Update regarding the shuttle bus service to and from Saturday home matches 

Dear Co-owner,

We wanted to take this opportunity to provide you with an important update regarding FC United's shuttle bus service for Saturday home matches in the upcoming season. After careful consideration and evaluation, the club has made the difficult decision to stop running the shuttle bus service for the foreseeable future. We understand that this may come as disappointing news to some of you, and we want to ensure transparency and address any concerns you may have.

As part of our ongoing financial review, the club, as we informed co-owners in the recent announcement of the new brewery deal with Holts, has taken the decision to monetise the sponsorship money from Holts, which was previously used to fund the shuttle bus service for Saturday home games. The service was effectively being subsidised by the majority of FC United supporters as it was only used by a maximum of around 100 fans (including away supporters). It was determined that reallocating the sponsorship funds from Holts to other areas of the club would be more prudent and enable us to better serve the entire FC United community.

Based on our evaluation, it is unlikely that we would be able to sustain the current passenger numbers once the service transitions to a pay bus model. Even if we were able to maintain the same level of passengers, the cost of the pay bus service would be equal to or potentially higher than that of scheduled bus services.

Whilst we were initially keen to consult with supporters to see if there is an appetite for users of the bus to fund the service, further research has indicated that even if supporters were willing to fund the actual cost of the bus service (last season it was in excess of £400 per match, and we anticipate this to increase), the logistical challenges involved in providing a reliable and efficient service would make it very difficult to run. Operating a bus service requires significant resources in terms of staffing, safety measures, cash handling, and coordination with external bus companies.

Although we have come to this decision reluctantly, we are not aware of any other club in our league that offers a complimentary shuttle service, even though many of them have poorer public transport connections.

The challenges involved in providing a reliable and efficient service would be considerable, and we would require volunteers and staff to steward each of the bus services, which would place an additional burden on our already stretched resources. Taking into account these operational challenges and the availability of alternative transport options, we have therefore decided to discontinue the service.

Whilst the bus service has been a convenient and valuable transport option for some supporters, there are other ways of travelling to Broadhurst Park for a Saturday home match by public transport from Manchester city centre. Supporters can travel to Broadhurst Park via the 181 & 182 service from Piccadilly Gardens at a cost of £2 per journey (click here for timetable). And there are also several bus services that run from the city centre along Moston Lane, only a short walk from the ground (click here for timetable). Additionally, the Newton Heath and Moston tram stop is a 15-minute walk along St Mary's Road to Broadhurst Park, and sharing taxis also remains a viable option for a few pounds per head.

We appreciate that this change may require adjustments to your travel arrangements, and we apologise for any inconvenience caused. However, we believe that redirecting these funds to areas that will have a broader impact on the club's operations and fan experience is in the best long-term interests of FC United.

While the club cannot commit to running the bus service at this time, we are more than happy to encourage our own members to explore the possibility of developing a DIY bus scheme, similar to other co-owner empowered initiatives. In fact, we have seen successful examples of supporter-led initiatives for away travel, such as those organised by Pete Wharton and many others.

If any members are interested in volunteering to run a DIY bus service, we are willing to share information, contacts, and guidance to support their efforts. We understand the value of community-led initiatives and the positive impact they can have on matchday experiences. To facilitate this, we will actively promote any such service on our website and social media platforms to ensure widespread awareness and participation.

We appreciate your understanding and ongoing support as we navigate these challenges. If you have any further questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact us by calling the office on 0161 769 2005 or emailing the club at office@fc-utd.uk or by speaking to us on a match day. We are here to listen and address any issues you may have. We have also attached a Q&A which will hopefully answer any further questions you may have (click here).

Thank you for being a valued member of FC United.

Yours sincerely,

Bhavna, Dave, Gemma, Paul & Warren

FC United Board