Been mentioned by Trotster and Wilko,who is up for an NSC coach to away games ?

[Robot Chicken]

Any idea how much a coach costs to hire? How much is insurance? You can't really charge more than £28 for the coach ticket...that will bring in £1400 if you sell 50 seats.

And who would organise and run this coach!

 

[jmc]

Be careful about calling it the blue rinse brigade. There are at least 3 regular members of NSC who go on that coach. I know one of them is quite sick at the stick they get.

We're all Albion fans after all

oh the blue rinse brigade can give a bit of stick as well, when I ran coaches we got all sorts of abuse from them, everything we did was grassed up to the club, "oh they're drinking champagne" - "oh they're happy" - sorry but the supporters coaches deserve the grief they get, though LC does a great job running them.

IF someone is gonna take this up, don't listen to the club - they make so many promises and produced f*** ALL....

Best coach companies are Kingsferry or the lot Pompey use!

 

[jmc]

Surely not.
One of my mates is a copper, and he was drunk as a skunk there and back - we were drinking Hock. He considers himself "above the law" admittedly, but I wasn't aware of alcohol legally being banned on coaches, unless its the coach companies own policy.

It's the LAW - there and back - which Coach where you on?

 

[Bozza]

There is quite a bit to it - we ran a few under the Scars & Stripes banner.

1. I don't think Eastbourne via Worthing would work. Those who live in Eastbourne gert a bit of a raw deal. Assuming a town centre pick-up in Worthing it will be an hour befor the coach even starts heading North. And that's assuming no pick-ups in between.

2. You should inform the police at the destination. You may well be required to stop and wait for a police escort into the locality of the away ground. And you may have to wait for all BHA coaches (ie supporters' club) to congregate before you are 'taken in'.

3. Booze is a no-no. Well, it's supposed to be. In reality you beer it up and before you get close you jetison all empty and full beers cans, bottles and everything else. Any trace of alcohol and they can turn you round and fine your ass.

Our worst trip was to Hereford away in the cup in the year after THE Hereford game. We were escorted into town and had a police helicopter follow us as we walked from the coach to a pub. A couple of our party got a pasting from local heavies as we tried to get to the ground. But it got worse on the way home when we stopped off in Newbury for beers. Again, blows were traded and the Brighton boys roamed the streets (both on foot and in the coach itself) looking for revenge.

Anyway - don't let this put you off. It's a great idea and something I would support. But you will need to take deposits because people are unreliable and change their minds. But keep it simple - pick up in Hove/Brighton, go up the 23 with a stop or two and keep it at that.

 

[Easy 10]

It's the LAW - there and back - which Coach where you on?

Can't remember now. Jumped on outside Hove Station. Me and about 6 mates went, and one kiddy organised it all for us, I just handed the money over and turned up. Coach was full, great atmos, beer was flowing, goal videos on. We picked up a police escort just outside Stoke, and arrived in time for a few more beers in that naff little "nightclub" at Vale Park.

More of the same on the way home, and stopped off at a service station where we bumped into a load of Bornmuff fans on their way back from Wrexham having just been relegated to D3. SO we were supping Championship champagne on the grass, while the Cherries fans moped around.

Unforgettable day. Marvellous scenes.

 

[jmc]

Can't remember now. Jumped on outside Hove Station. Me and about 6 mates went, and one kiddy organised it all for us, I just handed the money over and turned up. Coach was full, great atmos, beer was flowing, goal videos on. We picked up a police escort just outside Stoke, and arrived in time for a few more beers in that naff little "nightclub" at Vale Park.

More of the same on the way home, and stopped off at a service station where we bumped into a load of Bornmuff fans on their way back from Wrexham having just been relegated to D3. SO we were supping Championship champagne on the grass, while the Cherries fans moped around.

Unforgettable day. Marvellous scenes.

ah I know what coaches yah mean

 

[oapdodge]

ah I know what coaches yah mean

Yes they were brilliant.Really miss them being run,now what happened to that nice young scots lad ? Remember he used to go to a few away games occasionally.Haven't heard from him in ages.

 

[bhaexpress]

Fine idea, I'd be well up for that, would even help organise if asked.

 

[Gwylan]

I'd be up for it when I move down to Brighton, so deffo one for next season.

 

[Wilko]

ah I know what coaches yah mean

JMC, DOnt fancy running these coaches again do you ?

Troster, Oapdodge and myself are all interested in getting involved if you fancy it ?? Be less work between four plus you have the contacts already

 

[Wilko]

Bring back any memories JMC ?

 

[Kenhead]

I would be intressted

 

[Rougvie]

Bozza raises a few very valid points, my experience in organising trips was a bit different, but was when I was running and Aberdeen supporters club down here and we chartered 50 seaters for a few cup finals and European journeys.

To say it is a logistical, as well as financial nightmare is an understatement, the ORGANISERS can be fined if any alchohol is found on board, and random stops at service station etc were not uncommon, the coach companies are also bastards when it comes to 'Unofficial' supporters clubs or groups, very ofter raising their prices, as if they dont know what to expect then they want to cover their arses big time, we had to put a £500 deposit down before a trip to Hertha Berlin, that was after paying the balance in full before departure, a few seasons back, and we only got £250 back as some twat spilled red wine on a seat, the driver stopped at Dover refusing to go any further until I apologised to his boss for breaking the rules and searched everyones bags, needless to say the organiser (i.e. me and a few others) had to foot the bill, I only recently got an apology from the bloke concerned, and remember the drivers can also get very very arsey and can refuse to take anyone they think is too pissed up for the journey, try explaining to someone that you are leaving them in Sheffield and you are soon wishing you never got involved.

If you want to do it on a regular basis, you HAVE to abide by their rules or they will only be banging on your door for money if it all goes like a lorry load of pears, you also have to be strict and get the money up front as people let you down right left and centre, and watch out for cancellation charges in the small print, some of these guys charge FULL fee if its cancelled with less than 48 hours notice.

We knock old Liz sometimes (oh er) but she has the totally correct make up and personality to organise these trips, she has being doing it for years, runs a very tight ship, so knows that there will be no trouble with alchohol etc etc so the coach company give her a good deal, the drivers of all football coaches are told to turn back if they see any drinking on a coach, so it aint going to be a piss up - guaranteed.

So negatives over, the last time we did an AFC away day for a friendly against Bradford in the summer we went down to choices and rented a Transit minibus, they are normally f***ed to bits, so it doesnt really matter what state they are in, there is no liability to any coach company about drinking etc etc and you are responsible for your own actions and can do what you want and dont have to wait for any police escort (which takes hours sometimes and is a NIGHTMARE to organise), find a driver and pay his entry into the game and £20 or so, and you can generally break even.

Thing is with the advent of cheaper rail travel, sometimes it really is just a better option for us.

If anyone wants any guidence on all the procedures, I have still got all the paperwork from coach hire, police procedure etc etc and would only be to glad to pass it all on.

 

[fatboy]

We should charter a train from Brighton to wherever we are playing and make sure it doesn't pass through Croydon.

Bring back the Seagulls Specials I say.

 

[Gullet]

If I can drink alcohol, watch videos and swear a bit, then count me in. Excellent way to travel, specially if we're setting off early enough to catch a pub before the game. And I'd have no problem paying up-front either - easy enough if we know where to post a cheque to, or whatever.

Travelled on an "unofficial" coach up to Port Vale a couple of years back on the final day - absolutely top day out.

I went on that trip as well and I thought it was well organised. The Scottish kiddie who was mentioned earlier (cant remember his name either) used to take my money at Withdean a week or two before the trip. Went to a few away games with him and it was always good.
As for the question of alcohol I dont think you are allowed to drink on the coach as a rule but the drivers usually turn a blind eye as long as nothing gets out of hand. I remember the coach going to Millwall last season. We had to stop for the police about 2 miles from the ground so all the Brighton coaches could be escorted in together. The driver told us to hide all the used bottles because if the police saw them they could refuse to let the coach continue to the ground, so it must be illegal. We'd have to have a plan for that.
But you can definately put my name down as long as we could agree on good pick - up points. It has to be somewhere we can park cars easily nearby, just in case some people need to do this and even though its a good way to let our hair down we've got to make sure that things dont get TOO stupid or else we'll get banned. Other coach firms will get to hear about it and then no one will want to know us.
Also it would be a great way for those of us who dont know many of you personally to do so. Even if we are meeting on the coach for the first time lets make EVERYONE welcome and go to the match all fans together, unlike the supporters coach where no one would speak to me.
Certainly count me in though.

 

[jmc]

JMC, DOnt fancy running these coaches again do you ?

Troster, Oapdodge and myself are all interested in getting involved if you fancy it ?? Be less work between four plus you have the contacts already

Don't tempt me

 

[Trotster]

Wilko - whos troster??

 

[oapdodge]

Don't tempt me

Go on you know it makes sense,it was good.
I can start drinking at away games again.

 

[saltash seagull]

I would definatly b up 4 it costs me a fortune at the moment cos my mate iv been travelling away with 4 the last couple of seasons cant afford 2 go now so iv been spending a fortune in fuel! payment upfront is fine with me

 

[Safeway]

Am planning on spending the weekend in Chester but this sounds like a laugh. Can we play 'spin the bottle'?