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The 1931 Fund was set-up in 2009 to finance an additional member of Paul Tisdale's Exeter City squad. The fund currently pays the wages of midfielder Callum McNish.
The latest fund updates are here - including a pic of us handing over £7,000 on the SJP pitch in February 2011 - and you can also see more details of the 1931 Fund's finances.
Around sixty Grecians contribute £19 each month, and the resulting fund pays the wages of City's Number 31. Hence the 1931 in our name, which also alludes to the year of CIty's great FA Cup run and record crowd of 20,984 at St James Park. Our pledge to pay Exeter CIty £10,000 in 2009/10 and 2010/11 enabled Paul Tisdale to sign lightening quick striker James Norwood, then 18-years-old, from Eastbourne Town. The BBC reported his signing here and Sky here. Paul Tisdale said: "It's amazing how much the supporters of this club want to contribute to what we're doing. We'd had James on trial for a couple of weeks and we'd talked about a contract, but it was taking a little while to work out how we were going to bring him in. And then this wonderful group of fans came to us saying they wanted to fund a young player with great potential and it all fitted into place perfectly. With their backing, we got the deal done within hours." James scored ten goals in 15 appearances for Eastbourne prior to moving west and, during his first year as a Grecian, he netted three times in 11 loan appearances at Sutton United. However, the highlight had to be his sparkling debut appearance for City, as the Grecians just missed out on a point against Leeds in front of 25,000 Yorkshiremen and almost 3,000 Devonians at Elland Road. James made two further first team appearances in 2009/10, starting 1-1 home draws against Yeovil and eventual champions Norwich. In the spring of 2010, James signed for another year at Exeter City and, of course, kept the Number 31 shirt for a further season. He netted in City's first two pre-season games against Millwall and Clevedon and started the League One game at Brighton in November. Paul Tisdale remained impressed with the 1931 Fund's efforts. He said: "The backing we get from our fans has played a huge part in Exeter City's success. When you see the fans organising themselves to pay month after month for an exciting young player, it's yet more proof that we have something special here at Exeter." In July 2011, following Jame's release by City, the Fund welcomed a new Number 31 to Devon. Callum McNish was signed relatively late in pre season following his release by Southampton. His first year at the Park will cost City £15,000, all of which will be paid by the 1931 Fund.
City chief executive Julian Tagg said of the signing: "This wouldn't have been possible without the 1931 Fund. It shows once again the incredible bond between our club and our fans."
If you would like to join the 1931 Fund, please contact us. It would be great to grow the fund, but we'll need new members just to carry on as we are. Many of us think of the £19 as a monthly donation in lieu of clicking through those St James Park turnstiles. It's not quite the same as going home, standing on the Bank and shouting for City, but it's good to know we're doing our bit. If you possibly can, please support us.
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1931 Fund |