The 2026/27 EFL Sky Bet League Two fixtures are released on Thursday, June 25 at 12pm!
With that in mind, we're spinning back the clocks. This piece will take a trip down memory lane, looking at how the Grecians have fared in each of their last five opening day outings.
1. August 10, 2024: Doncaster Rovers 1 Exeter City 0
The Grecians fell to their first opening day defeat in EIGHT years at newly promoted Doncaster Rovers in a frustrating opening to the 25/26 League One season.
With the game seemingly heading for a goalless stalemate, Sil Swinkels was deemed to have handled the ball with two minutes of time remaining, with Luke Molyneux stepping up to slot past Joe Whitworth. Though defeated, City can take heart from senior debuts handed to Kieran Wilson and George Birch in the second half, with the duo having impressed during pre-season.
2. August 10, 2024: Exeter City 1 Rotherham United 0
The Grecians hit the ground running at the start of the 24/25 season with a 1-0 opening day win over Rotherham United at SJP.
Rotherham were one of the teams tipped to go straight back up to the Championship, but City found the edge.
An end-to-end game entertaining game had chances at both ends for either side, but a ball off Caleb Watts’ chest mid-way through the second half marked the difference between Exeter City and Rotherham United at St James Park.
3. August 5, 2023: Wycombe Wanderers 0 Exeter City 3
Exeter City began the 2023/24 in style with a rampant and convincing 3-0 at Wycombe Wanderers.
Jack Aitchison's strike after 28 seconds set City on their way, before Will Aimson's prod made it two by the 4th minute. James Scott added gloss in the final ten minutes as the Grecians set Adams Park alight.
4. July 31, 2022: Lincoln City 1 Exeter City 1
Exeter City started life back in EFL Sky Bet League One after a decade, with a very well earned 1-1 draw away to Lincoln City.
As the rain came down 579 Grecians made the 500+ mile round trip to the LNER Stadium for the Grecians first appearance in League One for ten years.
A beautiful goal courtesy of some magic between Jevani Brown and Sam Nombe secured Exeter's first points of the season.
5. August 7, 2021: Exeter City 0 Bradford City 0
Whatever the result was to be, there was a sense of celebration in the air as fans returned to St James Park for the first time in over a year after a Covid-enforced absence. All four sides of the Park was packed with jubilant fans from both sides, many of whom had not seen their teams play since March 2020.
After a moment’s applause for legendary manager Terry Cooper and life-long City fan and East-Devon Grecian John Lee, the 2021/22 season kicked off.
Cameron Dawson marked his debut with a series of sensational saves to deny the ever-dangerous Lee Angol and earn a deserved Man of the Match.
Timothee Dieng, Jack Sparkes and Matt Jay tested Richard O’Donnell in the away side’s goal and Nigel Atangana went closest for the Grecians late on, but neither side could quite find the finishing touch.