Posted by Dusan Popratnjak, 11/1/08 at 10:06:36 PM.

Aldridge Villians.

Matchday Villa bus service under threat.

A vital bus service used to ferry Walsall-based fans of premiership football team Aston Villa to matches could be scrapped after usage plummeted.The service,funded by the club,was successfully trialled for the final four games of last season.

A double - decker Travel West Midlands bus,which can seat up to 72 fans,stops at various pick-up points across Walsall prior to Villa home matches.

But recently,the number of passengers on the bus has dramatically decreased,prompting fears for the future of the service.Maggie Pinckston,a life - long Villa fan who organises the service,said "The  bus operates on all home match days.The club have put a lot of money in trying to make the service work,and it would be a shame for those who rely on the bus to lose out.The service took off really well when it was trialled for the last four games in the season,but recently user numbers have decreased.The reason behind launching this bus service was to help the community and try and take a bit of traffic off the roads.It would be great for any Villa fans to use the bus as it is a great atmosphere before and after the match.The service stops at Anchor Bridge on the Chester Road in Brownhills,two hours before kick - off,before traveling on to Brownhills Parade one hour and 55 minutes before the match.The bus then stops at Pelsall Cenotaph one hour and 45 minutes before a home game,then at Rushall library five minutes later.

It carries on to the Elms in Aldridge,one hour and 35 minutes before the match,and then out  side Farmer Johns pub in Streetly,one hour and 30 minutes before the match before carrying on to Villa Park.A return journey costs £4 per passenger.Any one interested in using the service should call Maggie on 01543-374103,after 18.00pm.

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