The matchday 50/50 draw has raised an incredible £24,087 for the Exeter City Academy.
Dave Bennett and his intrepid team of volunteers have been selling the 50/50 Tickets on behalf of the Supporters' Club for many years.
The draw at St James Park sees half the money going directly to the club, and half been given away to draw winners in prize money. The team of sellers from the Supporters' Club tour the stadium before the games kick off, selling draw tickets to supporters for 50p each.
The draw then takes place on the pitch at half-time, with one lucky ticket-holder claiming the jackpot of half the winnings, with the other half being donated to the club. A number of our winners this season have shown exceptional levels of generosity too, by donating a portion of their takings to the club by giving to the youth academy or other causes.
This season alone the under-9’s through to under-14’s have played fixtures away against Aston Villa and Chelsea. For several age groups, there have been visits to Arsenal, Manchester United, QPR and Birmingham City and an under-15 tournament with Wolves, Fulham, Brighton and NEC Brada at Millfield School. Academy teams attended a six team tournament at Stoke City and the U18s were able to benefit from trips to Keele University and 42 Commando Unit for their preseason tour.
As well as supporting the costs associated with these away games, the significant funding also enables the academy to purchase GPS equipment which is used to monitor and support the U16 and U18 players' physical development on a weekly basis.
For U7 to U18s, it enables them to purchase video analysis equipment such as video cameras, stands and analysis software and it also means the academy can update their equipment each year, replacing any damaged goals, nets, mannequins, footballs, bibs and cones.
All of this has helped the development of our young players on and off the pitch, so as you can imagine, they are incredibly grateful!
The Supporters’ Club also sponsors a player, usually an academy graduate, and this season’s player, George Birch, will always be remembered for scoring the best goal in the tie at the Etihad in the FA Cup 3rd Round.
The 50/50 draw has helped the likes of Dean Moxey, George Friend, Matt Grimes, Josh Key and, of course, Ollie Wakins to name a few.
The club would like to say a huge thank you to the sellers for their hard work in raising funds for the club and for helping to create a bumper jackpot for one winner at every match, and thanks to all that take part in the 50/50 Draw!
Roll call of 2025/26 winners:
- Bradford City - £1335 - Mr Bibby
- Gwalia United - £100 - Bradley Allen
- Stockport County - £1020 - Mike Jordan
- Doncaster Rovers - £1000 - Alan Densham
- Leyton Orient - £1035 - Heritage Homes
- Cardiff City - £1035 - Julie Dunstan
- Lincoln City - £725 - Phil Bennett
- Burton Albion - £830 - Steve Darke
- Bolton Wanderers - £1060 - David O'Neil
- Wycombe Wanderers - £835 - Heidi Wylie
- Northampton Town - £1015 - George Green
- Rotherham United - £1095 - Adam Cutler
- Stevenage - £895 - Denise Watts
- Luton Town - £1200 Nick Flabin
- Barnsley - £940 - Tomas Brown
- AFC Wimbledon - £695 - Dave Seers
- Wycombe Wanderers - £815 - Nick Flabin
- Wigan Athletic - £1065 - Leslie Horn
- Plymouth Argyle - £1295 - Dan Hoyland
- Reading - £935 - Nick Flabin
- Huddersfield Town - £865 - Shaun Goff
- Cardiff City - £100 - James Sparkes
- Port Vale - £875 - Julie Moyle
- Peterborough United - £910 - Heidi Wylie
- Mansfield Town - £910 - Sam Coles
- Blackpool - £990 - Ryan Walker