IRON ON TOUR - NEW MINIBUS???

[Iron Fans Chief]

THE SUPPORTERS CLUB HAVE BEEN TENDING TO THE MINI-BUS AS PART OF OUR COMMITMENT OF SUPPORT FOR THE CLUB. FOR ABOUT FOUR YEARS. THE CURRENT VEHICLE IS INCREASINGLY LOOKING LIKE ITS REACHED THE END OF ITS DAYS, ITS SOMEWHAT TATTY AND THE NEXT MOT DUE THIS MONTH LOOKS LIKE IT WILL REQUIRE CONSIDERABLE WORK AT SOME COST, MONEY WHICH I DO NOT WISH TO THROW AWAY. AND A GREAT MANY DIDN'T LIKE TO TRAVEL IN IT.

IT IS TIME TO CONSIDER NEW TRANSPORT FOR THE CLUBS TRAVELING SUPPORT AS WELL AS PROVIDING CARRIAGE FOR THE RESERVES AND LADIES TEAMS AS REQUIRED. SOMETHING NEWER AND MORE COMFORTABLE FOR THE LONGER JOURNEYS.

COACH TRAVEL IS PROBABLY A NON STARTER THIS SEASON UNLESS FOR A SPECIAL GAME, COST OF COACHES TO MOST GROUNDS WILL MEAN AVERAGE FARES OF AROUND £20 RETURN AND LACK OF NUMBERS FOR TRAVEL PROBABLY WOULD MEAN EVEN HIGHER FARES.

THE SUPPORTERS CLUB WISH TO CONTINUE PROVIDING TRANSPORT BUT IT LOOKS LIKE WE NEED A NEW MINI-BUS OR AT LEAST A REASONABLE USED ONE NO MORE THAN THREE YEARS OLD.

FIRSTLY, IS THERE ANYBODY WHO IS IN THE INDUSTRY WHO CAN HELP WITH ADVICE OR FIND US A DEAL.

SECONDLY, I HAVE LOOKED AROUND AND THE FORD TRANSIT 16 SEAT BUS LOOKS TO BE THE BEST PROSPECT. ANY FORD DEALERS READING THIS? SPONSORSHIP COULD HELP.

THE SUPPORTERS CLUB HAS £2000 AT ITS DISPOSAL PLUS THE OLD BUS AS TRADE IN. IN THE FIRST INSTANCE THAT WOULD COVER A DEPOSIT HOPEFULLY, LOOKING AT AROUND £10,000 FOR A DECENT BUS, ANOTHER £8,000 NEEDS TO BE RAISED DEPENDING ON PURCHASE ARRANGEMENTS. IDEAS REQUIRED. I KNOW GENERAL SUPPORT CAN RAISE MONEY WHEN NEEDED AND THAT SUPPORT IS REQUIRED NOW.

I WOULD LIKE LOTS OF FEEDBACK AND HELP WITH THIS PROBLEM, I KNOW MANY PREFER THE CAR BUT THERE IS STILL THE NEED FOR OTHER TRANSPORT AT FAIR RATE. REGULAR TRAVELERS FARES COULD COVER PAYMENTS INITIALLY, IN THE CURRENT FINANCIAL CLIMATE, THIS IS A BIG ASK, BUT A FULL BUS WILL GENERATE £100 AFTER FUEL ON MOST TRIPS WITH FARES HELD TO AROUND £10 LITTLE MORE ON THE LONGER TRIPS. I COULD REALLY USE SOME HELP WITH THE LOGISTICS OF THIS, I CAN ORGANIZE THINGS WITH SOME HELP.

IF YOU HAVEN'T ANYTHING REALLY USEFUL TO SAY THEN DON'T START OFF A TANGENT BLOG ABOUT AWAY TRAVEL. THIS IS A SERIOUS AND IMPORTANT ISSUE THAT NEEDS ADDRESSING. IT IS THE ONLY THING ON THE AGENDA AT THE AGM. THANK YOU.

[irongills]

Hello,

Firstly well done Gordon for taking this on!

I will try Ford this week and see what they can do with the Essex contact we have.

As Gordon says we need to sort fundraising. Some ideas we are happy to run / support in the BTSFC side.

- Quiz, race night etc - plans for September & October
- BTSFC to make a small donation to fund for new mini-bus
- Regular increased payment to Gordon for when BTSFC boys use bus for away games.
- I could have my body waxed - sponsor me, I am hairy.
- Gordon I really like your idea of sponsored seats, would be willing to help myself sponsor this and drum up support.


Thanks again, speak soon, Danny Macklin,

[btfc08]

Why not have a 5-a-side tournament with say £5 per player on the training pitch to raise money?

That why BTSFC can play as two/three teams and enjoy a kick about, while getting some valuable match practice in.

[Iron Fans Chief]

Thanks Dan for the input, I hope that a few others will come on board and give us a hand with this, the more help and suggestions the better. I hope to get the Committee together in the next couple of weeks to prepare for the season and make a start on this very important project.

Anybody who can help can call me on 07711 863454.

Anyone who has a bit of space time on the old INTERNET, could you look around the vehicle sales sites for a rough idea of prices for transit 16 seater's. Thank you.

[dav]

Had a quick chat with the girls last night and we too would like to be able to make a donation towards a new minibus. I have tasked our new fundraising officer (zoe) to come up with some ideas and it may well be that we look to split the profit of any fundraising we do to help towards this. From a personal point of view I reckon the sponsor a seat is a good first plan and I'll be in for that

[dav]

Just had a quick look and £7-8,000 would get you a five year old 17 seat Ford Transit minibus with about 50k miles on the clock. The Ford minibuses are up there with Merc's as the most expensive, with the LDV ones the cheapest but with LDV going bust I'm not sure how long term supply of parts etc would stand.

Autotrader is probably as good a place to start looking btw

[chelmsfordiron]

I think we're definitely a Merc sort of club rather than LDV these days

[chelmerboy]

From my experience in the past owning a courier company, the Mercedes is the better long term option. Although dearer in the first place, we didn't seem to need as much maintenance and they lasted a lot longer. Granted parts are dearer than for a Transit or LDV, but they were not needed as often.
It might work out better leasing a mini bus, as BTFC would be VAT registered. Again though, it is all down to what the budget can stand. Newer vehicles mean less on repairs and spares in the long run, but that's fine as long as the money is there in the first place.

[ironbruato]

You have another tough job on your hands Gordon.
I think there are two problems here:
1- THE CURRENT SITUATION - I guess lots of things need to be done to get a newer vehicle in place. Probalby all the suggestions above will have to be put in place plus collections etc.

2- GOING FORWARD FOR THE NEXT VEHICLE IN SAY 2013 - We need people to set up a monthly standing order to the supporters club that gaurantees/reserves them a seat. If we can get sufficent numbers at a decent rate is another thing. The reserves,ladies & any other users will have to pay a set share. If this could be done, we could have a sustainable future. I am not optimistic though.

[Iron Fans Chief]

As you say Steve another tough job, one I hope I do not have to shoulder the full burden of, I am glad of all the positive imput so far, it is early days but somehow or another we have to achieve our aim of new transport for Supporter and teams etc.
It may be that we will have to hire transport for the first few away games to cover or arrange car share of some kind to enable to support the team away. depending of course on hire charges.

The Supporters Club will try its best, but we will need help from many quarters if we are to succeed. Thank you to all who have come in on this so far.