Witham bid to borrow Braintree's fans- and pay them a hire charge!

By Ian Townsend

Innovative Witham Town offer to pay Braintree Town for every Iron fan who heads to the Simarco Stadium

Seven miles- and two divisions- separate Witham Town and their neighbours Braintree Town, but the two have a good relationship- and that's set to strengthen after the Pitching In North Division side offered an incentive to Braintree fans who come and watch the first team or the reserves at the Simarco Stadium.

Braintree are currently forced to play their matches behind closed doors, along with the rest of the National League, and that means not only that their supporters have no live football to watch, but that the club can't get any income from match days. Witham, of course, are allowed supporters at their home matches, and the club have come up with an innovative plan which they hope will benefit both clubs. They've announced that for every Braintree fans who attends a match at the Simarco Stadium, they'll donate two pounds of the admission fee back to the Cressing Road club.

Witham Town Chairman Mark Nicholls explained:

“All football clubs are under financial pressure at this difficult time, and the future of many clubs is in doubt. Football is a competitive world but we are in this together. It is a time for unity among clubs as we face a common enemy.

Football clubs have a duty to find ways of co-operating with each for mutual benefit. At Witham Town we have not heard of a similar scheme in place but we hope that this initiative will help both clubs and encourage Braintree fans to support their club by watching live football."

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