Football fans set up travel firm after years of struggling to get to matches

After years of struggling to find transport to matches a pair of Pools fans have set up their own travel company.

Friends Andrew Bowden and Michael Gallagher have been life-long supporters of Hartlepool United and have now set up their own business True Blue Travel. The pair say over the years they have found it a struggle to get transport to matches, gigs and airports, which inspired them to buy their own minibus and set up the business.

Andrew, 28, said: “There is a lack of suitable travel and taxis. There’s not much availability. We thought we would give it a go.”

He said the response has been amazing. He said: “We have only just set it up and it has been non stop.”

Now the men, who are former English Martyrs Catholic School pupils, are already looking to expand and hopefully employ more people. Engineer Andrew said he and Michael, a musician, have roped in family and friends to help with the running of the business and said a lot of their work has been airport runs.

He said: “Because we both work other jobs, we have a couple of family members doing the driving. We know that the prices we are charging are lower than the competition. Although we are running it as a business and want to make some money, we don’t want to be ripping people off.”

True Blue Travel is already getting positive feedback after just just two weeks in business and booking are filling up fast. For more information visit the firm’s Facebook page here.

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