I attended the pre-friendly game against Leigh with my 4 year old son last week, of which he did enjoy, everything but the game, but thats a different post, but I was appalled at the after game organisation with regards to people who lived towards Irlam and Cadishead and further afield. We did not want to pay five pounds parking as we knew far to well, as to the chaos that was to unfold after the game as to exiting the grounds.
So we opted to get dropped off near the ground beforehand, which was fine, but when the game had finished, the only option we had, was to walk back towards the main road and bear left heading towards a bus stop. Bearing left, we had no alternative but to walk on the road, with no pavement, bearing in mind, I had a giddy 4year old to control, with cars also trying to build up enough speed to join the dual carriageway. At one point myself and Mr.Giddy, had to wait at the ajoining junction to the Barton stretch, to try and cross onto the middle grass verge, to then cross again over the carriageway, to walk past the Airport, to then cross back onto the middle grass verge, and again the much more busier carriageway, to catch the 67 bus at the half hidden bus stop opposite side to the airport!!!!!
As you could well imagine, plenty of tight hand grips and dragging, for Mr.Giddy who was not impressed, by now, and neither was I by this point. Utter chaos and extremely dangerous for 4 year olds and older.
IDEA!!!
Bus service provided to a central point for Irlam and Cadishead supporters for after the home matches, as there seemed to be enough buses waiting to run the opposite direction for supporters, so maybe they could just spare one or two!!!!!. Charging £1 a go?? These buses would only run once one way as to avoid the traffic build up going back towards the ground???? And so when the journey is complete, they could take more Salford residents back home as the buses would be on there way.????
Daft idea or what??? Sorry just me having a common -sense moment.
PK

If you wanted to catch the bus wouldn't turning right back towards whites actually get you to a bus stop both quicker and much much safer?

Also I applaud the club for the bus thing from Salford to the ground. You can understand the reasoning behind that but do people in Irlam really need one? Do we even have enough supporters from Irlam to warrant a bus of it's own? What next? What about the supporters from around Swinton, whitefield, prestwich should we next be doing one for them?

With a lot of focus on attracting more local support, the idea of a local bus service to bring in more support from the local area , might be a way of tempting more people to try RL, thus running a bus service would be beneficial to all, and then there would be more supporters from Irlam/Cadishead. Only an idea

I wanted to get the bus to Irlam, and I turned right and it was fine. I thought turning right might make it easier to get on, should there be a load wanting to get on at the next stop (in between the two stadium roads). Judging by how many got on then, I don't think there'd be enough to warrant a shuttle service to Irlam/Cadishead. Saw a few people walking, but nowt like the number that were walking back to Peel Green. That said, it I think it would be a good idea to potentially gather new fans.

I`d like to see the shuttle service serving Cadishead and Irlam , discounted travel would be appreciated.

Supporters from the area are used to driving or getting taxis to the Willows so Im not convinced there is a significant demand for a bus service. A handful will get the 67 and as Fungus says, walk in the direction of Peel Green and use the bus stop near Whites, much safer route to walk!

I don't get why all of a sudden people want the club to do them a bus route? For years people have drove, walked, trammed and trained into the willows. Now the club have done something innovative for all those local to the willows area to ensure that we don't lose out on the turn up and pay people. I can.understand the reasoning behind this as the move will affect a large contingent of supporters who don't have car access.
Now the stadium is even closer to irlam - let's face it, its only a short walk. For some reason some of those people who have driven etc... to every game for years are suddenly pulling their face cos the club won't do a minibus to irlam.

I just don't get it?

got a taxi from Cadishead to the ground it was £7-80

so a round trip is £15-60

park your car at the the ground is £5 or go on the bus £4-50

now do you think there maybe a requirement for it

the more fans we get in, will count.

for if we dont get the rrequired amount where in the red and out of super league

So jump on the bus for £4.50, then.

taxi between 4 = £4.00 each

So those who have had the privilege of being within walking distance to The Willows... now get privileged travel to the new stadium... those who have forked out hundreds over the years to get to The Willows.. now have to continue to do so to get to the new stadium. Oh to be a local to The Willows eh.

Fact is... there is a large catchment area in Irlam and Cadishead... and with rugby league thriving in Cadishead and the local schools... it would be great if the club would think about it properly and offer a service to the new stadium that families could consider. Everything is being accommodated for those coming from one direction and not the other. You want to try getting a bus from Cadishead on a Friday night in any direction before a game.... let alone one going in the Cadishead direction at 10pm after a game. They only come when they want to... at least if there was a dedicated bus service on a Friday at a set time... we would be certain of when we would have to leave the house to get to the ground. As it stands... it's always a gamble... the least they could do is trial one bus for a few games to see if it's viable... and let the people at the local Rhinos and Hornets clubs know what is happening and see if parents want to use it.

I think the club need Irlam and Cadishead if they want to increase the support... They have even named suites at the stadium after Irlam and Cadishead... why not tap into in properly... why not employ/ ask for volunteers and form a local team of people who live in Irlam and Cadishead to assist the club in working in the area. There are plenty of us around here who would be willing to be the clubs representatives for this area and assist in promoting the club... getting into the schools etc who could look at arranging these kinds of things and take the pressure off those at the club.

Christ on a bike, you'd think you were travelling hundreds of miles. Try getting back to Preston after a match via public transport.