This time last year the decision was taken to review the club’s Valley Express service, with the service costing the club more than £20,000 per season.
Working with supporters, the decision was taken to keep the service going for the 2024/25 season, with minor adjustments made and supporters encouraged to bring friends and family along.
With the changes made, the service has experienced increased numbers during the 2024/25 campaign and will be close to break even by the end of the campaign.
Therefore Valley Express, which gives supporters the opportunity to travel to home games by coach, will continue for the 2025/26 season. The club would like to thank all the supporters involved in the consultation process last season and those who have helped get more people using the service this season.
Priced at £299, during Phase One, a season pass equates to just £13 per fixture with dozens of convenient pick-up points for supporters based in Kent and Sussex.
Comments
This is an unreasonable assumption that has dogged VEX for all its 21 years. In reality, some would, some wouldn’t, but the whole point of it was to bring people to the ground who would not otherwise come because of poor and expensive public transport routes, and particularly to introduce new people.
Breaking even on coach fares wasn’t ever supposed to be the point. VEX is not an end in itself. The club is not a travel agency.
For context, £20k revenue will be 50-75 attendances per match, just on tickets. It is unlikely even on the very low numbers being carried compared to the past that it was ever losing the club money at all.