During this difficult period of disruption due to covid-19, the trustees on the community working group have continued to maintain and forge new links to community projects.
In July, the Trust joined forces with our counterparts from The Torquay United Supporters Trust and the Argyle Fans Trust to promote and support a campaign to fund and erect a statue in honour of Jack Leslie.
Jack, who played for Plymouth Argyle and played more than 400 times for the club from 1921-1935, was cruelly denied an England cap in 1925 when the England committee discovered he was black.
A crowdfunder was started to erect a statue in his honour at Home Park. Matt Tiller from the campaign group said that the process to produce the statue is now under way and thanks to the generosity of supporters from across the country, the project should be completed in autumn 2021, a century after Jack signed for the Pilgrims.
In August, the Trust was also thrilled to announce a new partnership with Exeter Community Initiatives. ECI is a charity that works in Exeter and across Devon to help people facing poverty, inequality, and homelessness, get their lives back on track. We have had some meetings, interviews, and photo shoots to promote the partnership, and all involved so far are very much looking forward to a productive and fulfilling relationship.
Looking ahead, December will see the Trust collaborating with Literature Works and Quay Words, to hold an event entitled ‘Why Football is good for Exeter’. We will be joined by sports, writer David Goldblatt, and Rob Casey – Bard of Exeter City F.C. The event will be broadcast live from Exeter Custom House and a free live stream will be available.
