Grecians host Burton in emotional Good Friday fixture

Exeter City will be back in action at St James Park on Good Friday, April 18, as they host Burton Albion in a 1pm kick-off – but this is more than just a football match.

The fixture will shine a spotlight on the Mind Over MND campaign, raising vital awareness and funds for Motor Neurone Disease (MND). The campaign was founded by former Exeter City Community Trust inclusion officer Pete Eveleigh, who was diagnosed with MND in November 2022. Since then, Pete, his wife Jess and their close-knit circle of friends have worked tirelessly to raise awareness and support those affected.

Statistics show that for every 10,000 people, 33 will be diagnosed with MND – meaning that when St James Park is at full capacity, around 25 people in the stadium may receive this life-changing diagnosis.

Fans can expect a powerful and emotional day of fundraising and solidarity at the Park. Activities include:

• A Mind Over MND gazebo in the fan zone

• Bucket collections around the ground

• City players warming up in #TeamEvo t-shirts

• Over 500 Mind Over MND flags to be waved in the stands

• In-stadium videos sharing Pete’s story

• A charity head shave by long-serving grounds team member ‘Colonel’ Saunders

Danny Harris, Head of Services at Exeter City Community Trust, said: “Pete has been and continues to be a hugely respected part of our family. We want to come together as a club to show Pete that he is not alone.”

Pete was recently awarded the Premier League Community Captain award for his extraordinary contribution to the club and for raising awareness of MND. The club has backed him throughout, with manager Gary Caldwell and his backroom team running the Exeter Half Marathon last year for the cause.

Fresh from a 2-1 win at Bristol Rovers, the Grecians will be full of confidence as they look to make it a Good Friday against a Burton side battling to escape the relegation zone.

Reece Cole and Caleb Watts were on target last weekend and City fans will hope for more magic as they aim to close the season strong. In the reverse fixture back in December, City took the points with a 2-1 win thanks to a moment of brilliance from Millenic Alli.

Popular performer Phil Smyth returns to the Centre Spot post-match with another crowd-pleasing live music set. Supporters can also take part in the half-time 50/50 draw, with proceeds going back into the club and prize money for lucky fans.

Friday promises to be a memorable and meaningful day for Exeter City – on and off the pitch. To support Pete’s journey and find out more about the campaign, visit mindovermnd.co.uk.