A fundraising campaign set up by Bradford City fans for Tonbridge Angels has reached the £5,200 mark with the FA Cup fixture only a few days away.
Bantams fan Jonnie Carrington set up the JustGiving online fundraiser on the evening of the First Round draw last week following the news fans won’t be able to attend First Round fixtures this weekend.
“The reaction has been amazing” explained Carrington. “In the first 24 hours we had hit £1,156 fans all over the country have shared [the fundraiser].”
The 31 year old, who has supported the Yorkshire club since he was a toddler, has found a new found love for the club as the total continues to rise: “I’m an avid Football Manager player so i knew of them but knew nothing about the club, since Monday when i started the fund raiser, I probably know as much about them now as a lifelong fan does.
“They are such an amazing club.”
The fan owned Kent club received news on the night of the first round draw that, despite being considered a ‘non elite’ club, no fans would be able to attend the fixture this Saturday.
Although this has been cemented through news of leagues from step three of non league and below being paused for a second lockdown, the lost revenue is tough to take for Tonbridge.
“It goes without saying that Tonbridge Angels is enormously grateful for what Jonnie and all the other Bradford City supporters have achieved” said an Angels club statement. “It is a wonderful gesture to see football supporters coming together in this way to help another club.”
The club added “this [lost revenue] would not only be gate money but all the sales from such things as bar, catering and programmes etc.”
Carrington explained that the thanks for his campaign hasn’t stopped there: “I’ve had phone calls and texts sent from Dave Netherstreet the chairman, lengthy conversations with Steve McKimm and a lot of the staff and players have DM’d me to say thank you.”
Tonbridge are hoping to repay the favour with money going back up the country to assist in local causes at both ends of the country: “We shall be asking our own supporters to perhaps make a donation to The Bradford City Community Trust, an organisation that carries out good works in the City. Also we are planning an event later in the season that will raise funds for two food banks, one in Bradford, one in Tonbridge.”
Although fans are unable to watch the match in person, BBC Sport and BT Sport will be broadcasting the game live on Saturday afternoon. Kickoff at Longmead is at 12:30pm.