Iftar at St James Park

Exeter City Football Club and Community Trust recently opened the doors of St James Park to the local community to celebrate Iftar 2026.

Held in collaboration with the Exeter Mosque and Islamic Centre, the event welcomed over 70 attendees, including volunteers from the club, the trust, and representatives from the Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA). This initiative served as an opportunity to support the local Muslim community during the sacred month of Ramadan, building on the success of an inaugural event held two years ago.

The evening was filled with activities designed to bring people together and provide a look behind the scenes of the football club. Many guests, including enthusiastic young boys and girls, participated in a guided tour of the stadium, with many visiting the grounds for the very first time.

Following the tour, the group gathered for prayer and the breaking of the fast, with the club providing a variety of food for all guests. Key community figures like Suaad Genem-George were in attendance to support and participate as community members explored the facilities and engaged with their local football league club in a meaningful way outside of traditional match day activities.

Following the event, Rae Ahmed, Trustee for Exeter Mosque and Islamic Centre, shared that “the Exeter City Football Club Iftar 2026 was a wonderful opportunity for our local Muslim community to explore the home ground of their team and truly feel part of the wider football family.

“We saw fantastic interest from community members of all ages, including many young boys and girls who were especially excited to tour the grounds, ask questions, and engage with one of their favourite sports during a sacred month in the Muslim calendar. We are grateful to CITY Community Trust for collaborating with Exeter Mosque to make this meaningful and memorable event possible.”

The event also highlighted the club and PFA’s ongoing commitment to education and awareness surrounding Ramadan. In the weeks leading up to the Iftar, the club facilitated an online educational session for staff and scholars to provide a deeper understanding of the month’s significance.

By integrating these learning opportunities with community-facing events, we aim to demonstrate the club’s role as a pillar of support and collaboration in the local community, and the purpose of St James Park as an inclusive and welcoming environment for current and future generations of fans. 

Adding to this, Danny Harris, head of services at ECCT, said that “it was fantastic to welcome Rae, Suaad, and friends from across the community to celebrate Iftar once again. Making the Park a welcoming space to groups across the community is very much a foundational part of our work in the community and to be invited to join these celebrations is a real honour for us. I very much hope that we will do this again next year and make this an annual tradition here at the football club.”