City Boss Backs Trust Membership Drive
For ten years Exeter City FC has been proving that a football club owned by its supporters can be successful. This has not been easy, particularly as many of City’s rivals have considerable money available to them which is ploughed in by an owner who all too often can bankrupt the club when they get tired of their plaything; and who very often does not have the interests of ordinary supporters at heart.
Despite often being at a financial disadvantage to their rivals, Exeter City FC has enjoyed some fantastic moments whilst under the ownership of its fans. The famous draw against Manchester United at Old Trafford, victory over Devon rivals Torquay United at Plainmoor in a Playoff Semi-Final, two matches and a promotion at Wembley, and promotion to the third tier of English football the following year. In the process supporters owned Exeter City has had wins over Sheffield Wednesday and Charlton in League 1, and finished in their highest place in the Football League since before the last war!
Despite all the recent successes, City, along with many in today’s society, are having to cope with the tough financial realities that the current economic climate is causing. However the Trust Board believes that navigating these rough financial waters is entirely possible by maintaining a strong and vibrant Trust membership to underpin the club’s foundations. With this goal in mind the Trust is launching a membership drive to grow the size of the Trust’s Membership and increase the financial contribution we can make to the Club.
The Supporters’ Trust is encouraging ALL City fans who are not yet members to join the Trust. New members who sign up before 1st February 2013 will be entered in into a special prize draw. Winners will have the chance to attend a first team training session at the Cat and Fiddle training ground and, afterwards take lunch with City’s playing and coaching staff. There will also be runners up prizes including signed Trust t-shirts and photographs of City players wearing those shirts.
Entrance into this draw is not only restricted to new members. Existing members may enter the draw, by raising their subscriptions by at least £24 per year (only £2 per month).
Backing the Trust’s Membership Drive is City Manager and Trust Member Paul Tisdale, who is urging supporters who haven’t signed-up to the Trust to follow his lead, by being part of the ‘We own our Football club’ movement.
Tis said: “The fact that we own our club is very rare. It brings a group of people together that care for Exeter City, myself included. I would encourage all supporters’ to either join the Trust or renew and increase their membership. This is a real chance to become part of the clubs future and help the team achieve success on and off the field.”
With Christmas fast approaching, why not consider if any of your friends or family might just appreciate being enrolled as a Trust member by you as their Christmas present? Any person you purchase a membership for will automatically (as a new member) be entered into the prize draw described above. Buying a Trust Membership not only helps Exeter City towards its ambitions on the pitch, but also attracts a host of other benefits – all of which are available on the Trust website www.ecfcst.org.uk/benefits
Member’s who wish to enter the prize draws, can join by standing order by filling in the mandate details on a Trust Membership Form, or enclose a cheque for a year’s subscription. Then either hand it in at ECFC Reception Desk (where you can obtain application forms) or post to; Frank Sealey, Trust Membership Secretary, Exeter City Football Club, St James Park, Stadium Way, Exeter.
Those who wish to enter the prize draw by increasing their subscription can either pay the extra amount by cheque, or complete a new standing order mandate for the revised amount and send to Frank Sealey, or hand in to ECFC Reception Desk. Members who want to pay by cash must do so personally at the ECFC Reception Desk, please do not send cash in the post.
For more details of how to join the Trust, please visit www.ecfcst.org.uk/join
