Woods rekindles 'love for football' at Exeter City

Ryan Woods has missed the first two League One games of the season after a red card in the penultimate game of last season

Ryan Woods said he has found his love for football again after joining Exeter City.

The 30-year-old midfielder moved permanently to the League One side this summer from Hull City having spent the second half of last season on loan at the Grecians.

Woods made 27 appearances for Hull after joining them in the summer of 2022 but spent all of last season on loan, including a spell at Bristol Rovers.

"I had a great time here, I really did. I found my love for football again," he told BBC Radio Devon.

Woods hopes to return to the team for Saturday's League One home match against Peterborough United having missed the first two league games of the season due to a suspension.

But he said working under City manager Gary Caldwell has reinvigorated a career that included stops at Stoke City, Millwall and Birmingham City since leaving Brentford in 2019.

"I've not had that really suited style of play since probably Brentford, so that's been a long time now," he added.

"But I feel really comfortable here. The gaffer's excellent with me, all the staff are excellent, the fans have been brilliant with me, and we've got a real good group of players as well.

"Ultimately, I've come here to find my love for football and enjoy it again, but to also try and do something successful, and there's a lot to aim for at this football club.

"It's going in the right direction and hopefully we can surprise a few this season and see where that takes us."