Exeter City fans were treated to a special match-day train to the Portsmouth game earlier this month, with a total of £260 raised aboard The Red Grecianto go towards the Supporters Trust's Light Up the Park's campaign. First Great Western, who offered on-board refreshments in return for donations on the journey from Exeter St Davids to Fratton Station, have kick-started the Supporters Trust campaign to raise funds in order to upgrade the floodlights at St James Park. The fundraising initiative has come as a result of changes to Football League regulations, which obligates City to improve the luminosity of their floodlights, with a target set at £30,000. The Light Up the Park campaign has also raised money as a result of the Trust's 10th Anniversary celebrations and through an ongoing eBay auction of shirts signed by the players themselves. Laurence Overend, chairman of the Supportersâ Trust, expressed his gratitude towards First Great Westernâs contribution. He said: The Trust are very appreciative of the much-needed funds raised aboard The Red Grecian supporters train. We must thank First Great Western for highlighting the Light Up the Park cause and for demonstrating the power of creative fundraising.FGW's Assistant to the General Manager (West), Barbara Fearn, spoke proudly of her involvement in the event. She said: âIt was a genuine pleasure to be part of the occasion and to raise funds for the club at the same time. The floodlight campaign is huge for the club, and it is important to ensure that everyone knows the importance of this type of fundraising. Photo by kind permission of Keith Stone.
