Palace goalkeeper Whitworth set to join Exeter on their week in Cornwall
EXETER City headed down to Cornwall yesterday for a four day training camp. The Grecians took on Southern League Division One South side Mousehole last night, before spending the rest of the week down in the Duchy as their pre-season preparations continue.
Last summer, in an identical preseason trip, City players were given the chance to take to the water and the waves as they went surfing. A similar kind of activity is planned for this year, although unlike 12 months ago, the players haven’t yet been told what it will be.
The trip away will be one for the squad and the new arrivals to get to know each other, spend some time socialising and bonding, but also will be a chance to see some of the players get their first action of pre-season. And it will strengthen the links that Exeter have with the Cornish outfit, who took Mitch Beardmore and Charlie Cummins on loan for the latter half of last season, with surely more loanees heading across the Tamar border this campaign.
“I wouldn’t use the word relax,” City’s assistant manager, Kevin Nicholson, said when asked about it. “We will work hard next week but in a different environment with different things going on. It will be a long hard season so we need to have that understanding and next week will give us that opportunity.
“Last year, they treated us well and the pitch is excellent. They do an amazing job on the pitch. It will be the first day of three nights down there for some training, team building, and developing in pre-season.
“I was there as player manager and enjoy going back, but it is all about the preparation for the players, and a way to break up pre-season. They do a lot of physical work, so to go away, we have a few bits lined up for the players, it is big for the preparation, and then into the following week to build to the Rotherham game.
“There will be the game on the Monday. Tuesday will be a social element where we have some bits lined up to share about themselves and get to know each other. Wednesday an activity outside of their comfort zone, and there will be some work on psychology - and then the Exmouth game on the Thursday for the younger pros and the Yeovil game on the Friday night.
“When the season starts and it becomes Saturday-Tuesday, if you have success and the days fly by and goes into business mode, you quickly move on to the next, for better or worse. At this stage, it is about the foundations to test physically, mentality, and to understand and we become a tight knit family over the season.”
The Grecians are expected to be joined in Cornwall by goalkeeper Joe Whitworth, who is believed to be closing in on a loan move to St James Park.
The 20-year-old, who is their Under-21 player of the year, has two Premier League appearances under his belt for Crystal Palace and is highly regarded at Selhurst Park, but the Eagles are keen for him to go out and spend a season on loan in Devon.
U21 captain Whitworth (pictured) also starred for the Eagles in their Premier League International Cup final win over PSV Jong at the end of last season.
He made his Premier League debut for the South Londoners at just 19 – becoming the club’s youngster goalkeeper in the top flight – in the 1-0 defeat at Brighton in March 2023.
Whitworth told the London newsonline in May: “I have had two full seasons of U23s and two starts in the Premier League.
“I have trained every day with the first team and the main thing for me now is to go and showcase myself to the world Hopefully I can get out on loan and get some games in me.
“I’m looking forward to working hard during the off-season and getting ready to go and smash next season.”
Defender Will Aimson, meanwhile, has not travelled to Cornwall after Exeter accepted an offer, believed to be from Wigan Athletic, for the 30-year-old’s services.
Teenager Beardmore, meanwhile, who spent time with Mousehole last season as they just missed out on a second successive promotion in the play-offs, had nothing but praise of his experience with the Seagulls. And he said that given the quality they have, it should be a tough game.
“I spoke to the gaffer and he was really positive about it,” Beardmore said. “He showed me a lot, and I really wanted to go. I am committed to doing what I can to be a better player and Mousehole was the option for that. I benefited from it and they planned around me to get the best out of us.
“It should be good. We did it last year and worked well and loved it. Everyone down as a team, the new players coming in to settle in and we learn a lot from them at training every day and hope to learn a lot.”
It will be City’s third game of preseason after a 2-1 win over Tiverton Town on Tuesday, before a 1-1 draw at Weston-super-Mare on Friday. The latter game saw Yanic Wildschut open the scoring inside three minutes, before Weston equalised four minutes later.