Club and Trust welcome Brazilian fan Ronaldo to SJP.
In the past few weeks, Exeter City and the Supporters' Trust welcomed Fluminense fan Ronaldo to St James Park.
Our history with Brazil is well documented, as our 1914 tour to South America amalgamated in the first-ever friendly played by the Seleção, Brazil's national team.
Over the Trust era, we have always celebrated our relationship with the Samba nation. In 2004, to commemorate our then-believed centenary, we invited Brazilian masters such as Dunga and Jorginho to grace the St James Park pitch in a summer friendly.
Ten years later, to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the tour, City flew out to Brazil again to take on a Fluminense XI as part of a pre-season tour.
Our relationship with Fluminense touched Tricolor fan Ronaldo da Silva de Abreu.
On May 25, whilst on holiday to England, Ronaldo contacted the club to arrange a Trust Stadium Tour with City historian Dave Luxton to learn more about the history of his nation's first-ever match.
Nick Hawker, Chair of the Supporters' Trust surprised Ronaldo with an Exeter City shirt in a touching moment which brought 'tears to the eyes of his wife'. A day that would live long in the memory of his family.
The story does not quite end here either. City's Head of Recruitment Marcus Flitcroft is currently on holiday in the South American country.
Marcus asked to meet with Ronaldo, so Dave and Nick sorted the two to meet at the famous Maracana Stadium, the home of Fluminense and the Brazil national team, ahead of the Time de Guerreiros (Team of Warriors) fixture against Bragantino. Marcus said: "Today was a great success with Fluminense winning 2-1!"
Our relationship with Brazil grows stronger and we're proud of our ever-expanding history with the Seleção and Fluminense.
We feel our Trust model breeds friendship, with no better example than Ronaldo's story and a new connection with Exeter City Football Club and the Supporters' Trust.
We hope Ronaldo continues to follow our results as we keep an eye out for our friends in Rio.
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