Watford FC has vowed to make sure coaches to away matches leave earlier after delays marred the club’s opening Premier League game.

The club’s new coach provider Clarkes Coaches said it will review its arrangements after hundreds of Hornets fans were stranded on the M6 - missing the opening 20 minutes of Saturday’s game against Everton at Goodison Park and Miguel Layun's goal in the 14th minute.

Fans say most coaches left late, and after taking a detour to avoid rival fans and hitting traffic, some only arrived at the game 15 minutes before half time.

Hornets fan Andrew Carberry said he was “outraged” that more than 500 fans missed a third of the game.

In a letter to the club, the 37-year-old wrote: “I have been to around two thousand games in my lifetime and have never managed to get to a game late, let alone 25 minutes late.”

Mr Carberry said everyone was on the coach by 9am and questioned why it did not leave.

He also complained that with the coach already late, drivers had taken a 30-minute break at services, dismissing concerns the coach would arrive late, and then ignored messages advising them to come off the congested M6.

He added: “I have to be honest, I’m very disappointed having paid £44 a ticket that I’ve had to miss almost a third of a match due to poor planning.”

In an email to Mr Carberry, the club said it planned a full debrief with the coach provider, and would make sure there are earlier departure times for games that are further away.

But for Mr Carberry, of Norbury Avenue, once was enough.

He added: “I will never be catching a club coach to an away game again. Next time I’ll train, walk, hitch, cycle or even drive.”

For many fans, the incentive to take the coach was a £1 subsidised coach ticket - no consolation for those who arrived after kick off.

Andy Dibble said he was one of the lucky ones, arriving in time for the first goal after his driver took a detour.

The 47-year-old, who lives in Oxhey Village, blamed poor planning, asking why his coach did not leave until 9.15am, and why the coach company was not aware of roadworks along the route.

Clarkes Coaches’ general manager Terry Newman apologised for the inconvenience said coaches would leave one hour earlier for the game against Manchester City on August 29.

He said the club had told it to leave at 9am, and the firm believed six hours was long enough to get to Everton.

Mr Newman said one bus was delayed by half an hour by two fans who “disappeared” in the service station.

He added: “It was very unfortunate that we were hit by roadworks. In hindsight we would have left earlier. We apologise for any inconvenience.

“We have definitely learnt lessons and will endeavour to leave earlier in the future. This won’t happen again.”

The game ended 2-2. Club officials declined to comment.

Below is some reaction from Twitter:

@Observer_Owl so many hornets still on the motorway 😣😣😣 — Alex Wright (@AlexJ_Wright) August 8, 2015

@Observer_Owl would be nice if any of the coaches had actually arrived. Only just on m62 — David Morren (@wifcmidget) August 8, 2015





@Observer_Owl Delay the kick off we are still 45 mins away on coach 11😠 — Jason Wheatley (@jasoncfc21) August 8, 2015

@Observer_Owl even if still on a coach on M6🐝🐝🐝🐝 — Franko (@FKempinska) August 8, 2015



