Truro City, a Cornish football club, is making headlines this weekend for undertaking the longest round trip in English football league history. The team's journey to face Gateshead at the International Stadium totals a staggering 914 miles, surpassing their own previous record of 878 miles set during a September visit to Carlisle United. This extensive travel highlights the geographical challenges faced by the club since their promotion to the National League, the fifth tier of English football, last season.
The team embarked on their journey early Friday morning, with plans to stop in Derby for a training session before an overnight stay in Darlington. According to football consultant Alex Black, these long journeys have become commonplace for Truro City, requiring significant financial investment and careful planning. Black emphasized that the club's board is aware of these challenges and committed to providing the necessary resources.
Despite the hardships, the club emphasizes the positive impact of these trips. Black notes that the shared experience fosters camaraderie among players, which offsets the physical and financial strains. John Askey, Truro's manager, has also lauded the club's supporters, who consistently rally behind the team despite the travel demands.
Truro City's supporters have been noted for their dedication, with many considering the Carlisle match a "bucket-list game" and a "badge of honor". One fan, Max Antcliff, undertook a 926-mile journey from Penryn to Newcastle via train to support the team. About 100 fans are estimated to have made the journey to Gateshead.
While the Gateshead trip marks a record for league matches, it isn't the club's longest ever. In 2008, Truro traveled 928 miles to face Whitley Bay in the FA Vase. The record for the longest trip in FA competitions belongs to Falmouth Town, who traveled 956 miles in 2000 to play Bedlington Terriers.
Looking ahead, Truro City will have some respite, as their next match is a relatively shorter 514-mile trip to Solihull Moors. The team is planning to stay up on this occasion, which they haven't done before. Truro City currently sits in 22nd place in the league, two points away from safety, after a 2-1 home win against Halifax Town and a 3-0 victory against Brighton in the National League Cup.
