Manchester United have confirmed a generous initiative aimed at making life easier for loyal fans ahead of their away fixture at AFC Bournemouth on 20 March, a game scheduled for a late kickoff at the Vitality Stadium.
The club has announced it will provide free coach travel to supporters with valid away tickets, helping ease the burden of what is one of the longest and most logistically challenging journeys of the season.
With the fixture kicking off at 20:00 GMT on a Friday night, travel options for supporters returning to the North West are limited, prompting United to step in with the gesture after concerns were raised through the Fan Advisory Board and Fans’ Forum about mid-week scheduling and restrictive transport.
The free coach service will operate return journeys from Old Trafford to Bournemouth and back, giving fans a practical way to get behind their team.
Details of the Manchester United initiative
The club has said coaches will be available free of charge to Manchester United fans attending the match who hold an official away ticket, recognising both the distance involved, roughly 250 miles each way, and the difficulty of arranging travel after a late-evening game.
In addition to the transport, ticket holders using the service will be entered into a raffle to win a first-team signed shirt, giving supporters a bonus incentive alongside the travel assistance.
Rick McGagh, United’s Director of Fan Engagement, said the club wanted to “show appreciation” for the dedication of its travelling supporters and acknowledged the impact that broadcast-driven scheduling decisions can have on match-going fans, especially for distant away fixtures.
“We believe we have the best and loudest away following in the country and we wanted to do something for our fans to show we appreciate their dedication and support,” McGagh said.
“We hope this gesture helps our fans travelling down to Bournemouth for the game, and, on behalf of the players and everyone at the club, we thank them for their continued support,” United’s Director of Fan Engagement concluded.
However, the club noted that fans will have to find their way to Old Trafford to use the free return coach service, with no alternative pick-up or drop-off points planned.
FGG Says
Manchester United’s decision to subsidise travel for the Bournemouth away fixture is exactly the type of gesture that acknowledges how important supporters are to the club’s spirit and atmosphere. Away days, particularly long, late-kickoff journeys, are part of football’s fabric, yet they can also be costly, inconvenient and exhausting.
By stepping in, United have shown that they are listening to supporter concerns and willing to act in defence of fan welfare.