Steve gives an exclusive interview to The Grecian
With last weekend’s fixture against Bristol Rovers being postponed on grounds of safety, it means that Monday’s game is a reverse of City’s last outing, when Torquay played host to the Grecians at Plainmoor.
And for Paignton-born Steve Tully, who turned out 125 times for the Gulls before joining Exeter, these games always have an extra dimension to them. The rearranged Tuesday-night fixture two weeks ago was a first competitive trip to Torquay for City since 2008, and Tulls enjoyed a journey back to his old stomping ground as much as anyone.
“You always like to play a game in between, but you can’t always help things like the weather,” said Tully. “So it looks like it’s back-to-back Torquay games!
“I always enjoy going back to Plainmoor to play. It’s a good atmosphere, and I always enjoy getting a bit of stick! It’s all good fun – it’s never spiteful or anything like that. It’s always done in the right way, and you have to take it on the chin as a former player in a local derby.”
And despite being a boyhood Everton fan growing up in the era of Tony Cottee, Pat Nevin and Peter Beagrie, he also often went to stand on the terraces of his local side as a kid too.
“Me and my dad used to go quite regularly to watch Torquay. We ended up going to Wembley when they lost to Bolton in the Sherpa Vans final as it was then, and we used to go quite regularly to Plainmoor on a Saturday when they were at home.
“So finally playing for them was a big thing for me, and I loved every second. I can look back on my time there with fond memories and I wouldn’t change it for anything.”
You can read the full interview with Steve Tully in the matchday programme, The Grecian, which will be on sale around the ground as usual – where he talks about the redevelopments at Plainmoor, the 2008 play-off clash against the Gulls, and his love for Exeter. And if you miss your copy, don’t worry – you can get hold of a digital edition of the programme after kick-off by downloading the Matchday Digital app for iPad and iPhone – try it today, there’s a freebie of the AFC Wimbledon programme to download.
Normal ticketing conditions apply for this fixture, which is also being broadcast live on Sky Sports. Come on down to the Park and help Exeter show the rest of the nation our passionate and colourful support! Tickets will be on sale from ticket booths and turnstiles as usual before the 7.45pm kick-off.