Fan favourite Andrew Welsh has become the first person to donate to Back a Bomber, committing $5000 to a campaign close to his heart.

The former Essendon vice-captain made the pledge on club podcast Working Through It, with all donations helping members in financial difficulty maintain their membership in 2020.

DONATE TO BACK A BOMBER CAMPAIGN

Welsh said he was moved by a heartwarming gesture from star Bomber Michael Hurley, who recently helped a long-time Essendon fan retain her membership and the seats which belonged to her late grandmother.

“They (supporters) are part of the great club it is. The club is nothing without the players, but the players and club are nothing without the supporters,” Welsh said on Working Through It.

“It (Hurley’s donation) was something that resonated with me. If there’s support there that I can help provide in a small way to help the club but also those people to continue to feel like they are part of the membership and contributing during this tough time, it was something I wanted to do.”

Welsh, who is the managing director of his company Welsh Group, spoke on Working Through It about society's challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic, what Essendon means to him, his selfless decision to withdraw from the 2011 elimination final and his career in property development post-retirement.

Listen to his interview below.