Attacker deal funded by 1931 Fund
Exeter City have announced the signing of 20-year-old former Leicester striker Elliott Chamberlain after a successful trial.The versatile attacker, who featured in a number of the club’s pre-season friendlies, will be funded by a group of 60 Exeter City fans who contribute monthly payments to the Exeter Exiles administered 1931 Fund.
For the fourth season the group will pay the wages of City’s Number 31, and their pledge to raise £18,000 in the 2012/13 season will take their total investment to £50,000.
Exeter City chief executive Julian Tagg said: “This is the tenth season in which City fans have been proud to boast that they own their football club, and this signing is further proof that we’re all still pulling together to make our club a success.
“Just as 1931 was a special year for Exeter, with our FA Cup run and record crowd, so the number 31 shirt has become one that the supporters regard as special. We all want Elliott to be a big success here, and hopefully being the ‘fans’ own player’ will inspire him to do just that.”
Manager Paul Tisdale was also full of praise for the Grecian faithful. He recalled: “In 2009 they first asked about funding an extra player for the squad because we’d just been promoted to League One and they wanted to help us cope with the step up.” “Now that we’ve had to take our first backward step with relegation to League Two, they’re doubling the money they’re putting in because they appreciate how we need their backing now.
“The key qualities you want from supporters are loyalty, an understanding of the position the club is in, a genuine will to win and a ready eagerness to provide whatever support they can to help their team. As everybody knows by now, Exeter City followers do not lack those qualities.”
Alan Crockford of the Exeter Exiles urged any fans able to help finance this season’s number 31 to contact the 1931 Fund at exiles@sky.com or via Exeter City FC.
He admitted: “We may have pledged £18,000, but we need to do some fundraising and find more people willing to pay £19 per month in order to achieve that.
“We’ll never let Exeter City down, but this year we’ve set ourselves a big challenge.
A dozen new members would make a huge difference to us and we’re begging any fellow fans able to spare the cost of a pint or two each week to help us pay for our most exciting number 31 yet.”
Elliott, a Welsh Under 21 international, began training with the club in July found the back of the net in City’s pre-season friendly against FC United. He came through the ranks at Leicester before loan spells at Telford and Stockport.City Sign Chamberlain