Exeter City’s Ambassadors, the matchday welcoming and meet-and-greet team, have handed over £3,000 to the Club’s Academy following another successful year of fundraising.
The donation was presented during a visit to the Cliff Hill Training Ground and will help fund the refurbishment of the Academy changing rooms, including new signage and imagery designed to create an inspiring environment for the Club’s young players.
The Ambassador Team would like to place on record its sincere thanks to all supporters who have contributed through the Fan Zone Academy Stall and Information Point, as well as the Optimising IT Adam Stansfield Stand activity.
The latest donation takes the total amount raised and handed over to the Academy by the Ambassadors to an impressive £15,441.75 since 2018.
Academy Head of Coaching and Player Development, Ian Parkes, thanked the Ambassadors and supporters for their continued generosity: "On behalf of the Academy, I’d like to thank the Ambassadors and all the supporters who have contributed so generously. Updating the changing room signage was important in providing our young players with an inspiring environment in which they can prepare for training and games with imagery containing key academy messaging and successful former academy graduates all around them.
“I must also thank Joe at Raven Signs who did an excellent job to bring the ideas to life. The facilities are an important part of the overall player experience, and improvements like these help us create an environment that reflects the standards and aspirations we have for our Academy. The support from the Ambassadors has made a real difference, and we are extremely grateful for their continued commitment to the Academy.”
Thanks to your generous donations the Ambassadors have handed over £15,441.75 over the years. Dating from the first donation of £2,001.96 in September 2018 for mini-goals. Other purchases have included a variety of training materials and video equipment.
Donations to date:
- May 2019: £1,497.08
- Nov 2023: £5,742.71 (post Covid)
- August 2025: £3,200
- August 2026: £3,000
Academy Director , Arran Pugh, added: “The Ambassadors are a fantastic example of what makes our Club so unique in its family feel and positive engagement with all who connect to Exeter City FC. It’s been a pleasure getting to know the Ambassador team over the past 8 years and seeing first-hand the great work that they do to make the Football Club a welcoming place for all.
"The funds that have been raised for the Academy are invaluable in supporting the development of our young people and we would like to say a huge thank you for their ongoing support.
"We continually strive to inspire the boys in their development journey and the images and branding that Raven Signs have expertly added to our changing rooms will be huge in motivating the next generation of talent for the Club.
"A big thank you also to everyone who has contributed to the fundraising efforts of the Ambassadors by donating for team sheets, we appreciate your support.”
Richard Knight, Supporter Liaison Officer, was full of praise for the commitment and match day support of the impressive Ambassador team. He said: "The ambassadors do an amazing job in making sure both home and away fans are welcomed and looked after at St James Park.
"Their sterling engagement efforts have been rewarded many times with EFL recognition, for which the Club can't thank them enough."
While fundraising for the Academy is a hugely valuable part of the Ambassadors’ work, it remains secondary to their primary role of welcoming and supporting supporters on matchdays.
The volunteer team plays an important role in helping create a welcoming atmosphere at St James Park, with Ambassadors on hand to meet and greet supporters, provide assistance and help make matchdays enjoyable for everyone.
Could you spare some time to become an Ambassador?
If you think you could help out on some or all matchdays, please email hr@ecfc.co.uk.
Alternatively, if you would like to find out more about the role and what you could contribute to your fellow supporters in the hour before kick-off or during the 10 minutes after the final whistle, please contact richard.knight@ecfc.co.uk.
If you can spare the time to help, the Ambassador Team would love to hear from you.