🔗 Share this article

Regarding the players, staff, and travelling supporters of Truro City, the arduous 914-mile round trip to Gateshead proved bittersweet in the end. Their lengthy coach ride from Cornwall in the south-west all the way up England’s spine to the north-east region bore a single point plus complimentary drinks.

Truro drew their National League match at 2-2 at Gateshead International Stadium this past Saturday after holding a two-goal lead in the 54th minute, in what is turning out to be a season of epic train journeys and unrelenting hauls across England's highways. Following strikes by Dominic Johnson-Fisher and Christian Oxlade-Chamberlain, the hosts fought back through Kain Adom and, in the 70th minute, Frank 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.” — the team's manager

Already this term the club undertook a journey to Carlisle for a 3-0 defeat covering 878 miles. Such is the club’s relative isolation, even their nearest away game is against Yeovil Town, around a two-and-a-half-hour schlep via the A30 to Huish Park, a 130-mile trip each direction.

Unifying Effect of Long Travels

On Saturday the initial 90 supporters to arrive shared a £920 bar tab, courtesy of the EFL sponsor, Sky Bet, the complimentary beverage fund representing £1 for every mile travelled. At least the players were able to break up their journey with a stop at Derby County’s training ground.

Their chairman from Canada, Eric Perez, who appreciates long-distance travel since he regularly flies seven hours from Toronto to London, understands the challenge facing the club he took over in 2023 with ambitions of “doing a Wrexham”.

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. However, it serves to strengthen our squad further – everybody spends time together, we are accustomed to journeying as a group.”

Dedicated Fans Endure Long Travels

One of Truro’s stalwart supporters, John Joyce, is resigned to long days of travelling yet stays devoted, despite the odd flight cancellation 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.”

Reflecting on the situation, following the Carlisle expedition: “Truro's uniqueness as a club lies in the fans' unwavering support regardless of circumstances. Last term's promotion success so it was easy to get behind the players, yet the supporters rarely complain and they appreciate what the players have done.”