Exeter City are back in pre-season training and defender Will Aimson emphasised the excitement at St James Park ahead of a new campaign in Sky Bet League One.

The Grecians packed away the flip flops from a hard-earned summer break, restarting with fitness and medical testing before the serious hard work, and hard runs, begin this week.

"It's great to be back seeing familiar faces amongst all the players and staff, it's exciting times," Aimson told the club website.

"We've all had a good summer and enjoyed some time off, we're all in good shape and ready to go. The gruelling part is still to come next week as it's just testing at the moment!

"We've been in two groups today, one working with the balls and doing a bit of training, and then the other group has been working on strength and conditioning in the gym.”

The fixtures have also been revealed for the new season and City will host Crawley Town in the first round of the Carabao Cup on Tuesday, August 8.

Exeter will begin their league campaign with a trip to Wycombe Wanderers on Saturday, August 5 and their first home game, a week later, will bring Blackpool to the Park. The Tangerines were relegated from the Championship in May.

City have a trip to Portsmouth on August 15 and then the epic journey to Carlisle (better to do it in the summer). The first month is completed by a visit from Reading, another side relegated from the third tier.

The Christmas schedule takes City to Cambridge United on December 23 and then a home game for Boxing Day, with Wycombe the visitors. Portsmouth are at the Park on December 29 and then it’s trip to Reading on New Year's Day.

Jonathan Grounds has departed the club and former striker Jevani Brown is believed to be joining Bristol Rovers on a free transfer.

City play their first pre-season fixture at Tiverton on July 7 and then have games at Mousehole, Bath City, Taunton Town, Torquay United and Bristol City. Coventry visit for a friendly at the Park on July 29.