Kingsholm Supporters Mutual Offer Travel Packages

The Kingsholm Supporters Mutual has launched a new travel scheme for Gloucester supporters for the forthcoming 2004/05 season.

The independent supporters' group will be offering coach travel to some of the 11 away Zurich Premiership fixtures, after it teamed up with Gloucester Rugby Club to help promote the initiative.

Members of the KSM will be able to benefit from a discount on the travel packages. Full information on the new initiative, including prices and booking details, will be available soon from both the KSM website at www.ksmglos.org and from the official club website at www.gloucesterrugbyclub.com

KSM chairman Bob Rumble said: ""We all know that Gloucester supporters travel to away matches in great numbers. In launching this service we hope to help even greater numbers of fans to support Gloucester.

"KSM members using the service will see a tangible return for their membership and the commitment they have made to the Club.

"Right from the outset we have said that we would look to fund-raise to support any future redevelopment of Kingsholm in ways that gave supporters something for their money."

In addition to the Zurich Premiership travel, the KSM will also be teaming up with Travelscope offering two supporters packages for away Heineken Cup fixtures.

For the match versus Stade Francais in Paris there will be two alternative packages. The first is a 'budget' option by coach rather than air, which will include coach travel, pick up points around the county, hotel accommodation and a match ticket (numbers may be limited for these packages).

The second option will be an independent supporters' package for those that prefer to arrange their own transport. This will include hotel accommodation and a match ticket. This package will also be offered for the Ulster match in Belfast.

These packages will be in addition to those offered by Mike Burton Sports Travel, the Club's Official Travel Partner. Travelscope's Heineken Cup tickets will not come of out of the Club's allocation.

For the match against Stade Francais in Paris in October, it is anticipated that the bus package, including two nights hotel accommodation, all transport and match ticket will cost £139, and the hotel and ticket package £99. KSM members booking any Travelscope Gloucester package will also receive a £5 cashback from the KSM.

For the Heineken Cup clash against Cardiff in Wales the KSM has been approached by the Holiday Inn Hotel in Cardiff with a pre-match meal offer.

Further details on all packages will be announced at www.ksmglos.org and www.gloucesterrugbyclub.com

Further information:

1. Zurich Premiership away fixtures

It is anticipated that KSM may encounter difficulties in getting tickets for some fixtures that frequently sell out e.g. Bath and Leicester. All available tickets will be sold on a first come, first served basis and for each game there will be a priority period for season ticket holders.

Initially this service will only be offered on a trial basis, to assess demand. Payment must be

by cheque or credit card and there will be a no-cancellation policy.

2. Travelscope

Travelscope are professional tour operators. Hundreds of local, regional and national newspapers and magazines, throughout the United Kingdom, trust Travelscope to produce exciting and value-for-money holidays especially for their readers.

From their offices in Gloucestershire, their experienced team of travel experts put together a wide selection of European Coach Tours and River Cruises, Flight Holidays and Cruises.

Travelscope are fully bonded members of ABTA and abide by their Code of Conduct, they have an IATA licence and in addition hold ATOL licence 4555 issued by the Civil Aviation Authority. Travelscope are also members of the Coach Tourism Council.

3. The Kingsholm Supporters Mutual is an Industrial Provident Society, registration number 29640R.

4. The Kingsholm Supporters Mutual has just over 2,000 members.

5. Press contacts for the Kingsholm Supporters Mutual are Bob Rumble (Chairman) 07710 796061 and Darren Stevens 07785 372155.