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For the players, staff, and travelling supporters from the Cornish outfit, the gruelling return journey of 914 miles to face Gateshead was a mixed blessing ultimately. The 12-hour bus journey starting in south-west Cornwall all the way up England’s spine to the north-east yielded one league point plus complimentary drinks.

The team tied their National League match two goals apiece at Gateshead International Stadium on Saturday having led 2-0 by the 54th minute, during what is becoming a campaign defined by long travels and tireless road trips up and down English A roads and motorways. After goals from Dominic Johnson-Fisher and Christian Oxlade-Chamberlain, Gateshead rebounded 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.” — John Askey

Earlier in the season Truro have made a trek to Carlisle for a 3-0 defeat covering 878 miles. Due to the team's remote location, even their nearest away game is at Yeovil Town, around a two-and-a-half-hour schlep via the A30 to Huish Park, 130 miles each way.

Galvanising Effect of Long Travels

On Saturday the initial 90 supporters 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, accustomed to long-haul trips since he regularly flies seven hours long-haul from Toronto to London, understands the challenge confronting the club he acquired in 2023 with ambitions of “doing a Wrexham”.

The extensive travel 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. “But what that does is galvanise our side even further – everybody spends time together, we are accustomed to journeying as a group.”

Dedicated Supporters Endure 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, “I worked for Nato in the last six years of my career in the navy, and it was a shorter drive from Brussels back to Cornwall than it is from Cornwall to Gateshead.”

Reflecting on the situation, following the Carlisle expedition: “The thing that makes Truro special as a club is that the supporters get behind the team regardless of circumstances. I know last season we were very successful so it was easy to get behind the players, but from what I know the fans never even moan and they appreciate what the players have done.”