Sorry No Coach To Eastleigh on 11 Sept

[Andrew Turner]

It is with regret that we are unable to offer a Coach to Eastleigh on Saturday 11th September.

 

Details of the Coach have been advertised for about 10 days on match days on the forum, web and by face 2 face conversations but with only 12 names we are unable to provide a Coach to this game as we need a minimum of 30 people.

 

I would like to personally apologise to the people who put there names down on what I beleive we should of had no real problem getting a coach for Eastleigh.

 

I hope you are able to still attend the game, if you have spare seats in your car perhaps you can offer another Blues fan a lift.

 

Regards,

 

Andy Turner

BTSA Chairman

[Mark (Flag) Braintree]

Andrew, I come onto your forum with good intentions before Keith P or Ryan C put the knife in.

 

Can I ask a question, why can you not do a mini bus or something on a smaller scale when only 12 of your loyalists supporters travel?

 

Just curious.

Mark.

[Ryan.c]

Obviously there will be more than 12 people travelling to Eastleigh. 60/80 people will. Question is, how do you entice the travelling support to use the coach? A couple of seasons ago the first three or four coaches were sponsored making it free for supporters. That was as expected popular and coaches were full. So there's your answer, we want free coaches!!!!!

[Mark (Flag) Braintree]

Thanks Ryan.

[Andrew Turner]

Mark,

 

Thanks for your comments, yes we do look to run smaller coaches to our games but these can cost nearly the same price as a full scale coach.

 

Running a mini coach to Eastleigh is just not viable due to the distance and we need toilet facilities on board.

 

Asking Supporters to pay around £20 to travel I feel is too expensive.

 

We will still have about 75 people at Eastleigh, how many will you have when you travel there !!

[Mark (Flag) Braintree]

No where near as much Support at Eastleigh, I accept our away attendance is no where near yours. I was not taking a dig at your support, we would be pleased to take 75 away.

 

We would probably take about 30 to Eastleigh. You are right on the pricing. It was a genuine question.

 

 

 

[The Town Crier]

Quote:

Ryan.c said:
we want free coaches!!!!!

I agree.....we also want free programs!!! as well as, cheaper beer, & 1/2 price burgers. <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

[jl]

I do think it's the cost that puts a lot of people off. Some people will always drive regardless especially families for whom it will hardly ever be cost effective to travel by coach and some who just prefer the freedom (except for the beer of course) that driving provides.

 

We had this situation at Yeading, 16 people on the coach, coach runs at a loss, we get there (eventually) and there's probably about 90-100 Billericay supporters in the ground.

 

I expect most of us will find ways of getting there (thanks Gazza!!) but I always think a big coach turning up can put the wind up the oppo a bit.

 

I suppose the coach to Bognor will tell us whether cheaper prices = more bodies or not, but with not much in the way of an income stream these days I don't see how the BTSA can continually run coaches at a loss.