Farage had Ipswich Town invitation, BBC told

Nigel Farage was invited to an Ipswich Town meeting earlier this week, despite the club claiming otherwise, the BBC understands.

The Reform leader headed to Portman Road on Monday, with footage shot by the party showing him holding personalised shirts and sitting in the changing room.

The Championship club initially denied knowledge and claimed it was part of a private tour. It later said it was apolitical and did not "support or endorse any individual party".

Messages seen by the BBC suggest that club consultant James Pearce reached out to Farage, seemingly on behalf of club chairman Ashton, to arrange a meeting. The club declined to comment.

The messages between Pearce and a party representative show him asking to "facilitate a meeting with Nigel" and Ashton.

Reform then responded to that message, understood to have been sent over LinkedIn, and agreed to liaise over the invitation.

The BBC approached Pearce, who has worked for the club as a consultant for several years, about the content of the messages. He confirmed he had tried to arrange a meeting between Ashton and Farage but said at that point Ashton was not aware the approach had been made.

After that initial exchange, however, Reform is understood to have contacted the club before a visit at the stadium was ultimately arranged.

During that visit, Farage took a tour of the stadium and was allowed to pose for photos and film a promotional video, which included the club's branding and sponsors.

In the 30-second clip, he can be seen holding a "Farage 10" shirt and sitting in the home dressing room, with at least five "Farage 10" shirts hanging behind him.

The MP is also seen signing the back of an Ipswich Town home shirt, seemingly beginning the message with "To Mark".

He also talks about the team's promotion chances and his hopes of becoming prime minister, before ending the video by saying "what a lovely welcome" he had received.

The 61-year-old party leader is MP for the nearby constituency of Clacton in north-east Essex.

In a briefing from the club's media department to journalists on Tuesday morning, the club said Farage had not officially been invited, and that his team had booked a private tour in the same way that anyone else could.

Ipswich Town fan website TWTD also reported on Tuesday that the shirts had been purchased and not gifted.

However, Farage later told the BBC that he had "received an invitation from Ipswich, who knew I was in the area".

The Athletic also reported that the politician had a private lunch with Ashton and chief operating officer Luke Werhun and had been gifted six Farage 10 shirts by the club.

The sports website also said that some staff and players had reacted angrily to the visit, while the Guardian reported "a handful of officials" had been given "prior warning".

Farage's visit to the club came during a trip to the county ahead of local elections on Thursday, 7 May, with him later holding an event at Trinity Park, in Ipswich, for 900 people.

The club stressed in a statement that it was "apolitical" and did "not support or endorse any individual or party".

"Ipswich Town Football Club has, over several years, hosted representatives from a range of political parties," it said.

"The club will continue to engage with representatives from across the political spectrum as part of its role within the community.

"Ipswich Town is proud to be an inclusive, diverse and welcoming organisation that supports all members of the local and wider community. This commitment remains unchanged."

That, however, did not appease some fans, with some telling the BBC they were "ashamed and embarrassed" and many others calling for answers.

One said he was disappointed to see the club "used as a political football", while former Blues goalkeeper Craig Forrest also questioned whether Farage's visit fitted in with the club's values.

On Thursday, Ipswich Town's official supporters' club pledged to pass on fans' concerns to the Blues "as a matter of urgency".

And, in a hard-hitting piece in the East Anglian Daily Times and Ipswich Star, the newspapers called for the club to apologise to its fans.

Ipswich Town fan of 60 years and Labour member on Ipswich Borough Council, Colin Kreidewolf, also called for an apology and said the club's initial statement was "disingenuous".

He added the whole saga had been "really upsetting".

"It's really disappointing and depressing, and the club needs to explain how they've got into this position," he added.

"If it is to be a community-minded club and inclusive and diverse then they need to practise that in all facets, which they have done until now.

"The club has been a bit naive and been misused in appearing to support one political party, which is so against the ethos of what the football club is trying to be.

"They have made a mistake - we all make mistakes in life, but it's just about admitting that."

Other fans, however, were less concerned by Farage's visit, with some even saying it was good publicity.

One season-ticketholder said supporters needed "to move on from it", while another said they needed to "get a grip".

The BBC has approached the Blues with a series of questions about the visit, including about who arranged it and whether the club knew Farage would be using its branding to promote the party.

It has declined to comment.

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