This Club Lied To Fans About A Raffle And Then Tried To Cover It Up

Sam Klomhaus July 20, 2016

Chesterfield FC created a fan raffle competition to accompany the team on their pre-season tour. Problem: only four tickets were sold.

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Sam Klomhaus July 20, 2016

We here at The18 love a good conspiracy theory. We especially love it when conspiracy theories turn out to be grounded in truth, as is apparently the case with a Chesterfield FC fan promotion that went awry.

Note: please read the below thread while listening to this song. It will set the mood.

Let me tell you a story about what just happened at my football club, Chesterfield FC...

— Jonno Turner (@jonnot) July 19, 2016

The club did a raffle for a lucky supporter to win a place on the pre season tour to Hungary. Tickets £10 a pop...

— Jonno Turner (@jonnot) July 19, 2016

Sales were slow. Really slow. Like a handful at most - 4 or 5. So the club tried to quietly drop the idea...

— Jonno Turner (@jonnot) July 19, 2016

Fortunately the message board members have good memories and questioned why there was no mention of the raffle taking place anymore...

— Jonno Turner (@jonnot) July 19, 2016

The club subsequently announced that the draw had been won by 'Surrey-based Spireite James Higgins'...lucky guy

— Jonno Turner (@jonnot) July 19, 2016

Only thing is, no-one has ever heard of James Higgins... Nor were there pics of him holding a shirt, fists clenched, with tickets in hand..

— Jonno Turner (@jonnot) July 19, 2016

The team jets off for Hungary. A die hard fan travels to the game - and there's no sign of James or indeed any fan with the official party..

— Jonno Turner (@jonnot) July 19, 2016

Rumours start to circulate on the message board. Where is James, is he ok? Questions are raised to the club...

— Jonno Turner (@jonnot) July 19, 2016

Next communication from the club: James was too ill to travel. Hmm. #prayforhiggins begins to trend...

— Jonno Turner (@jonnot) July 19, 2016

Poor James. Very unfortunate. Some might say convenient. Then the club said anyone who'd bought a ticket could be refunded if they asked...

— Jonno Turner (@jonnot) July 19, 2016

Why? asked the fans. Why would they offer a refund on a legit raffle draw, just cos the winner fell ill?

— Jonno Turner (@jonnot) July 19, 2016

Social media searches failed to throw up any mention of James. Meanwhile, the club deleted the illness story from the website...

— Jonno Turner (@jonnot) July 19, 2016

Here it is, by the way... pic.twitter.com/YASFnI9L2G

— Jonno Turner (@jonnot) July 19, 2016

Supporters becoming a bit frustrated at this point. It *appears* the club charged £10 a pop, made about £50 so decided to scrap the idea

— Jonno Turner (@jonnot) July 19, 2016

Next thing, statement from one of the board of directors... pic.twitter.com/cTR7BIrMoN

— Jonno Turner (@jonnot) July 19, 2016

Got to laugh, or I'd cry. My club is rotten. Lies, cover-ups, bullshit - if it wasn't for those pesky fans, they'd have gotten away with it.

— Jonno Turner (@jonnot) July 19, 2016