🔗 Share this article

Regarding the squad, management, and away fans of Truro City, the arduous return journey of 914 miles to face Gateshead proved bittersweet ultimately. Their lengthy coach ride starting in south-west Cornwall travelling the length of England to the north-east bore a single point plus complimentary drinks.

The team tied the National League fixture two goals apiece away at Gateshead on Saturday having led 2-0 in the 54th minute, during what is becoming a season of epic train journeys and unrelenting hauls up and down English A roads and motorways. After goals from Johnson-Fisher and Oxlade-Chamberlain, Gateshead rebounded via Adom and a 70th-minute equalizer from Nouble.

“Clubs that come down to us, most of them are flying down and staying over on the Friday, so for us to have to do it on the coach is not ideal, but because we have so many long journeys, that’s the way we have to do it.” — John Askey

Earlier in the season Truro have made a trek to face Carlisle resulting in a 3-0 loss covering 878 miles. Due to the team's remote location, their shortest away match is at Yeovil Town, a roughly two-and-a-half-hour drive via the A30 to Huish Park, 130 miles each way.

Galvanising Impact of Long Travels

During the matchday the initial 90 supporters were treated to a £920 drinks tab, courtesy of the EFL sponsor, Sky Bet, the complimentary beverage fund equating to £1 per mile covered. Fortunately, the squad could interrupt their travel with a stop at Derby County’s training ground.

Their chairman from Canada, Eric Perez, accustomed to long-haul trips as he frequently flies seven hours from Toronto to London, recognizes the difficulties confronting the club he acquired in 2023 aiming to emulate Wrexham's success.

All this time on the road has benefits too for the region's first pro football team, in his view. “I’m not going to say it’s a short journey, It’s a ridiculously long journey in context,” Perez told BBC Sport. “But what that does is galvanise our side even further – everybody spends time together, we’re used to travelling together.”

Dedicated Fans Endure Long Travels

One of Truro’s stalwart supporters, John Joyce, is resigned to long days of travelling yet stays devoted, notwithstanding occasional flight issues and exhausting rail journeys. He estimates Saturday’s trip cost him around £400 in costs and missed income, noting, “During my naval career with Nato, the drive from Brussels to Cornwall was shorter than from Cornwall to Gateshead.”

As Askey said, after their Carlisle odyssey: “Truro's uniqueness as a club lies in the fans' unwavering support no matter what. I know last season we were very successful so it was easy to get behind the players, yet the supporters rarely complain and they appreciate what the players have done.”