Supporters supporting

PLYMOUTH Argyle fans are fighting to save the cash-strapped club's free 'football special' buses from the axe. Hundreds of supporters travel to Home Park on the Citybus services, which pick up and drop off in every corner of the city on matchdays. But the financially-stricken Pilgrims have been unable to pay some of their bills as a result of the cash crisis. The Herald reported last week how that has led to the Plymouth Argyle Supporters' Club picking up the tab for the free buses. But the Supporters' Club, which also paid for some matchday entertainment during the Devon derby against Exeter City last month, have warned their own finances are taking a hit. Chairman Keith Bulley is appealing to 'football special' passengers to donate £2 each – or as much as they can afford – to keep the service running.
Volunteers are also needed to carry collection buckets at the drop-off point near the Devonport End ahead of Argyle's meeting with Oldham Athletic on January 15. Mr Bulley said: "We have agreed with the club to bankroll two home matches – but we haven't got a bottomless pit. "It is about £790 a throw and we can't sustain that. "But we don't want to lose these buses, they are very important. Plymouth Citybus managing director Andrew Wickham declined to reveal the extent of Argyle's debt to the company. But he said: "Our intention is to continue running the 'football specials'. We are working with Plymouth Argyle and the Supporters' Club to keep the service going." The Pilgrims face almost certain liquidation in the High Court on February 9 unless they settle a £760,000 tax debt.

Bosses are desperately seeking fresh funding ahead of that date amid sweeping changes in the corridors of power at Home Park. The club, thought to be around £9million in debt, is trying to stave off other creditors.

Anybody willing to volunteer on January 15 – or wishing to donate – should call Mr Bulley on 07969 203138 or email 36keith@blueyonder.co.uk

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Related Links

• This is Plymouth Supporters plea to save home match bus service
• The Green Army goes red and white Plymothian Transit August 2009
• Green Army on the buses Plymothian Transit September 2009
• Green Army on the buses Plymothian Transit September 2009

Green Army on the buses

"they have started to expand the coverage already” Highton-Ridley Barbican Steps Omnibuses2.0 Exercising

The recently introduced Football Specials to Plymouth Argyle Home games operated by Plymouth Citybus seem to have been a big success as they have started to expand the coverage already. New routes and timetables are introduced from this weekend as detailed on their timetable here (pdf). As last time I have attempted to map out the new routes although once again I have to stress these are unofficial and based on the route descriptions - which dont always match the maps! The big coverage gap now filled in is the Devonport end of the City. You can compare the coverage in this map with the old one posted recently here. I am still not sure what buses they actually use on these services although I do hope to catch sight of one this coming weekend as it passed through Asda! (assuming Argyle are at home - I cant say I really follow them at all!) View Citybus Football Specials 2 in a larger map

The Green Army goes Red and white

"The Plymouth Argyle Football Special Services will be available to supporters with match day tickets”

FREE bus services to and from Home Park are to be provided for Plymouth Argyle supporters on match days to help ease congestion. Seven buses will operate across the city, the South Hams and South East Cornwall, before and after kick off on Saturday afternoons and Tuesday evenings. The Plymouth Argyle Football Special Services will be available to supporters with match day tickets. Buses will depart from Wembury, Plympton, Glenholt, Tamerton Foliot, Whitleigh and Saltash, starting an hour and a half before matches. There will also be a shuttle service which will make a continuous circuit from the city centre, via the railway station, to Home Park. Full timetables are now available on the Plymouth Citybus Web Site here (PDF). I have made up this map with the routes to give an idea of the coverage of the City. (Maps as a guide only - I cannot guarantee accuracy as in one or two places the route is not clear from the timetables) Lets hope that the routes are well used! View Citybus Plymouth Argyle Specials in a larger map

Plymouth Argyle

© Glyn Williams - Used with permission

This very smart MAN / Noge Catalan is the current team coach for Plymouth Argyle Footbal Club. It is supplied by Target Travel.

It also allows me to link to another photograph of a very different coach:

H324HVT is a Mercedes minibus operated by Western National a good while back. The connection is that this was a previous team coach used and owned by Plymouth Argyle. If I remember correctly back when Western National was privatised and partially owned by John Preece they got the Argyle contract for the team coach - and had a new DAF coach in full Argyle livery. There was also a Bristol VR in Argyle colours. This was back in the days when there was a very strong expansion of Western National.
This particular photo is by Phil Doddridge who has kindly given me permission to post his photos on this blog, so expect to see many more photos taken around this exciting period of Western National's history over the coming weeks.