Ryan was presented with the award at half-time on Saturday
Ryan Witt has been named as Exeter City Supporters’ Club’s Supporter of the Year.Ryan, 24, picked up his award during half-time of the Grecians match with Carlisle United on Saturday.
He has been following City since he was just six, when he was introduced to St James Park by his older brothers. He hasn’t looked back since.
Ryan said: “My first experience of City was as a mascot for the match against Rochdale in April, 1999. City may have lost 2-1 but I got the bug, and City have been a huge part of my life since.
“It feels really special to win this award, and I am so proud. I was gobsmacked when I found out.”
Ryan is a dedicated follower of the Grecians home and away, having only missed a couple matches this season for personal reasons. He often spends in the region of £100 on away days, but insists it is value for money watching the team he loves with close friends.
Ryan is as passionate about City online as he is in person, posting his support on various Facebook groups and message boards.
In August 2016 Ryan showed his dedication to Exeter City, having the club crest tattooed on his leg. Speaking about the decision to get the tattoo, Ryan said:
“I wanted to get something that visualised my love and dedication to the team.”
“It was something I had planned for a few months. I got it done the week before Colchester away and it took around five and a half hours.
The Supporters’ Club received 10 nominations this year, and five of them were for Ryan.
Supporters’ Club vice-president Mark Westcott, said: “Ryan has City in his heart. He attends virtually every home and away game, often having to beg steal or borrow lifts into Exeter from Honiton to jump on the Grecian Travel coach at an ungodly hour, not even knowing how he is going to get home after the return journey back to Exeter.
“He is a very passionate and dedicated Grecian fan, and earlier this season got the City crest tattooed on his leg using his own design for which he got a lot of publicity from local media and the clubs own website.
“On several occasions, he has offered himself up to be the guardian of other younger fans for the day, to enable them to travel away and support his beloved football club. Well done Ryan, well deserved.”