Top Pair
- Simon Ellis
- Nov 25, 2023
- 2 min read
TIVERTON Town have completed loan deals for young Exeter City professionals Mitch Beardmore and Joe O'Connor.
The midfield pair come to the Ian Moorcroft Stadium fresh from a spell at Pitching In Southern League Division One South Tavistock.
Mitch and Joe, both 19, started a two-year scholarship with the Grecians in August 2021; made their debut in 2022; and turned professional in 2023.
Mitch had been a member of the Yeovil Town Academy before its closure and soon made good progress at Exeter, playing for the Under-18s in the EFL Youth Alliance and FA Youth Cup as well as appearing in City’s run to the final of the Devon St Luke’s Challenge Cup in May 2022.
He made his first-team debut away to Forest Green Rovers in October 2022 in the EFL Trophy and later sat on the bench for first-team league and cup games.
Starting this season as his first as a professional, Mitch appeared as a substitute in the EFL Cup against Stevenage in August and made his league debut as a substitute against Leyton Orient in September. After playing twice in the EFL Trophy, he joined Tavistock on loan last month.
Plymouth-born Joe played in the EFL Youth Alliance and FA Youth Cup during his first season as a scholar and was also in the team that lost to Bideford on penalties in the final of the Devon St Luke’s Challenge Cup.
Like Mitch, he made his first-team debut in October 2022 as a second-half substitute in the EFL Trophy at Forest Green Rovers. He then had a lengthy loan spell at Tavistock, winning their Young Player of the Year award, before signing professional for City in March 2023.
This season, Joe was an unused substitute for the EFL game against Leyton Orient in September before appearing as a starter in the EFL Trophy against Reading ahead of spending a further period on loan at Langsford Park.
Welcome to Ladysmead, guys.
