional footballer.

As the EFL celebrates Youth Development across the three leagues, the chorus from the Big Bank will always hail the "local lads… who love the Red and White, because the Academy is Dynamite!".