Club axes charity draw after entry glitch

AFOOTBALL club’s charity prize draw has been scrapped after it was posted on Martin Lewis’ MoneySavingExpert.com exposing a loophole which saw one man entering for free over 2,000 times – by sending in 2,000 postcards.

People hoping to win a SsangYong Tivoli car could either donate £5 to Frome Town FC and local food banks – or enter for free by sending in a postcard. Launched at the start of July the winner was due to be announced at the end of August by the Somerset club.

But the club said it received about 100 postcard entries in the first two weeks and “another flurry of postcards” after it was advertised as a free competition on a forum on the MoneySavingExpert website.

Officials say after finding a box of 2,001 postcards on the club’s doorstep from one man, the draw has had to be halted. Frome Town FC said it had tried to do “something new” to raise funds for the club and food bank charity Fair Frome.

But despite more than 450 people pledging donations it said it had lost money in the campaign.

Announcing the end of the draw, a club spokesperson said: “Our attempts to reward a fan with a new car have been unsuccessful. A huge thank you to everyone that played their part to help make this a success, refunds will be issued shortly.

“We tried, but Royal Mail are the only winners this time out.”

On the mystery postcard sender, the club said: “We arrived for our Saturday fixture versus Slimbridge, to find a box of 2,001 postcards on the doorstep of the club. All from just one man, and worse, a Frome man.

“Followed by a proud email from the same person detailing and documenting his actions. In this email he also requested that he be kept in the loop and wanting photographic proof of the draw – insinuating that foul play may occur during the draw, whilst claiming effectively £10,000 worth of free entries to the competition.”

Scott Fitzgibbon, from the club, posted on Twitter he was “sad” and “angry” about the situation.

He told the BBC the club had hoped to “cover the cost of the car” as well as raise some funds.

Organisers said all tickets would be refunded over the coming weeks and a Crowdfunder page had also been set up for donations.