Thetownend.com

Hi guys and gals,

Not sure if any of you have seen anything on this,

We have been looking into the prospect of doing a Loud and Proud Away Day. One of the suggestions (from Reg) was to hire a train and get hundreds of town fans on an old fashioned football special.

Well, I have followed that up and used Yeovil March 11th as the potential fixture (poll now on thisis to vote, Yeovil is winning).

Quote arrived today of £9450 for a 430 seat train.  1 hr 45 min journey - arrives Yeovil at 1pm and departs for Swindon at 7pm, so allows a bit of drinking time (I will be enquiring about and earlier arrival).

How many people would be up for something like this?  Currently works out at just under £25 for a return trip, but I am looking for a sponsor to share some of the cost.  If I can get an idea that we might fill it, then I think it's a great way to go.

superb idea! :beers:

Definitely 100%.  Great Idea.

Im in .

Earlier would be better. :D

i'm definitely up for it.

I'd be interested as long as you can arrange for me to sit up top with the driver.I'd like to sit on his lap and sound his horn.

Aslong as I get priority to the buffet cart first, I'd be in!  :wink:  :beers:

This is shaping up to be great, gutted to miss all the local/best away days this season, I'll miss City, Yeovil, Swansea and Forest.

Sounds like a plan.  I love train journeys, but never had the experience of a football special!

Sounds good. I'd definitely be up for it.

I am up for it, but it depends on the people I said I'd go to Yeovil with.

Fantastic idea though. Hope you get enough people.

25 quid seems a bit high on the basis that I could drive it on about half that amount in petrol, but a very good idea, I'd be up for it.

Since the train is yours (rented) you retain the rights of admission to the train...

- sell permission for a company to advertise or sell or give away samples on the train.
- distribute the Swindon Star on the train for a fee or distribute a national paper on the train (companies like the Daily Express like to do this)
- allow Fatbury to run his brothel from coach E and go 50-50 on the monies

fantastic, im there

Me too.  Excellent idea!!!!

fucking quality idea.

deffinitely be up for this.

should do this more often if possible

Who's up for giving Fatbury a lift to the station though? :wink:

dont worry ill get the old man to give me a lift in .. unless someone is going thro Highworth that day on the way in  :wink:

more than likely as my Mum lives the otherside of Chipping Norton so she will give me a lift in so might have space to collect on the way.

unless i go with Ralphy to get hammered then i'm not sure

long way off yet ...

Can we do a sonic awayday next? Or a DMR awayday? Don't see why Yeovil should get one of his own. :D

RobT just out of interest won't you have to get the green light from the old bill first of all???  Could see them putting a spanner in the works, the kill joys!

as this is classed as football transport, does that mean there will be no alcopops?  :?

Is it not just a 'hired' train?

I'll be there. FACT!

important question this.

cos if I cant drink on it I wont be getting it

FACT!

full of pissed up football fans :D

That's fine then!!

I will check, but the terms of hire mentioned nothing about not allowing alcohol.  They also gave no response to my question about stewarding/policing.

They have run this for football fans before, mainly specials going to Cardiff for various finals.  I'm working on the assumption that anything is possible!  And certainly getting a sponsor is almost essential, just to make it a little less costly and to make sure I don't end up with a near £10k bill to pay!

was going to this one by train anyway,football special even better :D

Can we get it to stop at Sherbourne as well so the hooligans can avoid the police escort?

 :D

This sounds ace, better start polishing my knuckle dusters and ironing my Stone Island gear.  :mrgreen:

Umm, there is a big snag they have just informed me of (which was one of my original fears), that NO ALCOHOL is allowed on the train.  This may reduce numbers wishing to take part a little, although it still allows us to get quite merry before and after the game.

I may wait for reaction to this before doing anything -we have until the end of the month to make a decision (and also pay a 10% deposit)

No police required, stewards needed but they can provide some at a little extra charge.

Thats me out then.  :evil:

no alcohol sort of makes it pointless...

No Alcohol!?, what next a Train turning up on time?. :shock:

Sorry Rob its a no go I'll get the normal train.

The whole point of train travel as Ive said before is cracking a tinny at the train station as early as possible and then only stopping drinking for the game and  when you finally collapse on your bed in the early hours of the next day. 8)

Could we not just smuggle some on?

How much will this bring in?  At the moment with the train being full to cover the cost of the train exactly the cost will be £21 each (9450 divided by 430, this is my own estimated figure nothing to do with the capaign) but thats if we get 430 people which is unlikely.

Also, does the 9450 include cost of driver?

Exactly. Buffet cart and all! Who needs a seat when you can stand?!

You all echo my thoughts, gutted.

Might revert to plan B, which was to hire a convoy of mini buses, for much less money, charge next to nothing and give free cans of beer in the deal.

Anyone with me on this one? (£70ish for a days hire self drive, so just need 1 person to drive and 16 people to drink)

I can get a mini bus for a small donation to a charity.

Although it does have swindon beavers disabled group written on the side in big letters....but it has on orange badge so we can park anywhere!

Just need a driver, dunno how many it seats though off the top of my head....

Ace!  We can park right up close in Tesco's!

I think that sums up the majority of us perfectly....

what about hiring a double decker bus or something  :D

Can i be Blakey?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/olmedia/45000/images/_47442_blakey.jpg

there is a resemblence

What, like he has a face and so do i?

same face more like

8)

 :Ride On Fatbury's Lovestick:

fucking  :Ride On Fatbury's Lovestick:  david o leary more like  :wink:

:Ride On Fatbury's Lovestick:

Her words, not mine :D

:D

Just make it a train day and get as many people to turn up at the same time as possible.  Would have the same effect surely?


Also means I wouldn't have to pull the emergency stop to get off.

Think it involves changing trains and some pretty messy times.  I could be wrong, but I remember seeing some details before and it's not a nice easy through trip by normal train.  If I am wrong, then it may be the answer, but an expensive one for anyone paying full fare, like me.

Does look a little messy having had a look.

Any one know of any unreputable coach firms?  Fosseway would probably take us, but I'm not sure we'd make it back.

 :mrgreen:

here's an idea, we could walk to yeovil. plenty of time to drink and if anyone makes it there in time for kick-off without falling over, they win a crappy little prize.

I had hoped we'd all be invited around to Yeovil's for tea and biscuits on that day too :wink:

Alcohol on football specials  has been banned since the late 70's.....its also illegal on even mini buses which have been hired and are going to matches...the police have the power to search and confiscate any booze.

i'd be in, means i would have someone to go with!  :beers:

thats at the moment though.

LALALALALALA. IM NOT LISTENING!!!!!!!!!


LALALALALALA! What was that?  :beers:

Fair play to people on here. Makes me proud to be a Swindon fan seeing the response to things like this.

Sadly I think a football special train will remain beyond our reach. But to even have the ambition for it is a credit. I didnt even know you could still hire trains.

As fans weve got a lot more about us than 4 out of 5 teams in this league. Just wait til we get half decent again (and it will happen, one day  :nod:  :guinness:  :cry: ).

spencer mate, lets hope so.

Couldnt agree more Spencer....

How many fans would go up to Donny on a tuesday night, lose go bottom of the league but outsing all the home fans with 200 fans for 90 minutes and not even all those 200 were singing.

How about some sort of mad timed convoy of swindon fans all leaving to go to yeovil by car and travelling the same route at the same time. Could cause carnage on the roads. Maybe stop halfway for a big piss up in a field or sommin.

I'm well up for getting pissed up for Yeovil - it will be my 1st away game this season :oops:  

Cant we just break the rules re: mini-busses and get pissed up anyways? bribe the driver / hire company into turning a blind eye?

"whats that officer, pissed up swindon fans in the back? I thought it was the asian elders bus to the the yeovil mosque!"

If all else fails I'll just get Walt Flanagans dog to drive whist i get wankered.  usually dfoes the trick for me :D

Right, this is my area of expertise. On a football minibus it is only illegal to drink in it. But it is legal to carry alcohol on the bus and have an open cannister. Therefore the practicalities are that provided you dont finnish off your tinnies whilst dibble is watching then you are A-OK!  http://67.18.37.16/525/186/emo/fing32.gif The same rules apply to any transport (public trains, cars). Plus of course they need to prove you were drinking it, so you need to be videoed for it to stand in court. Basically Its a weak piece of legislation. I remmember one time the police opened up the back door and about 50 empty tinnies fell out. They just pissed themselves laughing and told us to pick em all up.

The difference is for coaches (24 seats and up) and football special trains. On which it is illegal to carry ANY ALCOHOL AT ALL onto the vehicle. http://67.18.37.16/525/186/emo/thumbsdown.gif Been that way since 1985 and post Heysel legislation. And of course it is easy to fall foul of that, as we did in Bournemouth last season. The only thing you can do is to top up cannisters of kick with vodka, but thats risky.

Minibuses are the future. We love em, never had a bad day out on a football minibus.

:D

This is a brilliant Idea! Will definately be going to yeovil.

I think i've seen a video of your mini-bus trip to Barnsley...

Haha. Who showed you that?

 :soapy tit wank:

neil, i believe.

So, going to Yeovil, will be a case of every man for himself by the looks of things.

  It ought to be possible to get up a TEF bus....arrange a beer stop somewhere.

 :mrgreen:

I'll arrange it if you promise to sit at the front and point out interesting historic sights and stuff.

 Although its tempting.....some porn on the TV would probably go down better, (as long as its not from DMR's collection)

Maybe a live Smeeton sex show with Birdie ,you could still probably find time to point out things of interest then :D

Convoy of mini buses would be the dogs.... sure to be plod intervention at some point though, hopefully not until we're somewhere near the ground and already pissed up.

 Now there's a thought......to be fair though, the days for a bit of displaying ones dangly bits in public...are long gone.

 It'd probably end up like John Cleese in the Meaning of Life....showing the spotty kids how to do it with his missus.

:Ride On Fatbury's Lovestick:

Honestly, theres not a lot they can do with minibuses.

The biggest worry is parking somewhere the home fans wont smash it up. But in Yeovil I very much doubt even that will be an issue.

When I went up to Blackpool last year in the limo they played a porno. Unfortunately got stuck in traffic and saw it 3 times in a row.  :|

Id prefer train to Yeovil to be honest. The 8.55am gets you in bought 11. And I think that train stops at the STFC hotbeds of Chippenham and Melksham too. Usually only a two car train though. Could be a bit rammed. The 6.06 gets you back to Swindon 8ish. That should be enough time to get back from the ground. That doesnt mean you shouldnt organise yourselves minibuses though. Lets take over.

Yeah Iwas only referring to the fact that a full on convoy of mini buses decked out in colours would probably attract attention nearer the venue.

I'm all for any mode of transport that allows me to travel in numbers and enough time to get ratted befor the game.

TBH all I want to see is a full away end of just over 1500 of us. If we can all have a crack on the train there then even better.

our away support has been quite good this season so i can see that happening no worries.

that said, we've been lacking numbers away from home a bit of late.

We have good away support, just not massive numbers

I don't think any come through Chippenham on the way :(   It looked to me when I had a scout around that you had to go Reading and then down through Castle Cary etc. which is a bit of a fucker if it's the only way.  Still better than driving mind.

I think a town end bus is a good idea. I can see it now....

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v367/2hats/bus.gif

8) That's ace

 Is the rocking motion Bird and me preforming our sex act?

 Might take a while to reach a satisfactory conclusion.

Yes it does you change at Bath.(I think well we did last time i went)

count me in! this sounds like a brilliant idea see you all there!  :beers: how many people are going so far?

ok maybe not many considering the alcohol thing isn't really an option  :(

Strangely enough, I never went ahead with the train idea.  Bankruptcy courts will just have to wait a little longer for me.

One mini bus sold out though.

Dangerfields do some cheap day hire deals:

£60 for 12 seater
£70 for 15 seater
£80 for 17 seater (the one we went for).

I know a fair few will be going by train.

Any ideas on pubs?  The only one that seems to be close to the ground is called The Arrow but if a fair number go by train (which is miles from the ground) then will there be a large gathering at a Town Centre location (cheap Wetherspoons for example)?

Trying to make sure our designated driver knows where to take us, as I'm not sure we'll be much good at giving directions.  Would be great to invade a pub a bit like MKDonalds game.

FYI, train from Swindon at 8.55am. change at Bath Spa, then 9.58am to Yeovil, arrives at 11.09am. The next couple require 2 changes.

That train seems perfect. Is the ground within walking distance?

Nope, not a short walk anyway, it's a few miles away.  Ground is out of Town in and industrial park.  Think Blagrove.

Everyone whos getting the train, what station are you going to?is it easier to go to the main Yeovil Junction one?
And in reference to the pub i'm going to get in the first one available-thirsty work this travelling! :beers:

Cabs it is then...

From Swindon it's into Penn Station

Thanks for the info. Booking the tickets now :D

I'm either catching a train from Swindon to Bath, and then Bath to Yeovil Pen Mill.

Or I'm catching the 49 to Trowbridge, and getting on there.

I will catch the return train from Yeovil Pen Mill to Bath/Trowbridge, depending on which takes my fancy.

What about pubs?

I guess I will be going with SAS Travel, quite cheap really though so can't complain

Whos doing the train then? And how much does it cost?

I feel another crate of export coming on.... :mrgreen:

Don't rule me out just yet :D

Not the bus option either.

Who owns a railcard?

Railcards are such a bargain, well worth the money.

my mate is being a cunt so its the train or nothing i think!

I'll train it lads.  :beers:

Its £22

I'll drive it lads. Not  :beers:

22 quid is not bad!

tenner train from exeter I think. Not sure I'll be able to afford a match ticket aswell though. Anybody else up for just sitting in a pub in yeovil with me?

I will get the 0850 or something like that train from Swindon to Bath, and then the 0958 train from Bath to Yeovil.

And at the end of the day, I'll hope to get back to Swindon :D

No doubt most of my group will be sat in the pub rather than go to the game.Im going in though.How much is a stoodent ticket?

i'll train it, if i can get to the train station in time  :|   :beers:  :beers:

Can we not get the cheaper advance tickets?

Plus groups of 4 = 1/3 off i think

Anyone else up for this one then...

Swindon 8.55 - Bath 9.58 - in Yeovil 11.09 or about that

Me RFK and Carver will be getting hammered :beers:

Yes thats what we're on.

Ace you can get the beers in (if you last the pace Grandad)  :wink:

hahah im going straight from a night shift again and I'll  still drink you under the table.

Probably. I'll have fun trying though!

Wot pub is everone going in wen they get there?providing everyone makes it to yeovil in one piece :D

Im going to the town centre and getting trollied and worrying about the 5 mile trek to the ground when im hammered.Last time I went i couldnt get a taxi up there either because they wouldnt go up there in the traffic.

This game's going to be a pissed up, logistical nightmare!

Sounds like you'll all be lucky to get there in time for the second half  :D

Why are you not going then, you big girl?

I'm thinking about it, but random hotel bills seem to be wiping out fundage :D

Start taking her (ahem) to cheap motels then :D

Bang her in my shed if you want. :D

I'm one step ahead on that front. Met the parents last weekend, gave it the chat etc.. and they think I'm a nice, genuine bloke (which I am of course..) so should be able to stay at her's next time I visit.

 :beers:

 :D

seperate rooms for sure

Fuck that, I'll get a cab to your shed.

i might go ...  :mrgreen:

 :Ride On Fatbury's Lovestick:  :Ride On Fatbury's Lovestick:

Fucking hell, have you got a lift sorted?

:Ride On Fatbury's Lovestick: I thought you meant you might go to Birdy's parents for a threesome.

Maybe that's what you meant :|

:|

go dogging, just need to pay for petrol

Fatbury and birdies Mum and Dad? :D

is anyone not going by train? think i might be heading straight to the ground on my own at this rate

come on the train :nod:

however depends what time i have to leave newbury as i can't see myself getting to swindon for 8.30  :(

i'm bringing my dad, reckon i could persuade him to come on the train?

(no chance)

you fucking won't there is only roomn for me, sussex and yeovil!!  I fancy being bent over the flower pots

Train is the way to go.

However, I have to go to a drunken party the night before.

I don't think all this beer is healthy :D

NO!

I dont want us to lose 7-1 again

im going by coach...good old sas.