Up the Albion!

[JFO]

On Saturday 9th of December 2023, I returned to Sussex and went to my first Brighton & Hove Albion FC Home Game, but as you'll see I didn't go for the Football! (never followed it), because over the years so many other photographers including Terry Blackman and Harry Powell have told me about the match day variety at Falmer, and it really does seem like pretty much all of Sussex stops what its doing to go to the game, and I counted about 65 vehicles from pretty much every operator in Sussex, (and some from Kent) transporting supporters, including several from our Area, hence why I thought this would be worth a mention.

In adition to all the Park & Ride shuttles provided by more local vehicles from Brighton & Hove Buses, GO Ahead MetroBus (Including "FastWay" vehicles from Crawley), the Brighton Horizon/SevenSisters Empire, Southern Transit Buses, Sussex Coaches, Regency Coaches, and even Stagecoach in West Sussex (with E300's, from Worthing I think), Travelmasters of Sheerness were also on P&R duties, with YX67UYK, YX67UYG, BX12CVL, BX12CVP, LX60DXD, LX60DXE, EY07AXJ and EY07AXM all seen.
Other operators from our Area and Kent seen bringing in supporters, were Hams Travel with MMC MC72HAM, VH T9 PA52HAM and Volvo 9900's DW19HAM and MC19HAM, Renown Coach Travel of Bexhill with Mistral Volvo T25RTL/DW02HAM, JRP Direct Coaches/JG Connect Coaches of Cross In Hand/Heathfield with Jonkheere SHV SO12VXD, Lynn's Coach Travel of Pevensey with T9 Volvo SX09LYN, and a selection of Tourismo's from Ramblers of Hastings (CR14RAM I think), Grange Coach Travel of Gravsend (BF23CLV), Access Coach Travel of Brasted (BC09BEL), 2 Kings Ferry Coaches (didn't get their reg's), and Worthing Coaches who brought ex Clarkes/Kings Ferry BF67WJJ (recently used on Nat Ex runs from Kent).

So yeah a bit further west than I normally venture, and although I couldn't identify everything that turned up as there was so much of it, I thought all this was still worth a mention for the sheer variety that can be seen at the AMEX on match days, and if Phill Cat is reading this, there were a Lot of Coaches down there, infact I lost count around 30...

[JFO]

While in Sussex on Saturday 3rd of Feb 2024, I covered another Brighton & Hove Albion FC Home Game, and once again I counted about 70 vehicles from pretty much every operator in Sussex, (and some from Kent) transporting supporters, including several more from our Area.

Unlike last time, the Park & Ride shuttles were all provided by more local vehicles from Brighton & Hove Buses, GO Ahead MetroBus/Southdown PSV, Southern Transit Buses, Sussex Coaches (Including an Enviro500 KIG3429/LW55AJU), Regency Coaches and the Brighton Horizon/SevenSisters/Seaford/Big Lemon empire who brought along ex Chalkwells Dart PX55EFK.
Other operators from our Area and Kent seen bringing in supporters, were Hams Travel with MMC MC72HAM, VH T9 PA52HAM and Volvo DW14HAM, Renown Coach Travel of Bexhill with Scania S16RTL, Lehane Travel of Sturry with Scania LT16PEL, and a selection of Tourismo's from Ramblers of Hastings (CR14RAM I think), 5 Kings Ferry Coaches (BF68ZFG, BF68ZFH and BF68ZFJ, couldn't note the other 2), and Worthing Coaches who brought ex Clarkes/Kings Ferry BF67WJY and BF67WJJ.

Although once again I couldn't identify everything that turned up as there was so much of it, I would still recomend Falmer for the sheer variety that can be seen at the AMEX on match days, and if Phill and Mick are reading this, there were a still a lot of Coaches down there, infact I lost count around 35...

[Matthew Arnold]

Just a quick correction; Seven Sisters is a completely separate business with no affiliation to Brighton Horizon/Seaford/Big Lemon.

Matthew 

Sent from Yahoo Mail for iPhone

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[JFO]

Thanks Matthew I have been learning that more recently, though its still slightly confusing because they mostly share the same yard at Laughton, they sometimes swap or trade vehicles, and in the case of Seaford & District and Seven Sisters they share a similar paint!

[JFO]

I returned to Sussex on Saturday 24th of Aug 2024, and covered another Brighton & Hove Albion FC home game, and once again I counted about 55 vehicles from pretty much every operator in Sussex, (and some from Kent) transporting supporters, including several more from our Area.
Unlike at some previous games, the Park & Ride shuttles were once again all provided by more local vehicles from Brighton & Hove Buses, GO Ahead MetroBus, Compass Buses, Sussex Coaches, Regency Coaches, the Brighton Horizon/Big Lemon/Seaford empire, and even Stagecoach in West Sussex with 3 "Coastliner 700" MMC's: https://www.flickr.com/photos/69558134@N05/53946503540.
Other operators from our Area and Kent seen bringing in supporters, were Hams Travel with MMC MC72HAM and Volvo's MC14HAM, MC19HAM and DW19HAM, Renown Coach Travel of Bexhill with ex Hams T9 Volvo WA57JZP, JRP Direct Coaches of Heathfield with Jonkheere SHV Volvo SO12VXD, and a selection of NatEx Group Tourismo's, with 1 from Kings Ferry Coaches and 3 ex Clarkes/Kings Ferry 67 plate examples from Worthing Coaches, that were previously used on NatEx runs from Kent.
Although once again I couldn't identify everything that turned up as there was so much of it, and it was also a 12:30PM kick off, (instead of the 15:00PM starts I've previously covered), I would still recomend Falmer for the sheer variety that can be seen at the AMEX on match days, though I also found that its easier to capture vehicles as they arrive, rather than as they leave, when its seems that everybody has to leave on foot at the same time..., and another thing, why do football fans have to walk so slowly?

[JFO]

I returned on the 14th for their game against Ipswich Town from Norfolk, and once again counted about 50 vehicles from pretty much every operator in Sussex and some from Kent transporting supporters, including several more from our Area.
The Park & Ride shuttles were once again provided by local vehicles from Brighton & Hove Buses, GO Ahead MetroBus, Compass Buses, Sussex Coaches (with ex KCC Passenger Services Profile YN57WFO), Regency Coaches, the Brighton Horizon/Big Lemon/Seaford empire, and even Stagecoach in West Sussex (with 4 E300's, from Worthing I think), plus Travelmasters of Sheerness who brought YX67UYK, YX67UYG, BK10MFV, BK10MFU, GD09JHX and EY07AXM.
Other operators from our Area seen bringing in supporters, were Hams Travel with MMC MC17HAM and Volvo's DW14HAM and DW71HAM, Renown Coach Travel of Bexhill with Panther Volvo MIG3820/Y522DDA, and a selection of NatEx Group Tourismo's including ex Clarkes/Kings Ferry Coaches BT66UAJ from Luckets Coaches.

[Martin Smith]

Ipswich is the county town of Suffolk!