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For the players, staff, and travelling supporters of Truro City, the arduous return journey of 914 miles to face Gateshead was a mixed blessing in the end. The 12-hour bus journey starting in south-west Cornwall all the way up England’s spine to the north-east region bore a single point and a free pint or two.

The team tied their National League match at 2-2 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 across England's highways. After goals from Johnson-Fisher and Oxlade-Chamberlain, the hosts fought back 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

Already this term Truro have made a trek to face 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, a 130-mile trip each direction.

Galvanising Effect of Long Travels

During the matchday the initial 90 supporters to arrive shared a £920 bar tab, sponsored by Sky Bet, the complimentary beverage fund equating to £1 per mile covered. Fortunately, the squad could interrupt their travel with a pause at Derby's training facility.

Even their Canadian chair, Eric Perez, who appreciates long-distance travel as he frequently flies seven hours from Toronto to London, recognizes the difficulties facing the club he took over in 2023 aiming to emulate Wrexham's success.

All this time on the road has benefits too for Cornwall’s first professional football club, he believes. “It's certainly not a brief trip, It’s a ridiculously long journey in context,” Perez told BBC Sport. However, it serves to strengthen our squad further – the team bonds during travel, we are accustomed to journeying as a group.”

Dedicated Supporters Face Lengthy 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 wearisome train treks. 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, but from what I know the fans never even moan and they value the players' efforts.”