Should the Trust continue to run the Travel Coach to Away games?
This is the question which is slowly becoming the one question that will need answering very soon!
Members and fans alike are aware that the Trust was asked by the club to take over the running and organising of the official coach for away games. Away travel has always been a feature for many fans and a trip to an away game on the club Sharabang was tradition. Pre-season the question was continually being asked and the Trust agreed, with the support of the Ogden family to organise the coaches which in recent times performed poorly financially.
With the drop in leagues all appreciate that our traditional haunts away have changed. Gone are the “traditional” near to us games (two hours drive etc)
We appreciate that some of our younger fans have occasionally organised their own coach featuring their own entertainment, to them we say “safe travels and goodwill from the Trust”, drive safe and make a difference in noise for the Dale.
The Official Coach still travels the same route, probably at the same time, with two drivers for the longer trips and stops of convenience, it is what other fans want, but to to want it every game is problematic!
In early January, Emma, the Trust travel coordinator published an article (HERE) regarding the travel to date and her analysis, with it being the festive period this article may have been overlooked, it cannot be overlooked now though and we reprint it below.
“From Emma Loynd. January 2025.
This is just a huge thank you for your support so far this season. It is fantastic to have a committed fan base.
This is a message to be transparent moving forward.
As a Trust, we are going to have to make some difficult decisions regarding the away coaches moving through the new year.
We were asked by the fans to carry on with providing the coaches, but obviously, we need the support of every one to keep running them.
We need to sell 30 seats on each coach to break even, including the very kind donation from the Ogdens.
Before Christmas, we had to cancel the Ebbsfleet coach as we only had 2 people booked. The Barnet coach only had 22 passengers and the Dagenham coach only had 17 booked on. We did run these coaches, but we cannot keep running at a loss moving forward.
On our most recent away day, we had 23 booked on the Forest Green coach.
We need to spread the message far and wide so that we can guarantee the running of these coaches.
These coaches are not just for members of the trust but for ALL fans of ALL ages.
Early booking is recommended so that we can gauge as soon as possible if a coach is likely to go ahead.
We would hate for you to lose them.
If you can think of any ways in which we could promote these coaches more, or ways we can improve please let me know.
If numbers remain low, we will have no option but to cancel any coaches who fail to achieve sufficient booking numbers.
Thank your continued support and understanding.
Kind Regards,
Emma”
Travel Coordinator
Rochdale Supporters Trust
Email : travel@daletrust.co.uk
Emma’s message is clear, your support is vital, who knows, when we move back up a league destinations will change, but will we have coach travel organised well that’s down to how well the service gets used this season, fingers crossed. UTD