Virgin introduce the new Birmingham to Walsall Southend Special
I would guess that 50-90% go by official and unofficial coaches, 50 at a game like Orient and 90 for Scunthorpe away on a Tuesday night in October. Maybe 98!
Here at the Travel Agency we are interested in the 10 to 50% who like to make their own way to the game and want to do it as cheaply as possible while having a damn good time.
Now Dad of Dave the Shrimper has made an excellent start in his Shrimperzone section and if I could afford you sir I'd make an offer but we're a small site and we have do with free transfers like Thurrock Blue! (Sorry TB, your worth every shandy.)
For the latest news and prices and pick-up points for the supporters club coaches click on http://www.shrimperstrust.co.uk/default.asp?page_id=173.
While for the unofficial trips showing videos your mother wouldn't approve of, keep up to date with SOL at http://www.theshrimpers-online.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=6&Itemid=8.
For everything else there will be four sections in the Travel Agency to start with:
Travel Councellor will pass on any news or offers that any travel company has decided to pass on as well as the odd rant. There be a tip on getting the cheapest train fares possible after this.
Day Return will have all the prices and times for the best train, coach and airfares on offer as well as a route planner for those in the car at every away game.
DoDTS is quite right about booking trains three months in advance to get the best offers so that's the first couple of months out already but hopefully we can pick things up even his eagle eye might have missed. But always take a look on http://www.shrimperzone.com/vb/forumdisplay.php?f=24 to see what he's picked up.
However, sometimes we find some cheap fares by going another route, trains tend to keep cheaper advance fares to big cities, as do the coach companies, so, for example, it was cheaper to get to Doncaster via Sheffield, well Uncle Ron's coaches were the cheapest but you know what I mean, or Walsall via Birmingham.
If we do spot something they'll be placed here.
The Pub Crawl speaks for itself. That's mine! As we'll be playing a few of the sides of last season I've been able to test some places out already but I'm always up for some new ones, and if I do, or pick somewhere on the net, it will be passed on here, if I can still see the screen correctly!
Have a Break is where an overnight or a few days might be best, Carlisle or Scunthorpe in midweek or if things go pear shaped at some stage and you want to escape to some winter sun.
Tips, suggestions and routes will be placed in this link.
As ever, please write to the message board or the Editor if you want to get yourself in the columns with any helpful comments, all welcome.
Enjoy and happy travelling whatever games you go to this coming season.