Exeter City Supporters’ Trust calls for solidarity with fan-owned clubs ahead of FA Cup tie

Exeter City are proud to be one of a small number of English professional clubs owned by their

supporters. Since saving the club from near-liquidation in 2003, Exeter City Supporters’ Trust has held a majority shareholding, ensuring that the club is run for the long term, with the local community at its heart.

Competing in League One as a fan-owned club brings unique challenges. Without wealthy owners or benefactors, Exeter City rely on careful financial management, the dedication of volunteers, and the generosity of supporters and sponsors. Rising costs across the game, combined with recent fire damage at our ground, have made this season particularly challenging.

For clubs such as Exeter City, the FA Cup is about far more than prestige. It offers a rare chance to generate much-needed income and to showcase a different way of running a football club on a national and international stage. Unfortunately, with no replays, and with our tie not selected for TV coverage, that opportunity is more limited than it might otherwise have been.

The draw against Manchester City has nevertheless generated huge excitement. Tickets sold out rapidly, and nearly 8,000 Grecians will travel to the Etihad Stadium to see their club take on one of the most successful teams in Europe. Alongside the excitement on the pitch, there is also a strong awareness among supporters that off-pitch stability is just as important to the future of the club.

In recognition of Exeter City’s supporter-ownership model and the financial realities faced by fan-owned clubs, the Club have written to Manchester City to ask whether they would consider voluntarily transferring a portion of their share of the matchday gate receipts to Exeter City. Under FA regulations, gate receipts are normally split equally, with 45% allocated to each club, and any such gesture would therefore represent discretionary support from Manchester City. It would have a tangible impact on their finances and would stand as a strong statement of solidarity with sustainable, fan-owned football.

Alongside this request, football fans who wish to help strengthen Exeter City’s future can do so by making a donation at: https://exetercityfc.ktckts.com/donation/exedfzc/exeter-city-fc-donation

We are immensely proud of our club, our players and our supporters, and we look forward to an

unforgettable FA Cup occasion – one that reflects not just the magic of the competition, but the values that make Exeter City special.

Pete Ferlie

Chairman

Exeter City Supporters’ Trust