Welcome to the Official Away Supporters Travel for the 2009/2010 season.

This is my third season in charge and I would like to thank all of you who have traveled with us. I hope to see you all again in the coming season and, of course, new faces too.

The Shrimpers Trust operate coaches to all away games on behalf of Southend United Football Club. The objective is for us to break even at the end of each season, and the scheme will be run on a not for profit basis. All Trust Members, along with Southend Junior Shrimper Members, Students and Concessions can travel at a reduced fare.

We will again be starting off from Roots Hall, which is accessible to all with ample parking. We then pick up from the Elms in Leigh, Hadleigh Church, Tarpots in Benfleet, and then The Watermill in Basildon.

Fewer pick up points may inconvenience some people, for which I apologise, but for the vast majority it is preferential as we can leave Southend later and return more quickly.

We don't stop on the way home unless it is a very long journey thereby getting you back as quickly as possible, an added bonus for people who have to get to work, are going out when they get back or people with children.

In addition to now picking up from Hadleigh Church, there are a couple of other changes for the new season. We are introducing family discounts so that parents traveling with their children do not find away games quite so expensive, however we will suspending the Top Traveller free trips so that we can reduce the cost of the "long haul" games for all our members and non members, but obviously if we should end up with another Chelsea or Spurs away game or even a trip to Wembley, this will be reinstated.

On longer journeys we show DVDs and carry a selection of hot and cold drinks and confectionary. I am pleased to advise that prices have stayed the same from last season.

With a few new grounds to visit and our usual long hauls to Carlisle and Hartlepool let's hope for a successful and entertaining season.

Once again the on-line booking system introduced last season will be available, and for the time being payment will still be taken on the coaches as normal.

The dedicated telephone number for bookings is 07892 905338, and we will still be taking bookings at the Trust Information Stand in the Shrimpers Bar on Home Match Days. Once again we will be using SBC Leisure as our Coach provider.

I and the rest of the Trust Committee look forward to seeing as many of you as possible on the coaches this season and if you have any (sensible) suggestions as to what you would like to change about away travel please email me at travel@shrimperstrust.co.uk and we will be happy to consider them.

Best wishes for the new season,

Clare Brooks
Away Travel Co-ordinator.