Away Travel Update: Finances and Upcoming Trips
Union Golf Road will now be publishing monthly away travel financial updates to provide clearer insight into the performance of trips.
Below is a breakdown of August 2026's trips to Sutton United, Boston United and Forest Green Rovers. For context, a typical trip breaks even at around 40-45 passengers against a coach capacity of 57.
Sutton United
Below is a breakdown of August 2026's trips to Sutton United, Boston United and Forest Green Rovers. For context, a typical trip breaks even at around 40-45 passengers against a coach capacity of 57.
Sutton United
- Passengers: 26
- Hire Fee: £1,550.00
- Income: £738.23
- Net: -£811.77 (loss)
Boston United
- Passengers: 36
- Hire Fee: £790.00
- Income: £690.94
- Net: -£99.06 (loss)
Forest Green Rovers
- Passengers: 54
- Hire Fee: £805.00
- Income: £1,077.20
- Net: £272.20
Total
- Hire Fees: £3,145.00
- Income: £2,506.37
- Net: -£638.63 (loss)
Note: Income is adjusted for online payment processing fees of 1.5%, a flat 20p charge per transaction, and any on-board football card fundraising.
Although the coach travel is currently running at a loss, this isn’t unexpected for the time of year or the early‑season fixtures we’ve been handed. This is already factored into pricing across the season so we can offer the cheapest possible coach service without running at an unsustainable loss overall.
This also explains the difficult decision not to run coaches to Woking and Gateshead, where forecasted demand falls well short of the 40–45 passengers needed to cover hire costs.
Looking ahead to September, we are running an away travel service to AFC Fylde. This includes a trial of return-only bookings for those that wish to travel to the game by train, but want to get home faster.
Bookings are provisionally in place for Boreham Wood and Yeovil Town in October, with hire fees of £1,485 and £1,550 quoted.
As part of UGR’s commitment to getting as many supporters as possible to away games, we’re also exploring alternative options for fixtures that are less financially viable – for example, minibus travel. If anyone has contacts at local minibus firms, or would be interested in being on a list of volunteer drivers, please get in touch.
Last week we announced a commitment to offering affordable U12s travel at £4.99 on every trip. A very generous donation made this possible, covering the difference between that fare and the standard U18 price, so the reduced rate places no additional cost on the service.
As August’s figures show, the margin between a viable trip and a loss‑making one is narrow, and it always comes down to numbers on the coach. Booking early is the single most useful thing supporters can do. Not only does it help the group’s cash flow, but it gives confidence to commit to future hires rather than cancel them.
The U12s initiative shows what a single donation can power, and I would warmly welcome a conversation with anyone in a position to support the service in that way.
Please email uniongolfroad@gmail.com or contact Andrew Flynn directly on 07710009432.
Although the coach travel is currently running at a loss, this isn’t unexpected for the time of year or the early‑season fixtures we’ve been handed. This is already factored into pricing across the season so we can offer the cheapest possible coach service without running at an unsustainable loss overall.
This also explains the difficult decision not to run coaches to Woking and Gateshead, where forecasted demand falls well short of the 40–45 passengers needed to cover hire costs.
Looking ahead to September, we are running an away travel service to AFC Fylde. This includes a trial of return-only bookings for those that wish to travel to the game by train, but want to get home faster.
Bookings are provisionally in place for Boreham Wood and Yeovil Town in October, with hire fees of £1,485 and £1,550 quoted.
As part of UGR’s commitment to getting as many supporters as possible to away games, we’re also exploring alternative options for fixtures that are less financially viable – for example, minibus travel. If anyone has contacts at local minibus firms, or would be interested in being on a list of volunteer drivers, please get in touch.
Last week we announced a commitment to offering affordable U12s travel at £4.99 on every trip. A very generous donation made this possible, covering the difference between that fare and the standard U18 price, so the reduced rate places no additional cost on the service.
As August’s figures show, the margin between a viable trip and a loss‑making one is narrow, and it always comes down to numbers on the coach. Booking early is the single most useful thing supporters can do. Not only does it help the group’s cash flow, but it gives confidence to commit to future hires rather than cancel them.
The U12s initiative shows what a single donation can power, and I would warmly welcome a conversation with anyone in a position to support the service in that way.
Please email uniongolfroad@gmail.com or contact Andrew Flynn directly on 07710009432.