Aspire Run Bishop Bus
by Wayne Raper - 13th August 2012
Darlington FC are delighted to announce a link-up with local bar Aspire in Crown Street, Darlington to become the club’s official pre-match bar.
Aspire are committed to supporting the Quakers in their quest to return to Darlington and are backing the club both financially and by offering the club the use of their function room which will be opened on a match day specifically for Darlo fans and will show highlights of previous games once this facility is made available by the club (watch out for details in the coming months). There will be special drink offers on each week for those wishing to meet in the town before travelling to the game.
As part of the link-up Aspire will be running a bus this coming Saturday 18th for the away game vs. Bishop Auckland - the bus will depart at 2pm from East Street (outside Wilkinsons) in Darlington, dropping off outside Heritage Park and picking up at the same point at 5:15 pm before returning to the town centre. Cost will be £4 which can be paid on the day (you must call into Aspire to get your ticket) but you must call 07805 378317 to reserve your place in advance.
Initially the bus will be for the Bishop match only as there is no Supporters Trust bus for this game. The Trust bus service will commence from the first HOME game being Marske on Tues 21st August.
Comments
charlie - 13th August 2012 15:51:51
Just booked a seat for dave as im working so also have spare ticket for same reasonliddle_4_ever - 13th August 2012 16:10:51
Sounds good! Pint and Full English in Steads followed by 2 or 3 in Aspire then bus to the game, (hopefully) a win and good performance followed by a bus back to the town centre what more could anyone want? It’s what weekends were made for!liddle_4_ever - 13th August 2012 16:20:47
Does anyone know why the bus doesn’t leave from outside Aspire? Seems like they could be missing a trick here.divas - 13th August 2012 16:23:50
liddle_4_ever wrote:
Does anyone know why the bus doesn’t leave from outside Aspire? Seems like they could be missing a trick here.
I'm not 100% whether a bus would be allowed to park/pick-up there, i'll confirm and come back.
divas - 13th August 2012 16:33:54
Confirmed that it's because they'll struggle to park a bus there for any length of time. You must call into Aspire to get your bus ticket before boarding so traffic will be directed into there anyway.JazzyM - 13th August 2012 17:33:41
There's still seats left, I've just rang to book ours. You need to be in there between 1 pm and 1.45 to pay for your seats and jobs a good un.Trike1 - 14th August 2012 09:51:06
booked mine and my sons too yesterdaycant wait for saturday
Fatty eats roadkill - 14th August 2012 11:27:16
Just booked 4 seats.divas - 15th August 2012 08:46:05
Still seats available. Ideally need around 20 more people to sign upDFC Shop - 15th August 2012 13:54:57
divas wrote:
Still seats available. Ideally need around 20 more people to sign up
Sent some people down there from the shop. Nobody at Aspire claimed to know anything about it.
Best they brief all the bar staff.
divas - 15th August 2012 14:22:23
Cheers Ralph, i'll communicate it.TDS - 17th August 2012 20:24:37
Is it Aspire that telephone number?Tried to ring just then and no answer, late notice and all, granted, just wondering who that number is. Needing 3 seats on it if possible!
Tori_Gill - 17th August 2012 20:44:14
TDS wrote:
Is it Aspire that telephone number?
Tried to ring just then and no answer, late notice and all, granted, just wondering who that number is. Needing 3 seats on it if possible!
Tried to ring just then and no answer, late notice and all, granted, just wondering who that number is. Needing 3 seats on it if possible!
As if 4pm there was only 1 seat left !
TDS - 17th August 2012 21:31:50
Oh dear! taxi it is!! haha, thanks tori!Hilly - 17th August 2012 22:08:45
TDS wrote:
Oh dear! taxi it is!! haha, thanks tori!
You could always get the service bus?
TDS - 17th August 2012 22:58:21
Worried it may be heaving, we are trying it however, but as I finish work at 1, huge possibility to may be full?Fibonacci0112358 - 18th August 2012 11:15:44
TDS wrote:
Worried it may be heaving, we are trying it however, but as I finish work at 1, huge possibility to may be full?
You have 8 buses an hour to choose from!
AIDO - 19th August 2012 10:50:38
Whoever organised this bus - many congratulations ... The Atmosphere in Aspire was great upstairs bar, footy on tv, cheap drinks and a double decker waiting patiently outside for our short journey. Much better than drifting round Bishop Auckland or whatever.Disappointed that it was just a one off tho. The supporters club do a great job with their travel to away matches but they are not everyones cup of tea. The Aspire experience yesterday was brilliant. It's a great shame it can't be built on .... or can it?
divas - 19th August 2012 11:15:12
The plan was always to use Aspire as a pre-meet bar and then run the Trust organised bus from here. However at the current time the Trust bus is only planned to run midweek and picking up from next to the Dolphin Centre.Aspire were really keen to work with the club so as there was nothing arranged for the Bishop game we decided to do something and like you say I think it worked really well.
One thing we're keen on not doing though is to be in direct competition to the Trust bus. We're going to work on how we can bring the two together - a secondary pick up from Aspire has been mentioned - personally I'm keen on having everyone in one location to build the atmosphere etc and like you say Aspire's upstairs room is perfect AND they are willing to back the club unlike the other pubs in the market place.
Hopefully we can sort something.
Fibonacci0112358 - 19th August 2012 11:22:41
divas wrote:
The plan was always to use Aspire as a pre-meet bar and then run the Trust organised bus from here. However at the current time the Trust bus is only planned to run midweek and picking up from next to the Dolphin Centre.
Aspire were really keen to work with the club so as there was nothing arranged for the Bishop game we decided to do something and like you say I think it worked really well.
One thing we're keen on not doing though is to be in direct competition to the Trust bus. We're going to work on how we can bring the two together - a secondary pick up from Aspire has been mentioned - personally I'm keen on having everyone in one location to build the atmosphere etc and like you say Aspire's upstairs room is perfect AND they are willing to back the club unlike the other pubs in the market place.
Hopefully we can sort something.
Aspire were really keen to work with the club so as there was nothing arranged for the Bishop game we decided to do something and like you say I think it worked really well.
One thing we're keen on not doing though is to be in direct competition to the Trust bus. We're going to work on how we can bring the two together - a secondary pick up from Aspire has been mentioned - personally I'm keen on having everyone in one location to build the atmosphere etc and like you say Aspire's upstairs room is perfect AND they are willing to back the club unlike the other pubs in the market place.
Hopefully we can sort something.
On Saturday, Neil from the trust did say that a bus for Saturday home fixtures could be run if there was high enough demand.
Maurice_Peddelty - 19th August 2012 11:57:56
AIDO wrote:
Whoever organised this bus - many congratulations ... The Atmosphere in Aspire was great upstairs bar, footy on tv, cheap drinks and a double decker waiting patiently outside for our short journey. Much better than drifting round Bishop Auckland or whatever.
Disappointed that it was just a one off tho. The supporters club do a great job with their travel to away matches but they are not everyones cup of tea. The Aspire experience yesterday was brilliant. It's a great shame it can't be built on .... or can it?
Disappointed that it was just a one off tho. The supporters club do a great job with their travel to away matches but they are not everyones cup of tea. The Aspire experience yesterday was brilliant. It's a great shame it can't be built on .... or can it?
Aido, as you know the Trust/Supporters Club has laid on a double-decker that will leave the Dolphin Centre at 6.30pm sharp and pick-up at East Street [150 yards from Aspire] two minutes later. It will also pick-up at Cockerton Library, approx 6.40pm [across the road from the Travellers Rest] and shortly after opposite Westgate Crescent [if there is a demand].
The price is £4 return. Over 40 fans have pre-paid, so we have less than 30 seats available. You can pre-pay at the club shop Monday or Tuesday to guarantee a seat or you can take a [slight] chance and pay on the bus.
super_les_mcjannet - 19th August 2012 19:55:56
Again this is one of those that you have to use the bus and promote it, the easier it is to get to the match the more likely we are to get bigger crowds.I am using the bus on Tuesday, going to park in the Town Hall (free parking after 6pm) go to the game and get dropped off back pretty much at my car. Great service and rather than the hassle of trying to park etc in Bishop seems easier.
I have tried the train this weekend and that was a bit of hassle if you just want to be at the ground.
Hilly - 19th August 2012 20:14:54
This is why im slightly worried about the other bus. For Saturday just gone it was fine because there was no other bus on offer, but hearing that there are now 2 buses being put on (although the Trust / Supporters Club bus is £1 cheaper).Wouldnt it be better putting all of the effort into getting people to use 1 bus and if that means a couple of more pickups then so be it.
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darlotoon - 19th August 2012 20:23:32
the other bus was a group of season ticket holders who started planning this long before any other buses were sorted, most of the supporters are local to that area of town as well and following the open meeting where it was said it was hoped than fans would join together and arrange transport (all be it for Shildon at that point ) this is what was done . TheCleveland Club have purely given the group of fans a point of pick up .Maurice_Peddelty - 19th August 2012 20:27:00
Hilly wrote:
This is why im slightly worried about the other bus. For Saturday just gone it was fine because there was no other bus on offer, but hearing that there are now 2 buses being put on (although the Trust / Supporters Club bus is £1 cheaper).
Wouldnt it be better putting all of the effort into getting people to use 1 bus and if that means a couple of more pickups then so be it.
Sent from my GT-I9100 using Tapatalk 2
Wouldnt it be better putting all of the effort into getting people to use 1 bus and if that means a couple of more pickups then so be it.
Sent from my GT-I9100 using Tapatalk 2
The Cleveland Bridge bus ran on Saturday as well.
Hilly - 19th August 2012 20:27:15
darlotoon wrote:
the other bus was a group of season ticket holders who started planning this long before any other buses were sorted, most of the supporters are local to that area of town as well and following the open meeting where it was said it was hoped than fans would join together and arrange transport (all be it for Shildon at that point ) this is what was done . TheCleveland Club have purely given the group of fans a point of pick up .
Dont get me wrong I think what they did was great but all im worried about is dilluting both buses to the point where the numbers are shared between them and each bus ends up not being able to cover their costs and therefore we go from having 2 options to having none at all.
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DL_Fourteen - 19th August 2012 20:49:29
Communication seems to be the key here. Surely the Trust, Cleveland Bridge, Aspire, anyone else and the club should be running two or three buses under one banner than diluting the operation. You could still have several pickup points, the logistics wouldn't be difficult!They could share costs and benefits, and if demand falls they can work together rather than having three half-filled buses!
Very encouraging to see these kind of enterprises starting though!
super_les_mcjannet - 19th August 2012 21:05:18
DL_Fourteen wrote:
Communication seems to be the key here. Surely the Trust, Cleveland Bridge, Aspire, anyone else and the club should be running two or three buses under one banner than diluting the operation. You could still have several pickup points, the logistics wouldn't be difficult!
They could share costs and benefits, and if demand falls they can work together rather than having three half-filled buses!
Very encouraging to see these kind of enterprises starting though!
They could share costs and benefits, and if demand falls they can work together rather than having three half-filled buses!
Very encouraging to see these kind of enterprises starting though!
Demand for them will dictate. Just if you want and can then support the buses. The Cleveland Club and Town Centre Bus are fully aware of what each other are doing and I am sure if needs be would work together so that neither is loss making and those who require the bus can get one.
I think this will build as the season goes especially as autumn/winter falls.
Tori_Gill - 13th August 2012 15:13:48
Darlington FC are delighted to announce a link-up with local bar Aspire in Crown Street, Darlington to become the club’s official pre-match bar.Aspire are committed to supporting the Quakers in their quest to return to Darlington and are backing the club both financially and by offering the club the use of their function room which will be opened on a match day specifically for Darlo fans and will show highlights of previous games once this facility is made available by the club (watch out for details in the coming months). There will be special drink offers on each week for those wishing to meet in the town before travelling to the game.
As part of the link-up Aspire will be running a bus this coming Saturday 18th for the away game vs. Bishop Auckland - the bus will depart at 2pm from East Street (outside Wilkinsons) in Darlington, dropping off outside Heritage Park and picking up at the same point at 5:15 pm before returning to the town centre. Cost will be £4 which can be paid on the day but you must call 07805 378317 to reserve your place in advance.
Initially the bus will be for the Bishop match only as there is no Supporters Trust bus for this game. The Trust bus service will commence from the first HOME game being Marske on Tues 21st August.