Away coaches.

[PortDan1121]

Why won’t the coach company from last season do it? Dan was always very complimentary about them.

I still am. The people that worked for the company were fantastic. Most of the drivers were legends to us and didn’t like other football coaches I went on, treat the fans like cattle.

I would still highly recommend Don Fraser for any private hire work.

[Exiled Port Fan]

A real shame to read this thread because of last seasons efforts. Despite this set back I hope all involved are still proud of what they did for their fellow fans.

[portexileinbath]

. Probably from Don Fraser's point of view it wasn't a good look to have a video watched hundreds of thousands of times, where a minority of Southport fans goaded the Chorley lad to throw the brick who then duly obliged. The irony is that a lot of the weopons grade "bellendery" from our fans seemed to subside towards the end of the season and people were a lot better behaved.

The club could be doing way more here to help. It's not as if anyone's asking them to run the coaches or for subsidies like other clubs in our division do, but why can't they use their clout within the local business community to find a suitable partner.

My own thoughts are that the club is genuinely ambivalent as to whether fans go to away games as they get no share of the gate. However this is short sighted as the players will miss the support when it's backs against the wall in some difficult away games. There's also a danger that a large section of our most vocal support who are relatively new/young will just lose the vibe and go and start watching other clubs in the area.

Again you've probably tried these already no doubt but someone who is local that claims to specialise in coaches for football fans:
https://www.vicoachhirepreston.co.uk/fo ... -hire.html

I have to take issue with a lot of the above.
Our fans goaded a moron into throwing a brick which put a coach out of action for a week. Smoke bombs at Chester and as for improvemnt towards the end of the season, what about pre season ? (Blackpool). That is why coach Co's don't want our business. Thank the small minority of our "fans" (that so many people defended) for this situation. The REAL fans who used the coach will now suffer.
As for the club "using their clout", why should they put their reputation on the line for fans who have shown they have no idea how to behave?
I feel deeply for the real fans who will suffer because we can't hire a coach. I know how difficult and expensive it is to travel to games.
It is sad too, that the people who put so much effort into arranging the travel, are now stymied.
As others have said, rail cards are well worth getting, they can save 30% on tickets.

[Sand74]

. Probably from Don Fraser's point of view it wasn't a good look to have a video watched hundreds of thousands of times, where a minority of Southport fans goaded the Chorley lad to throw the brick who then duly obliged. The irony is that a lot of the weopons grade "bellendery" from our fans seemed to subside towards the end of the season and people were a lot better behaved.

The club could be doing way more here to help. It's not as if anyone's asking them to run the coaches or for subsidies like other clubs in our division do, but why can't they use their clout within the local business community to find a suitable partner.

My own thoughts are that the club is genuinely ambivalent as to whether fans go to away games as they get no share of the gate. However this is short sighted as the players will miss the support when it's backs against the wall in some difficult away games. There's also a danger that a large section of our most vocal support who are relatively new/young will just lose the vibe and go and start watching other clubs in the area.

Again you've probably tried these already no doubt but someone who is local that claims to specialise in coaches for football fans:
https://www.vicoachhirepreston.co.uk/fo ... -hire.html

I have to take issue with a lot of the above.
Our fans goaded a moron into throwing a brick which put a coach out of action for a week. Smoke bombs at Chester and as for improvemnt towards the end of the season, what about pre season ? (Blackpool). That is why coach Co's don't want our business. Thank the small minority of our "fans" (that so many people defended) for this situation. The REAL fans who used the coach will now suffer.
As for the club "using their clout", why should they put their reputation on the line for fans who have shown they have no idea how to behave?
I feel deeply for the real fans who will suffer because we can't hire a coach. I know how difficult and expensive it is to travel to games.
It is sad too, that the people who put so much effort into arranging the travel, are now stymied.
As others have said, rail cards are well worth getting, they can save 30% on tickets.

How gracious of you to speak on behalf of all Coach Companies:

1. It was not them who picked up the brick and threw it at Chorley.
2. Glad to see you took an inventory of who threw a smoke bomb at Chester and who got on the Coach.
3. I don't believe there was a Coach to a friendly against Blackpool at Home.

Grow up Man

[PortDan1121]

I am currently working on a few alternative ideas - to maybe not have a coach but to have a membership minibus where people pay monthly to get their seat on the minibus then it is the person who pays monthly for the seats responsibility to get someone to go instead of them if they cant make it - instead of me which is a headache at times to try fill a bus. This also guarantees away travel to all games for the members. Stops the once-a-season troublemaker crew. Got a few contacts currently trying to work to get a suitable minibus at a reasonable price. It probs wont be ready for Boston but hopefully will be sorted for Alfreton.

[PortInTheSouth]

I am currently working on a few alternative ideas - to maybe not have a coach but to have a membership minibus where people pay monthly to get their seat on the minibus then it is the person who pays monthly for the seats responsibility to get someone to go instead of them if they cant make it - instead of me which is a headache at times to try fill a bus. This also guarantees away travel to all games for the members. Stops the once-a-season troublemaker crew. Got a few contacts currently trying to work to get a suitable minibus at a reasonable price. It probs wont be ready for Boston but hopefully will be sorted for Alfreton.

Great idea - would be more than happy to pay for a membership

[Sand74]

I am currently working on a few alternative ideas - to maybe not have a coach but to have a membership minibus where people pay monthly to get their seat on the minibus then it is the person who pays monthly for the seats responsibility to get someone to go instead of them if they cant make it - instead of me which is a headache at times to try fill a bus. This also guarantees away travel to all games for the members. Stops the once-a-season troublemaker crew. Got a few contacts currently trying to work to get a suitable minibus at a reasonable price. It probs wont be ready for Boston but hopefully will be sorted for Alfreton.

Great idea Dan - Best of luck

[Ste_B]

A great idea Dan. Good luck with it!

Perhaps the club could also consider a seat sponsorship scheme?

£100 for the season, name in the programme on top of a diagram of the inside of a coach, bulk of proceeds used to subsidise the cost of coach travel, maybe keep some to one side to repair a window

[PortDan1121]

A great idea Dan. Good luck with it!

maybe keep some to one side to repair a window

Thank you and I’m already planning to

[optimickstic]

Just like to say thanks for your all your past efforts and for trying so hard to work out a solution You will work something out im sure .Don Fraser took us [a motorbike club] to silverstone for the British bike gp in the early eighties rickety old basic coach and the elderly driver got us a few miles out of the circuit on the way back then succumbed to fatigue his daughter took over the driving good memories always been a good company to deal with cheers mick.

[siddle]

I am currently working on a few alternative ideas - to maybe not have a coach but to have a membership minibus where people pay monthly to get their seat on the minibus then it is the person who pays monthly for the seats responsibility to get someone to go instead of them if they cant make it - instead of me which is a headache at times to try fill a bus. This also guarantees away travel to all games for the members. Stops the once-a-season troublemaker crew. Got a few contacts currently trying to work to get a suitable minibus at a reasonable price. It probs wont be ready for Boston but hopefully will be sorted for Alfreton.

I'm an exile but I'd be happy to help support this to get fans to games. Really it's the kind of work that TIY should be doing.

[Big Mac 1985]

I am currently working on a few alternative ideas - to maybe not have a coach but to have a membership minibus where people pay monthly to get their seat on the minibus then it is the person who pays monthly for the seats responsibility to get someone to go instead of them if they cant make it - instead of me which is a headache at times to try fill a bus. This also guarantees away travel to all games for the members. Stops the once-a-season troublemaker crew. Got a few contacts currently trying to work to get a suitable minibus at a reasonable price. It probs wont be ready for Boston but hopefully will be sorted for Alfreton.

I'm an exile but I'd be happy to help support this to get fans to games. Really it's the kind of work that TIY should be doing.

Who are TIY?

[Formula Port]

I am currently working on a few alternative ideas - to maybe not have a coach but to have a membership minibus where people pay monthly to get their seat on the minibus then it is the person who pays monthly for the seats responsibility to get someone to go instead of them if they cant make it - instead of me which is a headache at times to try fill a bus. This also guarantees away travel to all games for the members. Stops the once-a-season troublemaker crew. Got a few contacts currently trying to work to get a suitable minibus at a reasonable price. It probs wont be ready for Boston but hopefully will be sorted for Alfreton.

I'm an exile but I'd be happy to help support this to get fans to games. Really it's the kind of work that TIY should be doing.

Who are TIY?

Has anything ever been officially said regarding TIY's status?

[Gloucester man]

Does anyone remember Don Fraser senior he used to wear a cracking syrup.

[kiaken]

TIY not interested in fans travel.

[Port on the Kent]

Trust in Yellow no longer exists in any real sense, does it? No activity of any note for years. Last update on website over 2 years ago. I think Nic posted on here the regulatory things Trusts have to comply with and TIY weren't doing any of them.

Ironically, they were great supporters of Phil's takeover which ended up finishing them. Phil expanded the amount of shares so much that TIY's shareholding of the club got diluted from a decent wedge (around 15% if I recall right) to about 0.01% so there was no longer any point.

They could have continued as a fans group with negligeble influence but I can understand why volunteers wouldn't bother. TIY also stopped the coaches and there was no longer an unpopular chairman to rile against. So with no shareholding, no travel and no apetite for change from the fanbase, there was probably very little for them to justify continuing. It's odd how there was no 'closing statement' though, it just fizzled out.

I think it's an error letting the Trust wither, you never know when united 'fan power' might be needed again. The Trust played a key role in getting rid of Ebeneezer and helping the club transition into new ownership. Going back to 2006 it was also a vehicle for change and representation of supporters' views.

The club is now in a much better position with Ian and Liam who have the support of the vast majority of the fanbase, even if there is some disquiet about the shoestring squad size. But nobody knows where will be in three, five, ten, fifteen years down the line and we may well rue letting TIY go by the wayside.

[Ralphy Rylance]

Trust in Yellow no longer exists in any real sense, does it? No activity of any note for years. Last update on website over 2 years ago. I think Nic posted on here the regulatory things Trusts have to comply with and TIY weren't doing any of them.

Ironically, they were great supporters of Phil's takeover which ended up finishing them. Phil expanded the amount of shares so much that TIY's shareholding of the club got diluted from a decent wedge (around 15% if I recall right) to about 0.01% so there was no longer any point.

Thanks for the Fanzone though.

They could have continued as a fans group with negligeble influence but I can understand why volunteers wouldn't bother. TIY also stopped the coaches and there was no longer an unpopular chairman to rile against. So with no shareholding, no travel and no apetite for change from the fanbase, there was probably very little for them to justify continuing. It's odd how there was no 'closing statement' though, it just fizzled out.

I think it's an error letting the Trust wither, you never know when united 'fan power' might be needed again. The Trust played a key role in getting rid of Ebeneezer and helping the club transition into new ownership. Going back to 2006 it was also a vehicle for change and representation of supporters' views.

The club is now in a much better position with Ian and Liam who have the support of the vast majority of the fanbase, even if there is some disquiet about the shoestring squad size. But nobody knows where will be in three, five, ten, fifteen years down the line and we may well rue letting TIY go by the wayside.

If they no longer exist what happens to their shares and whatever money may still be in their bank? The shares may now be a small % but they still exist. (It's about 1.2% not 0.01%)
Presumably dormant rather than disbanded but the absence of any communication is pretty appalling.
Has anyone renewed membership in the past year? If not then there's no members and I can't see many rushing to rejoin if the trust board awakes from its slumber.

[PortDan1121]

Are the trust still accepting monthly membership fees? If so where is that money going?

The trust did a lot of good work over the years when it was hard to speak to the club. People could ask the trust things and they would ask the club. Now it’s a lot easier. If you have an issue you can ask on here (the club do see it) or even email the likes of Steve Dewsnip or Mark Lockyear who will get back to you if you have any concerns or questions.

The trust also did a lot of good work such as raising money for the floodlights and running coaches under Bill. There is a lot I disagree on though. Such as the lack of social media posts during covid when people were struggling. They had an AGM in January 2020 (I think) but that was the last thing they truly did apart from the fanzone. Which lets be honest if you had to choose between a fanzone (as small as the one that’s currently built) or using the money to help subsidising away travel for years, that one to me is a no brainer.

[Ralphy Rylance]

Are the trust still accepting monthly membership fees? If so where is that money going?

At a tenner a year i doubt anyone is paying monthly but the website is still live so it is possible to pay them via the PayPal link, hence why i asked if anyone had done so lately.
Sad it just seems to have fizzled out after all their good work.

[PortDan1121]

Are the trust still accepting monthly membership fees? If so where is that money going?

At a tenner a year i doubt anyone is paying monthly but the website is still live so it is possible to pay them via the PayPal link, hence why i asked if anyone had done so lately.
Sad it just seems to have fizzled out after all their good work.

Oh fair enough I forgot it was only a tenner a year. I used to be a member with my dad before covid stopped everything. Yeah I mean I think it would be nice if someone from the trust came out and said what the direction the TIY is going in or even hold a AGM we’re a new chair is elected? But I don’t think there’s anyone really left at the trust. It is a shame really, the likes of Noel and Bill did great work for TIY.