Fans’ 400-mile trek is a logistical nightmaremare
A SHORTAGE of coach drivers means not only have Grimsby Town fans had to dig deep to pay for tickets for the play-off final, they have to find a way to London and back.
Organisers of fans coaches to London Stadium say they have had a logistical nightmare trying to book coaches. The chairman of The Mariners Trust, Kristine Green, pictured right, said she was overwhelmed by the support of fans in helping families in need of tickets get to the play-off final on Sunday.
But trying to organise coaches had taken days of searching. She was pleased that around 180 tickets had gone to families who could not afford the £45 ticket for The London Stadium nor meet the cost of transport. Thanks to generous Grimsby Town supporters over £24,000 was raised in less than three days.
Kristine had to then find four coaches, one minibus and a people carrier to take those fans safely to the match and bring them home. She told the Grimsby Telegraph: “It has been so difficult. It has been a real task. We really don’t want to have to be doing this again.
“I have had to go through firms in Lancashire to get enough seats to take people. It has been such a challenge after all the difficulties with tickets.”
She added: “There has to be two drivers per bus. There are buses that were offered but they did not have enough drivers. There are drivers for some firms but they don’t want to have to work on a Sunday when they are on school runs on Monday morning. It has been a bank holiday and people are off.
“But we are all focused on Sunday now and will have enough seats.” Not only have supporters paid above the odds for tickets, the cost of transport is an added financial burden.
Owner of The County Hotel in
Immingham, Willie Weir ir said he had to break further bad news ews to fans who booked places on the coach he ordered. He has to find an extra £100 to park the coach h at the London Stadium.
He had already booked ked a coach on Monday and was all l set to offer 30 places. But the firm m said they could not pick up fans from Immingham.
“We had to try to find nd another coach and have ended d up with one from Bolton with Atlantic ntic Travel. That has meant it is £ 94 per person for a ticket and d a coach. People are saying that t it is expensive. It is. But it is at The Olympic Stadium which ch we have already paid for as taxpayers xpayers and now we have to pay £ 45 for a ticket and parking. It’s s been a logistical nightmare,” he said.
He added: “I will speak eak to the chairman about the costs osts for fans. But at least we have the he last coach and we will have 49 of us there to cheer the team on.”