Argyle made their first signing of the summer on Wednesday, with the addition of former Burton Albion defender Alex Hartridge.
A local lad, the 27-year-old was born in Torquay, brought up in Totnes, an came through the academy ranks at Exeter City, where he would later go on to make his professional debut.
Therefore, when the defender put pen to paper in PL2 on Wednesday, despite it being a new club to him, it very much felt like a return home.
“It’s quite surreal,” Hartridge told Argyle TV. “Being around the club today, the connection I’ve got to the area, and how much I know about Argyle means it’s a huge deal for me.
“Devon is home for me; the South West is home for my partner, so it’s a place we love, and we miss when we are not there. Being back down here was a huge draw, as well as the football club.
“I remember in particular coming down and watching Argyle play Leeds [when I was young], and to think back to that and come to today signing here, I wouldn’t have believed it if you had told me that then.
“I feel coming back to the area now a completely different person and player. I feel more confident in my own game, I feel more aware of what puts me in a good position and what makes a successful team.
“What success looks like here is probably a level above what success has looked like at clubs that I’ve been successful for, so that’s a challenge I’m looking forward to embracing.
“Footballing wise, it’s a great opportunity, it’s a massive club, a club of a size I’ve not had the opportunity to play for in my career.”
Addressing the elephant in the room – his ties to the Grecians – Hartridge spoke of the Devon Derbies he had played in previously.
He said: “The standout moments [at Exeter] beyond the promotion, was playing the games against Argyle, so it’s a rivalry I’m fully aware of and two clubs I know really well.
“The size of this club is something that I’ve known about forever, and it’s a real draw.
“I thought about the connection I’ve got with Exeter, and what will come because of that, but that’s something I’m looking forward to embracing.”
Throughout his career, Hartridge has been utilised predominantly at centre-back, but also on occasion at left-back. Therefore, the former Burton man feels comfortable operating in various roles across the Greens’ defence.
“I’ve played left-back, left of a three, and left centre-half in a four. I feel comfortable in those areas defensively, and delivering forward on the ball to create things at the other end.
“I pride myself on being a good defender, I try to take reasonability for my job. So that means putting my body on the line and putting my head where it hurts, just wearing my heart on my sleeve.
“He (Tom Cleverley) sees me slotting in well, so trust in that; it’s an opportunity footballing wise that’s going to be amazing for me.”
Hartridge was pleased to get the move done early in the summer, his future certain ahead of the 2026/27 campaign.
“For different reasons I’ve gone into an off-season break without really knowing where I’ll be reporting to come the end of June,” he said.
“This has gone perfectly, having a couple of weeks to make this decision, and then a month to be settled here, ready for what comes.
“A day like today gets me excited for the start of August, but also just getting back and being in and around it again.”
Catch Alex Hartridge’s first interview as a Pilgrim, in full, on Argyle TV, here.