For eight seasons, the No. 31 shirt has been worn by an Exeter City player whose wages are either fully or part-funded by City fans.
And the 1931 Fund, named after Exeter City famous FA Cup run of that year, makes it all happen.
Exeter City FC will shortly be in receipt of another £10,000 kindly donated by a group of exiled Exeter City supporters under the banner of the ‘1931 Fund’.
Starting off originally in 2010, a number of exiled supporters decided to club together to sponsor a player. Each contributor paid £19.00 per month and the aim was to seek to support the club with around a half of the chosen players’ wages throughout the season, another example of the power and camaraderie of fans in a supporter owned football club.
In that first season, the sponsored player was James Norwood, a player who has since moved on and helped propel Tranmere Rovers back into the Football League this season with the winning goal in the Vanarama National League Play-off Final at Wembley a few weeks ago.
The following players have been sponsored in this way by the 1931 Fund:
- James Norwood
- Callum McNish
- Elliott Chamberlain
- Graham Cummins
- Joel Grant
- Pierce Sweeney
- Jack Sparkes
The most recent 1931 funded player was one of our own, Jack Sparkes in his first season as a contracted professional footballer.
Well over £100,000 has been contributed by the fund towards securing the services of players since its inception just eight years ago.
The Fund is always looking out for new members, interested in joining the group and is once again pitching the £19 monthly or £228 annual donation as an ‘alternative season ticket’ for exiled fans.
“Our members pay £19 each month or £228 for the year,” explained organizer Alan Crockford. “Many of us who can’t make so many home games see it as an alternative season ticket, to do our bit for the club even when we’re not clicking through those SJP turnstiles.”
The scheme is administered by long time exiled City fan Alan Crockford and anyone interested in becoming a member of the scheme should contact Alan at: 1931fund@gmail.com.