Exeter City Football Club has topped the Fan Engagement Index for the eighth year running. The supporter-owned club achieved a gold award for the 2025-26 season with a score of 230 points out of a possible 240.
This consistent off-field excellence comes as the team prepares for a key early-season fixture. Exeter currently sit 13th in League Two with three points from their opening two matches, recording one win and one loss. They have scored two goals and conceded one, giving them a positive goal difference. Their next challenge is a home game against league leaders Barnet on September 1st, a match where they will aim to close the three-point gap at the top.
The Fan Engagement Index, run by Think Fan Engagement, assesses 116 clubs regulated by the Independent Football Regulator across the Premier League, EFL, and National League Premier. It awards up to 240 points across three core categories: Dialogue, Governance, and Transparency. Each category offers a maximum of 80 points. All data used for the rankings is gathered from publicly available sources on club, league, and other official websites. For the 2025-26 season, only 26 clubs received a gold, silver, bronze, or merit award.
Exeter City's score of 230 points was the highest in the index. The club lost just 10 points in the Dialogue section. Lincoln City was the only other club to achieve a gold award, finishing second with 225 points.
Interim General Manager John Street acknowledged the collective effort behind the achievement. "We are pleased to have topped the table for the seventh year running and grateful to every supporter who takes the time to engage with the Club," Street said. Kevin Rye from Think Fan Engagement provided context on the evolving expectations within football. "Football has changed, and clubs must realise that it is simply not good enough to just consult and engage but still make the decision you want," Rye stated. This philosophy aligns with Exeter City's recently launched vision, which reaffirms its foundational commitment to its supporters.
While celebrating this off-field success, attention now turns to on-pitch matters. The immediate focus is the upcoming match against Barnet at St James Park. A positive result could provide a significant boost in the early standings. The team's current form and player availability can be tracked on our squad page. This fixture represents a direct opportunity to measure progress against the division's early pace-setters.
Maintaining high fan engagement is a proven strength for Exeter City Football Club. It provides a stable foundation as the team handles the challenges of the League Two season. The club's model continues to set a benchmark for how football clubs can operate with their communities at heart. Fans can follow the team's progress throughout the campaign, with all future matches listed on our fixtures page.
