A RAIL firm are sponsoring Preston’s London away days.
But fans quickly spotted a hilarious huge blunder.
Lumo announced their partnership with Preston on Friday Credit: X formerly Twitter / @LumoTravel
North End fans were left disappointed as there are no Saturday trains back to Preston after 4.19pm Credit: Getty
Lumo Travel revealed their deal with North End on Friday evening.
Their tweet read: “Lumo is proud to team up with Preston North End FC as the club’s Official Rail Travel Partner!
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“With five away fixtures in London this Championship season, we’re helping Lilywhites fans travel affordably between Deepdale and the capital, with fares from under £30.
“Whether you’re heading to Charlton, QPR, Millwall, Watford or West Ham, we’ve got your journey covered.”
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Preston kicked off their Championship campaign away at Bolton last weekend.
But the first of those five trips to the capital is on August 29 for the visit to The Valley.
And Preston fans soon called out their massive mistake.
Because when trying to book a train for a Saturday evening leaving London at 7pm to return to Preston, he hit a problem.
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And when he tweeted Lumo for clarification, they admitted their major error.
Lumo replied: “Our last train back from London is at 1619 on Saturdays I’m afraid.”
That prompted fan Andy to reply: “So you sponsor @pnefc away days yet your last train back on Saturdays is 16:19?”
He later added: “I just laughed as the write up says they’ve got us covered.”
Lo and behold, JattvibeSport checked the Lumo website for trains back to Preston after the Charlton game.
And the final train departing London pulls away early in the second half of the Championship fixture.
The embarrassing detail got picked up on social media.
Jake Watson wrote: “This is sensational.
The last train next Saturday is at 16.19 – during the Charlton game Credit: Lumo
Twitter user Andy pointed out the mistake Credit: X
“Lumo announce partnership with PNE focused solely on the five away games in London but they don’t run a service back to Preston after 16:19 haha.
“Think you probably need to rethink that one, @LumoTravel.”
Another user typed: “Your last train back from London on a Saturday is 16:19! What a shambles! @pnefc did you not do some simple checks before partnering up with them? Honestly, what’s the point of this partnership?”
A third added: “PR disaster played out in real time. What a f-up by everyone involved. Couldn’t of gone any worse really.”
A fourth replied: “That’s actually hilarious. How embarrassing.”
A fifth commented: “Couldn’t make it up.”
And a final fan commented: “Lumo pays Preston NE to be its ‘official rail travel partner’, promises fans ‘your journey covered’ then admits it doesn’t actually run any trains back after full time. An example of clubs and sponsors more interested in PR than the fans.”
The backlash was so bad that bumbling Preston were forced to issue a statement.
The club posted: “Preston North End’s partnership with Lumo is aimed at fans who might be heading to London to watch North End away, whilst also looking for a weekend stopover.
“Lumo provides supporters which [sic] much more affordable travel from Preston down to the capital, so arguably you can travel there and back, plus a hotel, for less than you might normally pay for your standard train ticket.
“We appreciate it might not have read that way in the original message, and apologise for any confusion caused.
“However, we are aware of the appetite for day trippers and a ‘fans special’ train as well, and we are currently in discussions with Lumo to try and make that available too!”
