Hi Latics,
I’m part of Wealdstone FC who are a Ryman Football League club based in Ruislip, around 7 miles from Wembley. I thought I’d see whether what we can offer fits in with your group’s pre-match plans.
Our clubhouse has excellent bar and catering facilities and can comfortably handle upwards of 700 supporters. The club is a 5 minute walk from Ruislip tube station which in turn is a 15 minute tube ride down to Wembley Park. Trains go every 8-10 minutes.
Our car park enables your coach driver(s) to park up in a secure environment and, being just off the main road down to the Polish War Memorial junction on the A40/M40, affords a quick getaway back to the motorway network after the game. We have the added advantage that your coach(es) will not have to negotiate the Wembley Stadium traffic or spend an hour getting out of the Wembley coach park.
We have two real ales on tap as well as a selection of lagers and are able to provide catering by arrangement. If numbers are sufficient we will run a barbeque. Drink pricing is as reasonable as we can allow – just over £3 a pint. We have an advantage over pubs in that ours is a family-friendly environment. Although children are allowed in the bars, we have a number of adjacent football pitches which allow kids to run around.
We’ve hosted a number of clubs in the last few years. Had 750 Swansea fans for the League Cup final just gone, the second time they’ve come to us in the last two years. We’ve had Man City three times and they are coming back for their FA Cup semi too. We’ve had Cardiff fans four times, Huddersfield, Stoke, Villa etc. All of these club’s supporters will give glowing testimonials of how they were treated.
We do not ask for a charge to park but hope that supporters will use our facilities. If interested in stopping with us please contact our Operations Manager Leo Morris on 01895 637487 (office hours) for further details.
Please note that only pre-booked coaches will be admitted. We know the limit of how many people we can adequately look after and will staff appropriately so we can provide you a good service.
Before anyone jumps in feet first with this option,because it sounds good,
be aware that unless you have a London Transport pre pay Oyster Card the 15 minute tube ride from here to Wembley will cost between 6 & 8 pounds return PER PERSON dependant on which ticket you buy, which will equate to a minimum of £300 per coach, the price to park a coach at Wembley will be 75 quid max.
You can buy a return group ticket for 50 people for £220, but everyone has to be at both stations(going and return) at the same time and travel on one ticket.
I would suggest that the wealdstone fc kind offer maybe more suited to mini busses or groups in cars as parking for those near wembley is non existant.
Don’t think you’re correct there loudmouthblue.
You can get group tickets – 10 people plus, this works out at £4.50 adult and £1.70 kids. One of the Swansea guys got 150 posted to him and distributed them out on the way to us. You don’t all have to travel together either, they’re all separate tickets.
It will still work out cheaper to continue on to Wembley coach park but you want to factor in the time the last few miles can take by road. From our place you’ll be door-to-door in under 30 minutes.
Don’t think you’re correct there loudmouthblue.
You can get group tickets – 10 people plus, this works out at £4.50 adult and £1.70 kids. One of the Swansea guys got 150 posted to him and distributed them out on the way to us. You don’t all have to travel together either, they’re all separate tickets.
It will still work out cheaper to continue on to Wembley coach park but you want to factor in the time the last few miles can take by road. From our place you’ll be door-to-door in under 30 minutes.
Mark
Before I responded to your post I rang again to double check what they told me before my first post earlier, this is where I have got my information from :-
Yes you can buy group tickets for a minimum of 10 people, but when I asked earlier I told them we had 50 people(the full coach load)in the hope of getting a bulk group even cheaper, they quoted me £220 just under 4.50 as you also suggest.
What they did tell me before, and have done so again, group bookings need to be done at the station on the day/moment of travel to get the group discount, the group 10 or 50 have to be seen to prove they are a genuine group and then travel together in both directions.
I have also been told I can buy 50 return induvidual tickets, which will be sent to me at a cost og £6.30 each or all station day passes at £8ish, these are the figures I quoted in my first post.
Off set against the underground cost is the parking cost at Wembley, which is £63.50 which the coaches need to pay, so that should be a further £1.29 reduction from any coach operator towards a rail ticket from your club.
We are more than likely going to take up your offer, but was just letting others know the costs involved if they plan to do the same.
I’ve no way of checking the truth of what this Swansea guy told me but I’ve no reason to disbelieve him either.
As regards travelling as a group, I think what tfl tell you and what they actually do on a busy matchday may vary. Most Wembley bound fans who come to us use the group tickets and I’ve never heard of anyone challenged to prove whether they’re in a group or not.
Seems like you’re doing some proper research. Hope all works out and hope to see you whenever the FA decide when they’re going to play the fixture.
Thinking about it. You’re playing Millwall or Blackburn.That’s as good as a bye. You might as well get an Oyster card. ;)
Just to advise we’re getting towards our limit on coaches for this. Close to 500 Latics booked in. Thanks! We’re at home at Cray Wanderers that day (massive game in our title hunt!) so need to manage the numbers carefully.