Rail firm mocked for offering discount London tickets to football fans when last service is 4.19pm

A train company has been accused of making a "spectacular own goal" after offering discounted fares to football fans travelling to London - only for the last return service to be at 4.19pm.

Rail firm Lumo announced itself as the official travel partner of Preston North End FC, as the northwestern club has five games planned in the capital this season.

The business wrote on X: "Lumo is proud to team up with Preston North End FC as the club's official rail travel partner.

“With five fixtures in London this championship season, we're helping Lilywhites fans travel affordably between Deepdale and the capital, with fares under £30.

"Whether you're heading to Charlton, QPR, Millwall, Watford, or West Ham, we've got your journey covered."

With fares under £30, the deal appeared to be a good one. But fans were shocked to learn the last Saturday service from London back to Preston is at just 4.19pm - well before most games finish.

Among the team's upcoming fixtures, this would affect fans travelling to the match against Queens Park Rangers on Saturday, September 19, at MATRADE Loftus Road Stadium in Shepherd's Bush - which has a kick-off time of 3pm.

The gaffe led to mockery on social media, with one person dubbing it "a spectacular own goal".

An X user posted: "Train company partners with football club to offer cheaper train tickets for London games. Train company does this despite the fact their last train back from London on Saturdays is…16:19!"

Another person quipped: "We'll partner Preston North End FC for cheap trains to London but you can't actually watch the game because the last train back is during the 2nd half. How can 2 large companies let it get this far without realising that? Absolutely comical."

Yet another wrote: "This is sensational. Lumo announce partnership with PNE focused solely on the 5 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."

Preston North End FC has five games planned in the capital this season

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In an online response, Preston North End FC insisted that the offer was aimed at fans planning a weekend away for the match.

A spokesman said: "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 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!"

A spokesperson for Lumo, said: “We are proud to help support Preston North End FC following the Club’s appeal for our support.

“As a business newly based in Preston, helping establish more than 100 local jobs and enhanced connectivity between Scotland and London for the city with low-cost fares, our partnership with Preston North End is just one of the many ways we’re helping support the community, champion Preston and the North of England.

“We are wishing the best of luck to the Club for the season ahead.”