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Away Coaches.

edited September 2011 in Match Day Travel
I am looking at doing a lot more away games this year than my normal local ones done the last few years but with saving for a wedding I was looking at the coaches to trim costs.

Can any one who has been on the club run coaches offer and advice/feedback as to the experience?

Cheers

Comments

  • Mick Walker used to run the "Valley Away" coaches.
  • RAC,

    Being 16 i use the Valley Away coaches as my way of getting to away games.

    On the whole the journeys are usually fine although there have been some occasions (Tranemere away last year) were we have missed kick off. Now i know it wasnt the drivers fault that we were late but what was his fault was the fact that he took us through Liverpool city centre on a Saturday afternoon, i'd laready looked up the route before we'd left and knew that that wasnt the correct way. When someone in front tried to tell the driver this they were ignored.

    Another incident of poor navigational skills was Walsall away last year. We were on the coach from Larkfield on our way to Dartford when the coach driver headed for the Dartford crossing at the A2/M25 junction 2 as opposed to taking the clearly signposted route of the (A225) Thus meaning we had to go through the Dartford crossing and come back on ourselves. Now, this was in Kent?!?! At this point i was very worried what she would be like in Birmingham.

    But as i say, these are the only two incidents where i have had any problems.
  • They get you there and back and rarely let you down. Generally arrive with about an hour to spare, although obviously traffic conditions at the time affect the timing. The coaches are always clean and relatively comfortable but the air conditioning/ heating systems are often dodgy and I generally find the coaches way too hot and stuffy. Happy to do  the shorter journeys, but now we avoid the longer trips.
  • Cheers AlexAnder & Stilladdicted
  • Used them quite a bit when I younger, but the thought of travelling on one now terrifies me, not that there's anything wrong with the service etc. Just would rather pay extra and take the train and do a journey up north in 2/3 hours as a pose to 4/5 hours and get there 10 minutes before kick off.
  • i used to do away coaches when i did games... However I went ot sheff utd in the fa cup and our coach broke down.. got there about half time, went to liverpool away and coach broke down on the way back amd wemt to Brecia by coach and that put me off coaches for long distances... If I do go away it is usually by train. That said I went to Southend and Colchester in the last couple of years and they were ok. Coach jouurneys are nice and reasonably priced. Downside is you can't have a beer 2 or and journey takes a lot longer and if you lose it's a long long jounrye back. I can see you are saving for a wedding so Congrats and good luck with the saving !!
  • i used to do away coaches when i did games... However I went ot sheff utd in the fa cup and our coach broke down.. got there about half time, went to liverpool away and coach broke down on the way back amd wemt to Brecia by coach and that put me off coaches for long distances... If I do go away it is usually by train. That said I went to Southend and Colchester in the last couple of years and they were ok. Coach jouurneys are nice and reasonably priced. Downside is you can't have a beer 2 or and journey takes a lot longer and if you lose it's a long long jounrye back. I can see you are saving for a wedding so Congrats and good luck with the saving !!
    Cheers. Think i may just do something like Sheff Utd and see how it is. Although i can get a train for £50 at the moment.
  • Brescia by coach was a long old trip. Great though ;-)
  • Brescia by coach was a long old trip. Great though ;-)
    Anyone who did that deserves a medal.
  • Funny you should mention that Large, I was reading some old fanzines the other day (VFR I think) and Algarve I think did the report of the Brescia trip, you were mentioned quite a lot.

    I went by coach once, Newcastle away first game in the Prem, I reckon Brescia would have been quicker.  Just shocking and I would never ever ever do it again.

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  • Living abroad, I have no other alternative than the away coaches.  Navigation problem occurred a few times, stupidest being at Bristol when the driver got 
    lost ..... in Bristol (1994).   What I can't stand are the films they play during the trip, total rubbish, nearly always with violence.
  • how much do they cost and where do they pick you up from?
  • Valley Away



    Posted on: Sat 27 Aug 2011










    The Valley Away coach service is run by the club and transports supporters to Charlton's away games.

    Coaches run from a number of pick-ups across the South East to away
    matches, depending on demand. And special coaches with lifts are also
    provided to cater for the club's disabled supporters where practical.

    Listed below are the matches which are currently open for booking,
    plus the details of the pick-up points and times for each fixture.

    Valley Away coach seats can be booked in person at The Valley or by
    calling 0871 226 1905. Further information is also available from the
    commercial centre.



    Advertisement















    Saturday, September 17th (3pm): Rochdale

    Larkfield (KIngfisher Road bus stop): 7am

    Gravesend (bus stop at former Tollgate underpass): 7.20am

    Bromley (North station) 7.30am

    Dartford (Heath Lane, by Halfords, nr junction with Princes Road): 7.30am

    Well Hall (Well Hall Rd bus stop north of roundabout): 7.45am

    Bexleyheath (Albion Road, rear of Civic Offices): 7.45am

    Charlton (Anchor and Hope Lane): 8am

    Fare £25 - there is no mobility coach to this fixture.




    Valley Away - frequently asked questions (FAQs)

    Who is it run by?

    CAFC took over running the away travel service in 2006, after many
    years in which it was provided by Charlton Athletic Supporters' Club
    (CASC). This followed requests from supporters, but the stewards have
    remained the same. Wendy Perfect is in charge and she ran the
    supporters' club travel for years.

    Are there any other coach services?

    Not in Kent or South East London as far as we know. We do
    occasionally run away coaches from East and West Sussex, but when we do
    booking information will be on this page.

    What do you charge?

    Pricing will be set on a game-by-game basis for 2011/12.

    Can I pay on the day?

    No. All fares must be paid in advance through the commercial centre or online.
    The only exception is that Maidstone CASC members can book through Sue
    Townsend if they wish for their local pick-ups and the arrangements we
    sometimes make for Sussex coaches. Maidstone and Sussex CASC members can
    also book through the club like everyone else.

    Can my child travel away without an adult?

    Not if he or she is under 16. We are unable to take responsibility
    for U16s and therefore we will only allow them on board when accompanied
    by a responsible adult who is aged at least 21. Our stewards have
    authority to turn away unaccompanied U16s who present themselves for
    boarding on the day of the match.

    Can I get on without my coach ticket?

    We will send you a ticket to confirm the booking if time allows and
    it will be helpful if you bring it. The steward will also have a list of
    names. But if you don't have a ticket and you're not on the list you
    won't be able to travel.

    What if I change my mind?

    You can cancel your seat up to 48 hours before the game. After that
    we will only give you a refund if we can sell it to someone else.

    Can I go on the disabled coach?

    This coach is also run by the club, and will run according to demand,
    picking up at Bromley, Eltham and Charlton only. Unfortunately, we
    cannot usually cover the other pick-ups. If you require a fixed
    wheelchair place on the coach please tell us as early as possible and at
    least four days before the game as this requires the coach to be
    reconfigured and less seats are then available for other passengers. The
    disabled coach may be booked via the commercial centre on 0871 226
    1905. Helpers travel for half price.

    Can I drink alcohol on the coach?

    The Sporting Events (Control of Alcohol Etc), Act, 1985, specifically
    prohibits the carrying or consuming of alcohol on coaches travelling to
    or from designated sporting events, which includes all senior football
    matches. Not only would you be at risk of arrest, but police have powers
    to turn the coaches around, causing all passengers to miss the game. We
    don't make the law but we have to enforce it, so please don't take it
    out on the steward or the club. If you don't like it, contact your MP.

    What about seat belts?

    All Valley Away passengers are reminded it is now a legal requirement
    for everyone over the age of 14 to wear seat belts during coach
    journeys. The onus to ensure they do so is on passengers, not drivers or
    the football club as hirer, and police have the power to levy spot
    fines against people who don't wear them.

    Are you running trains?

    No. Speak to independent Addicks supporter Syd Cheeswright on
    020-8688 3916 from 7-9.30pm between 7pm and 9.30pm on Sunday, Monday,
    Wednesday or Friday evenings (except when there is a Charlton evening
    game). There's also an information page on the club website giving more
    details, and before calling fans should note the deadline for bookings,
    which can be some time ahead of fixtures. Payment for each trip must be
    made at that time. No late requests or payments can be accepted.

    For information about the Valley Express coach service to home matches, click here.

    To book coach tickets, click here.

    For the latest ticket news, click here.

    Calls to 0871 226 1905 cost 10p per minute from a BT landline. Calls from other networks and mobiles may cost more.


  • cheer's henry
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