Park Life

The 2023/24 League One season is coming to an end, which means it's also the final episode of Park Life too! We think we've saved the very best until last with our guest too. We've got super Gary Caldwell! No, literally, we do, as the manager joins Tom to dissect the season that was - from the highs, the lows, and all in between from an absolute rollercoaster of a campaign. We've also recruited two members of the Grecians' faithful to give their perspective on the season, ahead of the curtain closing at home to Oxford United on Saturday - with our opponents knowing they need a positive result in order to make the play-offs. To everyone who has listened to Park Life this season, THANK YOU for joining us and we wish you all a fantastic summer.

The season is in its final furlong with just five matches to go, and for City we're just two more home matches away from saying goodbye to the 2023/24 League One campaign. On the subject of five, that's also the number of games City have gone unbeaten after a positive Easter period, and the discuss that and much is Jack Aitchison, who has played a crucial role in City's good form. Regular pundit Sam Parks is back to discuss the fantastic win away at Cheltenham on Easter Monday, where he was in attendance, while Nate from the Boro Pod dials in the chat about Stevenage's race for the play-offs.

Park Life Podcast episode 18 is here as City prepare to take on Charlton Athletic at St James Park on Good Friday! Host Tom catches up with Jack Fitzwater, who talks about living with Colitis and how hard he has been working to break back into the team. Former Grecian Alan Tonge chats about his newbook ‘From Red to Read’ and talks on education for younger players. Finally Joe Puddifoot from Charlton Live provides the lowdown on the opposition!

Park Life Podcast episode 18 is here as City prepare to take on Burton Albion at St James Park on Saturday! Host Tom catches up with One of our Own Sonny Cox, fresh from signing a new two-year deal with the Grecians and scoring a stunning double against Bolton Wanderers. Sonny chats that new deal, playing for his boyhood club and more! Tom also catches up with football journalist and Burton fan Edward Walker to get the view on the Brewers and what City fans can expect this weekend. Finally, Tom chats to Niall O'Mara from XpressionFM to get his thoughts on City's recent few matches!

This week’s Park Life is a bumper double-header episode! It’s #HerGameToo weekend which means which both City men and women are playing at SJP, with the Gary Caldwell’s side facing Bolton before the table-topping Grecians face Maidenhead United on Sunday.   With that, it was only right to speak to City’s HerGameToo player ambassador Pierce Sweeney who talks about why he has thrown his weight behind the campaign to tackle sexism in football and encourage more women and girls into the sport.    One of the campaign’s founders, Lucy Ford, chats more to Tom about why it was started and the incredible progress they have made since they launched.   Amber Pollock from City Women is also on the show, as she talks about a big weekend ahead for the side, what it means to be playing at St James Park in front of a big crowd, and an overall look at the season so far.    Finally, one of Park Life’s regular pundits, Mikhail Shklover gives his lowdown on both matches. 

Park Life is back after a three week break as Exeter City return to home action at SJP! Fleetwood Town are the visitors to Devon this time around and Tom has plenty to bring you. City defender Zak Jules is the star of the show as he chats to Tom about his time in Devon since he joined the club last summer, City's recent form, as well as looking ahead to the big match on Saturday where the Grecians will be looking to bounceback from consecutive defeats against Derby and Lincoln. Ben Allan-Dahl from the exeG social media account gives his views on City's recent results and the game ahead, while we get the opposition view from Fleetwood Town fan Ben Knapman, host of Cods Vlogs and That League One Podcast.  City fan Matt Young also gives his experiences of dementia as the club turns it attentions to Alzheimer's and other hidden illnesses as part of the dedicated Level Playing Field weekend. 

It's been a fantastic fortnight for the Grecians, with two wins on the road, new faces in the January transfer window and some brilliant post-match celebrations and Park Life is back to dissect it all. At the heart of our defence since our upturn in form has been Cheick Diabate, who chats to Tom about his return to the side, while regular guest Sam Parks has his say on January's results and the Grecians' new recruitment. Max Alderson from the Gascast gives his views on Bristol Rovers, who are City's opponents for the second time in ten days, before Sustainability Officer, Travis Bramley tells us what we can all do to help reduce our carbon emissions and save the planet as part of the national Green Football Week.

Park Life is back as City host Cambridge United at SJP on Saturday, and on this week's episode, Tom is joined by the latest recruit to Gary Caldwell's squad - Ben Purrington. The Exeter born left-back made the move from Ross County, so Tom catches up with him to get the lowdown on the transfer. After a successful Devon Derby win over Plymouth in the EFL Youth Alliance, under-18s captain Tom Dean is also on the show to chat about that as well as the academy's season. Finally, Jules from the Under The Abbey Stand podcast gives the opposition view on Saturday's match, as City look to avenge their 2-0 defeat just before Christmas.

On Park Life this week, as City prepare to face Leyton Orient, Tom Picillo is joined by the Grecians' set-piece master Reece Cole to discuss his start to the season and how he has given his career a reboot. EFL expert, Gabriel Sutton gives his opinions on City's season so far and his hopes and expectations for the team, plus Tom is joined by the host of the Orient Outlook podcast to get an opposition view. Finally, as the club celebrates 20 years of supporter ownership by the Exeter City Supporters' Trust, Julen Beer discusses the club's rollercoaster journey over the last two decades.

On Park Life this week, as the Grecians prepare to take on Cheltenham, Tom Picillo is joined by City defender, and August's Player of the Month, Alex Hartridge who answers YOUR questions. City Women's Tash Knapman also discusses the team's season so far and previews their upcoming fixture against Moneyfields, which takes place at St James Park. Finnish journalist Eetu Ikola chats to Tom about Viljami Sinisalo and Ilmari Niskanen's international call-ups as the pair return from matches against Kazakhstan and Denmark. PLUS there's a chance to win two Big Bank tickets for our match against Northampton Town on Saturday, 30 September!

It's been quite the week for the Exeter City and on this week's Park Life, Tom Picillo is here to take us all the way through the highs and the lows of the Grecian rollercoaster. Tom is joined by City's cup hero Demetri Mitchell discuss THAT win over Luton Town and his ambitions to play for Jamaica, while Xpression FM'S Mikhail Shklover talks us through his take on Tuesday night. It's All Cobblers To Me's Danny chats to Tom about Saturday's opposition in Northampton Town, while Matt Riley, City fan and author, discusses his new book inspired by the Grecians' community ethos.

On Park Life this, week Tom Picillo chats to James Scott as they reflect on defeat at Charlton and preview the tough test with Barnsley at SJP on Saturday. City Women's striker Connie Pengelly discusses her return to the side after short sojourn at Torquay United, while Mark Dennis from "A View From the Big Bank" blog gives his opinion on all things City. Red All Over's Andy Simcox also gives us the lowdown on the opposition, Barnsley, as they head to Devon with the best away form in the league, fresh from a 4-0 win at Cambridge in midweek.

On Park Life this week, Tom brings you a bumper hour long special episode! With the men's first team not in action at SJP this weekend, we didn't want you Grecians missing out on a pod, so we've brought together some faces from parts of the club that we perhaps don't focus on too often on these airwaves! First, City legend and all-round good bloke, Richard Logan tells Tom some of his best memories in red and white as he reminisces about his time in Devon. Next, Womens' defender and infectious personality, Bow Jackson talks about what makes a 'good football team' as the Grecians prepare to take on Cheltenham Town from the division above in the FA Cup next Sunday. Our very own Scott Walker from the City Community Trust chats to Tom about saying goodbye to St James Park after 23 years in his role, telling us all about his new job, his best achievements with CCT, and how he ended up here in the first place. Finally, there's a quick chat with City under-18 Theo Cutler, fresh from his goal-scoring streak, as he reflects on the academy's season so far. We think this might be the best episode of Park Life yet, but judge for yourselves!

HYVÄÄ ITSENÄISYYSPÄIVÄÄ! That's Happy Independence Day in Finnish to you and me. Yes, Finland is celebrating and on that note, City's Ilmari Niskanen joins Tom on Park Life this week to discuss his recovery and return from injury plus how he maintains positivity despite adversity. XPression FM's Mikhail Shklover previews Saturday's game against Port Vale, and Tom is also joined by Johnny from the Ale and the Vale Podcast to get the opposition perspective. Finally, Proud Grecians founder Alan Quick talks about the tenth year of the Stonewall #RainbowLaces campaign, which City will be supporting this weekend.

Happy New Year, Grecians, and welcome back to the Park Life Podcast for 2024. As City embark on on a new year with new objectives, Tom Picillo is joined by winger Dion Rankine as he discusses scoring his first goal for the club at Reading on New Year's Day and talks about his time at the club so far. Mark Dennis from the View From the Bank Blog chats to Tom about City's festive fixtures and previews Saturday's fixture against Carlisle United, plus Lee Rooney from the Brunton Bugle Podcast gives the opposition view on what is a huge game for both sides.

Merry Christmas, Grecians! Welcome to a festive edition of Park Life as we preview the home games against Wycombe Wanderers and Portsmouth at St James Park, and touch on the Friday Night Lights at Cambridge. City Surinamese Super Sub, Yanic Wildschut, is this week's special guest as he talks about adapting to life in red and white - fresh from scoring that crucial equaliser at Stevenage last week. He then answers YOUR questions that you put to him on social media. Park Life regulars, Sam Parks and Mikhail Shklover from Xpression also join Tom to discuss the festive fixtures as well as taking part in the big Christmas quiz.

Park Life Pod is back as City's attentions turn to the Emirates FA Cup! In this week's show Tom Picillo is joined by City goalkeeper Viljami Sinisalo to talk about his love for Exeter City and what it feels like to play in goal for your country. Legendary Grecian winger, and iconic goalscorer Lee Holmes dials in from across the pond to talk about what was going through his mind when he scored that goal against Liverpool. Finally, Wigan fan Barry Worthington from the Progress with Unity podcast gives his take on how he thinks the tie will go on Saturday when City face the Latics at SJP.  

In this week's episode of Park Life, Tom Picillo is joined by Pierce Sweeney to talk about how he's feeling after the defeat to Derby and how the team are working together to get back to winning ways against Lincoln. BBC Radio Devon reporter, and former Grecian, Alan Tonge dissects what went wrong at Pride Park, whilst Gary Hutchinson from the Stacey West Blog talks about managerless Lincoln’s current situation and how results have started to pick up under caretaker manager Tom Shaw. Finally, Derek Baker from the Exeter City academy joins me to talk about how the Under 18s are getting on in the Youth Alliance league.

On Park Life this week, Tom Picillo chats to Sam Parks (XpressionFM) to preview the game against Wigan on Saturday and also talks about City's recent form. Vincent Harper talks about his call-up to the Kenya squad and how he's found life in Exeter since arriving at the club. Barry Worthington (the Progress with Unity Podcast) talks about Wigan's turbulent last year and has huge praise for club legend Gary Caldwell. Finally Harry Lee talks about his time at Weston-Super-Mare, his time in the first team, making his debut against Derby, and his ambitions to wear the number one shirt next season.

With City gearing up to take on Reading, on Park Life this week, Tom is joined by midfielder Ryan Trevitt, fresh from scoring his first professional goal last week at Carlisle. Exeter City Women's midfielder Zoe Watkins went three better, bagging four in the season opener at Bridgwater, and she discusses the start to the season as well as the Lionesses legacy from the FIFA World Cup. Sam Parks from the University of Exeter dissects the last two matches for the Grecians, and there is an opposition point of view as Matt Lansley from the Elm Park Podcast tells us what to expect, and what not to, from the Royals this weekend.