Inspired by his 10-year-old granddaughter’s passion for football, the new Director and Chair of the Board of Exeter City FC has pledged to support the club’s women’s team with a £10,000 donation over the next two years.
Richard Pym is the grandson of the club’s famous goalkeeper Dick Pym and was appointed as chairman of the club last month. He said he chose to donate to the women’s team after seeing how much his granddaughter was thriving playing the sport in the USA, where she lives with her family.
He added: "I am delighted to be able to contribute to women’s football in Exeter. I’ve seen how much my 10-year-old granddaughter has flourished playing the game in the USA where female football is taken much more seriously at community level.
"Exeter City has developed excellent provision for female football - from younger girls, through the age ranges and ultimately the women's team. I am very pleased to be able to support them in this way.’
Exeter CITY Community Trust oversees the women’s team, alongside the female football programmes for youngsters aged from three upwards.
Jamie Vittles, chief executive of Exeter CITY Community Trust, said: "We are extremely grateful to Richard for his generous donation. This will enable us to support the team through the coming season, they were doing incredibly well shortly before their games were halted due to coronavirus and they are a very ambitious team. The donation will also support the squads and development centres that feed into the women’s team’
Exeter CITY Community Trust provides football for females of all ages, from tiny tots; Grecian Girls; the Girls’ Development Centre, for girls aged between 10 and 16; through to Exeter College and ultimately the ECFC Women’s team.
Exeter City Women currently play in the FA Women's National League Division One South West. The team is sponsored by Carpetright, MidexPro, Eagle One, East Devon Grecians and Exeter City Supporters' Trust. They train at the Cliff Hill Training Ground and play their matches at Cullompton Rangers FC on Sundays with a 2pm kick-off.
For more information about girls’ and women’s football contact clive.watts@ecfc.co.uk