Long Trips

[andyg]

It always amuses me of the southern based (particularly London & south east fans) winging about the "long trip to Barrow". It's also reflected in the press reports - long trip to Cumbria etc etc..... It's never the reverse is it? Barrow or Gateshead or Hartlepool (or even Fylde) long trip to Leyton, Maidstone or Dover. Although originally from Lancashire I lived in Kent and SE London for twenty years before eventually moving back to Gods own country (NW England) and believe me getting to Kent via the M25 is a long way for anybody. And still having family down there I always expect a long trip to "isolated" Kent.

But will it ever change? Expect press releases about poor old Maidstone making the long trip north this weekend.

[Lancaster Branch]

London - The North is twice the distance of the reverse journey. Well, you’d think so when you listen to them whining about any form of travel beyond Zone 5 of the underground.


Southerners are just very insular breed when it comes to travel, unfortunately.

[Suffolk Blue]

The whinges regarding distance are as much to do with stereotyping us as opposition as they are genuine concerns about distance. I find that those who make them tend not to be the ones who actually travel.

Given the issues with Northern Rail you actually have to have a little sympathy for them and it doesn't do the club any good financially if away supporters are put off travelling. The other factor which, as someone who does the SE-NW and back journey once a month, is that the motorway conditions (specifically those on the M6 between junctions 15-19) are currently adding an average of 45 -60 mins to the length of the journey. As it happens I'm just about to feel this pain again this afternoon.

[Tommy]

Completely accept your point. In fairness to us southern softies, even our own players were unable to attend a home game because if the nightmare that is the M25. And the M20 is trying to compete for sheer awfulness. I know a village where people are queueing up half an hour to leave and return every day. When we hear public transport options may not be available near Barrow, a fair number will think why bother? I always try to applaud away fans from places like Gateshead. Not sure how many will be coming up.

[Wintergreen]

Completely accept your point. In fairness to us southern softies, even our own players were unable to attend a home game because if the nightmare that is the M25. And the M20 is trying to compete for sheer awfulness. I know a village where people are queueing up half an hour to leave and return every day. When we hear public transport options may not be available near Barrow, a fair number will think why bother? I always try to applaud away fans from places like Gateshead. Not sure how many will be coming up.

That's an interesting observation in your penultimate sentence their Tommy. When the attendance is announced at the FBBS in the last minute or two of a game it is usually then stated what the visitors numbers are. This is followed by a ripple of applause, but for whom I wonder? Is it to ourselves for turning up or for the visitors who have travelled to our fairly remote location to support their team?

[barrowaberdeen]

I like Maidstone except for the M25 on the way. Anyone who comes up (and I am expecting about 30 tops) fair play.

[andyg]

I too like Kent and as stated I have connections there. Always my second county after Lancs (I do not recognise Barrow as Cumbrian!!! ) In fact I lived in the Tonbridge area for a while and Maidstone were always considered their deadly rivals. However, Maidstone always seemed to be that bit better than Tonbridge. They were quite tasty derbies in the seventies and eighties as I recall.

Kudos to the Maidstone fans that do make it to the game but I hope you go home empty handed. However, hope they stay up.