Regarding the players, staff, and travelling supporters from the Cornish outfit, the arduous return journey of 914 miles to face Gateshead was a mixed blessing in the end. Their lengthy coach ride starting in south-west Cornwall all the way up England’s spine 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 by the 54th minute, in what is turning out to be a season of epic train journeys and tireless road trips up and down English A roads and motorways. Following strikes by Johnson-Fisher and 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 face Carlisle resulting in a 3-0 loss that clocked up 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 along the A30 to Huish Park, a 130-mile trip each direction.
During the matchday the first 90 Truro fans were treated to a £920 drinks tab, sponsored by 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.
Even their Canadian chair, Eric Perez, who appreciates long-distance travel as he frequently flies seven hours from Toronto to London, understands the challenge confronting the club he acquired in 2023 aiming to emulate Wrexham's success.
All this time on the road also brings advantages 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 – everybody spends time together, we are accustomed to journeying as a group.”
A committed Truro follower, John Joyce, is resigned to long days of travelling yet stays devoted, notwithstanding occasional flight issues and wearisome train treks. He estimates Saturday’s trip cost him around £400 in costs and missed income, remarking, “During my naval career with Nato, the drive from Brussels to Cornwall was shorter than from Cornwall to Gateshead.”
Reflecting on the situation, after their Carlisle odyssey: “Truro's uniqueness as a club is that the supporters get behind the team no matter what. I know last season we were very successful made it easy to back the squad, but from what I know the fans never even moan and they value the players' efforts.”
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