Wrexham Away

Question is there any alternative coaches running to Wrexham away, the supporters coach is fully booked which is strange as they have only just gone on sale, do they get guaranteed tickets ahead of everyone else?

Think they prioritise their regulars and stop when the coach is full. Their prerogative I suppose & that committee have been running the service non-stop, every match for years.

Said for a while though I think the official offer from the club needs looking at if that’s going to be the case. They seem happy to let profiteers step in though, or leave it to fans to sort themselves out.

Reckon you’d fill a lot more coaches doing it online rather than having to ring or text some bloke you don’t know!

100% agree think the club could run a ticket & coach offer

I'm surprised they don't. Do any other clubs do it? Surely a good way to make a couple extra quid. I guess in the grand scheme of things it is literally just a few quid profit without over charging the fans

Quoted from ska face

Think they prioritise their regulars and stop when the coach is full. Their prerogative I suppose & that committee have been running the service non-stop, every match for years.

Said for a while though I think the official offer from the club needs looking at if that’s going to be the case. They seem happy to let profiteers step in though, or leave it to fans to sort themselves out.

Reckon you’d fill a lot more coaches doing it online rather than having to ring or text some bloke you don’t know!

What do you mean about the official offer ska? Or isn't there one, is that what you mean?

Yeah that’s about the long & short of it.

Not sure when the last time they ran more than 2 coaches anywhere was. Only way you can get booked on is direct messaging the Club SLO twitter account or looking for a mobile number to text or call on the website.

Whole club is supposedly being professionalised from top to bottom but this seems a bit out of date.

I don’t have an issue with regulars filling up the ‘supporters club’ buses but I think it’s a stretch to call it a supporters club. In their defence, I don’t think they do as such but outsiders probably see it that way.

I suspect we’ve all done at least one away day on the buses whether Terry or Bernard running them and the folk are, on the whole decent folk but I could see why people see at as a bit of a closed shop.

I think it’s about time the club offered some sort of coach travel and ticket package, possibly on a relatively modern bus with a toilet etc. I imagine families would possibly explore this or dad and lad type combos.

Not everyone wants to drive or faff with trains. It’s definitely something I’d be holing the club are looking into, I appreciate it’s not a priority but it should be something offered.

To be fair, GTFC doesn’t have a supporters club, I know the trust kind of acts like that but one would assume there’s a market and product there the club could look at developing…

Quoted from FishySmithy

Question is there any alternative coaches running to Wrexham away, the supporters coach is fully booked which is strange as they have only just gone on sale, do they get guaranteed tickets ahead of everyone else?

As a semi-regular traveller on "the bus" I think it's a fair call to say that Terry, Janice and Moira prioritise their regulars. This however is out of necessity. The regulars provide the numbers which ensure that a coach can be run to each and every away game. For every Wrexham where the bus is over-subscribed there is a night match at the likes of Crawley where the regulars are the "only" travellers on the bus. I know for a fact that there have been people who have booked to travel and have not only not turned up but haven't told the organisers making it impossible to re-sell the seats.
There were a few games last season where there were two buses but neither were completely full.
The sad fact is that travelling in such a way is not for everyone. There is no scope for independence. You can be stuck for an hour in some god-forsaken service station on the way home from a 5-0 defeat at Swindon because the law says that the driver has to rest for that length of time.
The correct name is The GTFC Supporters Travel Club. They have never claimed to be an Official Supporters Club. They have no link to either the club or The Mariners Trust.
I can say that every single member is required to sort out their own ticketing arrangements and none of it happens before the tickets actually go on sale.

Oh the good old days of the 'battle bus'

Went quite a few times with Bernard and can’t fault for one minute the service that he, and now Terry provided.

Mainly it was times when the lads I used to go with couldn’t go as they would’ve been night matches, and they would’ve been working. Weekend games we’d get someone to drive, that way, we could have a few beers on the way and get to the ground when we wanted. And, am guessing with the tight restrictions imposed on travelling on a coach to games (no alcohol, time restraints etc) am guessing it puts a fair few people off. Admittedly, am seeing this through a younger supporters eyes.

There’s loads of times I’ve seen people on social media organising minibuses to go to games and am sure that if there was enough people together, then it wouldn’t be that hard to sort out.

Luke Armstrong transfer to Wrexham fell through.  The paperwork not submitted in time.

Quoted from TownSNAFU5

Luke Armstrong transfer to Wrexham fell through.  The paperwork not submitted in time.

So what happens now?
Is he still a Harrogate Player or a Wrexham player who can not play for them until the January window opens?

He’s an unhappy Harrogate player. Unselected, and bood by his own fans.

He pays Harrogate to release him from his contract and he signs for Wrexham as a free agent the next day with a big signing on fee? Probably some rules to prevent that sort of carry on - I assume a player has to be a free agent when the window closes?

Quoted from Limerick Mariner

He pays Harrogate to release him from his contract and he signs for Wrexham as a free agent the next day with a big signing on fee? Probably some rules to prevent that sort of carry on - I assume a player has to be a free agent when the window closes?

that's correct

Quoted from barralad

As a semi-regular traveller on "the bus" I think it's a fair call to say that Terry, Janice and Moira prioritise their regulars. This however is out of necessity. The regulars provide the numbers which ensure that a coach can be run to each and every away game. For every Wrexham where the bus is over-subscribed there is a night match at the likes of Crawley where the regulars are the "only" travellers on the bus. I know for a fact that there have been people who have booked to travel and have not only not turned up but haven't told the organisers making it impossible to re-sell the seats.
There were a few games last season where there were two buses but neither were completely full.
The sad fact is that travelling in such a way is not for everyone. There is no scope for independence. You can be stuck for an hour in some god-forsaken service station on the way home from a 5-0 defeat at Swindon because the law says that the driver has to rest for that length of time.
The correct name is The GTFC Supporters Travel Club. They have never claimed to be an Official Supporters Club. They have no link to either the club or The Mariners Trust.
I can say that every single member is required to sort out their own ticketing arrangements and none of it happens before the tickets actually go on sale.

Understand that but it gives little or no opportunity for others to use and seen as that’s the only coach it is frustrating at times and it’s fully booked even before people get the tickets.

Like proposed it would be good if the club could run one that is available to all not just a select few (for reasons I understand) and done as an option when buying a ticket.

Just out of curiosity I wander how many people that pre book on the coach fail to get a ticket when they have been high in demand and low allocation, I foolishly did suspect (rumour mill) the regulars was guaranteed no matter what an away ticket head of everyone else.  

Quoted from FishySmithy

Understand that but it gives little or no opportunity for others to use and seen as that’s the only coach it is frustrating at times and it’s fully booked even before people get the tickets.

Like proposed it would be good if the club could run one that is available to all not just a select few (for reasons I understand) and done as an option when buying a ticket.

Just out of curiosity I wander how many people that pre book on the coach fail to get a ticket when they have been high in demand and low allocation, I foolishly did suspect (rumour mill) the regulars was guaranteed no matter what an away ticket head of everyone else.  

I think you answered your own question…

Quoted from FishySmithy

Understand that but it gives little or no opportunity for others to use and seen as that’s the only coach it is frustrating at times and it’s fully booked even before people get the tickets.

Like proposed it would be good if the club could run one that is available to all not just a select few (for reasons I understand) and done as an option when buying a ticket.

Just out of curiosity I wander how many people that pre book on the coach fail to get a ticket when they have been high in demand and low allocation, I foolishly did suspect (rumour mill) the regulars was guaranteed no matter what an away ticket head of everyone else.  

I didnt get a ticket for Harrogate last season. I gave up the seat I'd booked on the bus. Someone who did get a ticket took it. I don't wish to be controversial but it is that simple.
There are not enough "regulars" to fill a 53 seater bus and not every regular can do every game.
It is a massive job for Terry and co to ensure that seat occupation is maximised for every game. Perhaps that alone is why the club steer clear of it.

That’s where the club could add some value. They’ve got a marketing dept & massive reach across the town & beyond, as well as an Ops manager, big team of staff and capacity to take bookings online, in person or over the phone.

On top that, they’ve got the ability to absorb a few hundred quid in losses if they can only get 30 people on a second 50-seater, something that the committee now probably doesn’t.

Just think it’s a service that could help plenty of people get to games, particularly younger fans, those without access to cars and people who can’t afford (or don’t fancy the carry-on with) trains.

On the flip side, is it worth the clubs hassle? People won't pay over the odds for a coach so the margin they have to play with will be small. The fans contract is then with the club, so they get the headache when a coach doesn't turn up, breaks down, arrives late and everything else.

Quoted from jamesgtfc

On the flip side, is it worth the clubs hassle? People won't pay over the odds for a coach so the margin they have to play with will be small. The fans contract is then with the club, so they get the headache when a coach doesn't turn up, breaks down, arrives late and everything else.

Would be great if the club run one and put profit aside (madness I hear you say) as long as they break even of sorts and on par with the up and running coach. Putting fans first and helping more fans and more importantly the fans of the future to attend more away games when the appetite is there.

Remember our motto  #greatertogether and what once was isn’t always necessary the correct way to keep doing things after all we are all about continued improvement and engagement.

FYI not rant/cull and think some valid points have been raised that’s all.

I wonder if it’s only 1 pick up/drop off point (am guessing it would be BP) or are there a few on the way I.e. gy bus station, scartho etc

Quoted from WOZOFGRIMSBY

I wonder if it’s only 1 pick up/drop off point (am guessing it would be BP) or are there a few on the way I.e. gy bus station, scartho etc

I went to notts county on Terry's bus and they picked up at the farmhouse new Waltham ,Linden club ,blundell park and 1 guy at the m180 Scunthorpe turn off

Anything associated with away days, with the exception of those big bumper cup games, is never going to make the club any money.  

But I think it's about more than that.  It's about the social contract that the fans have with the club.  The people who are willing to go up and down the country every other week deserve better than having limited options to do so. Yes, of course, it's their choice at the end of the day but ultimately they're doing it for the benefit of the team and therefore the club.

Struggle to believe the club wouldn't be able to get a deal with a reputable local coach firm to accommodate this and the natural flex in the demand for each game.  A bit of prior planning and it should be largely hiccup free.  

Used Terry's bus (Bernard's before that) many a time in years gone by, going to the each bottom end of the country in godforsaken weather and was incredibly grateful for it. Not for me anymore and the idea of spending 10 hours on a bus is my idea of hell, at the time though it was a godsend.  Yet it always sat quite uncomfortably with me that all the organising fell on the shoulders of volunteers, with an actual business passing on that custom to it.  

Could be a very easy win for the club.  

I noticed Mansfield had several coaches the other week - 6 or 7 and they had a pub stop in Brigg.
That’s a third of the away following. By contrast we took nearly 3k to Notts and a only couple of coaches, with many of our fans crammed on trains often with erratic timings and non-functioning toilets. The Mansfield approach seems a good alternative to me…

Fond memories of using the Supporters Travel Club when I was younger, managed to visit some great grounds as a result of the service they offered.

I tend to agree more with the views of having more club involvement. It'd be a little disrespectful to simply take it away from Terry and his aides, but with potentially a limited reach with it being more word of mouth (to my knowledge), a more robust advertising and booking system might actually improve the interest and numbers.

If it were something the club took more ownership/interest in I'd maybe suggest that Terry would be a fantastic person to take a prominent role with his recognition and understanding of the demands and intricacies of the job.

Wrexham have signed Steven Fletcher, the ex Scotland International.

Pretty good signing is that.

Quoted from ginnywings

Wrexham have signed Steven Fletcher, the ex Scotland International.

Pretty good signing is that.

Is it? Big, slow and old? Hope their midfielders have got neck braces with him and palmer up front cos all they’ll see is the ball flying over their heads. Wrexham seem to have been desperate to get anyone in, and this just seems desperate. Probably not cheap either

Quoted from Posh Harry

Is it? Big, slow and old? Hope their midfielders have got neck braces with him and palmer up front cos all they’ll see is the ball flying over their heads. Wrexham seem to have been desperate to get anyone in, and this just seems desperate. Probably not cheap either

I think so yes, which is why I said it.

Quoted from ginnywings

I think so yes, which is why I said it.

He’s the sort who would sign for them but not for us.

Quoted from MuddyWaters

He’s the sort who would sign for them but not for us.

Quite possibly, but I don't know why people think this is not a good signing for them, but it seems the fishy football experts have spoken, so what do I know?

Almost 600 games and almost 200 goals at levels well above league 2. Never played lower than the championship and at 36, isn't that old by modern fitness standards.

But let's just call him big, old and slow shall we, because you know, once you're past 30, it's game over.

I'd be well happy if he had signed for us.

Probably my favourite Scottish ex Marseille player.

Was released by Dundee so if they didn't want him there must be something amiss .Agree though if only a fraction as good as he was it will be a good signing

He went down last season with Dundee Utd so I wouldn't be surprised if it was to do with wages.