Truro City are set to make history this weekend with what will be the longest away trip in English football. The Cornish club will travel 914 miles to Gateshead, a journey longer than a round trip from London to Paris. This trip marks a milestone for the National League’s newest club, which won promotion from National League South last season, reaching the fifth tier of English football for the first time in their history.
The journey to Gateshead will be a mammoth 10 to 12 hours by bus, with a stop for a training session at Championship side Derby County. Tinners captain Connor Riley-Lowe expressed his excitement, saying that despite the long hours on the road, the trip is just more time on the bus for a team used to travelling. Truro City’s location in the far southwest means even their nearest away fixtures, such as Yeovil Town, require at least a three-hour journey. Manager John Askey said the trip to Gateshead is exceptional, highlighting that visiting teams typically fly in and stay over, while Truro have to make the journey by coach.
Canadian chairman Eric Perez drew parallels with the distances in his home country, saying that a trip across parts of Canada would be far longer than the journey to Gateshead. He joked that if the King could travel similar distances in Canada, Truro City could manage their record-breaking journey. Perez emphasized that such trips strengthen the team’s cohesion, giving players more time together while travelling.
Truro’s long travels have become easier now that the team is fully professional. Former PE teacher Riley-Lowe recalled that when the club was part-time, players would work full days before travelling to matches, often arriving late at night. This year, with full-time status, travelling during the day has made such trips more manageable.
The record-breaking 914-mile trip to Gateshead tops a list of Truro City’s longest journeys. Other lengthy trips include Carlisle United at 878 miles, Hartlepool United at 874 miles, York City at 798 miles, and Morecambe at 758 miles. The list highlights the unique challenges faced by Cornwall’s only professional football club in the National League.
Eric Perez and his Ontario Inc consortium took over Truro City in November 2023 and immediately oversaw a National League South title in their first full season. Under their ownership, Truro became Cornwall’s first fully professional football club, following a model similar to Wrexham, which is co-owned by Canadian actor Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney. Perez believes Truro’s potential impact on the county could be even greater than Wrexham’s rise, citing the uniqueness of having only one club in Cornwall within reach of the Football League.
Alongside the full-time transition, Truro City has expanded their new stadium on the outskirts of the city. The ground, which will host the club’s first-ever fifth-tier home game against York City, has undergone extensive renovations including new stands and improved facilities to meet National League standards. The club currently plays at Plymouth Parkway’s Bolitho Park while construction continues. Perez described the offseason as hectic but necessary to prepare the club for its debut season at a higher level.
The club’s rise has attracted attention from all over, including well-wishers such as the Prince of Wales, who wrote to the club to offer his best wishes for the new season. Perez is realistic about the team’s ambitions, stating that consolidating Truro City’s place in the National League is the immediate goal, with potential for further promotion in the future.
Truro City’s purchase also has broader implications for local sports. Previously owned by Kernow Sport, which also ran Cornish Pirates rugby union, the club benefits from a dedicated focus on football. Plans for the larger Stadium for Cornwall, once intended to serve both rugby and football, have been shelved, allowing Truro City to prioritize their professional football operations. Perez said the new setup is a unique business opportunity, as the club enjoys a wide catchment area in Cornwall with limited competition in the top six tiers.
While Cornish Pirates have had to adjust their stadium ambitions, the rugby club remains financially secure and continues to compete at a high level. Paul Durkin, chairman of the Pirates, confirmed that despite setbacks, the club has a loyal fan base and remains a key part of Cornwall’s sporting landscape.
Truro City’s historic journey to Gateshead and their transition to full-time professional status reflects both the challenges and opportunities of football in Cornwall. With ambitious ownership, a new stadium in development, and a dedicated squad, the Tinners are charting a path that could redefine the sporting culture of the county. This weekend’s record-breaking 914-mile trip is not just a logistical challenge but a symbol of Truro City’s rise in English football, a journey that could inspire generations of players and fans across Cornwall.
