: Wed Feb 18, 2009 7:19 pm  

Might be interested but need to know that there will be sensible pickup & drop points - near tube and nite bus stops.

Also a sensible arrival time at the grounds - suggest around 90 minutes before kick-off and not to late a return to The Smoke, in particular on Sunday. No departure times which result in arrival seconds before, and in some cases after, kick-off.

The reason that 'away coach' has failed in recent years is due to poor management planning as regards route pick-up and associated timings. As a 'older' fan remember the days when we always took at least 2 coach's and sometimes many many more to away games.

Whoever is going to provide the coach/s need to be also able to provide relible and well equiped units plus drivers who know where they are going and can 'navigate' around any major motorway jams.......and repair obstructions.

We all remember the Stagecoach debacle ....... when we played Warrington in Newport!!

The request was for an interest in using a coach if one was laid on, not write a thesis on past experiences.

Its simple yes or no.

: Wed Feb 18, 2009 8:23 pm  

Interest, yes. Particularly Bridgend Easter Monday.

: Wed Feb 18, 2009 9:29 pm  

Mr Sheen wrote:

Interest, yes. Particularly Bridgend Easter Monday.

Aye thats your local derby.

Quins support is awesome considering you have to travel so far for each game. You had like a couple of hundred at the magic weekend last year I thought it was brilliant.

: Thu Feb 19, 2009 2:40 pm  

Think before you 'scribe' WireQuin.....the posting was from a newbi staff member and who thus I feel needs to know a bit about the reasons for recent poor take-up of 'away' coach travel etc and the needs of fans viz pick-up points etc

It thus would be wrong for me to just say YES to then find that the pick-up points etc etc were not sustainable so ensuring a negative take-up.

Recent past away travel via the Club has given me to know that they are more often than not both sloppy as regards timing, pick-up points and equally poor as regards 'coach provider' management etc. They seem to think that provided they start/finish at the Stoop and then have a pick-up point by a north London hotel - miles away from tubes/nite bus might add - they have done their job. That's utter tosh as supporters well know and the Club plus the coach operator really do need to 'think' about the planning a great deal more so ensuring maximum and on going take up.

If I do not see some real thought has been put into the planning and due consideration given to the points raised my answer will be NO.
in addition with the current poor fiscal climate the 'price' needs to be highly competative.

I've said my piece and do not need to be slagged of by Quin Wire and his 'ilk.

: Thu Feb 19, 2009 3:47 pm  

Think before you 'scribe' WireQuin.....the posting was from a newbi staff member and who thus I feel needs to know a bit about the reasons for recent poor take-up of 'away' coach travel etc and the needs of fans viz pick-up points etc

The posting is not from a newbi staff member at all. It is from a fan who gives a great deal of time voluntarily to help the club. I am not a new fan but a fan of 15 years standing. I travelled up and down the motorway to every away game in the first five years of being a fan. This changed due to personal reasons. I now do approx. 5 away games a year. I do understand the problems with away travel. I know fans come from all corners of the London, Greater London, Surrey and Hampshire areas to name but a few. This in itself is a logistical nightmare and why I asked the question of would people welcome a coach for away travel, would they use them if they were supplied. It will not be the club organising this as they are unable to cope with the demands of away travel. If it appears feasible there would be enough people to cover then we will take this one stage further and discuss do we do all weekend games or do we hit certain games. Then will also be the time to discuss financial arrangements. I cannot say it will definitely happen as there is still a long way to go. Fans are the people that are important and it is their input I need to get a feel of whether or not we try one more time to provide coaches.

: Thu Feb 19, 2009 4:33 pm  

id be up for it!

: Thu Feb 19, 2009 4:51 pm  

My thoughts on transport are a definite yes, which ever way works out the best will do for me.

I would travel sat/sun, and would certainly be tempted by a Friday night trip as the two I did when the coach ran a couple of seasons ago were both excellent fun (all be it we narrowly lost one at Wigan but never mind).

Re Edinburgh, personally no, 1 since flights are already booked and 2, don’t really fancy a coach journey all that way when for a reasonable price we found flights.

If we’re doing head counts for interest at this early stage I know of another family member who would also be up for the coach, although probably not Fridays.

: Thu Feb 19, 2009 6:13 pm  

Sorry but as you signed only last year took you for a newbi and from the way it was written thought it came from the club office.

I think you would get a full coach most Saturday/Sunday games once you posted an your 'outline' pickup/dropoff points, timings. The sooner the better as there are only 11 away games left as think Edinburgh by private coach will be a non-starter as National Express et al are always cheaper


As for Friday would suggest you aim to fill a mini coach if the provider runs both types.

: Thu Feb 19, 2009 6:49 pm  

Always worth it. Re pick up points. Centre of london adds 2 hours on to the trip in both directions. And can't really be considered and this makes evening games v tough for people in east London. I would love to see the club target friday games too with a package deal at a hotel.
Brent cross pick ups was near both bus and tube stops so I don't know what that guy was on about and pick up points were done on a consensus with fans club and coach drivers.
Friday night games on the whole should be rules out. Leeds we had 7, Salford we had three. The club could do more. Ie free tickets - can negotiate with clubs. They get good pr and our spending and increased numbers we lesson the cost.
Some games are also just so much easier by train or car and the 50 that go to games have their own established means off getting to games.
IMO it should be well advertised targeted games first. If there is a demand for more then inteoduce it.

: Thu Feb 19, 2009 8:44 pm  

I think I prefer to stick with the train. I don't like long motorway journeys and prefer not to travel there and back on the same day.