Exeter City Football Club has topped the Fan Engagement Index for the 2020/2021 season – for the third year in a row.
The Index, which is produced by Think Fan Engagement, uses publicly available data to measure clubs across all the football leagues on their dialogue with fans, their governance and transparency.
Nick Hawker, chair of Exeter City Supporters’ Trust, welcomed the news: “We’re really thrilled to win again. A lot of people put a great deal of effort into the engagement with our supporters, from the manager, the media team (of course), and the Club and Trust Boards.
“We’re supporter-owned and I think, after 20-plus years, it kind of comes naturally. Of course, you can always do more and so we look to build and change things around a bit all of the time. What is especially pleasing is that we’re demonstrating that you can be supporter owned, engage meaningfully with our supporters, and be successful. Long may that continue.”
Kevin Rye, the owner of Think Fan Engagement, said, "Congratulations on Exeter City's hat-trick of wins in the Fan Engagement Index. It's clear, from speaking to Nick Hawker, Clive Harrison, staff I know at the club and supporters, that it's quite simply the way they do business. And that's exactly how it should be.
“Good Fan Engagement is part of how every club should be, and I'd urge anyone who wants to know how to do it, to get in touch with them and seek their advice, regardless of whether or not they're fan-owned.
“Exeter City just keep getting it right. It’s not just embedded in ownership, but in culture and attitude. That applies to most of the best performing clubs. But we mustn’t be complacent: if you don’t look after the culture, it dies, and a structure isn’t enough on its own.”
Top Five Clubs Exeter City 195; Cambridge United 175; Carlisle United 170; AFC Wimbledon 170; Lincoln City 165
The ‘Big Six’ Clubs: 44. Manchester United; 58. Manchester City; 67. Tottenham Hotspur; 73. Liverpool; 79. Arsenal; 81. Chelsea.
You can contact Kevin Rye at Think Fan Engagement at hello@fanengagement.net or call (0044)07847746787.
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