Strategic appointment will support Exeter City Women’s development

Exeter City Women has announced the appointment of its new Executive Chair, as the next chapter of the team's journey begins.

Jen Dixon, who has taken up the position this month, brings a wealth of experience in delivering change and transformation across diverse sectors, encompassing financial services, retail, government agencies, and sport governing bodies. She has held several board positions, including a current Non-Executive Director role with Devon FA and is a dedicated advocate for women's football.

The new position has been created to oversee the development and evolution of the team under the Club's management, following its recent transition from Exeter City Community Trust. Jen's appointment comes at a pivotal time, promising innovative leadership and strategic growth.

Nick Hawker, chair of Exeter City Supporters’ Trust, said: “We’re very pleased to welcome Jen to Exeter City. Her commitment to the sport, combined with her professional expertise, positions her perfectly to lead Exeter City Women into an exciting future filled with potential and success.”

Jen, who lives in Exeter, is a passionate football enthusiast. Her family are all involved with football locally, with her two daughters both having benefitted from progression through the Exeter youth system. Jen is a chartered global management accountant and experienced change specialist. She has worked with both large and small organisations to deliver results, alongside coaching and mentoring.

A long-time fan of football, she became a grassroots FA qualified coach for a local team 12 years ago. Over the following years her passion for the game and in creating opportunities for the female football pathway has seen her lead a grassroots club from five girls in a club of 300 members to over 150 girls and women now playing at the club. This is alongside her governance roles within County FAs at Somerset and Devon.   

Jen said: “I’m delighted to take up this position as the women’s team begins the new season newly promoted to the third tier of women’s football. They are an amazing group of people. The team has grown and flourished under the care of Exeter City Community Trust. I feel incredibly privileged to be able to play a role in the next phase of the development of the women’s team and female pathway at the Club.

“Recent years have seen a huge transformation and growth in Women’s football on and off the pitch at all levels of the game. The opportunity before us is to build on the fantastic success and learnings from the past to continue to transform and grow women’s football sustainably. Promotion has brought new standards and challenges to navigate. There is a lot to do. I believe we can do it by working together as one Club and Community. 

Jen added: “Thank you all those who have welcomed me to the Club so far and are supporting with the integration of the women’s team as we move into semi-professional women’s football. “

The team was promoted to the FA Women’s National League Southern Premier Division in May. The promotion and subsequent changes where players are now being offered semi-professional contracts made it challenging for the team to stay under Exeter City Community Trust, where it had developed over the last eight years, due to its charitable status.

The league season starts with the first game against MK Dons at 2pm on Sunday August 18, played at St James Park. Tickets are on sale now for home games through to October.  information to follow on the location of the remaining matches.

Visit www.exetercityfc.co.uk/fixture/list/1035