🔗 Share this article

Regarding the squad, management, and away fans of Truro City, the gruelling return journey of 914 miles to face Gateshead proved bittersweet ultimately. The 12-hour bus journey from Cornwall in the south-west travelling the length of England to the north-east region bore a single point plus complimentary drinks.

Truro drew the National League fixture at 2-2 at Gateshead International Stadium on Saturday after holding a two-goal lead in the 54th minute, during what is becoming a season of epic train journeys and unrelenting hauls across England's highways. Following strikes by Dominic Johnson-Fisher and Christian Oxlade-Chamberlain, Gateshead rebounded through Kain Adom and, in the 70th minute, Frank Nouble.

“Opposition teams visiting us often fly in and stay overnight, making our coach travel less than ideal, yet with our extensive schedule, it’s our only option.” — the team's manager

Already this term Truro have made a trek to Carlisle for a 3-0 defeat covering 878 miles. Such is the club’s relative isolation, their shortest away match is against Yeovil Town, around a two-and-a-half-hour schlep along the A30 to Huish Park, 130 miles each way.

Unifying Effect from Extended Journeys

During the matchday the first 90 Truro fans were treated to a £920 drinks tab, courtesy of the EFL sponsor, Sky Bet, with the generous free-drinks 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 long-haul from Toronto to London, understands the challenge confronting the club he acquired in 2023 aiming to emulate Wrexham's success.

The extensive travel 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 stated. However, it serves to strengthen our squad further – the team bonds during travel, we are accustomed to journeying as a group.”

Dedicated Fans Face Long Travels

A committed Truro follower, John Joyce, is resigned to long days of travelling but remains committed, despite the odd flight cancellation and exhausting rail journeys. He calculated the recent trip at roughly £400 in expenses and lost earnings, remarking, “During my naval career with Nato, the drive from Brussels to Cornwall was shorter than from Cornwall to Gateshead.”

As Askey said, 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, but from what I know the fans never even moan and they value the players' efforts.”