Exeter City Football Club has condemned a series of incidents involving fan misogyny, vandalism and alleged sexual harassment. The club issued a strong statement this week addressing what it called 'shameful behaviour' that has occurred both at home and away matches.
Misogynistic chanting was reported during the recent Devon derby against Plymouth Argyle. That televised League Cup clash on 10 August also saw three Exeter supporters arrested, fifteen seats damaged and a lighter thrown onto the pitch. Five individuals, four of whom are under 18, have since been banned from attending games at St James Park.
A complaint of sexual harassment was received following the home match against Accrington Stanley last Saturday. A woman reported being sexually harassed and subjected to unwanted physical contact on Old Tiverton Road after the game. The club stressed this behaviour is not only unacceptable but constitutes a criminal offence. Club officials confirmed the issues are not confined to away fixtures, with problems also emerging on home territory.
Manager Matt Taylor said the events of recent weeks had negatively impacted the club's reputation. "The last few weeks had left a stain on our football club," Taylor stated. He confirmed the club would take all necessary action to remove the minority responsible. Chairman Wilf Walsh echoed this, vowing to pursue every report. "We will follow up every report of poor behaviour - incidents will be reported to the police and banning orders will be issued," Walsh said.
Exeter City described itself as a family club where women and girls must always feel safe and welcome. The statement insisted such conduct has no place at the club or in football generally. Club officials urged any witnesses to come forward and asked the wider supporter base to look out for one another on matchdays. They stressed the vast majority of fans would be rightly ashamed by these actions, labelling those responsible as 'not true supporters'.
This off-field turmoil comes as Exeter City prepares for a significant League Two fixture. The team currently sits 13th in the table with three points from two matches, recording one win and one loss. They have scored two goals and conceded one, giving them a positive goal difference. The Grecians are three points behind league leaders Barnet, whom they host at St James Park in their next match on 1 September.
The club's immediate focus is on restoring its reputation while maintaining competitive performances. The coming home game against the league leaders presents a major footballing challenge. How the team and its supporters conduct themselves will be closely watched after the strong statements from Taylor and Walsh. The club has made clear that protecting its inclusive environment is a priority moving forward.
