A group of Bournemouth supporters have raised over £3,000 to help Burton Albion fans travel to their rearranged FA Cup match.
The original game was called off over an hour before kick-off because of a waterlogged pitch on Saturday, meaning around 200 Albion fans had made a fruitless 300-mile trip to the south coast.
Bournemouth supporter David Whitehead initiated the scheme, and acted swiftly to help his fellow fans.
Whitehead set up a fundraising page after recalling the generosity shown by Burton supporters when Cherries fans celebrated promotion from League Two at Burton's Pirelli Stadium in 2010.
He told BBC Radio Solent: "It shows there is another side to football.
Bournemouth v Burton Albion was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch
"They were so hospitable that day that there's been a special feeling between the clubs ever since.”
At the time of writing, pledges totalling £2,930 had been made, more than three times the original target of £800.
Whitehead added: "We've been overwhelmed by the response, which has come from supporters of clubs all over the country, and even some from abroad.
"We've now capped the fund at the cost of paying for three coaches, and asked Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe to nominate a charity to receive the remaining funds," adding that Howe had nominated Cancer Research.
On hearing news of the gesture, Bournemouth chairman Jeff Mostyn said: “I think I was practically as emotional as I was on that famous day in 2010 when we were promoted.
Bournemouth chairman Jeff Mostyn described it as an "incredible gesture"
“It’s the most incredible gesture and I think it’s probably unprecedented in football for supporters to be so generous.
“The FA Cup itself is just the fairytale story competition. It gives all lower league clubs the opportunity for glory – whether it’s just one match or success over two or three rounds. We know in the past what it feels like to be successful and we also know what it’s like to be on the end of a giant-killing act!
“For all of the Burton staff, the groundsman, the stewards – to let us have the run of the ground was just incredible and our supporters have never forgotten it.”
