Exeter Trust's Investment Tops £1 Million

In 2003 Exeter City were relegated to the ranks of non league with debts in excess of £4.5 Million pounds, and with little option but to turn to its fans for financial support. Now the club has now seen a meteoric rise in its fortunes under the ownership of its fans, and is currently the only Trust owned football club in the Football League.

Trust in us: City in the hands of fans

Speaking of the achievement of contributing over £1 Million pounds to the Exeter City, Trust chairman Denise Watts said; "This is a truly staggering achievement. To raise this sort of money for the Football Club as a set of fans is absolutely amazing, and goes to show the sense of feeling there is towards Exeter City and its well supported Trust."

The true value of the support to Exeter City Football Club from its fans is impossible to calculate, with much support coming in the way of voluntary work. The Exeter City work parties have been taking place since the Trust assumed control of the club in 2003, and are still going strong today. Work party volunteer and Trustee (Director) Martin Lawrence said; "The Support that Exeter City FC has received from its fans in the last 6 years has been immense, and whilst over £1 million pounds has been contributed to the club by the Trust, the contributions of the fans are likely to make the true total much, much more."

In addition to the monies loaned to Exeter City FC by the Supporters' Trust, other fundraising initiatives such as the Red or Dead? campaign have helped raise over £140,000 for projects at Exeter City. Trust Treasurer Nigel Banks commented; "The Red or Dead? scheme is one of a number of fundraising initiatives set up to help support the club during its toughest times. The Red or Dead? campaign has helped fund a number of items around the club including over £25,000 for the development of the Grecian Learning Centre in the Flybe stand".

Much of the contributions from the Supporters' Trust to Exeter City FC have come from the donations and subscriptions of Supporters' Trust members themselves, and with the launch of new initiatives such as the 1931 fund (a scheme set up by exiled supporters, to encourage fans to contribute up to £19 per month to help fund the wages of City prospect James Norwood) the financial support to the football club remains strong.

Former chair of the football club Denise Watts said: "With the whole country in the grip of recession, it is especially gratifying to see so many people continuing to support the club via the Trust itself. We have come a long way in the time the Trust has been in control, and much of the success of recent years has been possible thanks to our tremendous support from our fans and Trust members."

The Exeter City Supporters' Trust continues to contribute over £6,500 per month to Exeter City Football Club and its board of society would like to thank everybody who has helped to make this possible.

The Supporters' Trust would also like to remind its members that it will be holding its annual general meeting on Saturday 24th October at 11:30 in the Jurys Inn, Western Way, Exeter. The Trust is also delighted to announce that new Interim Chief Executive of Exeter City FC Norrie Stewart will be attending for a special question & answer session, which the board of society hope will be well attended.

For more details of this years AGM and for more details on the Exeter City Supporters' Trust visit the official website at www.ecfcst.org.uk

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