Matchday Transport From The Junction 2013 Season

[JunctionInn]

Once again we will be aiming to throw our weight behind the club by making it easier for supporters to get to games both home and away in the 2013 season by laying on return transport at cost price, including the under 20 team in the case of home games.

As per last year, departure times for away games will be chosen with the aim of arriving at the ground around an hour and a half before kick off to allow fans to enjoy a drink and something to eat if they so wish before the game. However, following feedback from some of our regular travelers, we won't be sticking around for drinks after the game this season. Instead the bus will leave at full time, although we will of course allow time to applaud the lads off the field and a visit to the toilet! All trips will leave from and return to The Junction only.

Departure time for home games will always be an hour before kick off to allow fans time to swell the club's coffers by having a drink in the clubhouse! Returning right after you've clapped the lads off and used the toilet.

For the last 2 seasons we have operated transport to home games free of charge, the assumption being that fans would have a drink or 2 with us before/after the game and that our profit margin on those drinks would cover the cost. Unfortunately not many fans have been utilising the service in the spirit it was intended and we were losing roughly £15 per home game last season. We are not unwilling to support the club and its fans financially, indeed besides helping supporters by subsidising buses for the past 2 seasons, we have across the last 2 years supported the club to the tune of £1500 in sponsorship. However, as everyone is aware these are very challenging times for all businesses at the moment and there is of course a limit to the level of support we can commit. We are therefore regrettably having to introduce a charge of £2.50 per head to cover the cost of return transport to home games for the 2013 season.

As ever, trips will be subject to a minimum level of interest, usually 16 (occasionally 12) for away games and 8 for home games. This is because otherwise it is impossible to set a price, since fewer people means a higher, usually prohibitive, cost per head. This is also the reason for booking deadlines, because if trips are not running we feel we need to give people notice of at least 1 working day for away games and 24 hours for home games, so as they have time to make alternative arrangements.

Once we have committed to running a trip we clearly cannot let people down at short notice, hence why we will continue this season to insist on full payment for away trips before your place on the bus can be considered secure. We have sadly been let down on the day in the past and at that stage we are left with no alternative but to stump up the shortfall ourselves. Those for whom a trip to the Junction is somewhat out of the way are welcome to pay by bank transfer (please call 0161 633 2759 for details) or by posting a cheque to:

The Junction Inn

13 Ripponden Road

Oldham

OL1 4EW

Remembering to enclose a contact number in case the trip does not run. Refunds will be available immediately for any trip that does not run.

We will however allow people to pay on the day for home games but they must book in advance so that we know if the minimum number has been reached within 24 hours of kick off, and where numbers are greater, that we have booked a vehicle with enough seats. You can call us on 0161 633 2759.

Best wishes to all Roughyeds fans and here's hoping for an entertaining and successful 2013 campaign.

Regards,

Mike and Mark

The Junction Inn