Exeter City Football Club will dedicate its Tuesday night match against Crewe Alexandra to the EFL's Together Against Racism campaign. The club's home fixture at St James Park on 20 October will serve as its designated matchday for the league-wide initiative running from 16 to 26 October. Players will wear campaign-branded warm-up t-shirts and the club will amplify its message across social media channels. The campaign's core focus is encouraging immediate reporting of racist incidents during matches, with EFL data showing live reports lead to offenders being identified in most cases.
Club and EFL stress importance of reporting racism during matches
Exeter City and the EFL are urging supporters to report any discriminatory behaviour directly and immediately on matchdays. Fans can speak to the nearest steward or text 'HELP ECFC' to 07356071420. New figures from the current season reveal that live reports were responsible for nearly nine in every ten successful identifications of offenders. Supporters who report concerns during a match are more than twice as likely to see an offender identified compared to those who report afterwards. The quicker a report is made, the quicker the club and authorities can gather evidence and take action.
Trevor Birch, Chief Executive of the EFL, stated that football has a unique power to unite communities and that racism undermines that bond. He emphasised that the EFL remains resolute in confronting racism in all its forms. Last season, many people received bans and others attended education courses as a result of reports made through club channels. The message is clear: more information reported live leads to a greater chance of consequences for acts of hate.
Exeter City reaffirms zero-tolerance stance on discrimination
Kay Crawford, the club's Operations Manager and Senior Safeguarding Lead, reinforced Exeter City's unwavering stance. She said the club takes all matters of racism and discriminatory behaviour extremely seriously and will always push for the toughest possible sanctions against supporters found guilty. Crawford stressed that everyone has a responsibility to challenge racism, including reporting anything seen or heard on a matchday. She acknowledged it can sometimes be difficult to speak up but said reporting incidents as they happen makes a real difference. The club wants St James Park to be a place where everyone feels safe and welcome, regardless of background, and that racism has no place at the club, in football, or in society.
This commitment was demonstrated last season when an Exeter City supporter was taken to court for racist abuse towards club staff during the Devon Derby against Plymouth Argyle. The individual received a suspended prison sentence and a football banning order. The club continues its anti-racism work through the City Community Trust, matchday messaging, and social media content to promote inclusion across the club and the wider community.
Recent on-field progress provides context
This community work continues alongside the team's efforts on the pitch. Exeter City currently sit 14th in the League Two standings with 12 points from 10 games. Their recent form shows two wins, two draws, and one loss from their last five outings, a sequence that includes a 1-0 away win at Shrewsbury and a 2-2 home draw with Oxford United. They are seven points behind league leaders Salford City. The immediate focus after the Crewe Alexandra match shifts to an away fixture against 19th-placed Colchester United on Saturday, 17 October. The club's next home game at St James Park will be this dedicated Together Against Racism matchday on Tuesday night.
Background and full detail: Exeter City Football Club
