Loyal fans can help Nairn County reach milestone
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A Highland League football club which was plunged into crisis when its main sponsors suddenly withdrew its support in 2016 has launched a new loyalty scheme for fans.
Nairn County lost nearly its entire first team squad when their main backers pulled out at the end of the 2015-16 season.
Unable to sustain the wage bill without the backing the club lost all its top players to other clubs.
Even finding a new manager became problematic until former player Ronnie Sharp stepped up to fill the breach.
Champion fundraiser Ali Nicol, who is a committee member of Nairn County said: "These were difficult times but they are behind us. Ronnie has done an incredible job building a side from scratch.
"Already we are making things difficult for the top teams in the league and despite the gloom and despondency about Covid when we are through this we are confident we can kick on if the season continues."
County reached the second round of the Scottish Cup and have been paired against one of the leading Scottish tier three (1st Division) sides Montrose. Montrose.
But in the curtailed league programme they were narrowly defeated by potential title challengers Fraserburgh and Formartine.
Ali who raised tens of thousands of pounds for the club he once played for to help restore its stand and build a new enclosure said:
"There's no doubt football without fans is nothing. We have a loyal support at Nairn who have always been there for the club.
"We have now launched a loyalty scheme which invites fans to pay a minimum £10 per month which entitles them to entry in a prize draw, 20 per cent off merchandise and other benefits.
"Members who reach payment milestones of £50, £100, £300, £500 and £750 also receive a free Club 1914 pin badge, woolly hat, scarf, unique Nairn County shirt and matchday hospitality pass."
Ali added: "It's a way of saying thank you from the club for their investment in what essentially is their club. We are up to 90 members and would like to push that over the 100 mark.
"We have also been overwhelmed by individuals and business providing sponsorships and supporting us by ground advertising and can't wait until we are allowed fans back into the ground.
More details about the Club 1914 membership scheme can be found here.
For more Nairn County news click here.
