Away supporters coach

[lewj]

After speaking to one of the fans that travelled across to Huddersfield yesterday they were not too pleased with the club coach and were talking of sorting out their own supporters coach.

I can't really blame them as for the vast majority of the trips it has turned up 1 hour before the game and gone home straight after. Not a lot of time to sample the build up to a game or discuss the match after. One game the coach was not even booked and they had to sort it last minute on the day.

As there is one game left, Hull FC, which I can't make this year maybe it would be an idea to sort this over the summer or speak to the club about giving some assurances so the fans can have a better experience at the game. An hour either side (arriving 2 hours before and leaving 1 hour after) would make a world of difference, I think.

[gogledd]

I have travelled on the away coach a couple of times and have to say overall its been a good experience. I went in my own car yesterday as I was working in the Lakes on Saturday but when we went to Bradford we had plenty of time for 'pre-match' refreshments. Saints was a bit rushed but we had an evening kick off

I think it depends on the time of the game whether people would like to stop for a drink afterwards but in general I would agree 2 hours before and an hour after would be a good suggestion.

[baz]

Are the rules different for RL? With the football club the law means it has to be a straight in and out job, and to get more flexibility you would have to run things independently of the club. Plus, more the more time the bus is out of its depot, the more you will pay for it. Beware a splinter group though. In my away travelling days with WFC you end up getting different groups wanting different things, and with a small fanbase this has frequently led to no buses running at all (and this still happens) because of failing to get the groups together in agreement, or even communicating with each other. There's not exactly a massive Crusaders away hardcore as it is, so your best bet would be demanding a bit more from the club's service (good luck with that) and building up its popularity.

[gogledd]

There does seem to be a regular hard core of travelling fans as I see the same faces when I go on the coach. I am sure between us we could agree whats best for everyone rather than not having transport

[baz]

Originally Posted by gogledd

There does seem to be a regular hard core of travelling fans as I see the same faces when I go on the coach. I am sure between us we could agree whats best for everyone rather than not having transport

Which is fine up to a point - but it makes it less easy for new followers to get on board if it has just been agreed between the hardcore. If you can arrange this under a Suppoters Club banner then that could work but anything which is too unofficial seems to split itself from a wider fanbase, and take away potential customers (active or dormant), so it might not be as good as it sounds.

[wafc1926]

Originally Posted by baz

Are the rules different for RL? With the football club the law means it has to be a straight in and out job, and to get more flexibility you would have to run things independently of the club. Plus, more the more time the bus is out of its depot, the more you will pay for it. Beware a splinter group though. In my away travelling days with WFC you end up getting different groups wanting different things, and with a small fanbase this has frequently led to no buses running at all (and this still happens) because of failing to get the groups together in agreement, or even communicating with each other. There's not exactly a massive Crusaders away hardcore as it is, so your best bet would be demanding a bit more from the club's service (good luck with that) and building up its popularity.

Sound advice . It is very difficult to agree a formula which pleases everyone , particularly when kids are involved .