Julian Tagg is the Club president and director of external affairs of Exeter City FC

It’s a busy time here at Exeter City as we gear up for our FA Cup match against Nottingham Forest.

Thanks to an incredible win over Championship side Oxford United – definitely against the odds – and two brilliant goals from birthday boy Demi Mitchell, and a third from Vinny Harper, we secured our place in the fourth round for the first time in 44 years!

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Although it feels like only yesterday, it was back in 1981 that we got this far when we beat Leicester City, eventually going on to be knocked out 2-0 by the cup winners, Tottenham in the quarter finals.

So, for a few days next month, the spotlight is going to be well and truly shining on the club and the city.

As well as proudly showing it off, it’s also an opportunity to show it is possible to do things differently when it comes to our unique ownership model.

There’s no doubt about it, we are original. The only club which is totally run by its supporters and again we are finding a way through the difficult world of football and still managing to progress.

The financial benefit of the tie would be huge for any club, but for us these kinds of rewards are our lifeblood and you can be sure any financial rewards will be invested in opportunities both on and off the pitch to help ensure we continue that progression in all aspects, from our Academy to the community and the club as a whole.

So far, more than 3,000 season ticket holders have snapped up their tickets and now they go on sale to Supporters’ Trust members.

It’s just one more good reason to become a Trust member and it means not only do you get priority when it comes to the big games, but your small gesture of joining adds up to something huge for the trust and ultimately the club.

And did you know we’ve got history with Forest? Drop into the club’s Museum and you’ll see an exhibit dedicated to the Nicky Jennings testimonial match when, back in 1979, Brian Clough brought a strong side to SJP, including a certain Trevor Francis, who played his first minutes for Forest at SJP after he became the country’s first million pound player.

Over in the league, things have been a bit trickier, with a somewhat depleted squad.

It was gutting to lose Tristan Crama, who is a fantastic player – but the fact he then went on to be sold by Brentford to Millwall just demonstrates how fortunate we were to have him.

Add to that the injuries to Johnly Ifeko and Pierce Sweeney – some players, of course are missed more than others – you suddenly have a defensive gap, which is where those clubs with bigger budgets, and consequently larger squads, have an advantage over us.

Of course, we’re still in the January transfer window, although that is something of a misnomer, as it closes on February 3, and I know Gary Caldwell and the team are working hard to shore up the squad.

It has been great to see Jake Richards taking his place in the first team – an incredible achievement for the 17-year-old who has come through our Academy and is carrying on the incredible record of our Academy and our club.

Another group of people who have been working hard are the ‘boot room’ and backroom staff – at both SJP and even Kevin Miller at the ‘Cliff’.

They have had to deliver a huge number of games in a very short period. It never ceases to amaze me, their commitment and diligent approach to every game, ensuring that we provide, on and off the pitch, the best match-day experience possible for our loyal supporters!

The number of games, as your pockets I’m sure will confirm, is relentless. The current debate at the EFL, to which I am party, is focussed around next year’s dates and the issues of international call ups which are adding more pressure to an already challenging schedule. I’ll keep you informed.

Our partner charity, Exeter City Community Trust, is staging a Big Sleep Out on the Big Bank on Friday March 14 to raise funds for its Supported Housing programme, which supports people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.

Participants will make St James Park their home for the night, sleeping out in the cold and while raising vital funds will also help to raise awareness of the struggles of those facing homelessness and rough sleeping regularly.

According to the excellent Exeter homeless charity, St Petrock’s, more than 600 people every year face homelessness and multiple disadvantages in the city and surrounding area, so this is a programme which is very much needed in the city. You can find more information on the Exeter City Community Trust website – www.exetercct.org

ECFC Women drew 1-1 in their recent match against Gwalia United and sit third in their league. Next up for them is a trip to Essex for the away match at Billericay Town on February 2, followed by a trip to Ipswich Town on February 16 and then a home game against Wimbledon at Coach Road, Newton Abbot, on February 23.

Back to the men’s team and we’re off to Stevenage on February 1 and then a much needed 10-day break before the Forest game on Tuesday, February 11.

Look forward to seeing you there – Up the City!