I’ve already mentioned that there’s 2 new stations under construction, why are you fixating on the one thats still at the planning stage?
Those two stations have taken too long too!
As has the metro extension to Dudley.
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Of course, and the benefits wouldn’t be felt immediately. There’s nothing new youre telling me here. If successful though the returns would far outweigh the initial cost
All the more reason why we need to think of ways to garner a connection with the local population. Walsall in particular has a problem with attracting younger fans. Why do you think we offer kids ticketsfree (or whatever it is these days)
Oh, and Atalanta werent a European football power a few years back. They are now.
The parents may feel there’s a connection with their local club that they hadn’t considered before. I’m willing to bet most Walsall fans were first taken by a relative.
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Not sure on the maths stacking up how many of those 4/5000 shirts a year turn in to fans it’s a long game and gamble. Do it for ten years your talking a million quid.
I wouldn’t be opposed to it if it was sponsored by an outside source but you can’t compare us to Atlanta they’re a big time club. I remember the late 80s or 90s they were in Europe a fair bit ? Not a newbie to being a big deal and like you say provincial it works for clubs like that.
I like your intentions with it grow the love of the clubs Still yampy though.
I got hooked in through a free ticket from
A coaching scheme. Dad and family were all baggies. I was from a baggies area. No walsall fans in my school / year.
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Without going into specifics It’s not that complicated. Shirt costs £30. If the baby attends 1 game in their lifetime that they wouldn’t have done otherwise (buys a ticket and food/drink) they effectively pay the club back. But The upside is enormous , a true lifetime fan must be worth what, 20k minimum to the club? Then there’s family etc who contribute more.
Obviously some won’t attend a game ever but I don’t think you really understand the finances at play.
Then there’s PR/community aspect to the idea too.
What like foreign investors? Perhaps American ones?
Atalanta faces the same problems that Walsall do, namely surrounded by bigger clubs. Besides the whole point of the idea is to grow the fan base, so to say we can’t do it because we aren’t a big club is self defeating
Perhaps when you can convey reasons why it is unworkable you can call it yampy
Surely yet more reasons why the club needs innovative ideas to attract new fans.
For the life of me I don’t understand why train stations don’t have ticket offices anymore.
You are right in that a fair portion of people get on at those stations on the Chase Line and ride for nothing - the money that the train companies are losing out on must be far greater than the cost of employing someone.
As for the buses, must only be ten/fifteen years max since we tried them again and I don’t think it took off.
To retain the 6000 to 6500 I think we’d have to be reasonably successful - top half of the table and not losing too many games.
These days, top half usually means a chance of the playoffs, at least up to the last few games, and that maintains interest.
Train geek here.
Darlo and Willenhall stations being re-opened IS happening but not sure what year. There is a stopper from Wolverhampton mid afternoon that goes to New Street via Tame Bridge Parkway so I assume that’s been added as route preparation and then the new stations will eventually be other stops on that route.
Was in Kings Heath yesterday and the new station there is still nowhere near being finished, platforms are still concrete and the whole platform building is barely up. Didn’t Street say that was going to be finished in late 2023?! 
I think what could be semi realistic is having a shuttle bus that could go from Tame Bridge station and drop people off outside the ground at five minute intervals from half one unless all the Chase Line trains stop at Bescot on matchday?
Was going to suggest it from Walsall but the traffic lights take so long it would just get stuck in needless bottlenecks for 20 minutes.
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Germans have it sorted. 50 euros a month travel on the regional trains as much as you want. Direct debit bosh sorted.
Match days I think they do free local travel to ticket holders.
@SaddlerHQ shuttke buses good idea. Or is it that hard to say on Saturdays Bescot gets more services like Tamebridge does.
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Generally yes, although the driver bypassed Bescot all together on the final train before the Charlton game.
As mentioned above, you can often travel from Hednesford to Walsall/Bescot without paying, the new trains are great but the revenue protection is awful.
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I had a bit of a panic attack on the train Saturday, it was announcing the stops and completely missed Bescot out.
Luckily it did stop there.
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It’s walkable from Tame Bridge Parkway 
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Yeah, I didn’t realise this at the time as it was getting on for 2.20 pm. Missing kick offs doesn’t bother me that much, but the kids like to see them.
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Flexi Ticket offer is back.
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Alongside the river? Or on the road?
You can do both.
Following the Tame is a bit shorter but can be muddy in places if it’s wet.
If following the river though you need to turn left when leaving the station then walk up Sandy Lane to get to the path that runs alongside the river.
If walking the road it’s take a right out of the station then up Walsall Road, Brockenhurst Crescent and then Bescot Crescent.
There were times in the past that some New Street trains skipped Bescot so I’ve done it a few times.
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This is a good thing.
It feels we’re a bit “stuck” at around 5,300 home fans just now.
Fair play to the club for not just sitting back and doing a “c’est la vie” or the modern “it is what it is” and doing stuff. The Gillingham game for an Ayrton and this might help push us upwards and onwards.
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Yes. That said, Chase line Birmingham bound trains do have an additional stop at Bescot at varying times. It’s pretty much clock face, so the extra five mins seems to be accounted for. After the match, there should be no such problem for the 17:02 to dwell for a while longer. There are no timetabled freight movements to be impeded, nor connections in Rugeley to meet. The train remains there for 25 mins until it returns to Walsall so the only issue is a shorter break for the train crew.
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A quite superb offer, there really are no excuses now for those wavering fans.
The opportunity to see the best team in the division by some distance as they enter the finishing straight and cheering them onto glory at the equivalent of as little as £20 per game five times for the remainder of the season, and games of your own choosing, is quite simply outstanding value.
These should sell like hot cakes.
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I wouldn’t go that far, personally.
It’s good that the club are trying to do things to get more through the gates.
As a paying fan, you are saving £2 a game and have to pay out for 5. It’s decent don’t get me wrong. I hope it helps a few out anyway.
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