Kite appreciates second chance after Exeter return

Harry Kite returned to Exeter City in the summer after two years away [Shutterstock] Harry Kite hopes he can repay Exeter City's faith in him after his first league start since re-joining the club. The 26-year-old midfielder moved back to St James Park in the summer, two years after leaving the club. Kite spent last season at Truro City in the National League having missed much of the 2024-25 season with a serious hamstring injury. He played most of City's 2-1 win over Fleetwood Town as they continued their impressive run of form this month. "I've had a difficult couple of years," Kite told BBC Radio Devon. "Not everyone would necessarily get the opportunity that I've been given to come back. I appreciate that there's players here that have played at this level for longer than I have. "So I knew there was competition for places when I came in, but I just had to try and keep training, do well when I come on and and get an opportunity like I did today." Exeter re-sign midfielder Kite from Truro 'Time to move on' says Exeter midfielder Kite Having come up through Exeter City's academy, Kite was part of the side that won promotion from League Two in 2022 under Matt Taylor. The Exeter boss, who returned for a second spell at St James Park in March, agreed a one-year deal with Kite, with an option for a second season, when he signed him in August. Taylor says he is delighted that Kite has been able to get back into the side after starting in place of the injured Jake Doyle-Hayes. "It's a big moment for him because he's been out the game for a couple of years, a big moment for his family," he told BBC Radio Devon. "But now it's a challenge from me to him that this has to be the start and now he's got to get fitter, stronger, faster and better so I can keep on trusting him." For Kite, it is the latest chapter in a career that saw him play 102 times for Exeter in all competitions before his departure. After a brief spell at Yeovil Town towards the end of the 2024-25 season his time at Truro last term was not the success he had hoped for. He made just 14 appearances as the Tinners finished bottom of the National League in their debut season in the fifth tier. "The fans are fantastic but they probably don't realise what a difficult and challenging environment football can be in terms of being under so much pressure all of the time," Kite explained. "When I was out of it for a couple of years with the injury and then last season probably didn't play the amount of games I would like, it sort of feels like you're getting further and further away. "But I felt like when I played over the last couple of years I'd done well, it was just getting the opportunity to keep showing what I can do. "I'm really happy to be back, obviously everyone knows this is my home club and it was difficult making the decision to leave in the first place, so it's great to be back and today shows what you miss when you're not here." Listen to Exeter City content on BBC Sounds All the latest Exeter City news