Baggies Barge back for Hawthorns clash
The Baggies Barge will be back on the waterways for its first trip of 2010 for the Coca-Cola Championship clash against Sheffield United this Saturday.
The Baggies Barge will be back on the waterways for its first trip of 2010 for the Coca-Cola Championship clash against Sheffield United this Saturday.
Since making its maiden voyage in 2007, the Baggies Barge has gone from strength to strength. The narrowboat leaves Gas Street Basin in Birmingham, at 1pm and arrives at the Navigation Pub, Middlemore Road, West Bromwich at around 2.15pm for the 3pm kick-off. The return journey departs around 30 minutes after the full-time whistle.
Chairman of the West Bromwich Albion supporters club John Homer, aged 54, from Quarry Bank, said: "I think it is great that everybody has got behind the idea and it's a great little idea and really is traditional Black Country.
"I cannot think of a more relaxing way to travel to the football than this and it means an awful lot to the Albion faithful to have this service."
The scheme was the brainchild of lifelong Albion fan Richard Healey who died aged 54 after a short battle with cancer last year.
The voyages proved to be such a success that Mr Healey planned for boats to run from either Oldbury or the Black Country Living Museum, on the border of Tipton and Dudley, but there are no plans to expand the service as yet.
Albion spokesman John Simpson said: "The Baggies Barge has proved a big hit with everybody who has used the service.
"Each voyage has sold out apart from on one occasion, when it was run ahead of a midweek fixture.
"Supporters obviously faced difficulties leaving work early enough to catch the barge and that is why the club now very much sees it as a weekend service for 3pm kick-offs. It is run as a non-profit making venture but has helped to attract new fans to Albion home games."
Supporters still planning to book their place on the next Baggies Barge voyage are urged to contact the East Stand box office as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.
To book, simply email tickets@wbafc.co.uk or call 0871 271 9780. Season ticket holders and members can also book on-line via the club's official website, www.wba.co.uk
The return journey departs around 30 minutes after the full-time whistle with return tickets costing £5.
