The first Valley Express coach, although it didn't have the name, ran from Ramsgate and Margate in August 2004,
This was the first run under the auspices of the club, however there were already supporters' club services from Bexhill/Hastings, Maidstone and Ashford/Canterbury.
In October 2004, the club coach service was extended round the coast to Deal and Sandwich in one direction and Herne Bay and Whitstable in the other, with up to four coaches operating these routes.
From the Birmingham game in January 2005 we expanded the service across Kent, absorbing the existing Canterbury/Maidstone coaches and new routes from Swale/Medway, New Romney/Ashford, Tunbridge Wells/Tonbridge and in NW Kent serving Longfield and Meopham. The name Valley Express was adopted for the launch. The existing Sussex route and an Essex route was added in March, with further expansion at the start of the 2005/06 season including Eastbourne via the A22 and Worthing/Brighton via the M23. A Hampshire route was added in October. The final expansion was the A25 route, which began early in 2006/07.
Currently we operate all the Kent routes, except the NW Kent service, and all the Sussex ones except the section of the A22 serving East Grinstead. The Hampshire route was more successful than Essex, but both succumbed as the team fell down the divisions. The A25 coach was also discontinued, although the M23 service still picks up at Reigate and Redhill.
The supporters' club coaches date back to the early 1990s, so 20 years is not far off, with the origin probably being a one-off service I was involved in putting on from Maidstone to Upton Park following the demise of Maidstone United.
Happy days, the Canterbury supporters club (Which became East Kent) ran to all home and some away matches. Trevor G set this up with help from Mick, Rich and Wendy.
We had supporters club meetings in Gillingham ever month with all the branches, target 10,000 was always the first agenda item
BDL was always dropping off to sleep
Early 90's is correct, loved it we had such a blast.
Comments
There was a feature on that years DVD about it - Filmed on the day we got dicked 4-1 at home by WBA (when Earnshaw scored a hat-trick).
http://www.soccer24-7.com/forum/showthread.php?t=60387
We've only been back at the The Valley for 18 and a half!!
Charity work
You or him? ;-@)
Called them "Rickshaws" in deference to their originator.
The first Valley Express coach, although it didn't have the name, ran from Ramsgate and Margate in August 2004,
This was the first run under the auspices of the club, however there were already supporters' club services from Bexhill/Hastings, Maidstone and Ashford/Canterbury.
In October 2004, the club coach service was extended round the coast to Deal and Sandwich in one direction and Herne Bay and Whitstable in the other, with up to four coaches operating these routes.
From the Birmingham game in January 2005 we expanded the service across Kent, absorbing the existing Canterbury/Maidstone coaches and new routes from Swale/Medway, New Romney/Ashford, Tunbridge Wells/Tonbridge and in NW Kent serving Longfield and Meopham. The name Valley Express was adopted for the launch. The existing Sussex route and an Essex route was added in March, with further expansion at the start of the 2005/06 season including Eastbourne via the A22 and Worthing/Brighton via the M23. A Hampshire route was added in October. The final expansion was the A25 route, which began early in 2006/07.
Currently we operate all the Kent routes, except the NW Kent service, and all the Sussex ones except the section of the A22 serving East Grinstead. The Hampshire route was more successful than Essex, but both succumbed as the team fell down the divisions. The A25 coach was also discontinued, although the M23 service still picks up at Reigate and Redhill.
The supporters' club coaches date back to the early 1990s, so 20 years is not far off, with the origin probably being a one-off service I was involved in putting on from Maidstone to Upton Park following the demise of Maidstone United.