An apology was issued by a Rugby Club after Nigel Farage’s VIP dinner.
After anger from members and supporters, Preston Grasshoppers RFC cancelled the charity event, billed at ‘An Evening with Nigel Farage: the man not the myth.
One fan even cut up their membership cards while a councillor who supports the club said he ‘could not believe’ they were ‘taking on someone as divisive as Nigel Farage’.
Since then, the club cancelled the event that was supposed to raise funds for St Catherine’s Hospice. They told LancsLive they are inclusive clubs and this wasn’t right for them.
Club members apologized for publishing the event, and the club stated it was cancelling the reservation ‘following feedback and larger comments from social media’.
Richard Ellis, the general manager of the club, stated that he believed it was the right decision to cancel the event.
Preston Grasshoppers RFC had to apologise after members and supporters grew angry and cancelled a charity event titled ‘An Evening with Nigel Farage: the man, not the myth.
This advertisement was posted on the club website. It stated that it would take place on December 21.
The book offered an ‘intriguing look into the life, times and background of a truly remarkable politician’. It also said that it was about the author’s journey to defeat the establishment and cheat death three times.
According to the now-deleted advert, profits were due to go to St Catherine’s Hospice, with packages of tables of ten offering three course dinners available for £750.
The club later removed it after a social media backlash and has issued an update to apologize for having hosted the event.
John Potter, Preston City councillor in Cadley ward, and Lancashire County representative for Preston West is a supporter. He said to LancsLive, “It was supposed be a private function but I think it’s a risk taking on someone like Nigel Farage.
‘I could not believe that they had made that decision.
“I am pleased that the event was cancelled.
‘I was not the first person to have seen it; a few people were cutting up their membership cards, and I thought “what’s that about?”
“Then, I heard more reports about the junior sections. It was reported that some parents decided to not take their children to training.
You should expect people to get upset if you have strong opinions in your club.
Farage is a terrible, horrendous person. My only power was to withhold my support.
“I am a member, the club is amazing and does fantastic things for the community. But all I could do was withdraw my support and membership.
Hussein Khambalia, after seeing an online advertisement for the event, asked the club why it would ‘justify giving that bigot a stage at what is supposed be an inclusive community Rugby club’.
He said, “You’re supposed to help increase rugby participation from all backgrounds and communities. Not inviting racists into our classrooms.”
Steve Tiernan also posted on Twitter a picture of two membership cards that had been cut in half.
Steve called Steve to discuss the situation and he said that the cancellation of the event was an honest error. He decided to support the club as a result.
However, he said that the decision would always face backlash.
“For Preston Grasshoppers, the club’s reputation was not in keeping with its brilliant philosophy.
Preston Grasshoppers Rugby Football Club released the following statement via its website: ‘The club made a private booking for Nigel Farage to speak at a 21st-December 2021 dinner.
The club was not involved in organizing the event. A posting was posted on our site advertising the event.
“This made it look like we were the promoters for the event.
“Following comments from members and larger social media discussions, the club made the decision to cancel this booking.
“We are sorry for posting this event on our website. We don’t want to give the impression we were the promoters or that the event endorses any political opinions.
“The club reiterated that it does not endorse or align itself with any political party, organisation, or organization.
Mr Ellis added: ‘We accept that we have probably taken a wrong turn.
The big deal is, that we are neutral. We don’t endorse any political party.
“We are an inclusive club and that wasn’t what we wanted.”