As we mark the EFL's 'Raised in the EFL' fortnight, we caught up with One of our Own, Ed James to discuss his time in the Exeter City Academy, and biding his time to make a mark in the first team.
Ed has been a Grecian since 8-years-old and has worked his way up through the ranks, but has had to be patient and work hard to get his big break to feature in the first team.
A series of loans at local non-league teams such as Tiverton Town, Weston-super-Mare and Dorchester have been crucial to Ed's learning and development of the beautiful game.
When asked what he was taught at an early age in the Academy, Ed said: "As a young player, they tried to implement a good attitude first of all, and a good personality.
"I remember them speaking about it - they used to call it A, B, C plus work rate and reactions. I actually had bravery and competitiveness and so from what I can remember, first of all, they tried making me not just better as a player, but as a person as well.
Ed's parents have played a massive role in his journey so far and he was keen to thank them and highlight their importance. " They have been absolutely massive for me," beamed Ed.
"I couldn't have done it without them. They have put in a lot of a lot of miles, a lot of long journeys. You know, getting me to and from games and training. Feeding me the right foods and such. So, yeah, I can. Couldn't ask for anything more. With both my parents. So, yeah, they were massive.
Ed tasted his first experience of men's football as an seventeen year old on loan at Saltash United, which was an eye-opening experience playing alongside men who had day jobs alongside football.
"It was much different from playing under-18 football. It was an eyeopener into men's football. I really enjoyed my time there with a different a different group getting involved with what feels like a different sport compared to under-18 football. It was a real good experience.
"The players would come in and speak about the jobs they've been out, what they're doing away from football. Being so young at the time I hadn't seen that before.
Ed had to quickly adapt to the physical nature of men's lower league football. "Being a centre-half, I think first two games there was a real shock at how many times I had to head the ball to fend crosses, you know, do the real ugly side of the game, but it's something I definitely needed."
The loan spells set Ed up for his first taste of first team football, which came in the EFL Trophy in 2020 against Southampton U21 at St James Park. An experience that Ed relished
"That was brilliant. That felt like the first real step for me to becoming a better player. I knew I had to perform well, and I was nervous before the game. To get that game in at a young age was perfect for me and helped me out massively. It gave me the inch to want more too."
Ed didn't have to wait long for his league debut, which came on October 15, 2022 as City hosted Oxford United in EFL Sky Bet League One. Ed started the match on the bench, but was called into action after half-hour, when captain Pierce Sweeney had to be replaced.
"I feel I was probably as prepared as I could have been at the time. I knew we were short on players at the time so that there could have been a chance that that I did play if someone was injured. And then when Sweenz went down, and Kevin Nicholson was in charge at the time, he looked at me and we put the trust in me to put me on the pitch."
"I got around 60 minutes of League One football at the time and it was a massive experience."
Following Gary Caldwell taking over at City, Ed once again went out on loan, this time to Dorchester where he had his most productive spell:
"Dorchester was probably my most successful loan out of all of them. I played 26 games and went on a real good streak of consistant appearances too.
"Playing week in, week out, 90 minutes of playing a good team as well for the level. That was probably my most useful loan experience, I think, to this day. I really enjoyed that one. "
City's No.40 feels that all young academy players should learn their trade out on loan and that the experience really sets you up for first team football:
"They are massive. I feel like I needed those loans. You know, some of them didn't go as well as others, but every single one of them I learned I learned different things, got new experiences. I think as a young player, getting men's football is massive and something you need to do.
"I feel like it really means something. And as I said, that's something I learned early on with my first loan spell."
On the 6th of April, Ed's biggest milestone so far came when he was called upon to make his first professional league start as City hosted Doncaster Rovers in EFL Sky Bet League One. It couldn't have gone better personally for Ed as City picked up a 3-0 win and Ed was named the sponsors 'man-of-the-match'.
"I was just coming back off of an injury and I had a few good weeks training. I remember after a session, I was told by Matt Taylor to prepare myself as if I'm going to play or for the Doncaster game.
"So I was like 'this is this is my chance' I've got to take it here. I just went into the game in a good position to play after training well, I was confident going into it. I couldn't have asked for much more for my full league debut. A clean sheet and being named 'man-of-the-match."
Ed took his opportunity with both hands and since then he's not looked back, featuring in all of City's League matches and playing in two Devon Derbies, and he's really enjoying his football.
"This is what I've been working towards all this time. And I'm finally doing it playing for Exeter, which is what I've always wanted to do. I'm right where I want to be, and I just want to keep going. I will keep pushing on."
When asked what advice he would give similar players, he added:
"Exeter put a lot of trust in me and they've been patient with me. So I'm really thankful for the opportunities they've given me. And yeah, football is not an easy ride - you have got to keep your head down. Keep going.
"This club means a lot to me. I wear the shirt of pride every time I put it on."
When asked what Ed hopes the 26/27 will bring personally, he added: "Just to keep playing as much as possible and hopefully picking up more clean sheets. I need to start chipping in with a few goals here and there, but the chances are coming!"