No matter who you support, every football fan loves an away trip!
The travelling, the service stations, the toilet breaks, getting lost, finally getting to your destination, the anticipation as you’re queuing to get in, the programmes, the 50-50 draw, the smell of the food cooking in a nearby van, the teams warming up, the chat about the price of a pint, the debate of where to sit or stand in the ground, the teams finally coming out on to the field of play after an age of listening to crap music over the PA system, the songs from both sets of supporters, the bad referee decisions, the winning, the drawing and the losing… WE LOVE IT!
❤️🖤
Here’s my list of Truro City away days (outside of Cornwall)…
1 – Weymouth D 1-1 (1 Jan 2015) 146 miles
2 – Forest Green Rovers D 1-1 (10 Dec 2016) 194 miles
3 – Poole Town L 0-2 (21 Mar 2017) 168 miles
4 – Charlton Athletic L 1-3 (5 Nov 2017) 297 miles
5 – Hemel Hempstead Town D 1-1 (13 Apr 2019) 267 miles
6 – Chesham United L 1-3 (4 Dec 2021) 264 miles
7 – Dorchester Town D 1-1 (25 Jan 2022) 143 miles
8 – Tiverton Town L 1-2 (12 Feb 2022) 113 miles
9 – Gosport Borough D 1-1 (19 Feb 2022) 217 miles
10 – Beaconsfield Town W 2-1 (23 Apr 2022) 267 miles
11 – Hanwell Town W 3-1 (6 Aug 2022) 278 miles
12 – Merthyr Town L 2-5 (3 Sep 2022) 215 miles
13 – Yate Town W 2-1 (27 Sep 2022) 176 miles
14 – Hayes & Yeading United W 4-3 (22 Oct 2022) 271 miles
15 – Swindon Supermarine L 2-3 (25 Feb 2023) 205 miles
16 – North Leigh W 2-1 (22 Apr 2023) 231 miles
17 – Bracknell Town W 3-2 (1 May 2023) 236 miles
18 – Bideford D 1-1 (21 Jul 2023) 77 miles
19 – Yeovil Town L 1-2 (15 Aug 2023) 137 miles
20 – Hungerford Town L 0-2 (18 Nov 2023) 223 miles
21 – Weston-Super-Mare W 3-2 (16 Dec 2023) 150 miles
22 – Bath City L 1-2 (20 Feb 2024) 168 miles
❤️🖤
P-22 W-7 D-6 L-9 F-34 A-41
❤️🖤
1 – Bob Lucas Stadium, Weymouth – Thursday 1st January 2015 – Southern League Premier – D 1-1 (Farkins 36)
On a bitterly cold New Year’s Day, former City legend Stewart Yetton rescued a point for Weymouth after Rob Farkins had put City in front.
Transport – Minibus
Programme – £2
❤️🖤
2 – The New Lawn Stadium, Forest Green Rovers – Saturday 10th December 2016 – FA Trophy 1st Round – D 1-1 (Neal 73)
Andrew ‘Rocky’ Neal earned City a replay in the fog at vegan loving Forest Green Rovers in the FA Trophy. I was one of 53 Truro City fans to attend FGR and only 9 of us got on the minibus at Treyew Road.
Transport – Minibus
Attendance – 626 (53 Truro fans)
Travel Buddies – Ron Ratchford, Dave Silvester, Barry Milligan, Dave Redhead and 4 others
❤️🖤
3 – Black Gold Stadium, Poole Town – Tuesday 21st March 2017 – National League South – L 0-2
A forgettable night in Poole where the highlight of the evening was drinking San Miguel in their shed on a school hall style table.
Transport – Car
Programme – £2
Travel Buddies – Russell Keeble, John Paul Creba and 2 others
❤️🖤
4 – The Valley, Charlton Athletic – Sunday 5th November 2017 – FA Cup 1st Round – L 1-3 (Harvey 59)
Two nil down and up pops Tyler Harvey with a headed goal to reduce the deficit to a single goal but while we were going for an equaliser, Charlton score the killer third goal.
Nearly a 600 mile round trip… was it worth it? Course it was!!
Transport – Coach
Programme – £2
Attendance – 4,494 (996 Truro fans)
Travel Buddies – Nicola Webb and every other Tom, Dick and Harry who decided they were Truro City supporters that day!
❤️🖤
5 – Vauxhall Road, Hemel Hempstead Town – Saturday 13th April 2019 – National League South – D 1-1 (Lewington 89)
Truro got their equaliser after bringing on substitute Brandon Diau, who was fouled just outside the area, Connor Riley-Lowe sent in a pinpoint free kick which was met by the head of Jared Lewington in the dying seconds.
Transport – Minibus
Admission – £14
Programme – £2
Fosters – £3.50
Estrella Damn – £3.75
Attendance – 436
Travel Buddies – Arthur Parsons, Barry Milligan, Ron Ratchford, Andrew Nelson, Cameron Weldon, Callum Sobey, Josh Miller, Chris Green, Alan Wilton, Adam Carpenter and Jordan Pettitt
❤️🖤
6 – The Meadow, Chesham United – Saturday 4th December 2021 – Southern League Premier South – L 1-3 (Harvey 83)
We were never in this game after conceding two penalties and three goals in the first half to our bogey side Chesham, highlight for me (apart from Tyler’s consolation) was the hotdog… superb!
Transport – Car
Admission – £10
Programme – £2
Hot Dog – £3.50
Attendance – 429
Travel Buddies – Arthur Parsons, Ron Ratchford, Alan Wilton and Derek Walker
❤️🖤
7 – Avenue Stadium, Dorchester Town – Tuesday 25th January 2022 – Southern League Premier South – D 1-1 (Harvey 59)
City conceded a 90 + 3rd minute equaliser after Tyler Harvey had put them one nil up midway through the second half… I was absolutely gutted!!
Transport – Car
Admission – £11
Programme – None Available (Online only)
Hotdog & Chips – £4.50
Cheeseburger – £4
Attendance – 236
Travel Buddy – Mark Beverley
❤️🖤
8 – The Ian Moorcroft Stadium, Tiverton Town – Saturday 12th February 2022 – Southern Premier League South – L 1-2 (Riley-Lowe 63)
The streak continues where I haven’t seen City win outside of Cornwall thanks to former Truro player Austen Booth scoring the winner 20 minutes from time! Not even our ‘lucky mascot’ Treeve could break the streak on what was our shortest away trip of the season!!
Transport – Car (9 seater)
Admission – £12
Programme – £2.50
Tribute – £3.60
Cheeseburger & chips – £5.50
Sausage Roll – £1.50
Attendance – 350
Travel Buddies – Mark Beverley, Arthur Parsons, Barry Milligan, Derek Walker, Ron Ratchford, Sam Jose, Stephen Jose and Chris Baines
❤️🖤
9 – Privett Park, Gosport Borough – Saturday 19th February 2022 – Southern Premier League South – D 1-1 (Harvey 22)
Tyler Harvey scored an unstoppable free-kick in the 22nd minute to put City 1-0 up but Truro being Truro, conceded a goal down the other end before the main man Tyler missed an open goal after a dodgy kick from Gosport’s ‘keeper to keep me waiting on an away win for City to nine games and counting…
Transport – Car (9 seater)
Admission – FREE
Programme – £2
Amstel – £4
Cheeseburger & chips – £3.50
Attendance – 543
Travel Buddies – Mark Beverley, Arthur Parsons, Ron Ratchford, Adam Carpenter and Chris Baines
❤️🖤
10 – Holloways Park, Beaconsfield Town – Saturday 23rd April 2022 – Southern Premier League South – W 2-1 (Neal 28 pen, Battle 78)
Finally after 7 years and thousands of miles travelled to and fro, I finally saw a Truro City Football Club away win outside of the County! The streak is over and the curse has been lifted, roll on next season…
Andrew ‘Rocky’ Neal cooly slotted home a penalty in the first half to give City the lead, early in the second half he looked to have doubled our advantage but between the ref and the lino, they disallowed it for offside! Then we conceded an easy goal on the hour mark to make things even more jittery, but with 12 minutes to go, Alex Battle hit an unstoppable shot past the keeper to restore our lead and gave us a nice little win to round off the season.
Transport – Car (9 seater)
Admission – £10
Programme – FREE
Thatcher’s Gold – £4
Travel Buddies – Mark Beverley, Ron Ratchford, Arthur Parsons, Derek Walker, Chris Baines, Adam Carpenter and Alan Wilton
❤️🖤
11 – Powerday Stadium, Hanwell Town – Saturday 6th August 2022 – Southern League Premier South – W 3-1 (Dean 4, Harvey 44, Adelsbury 55)
The first game of the 2022/2023 season and we comfortably beat newcomers to the league Hanwell Town 3-1 with goals from Will Dean, Tyler Harvey and Ben Adelsbury. Tyler’s goal was absolutely bloody fantastic as he beat two defenders and coolly placed the ball past the keeper into the bottom left corner.
Transport – Car (9 seater)
Admission – £13
Programme – £2
Bud Light – £3.50
Travel Buddies – Mark Beverley, Arthur Parsons, Ron Ratchford, Alan Wilton, Derek Walker, Adam Carpenter & Chris Baines
❤️🖤
12 – Penydarren Park, Merthyr Town – Saturday 3rd September 2022 – FA Cup 1st Qualifying Round – L 2-5 (Okoro 42, Sullivan 44)
Travelled over 200 miles for my first trip to Wales, got to the bar and they don’t sell any Welsh beer! So I ended up having an Atlantic IPA all the way from sunny Cornwall. Truro led Merthyr 2-1 at half-time but collapsed spectacularly in the second half to be dumped out of the FA Cup.
Transport – Car (9 seater)
Admission – £12
Programme – £2
Atlantic IPA – £3.50
Thatcher’s Gold – £3.50
Thatcher’s Haze – £3.50
Travel Buddies – Mark Beverley, Barry Milligan, Derek Walker, Alan Wilton, Adam Carpenter & Chris Baines
❤️🖤
13 – Yate Town – Tuesday 27th September 2022 – Southern League Premier South – W 2-1 (Harvey, Brett 90 +3)
By far the worst ground I’ve been to at this level of football, it’s a really basic, outdated and run-down ground but their support was brilliant considering they were 19th in the table before we played them. Yate went ahead against the run of play in the 9th minute but after 16 minutes, we drew level from our talisman Tyler Harvey. We should have been 2-1 up at the break but Ollie Knowles and Andrew Neal got in each other’s way for a header at the back post, but Yate could’ve been in front too if it wasn’t for their poor finishing in front of goal. There were chances for both sides in the second half before our 93rd minute winner from Ryan Brett sealed the win and made the journey worthwhile. If Yate keep playing like they did against us, then I’ve no doubt that they’ll beat the drop at the end of this season.
Transport – Car
Admission – £10
Programme – £1.50
Pork & Stuffing Bap – £5
Burger – £4
Travel Buddies – Shane Hendra & Paul Collings
❤️🖤
14 – The SkyEx Community Stadium, Hayes & Yeading United – Saturday 22nd October 2022 – Southern League Premier South – W 4-3 (Harvey 28, 79 pen, Sullivan 30, Porter 72)
Football’s a funny old game, we weren’t at the races in the first 20-25 minutes of this match and found ourselves two nil down a little over 15 minutes gone to a Hayes & Yeading side who looked well up for the fight! But two goals in as many minutes brought us level, a free-kick from Tyler Harvey right on the edge of the area had me purring all the way home to Truro and an easy tap-in for Dan Sullivan to open his league account this season had us all square at the changeover. Not even ten minutes of the second half had gone when we conceded for the third time, but super sub and debut boy Adam Porter drilled home the equaliser to set up a tense finale. Rocky Neal was bundled over in the box with 11 minutes remaining, the ice man Tyler Harvey did the honours and sent the keeper the wrong way to give City all three points and took our unbeaten league start to 12 games and counting…
Transport – Car (9 seater)
Admission – £10
Programme – £2.50
Bacon & Cheese Burger – £4
Travel Buddies – Arthur Parsons, Barry Milligan, Ron Ratchford, Alan Wilton, Adam Carpenter & Chris Baines
❤️🖤
15 – Webbswood Stadium, Swindon Supermarine – Saturday 25th February 2023 – Southern League Premier South – L 2-3 (Harvey 66, En-Neyah 68)
We gifted Supermarine an early goal in each half then fought back to 2-2 through Tyler Harvey and debut boy Yassin En-Neyah only for us to gift Swindon a third goal 12 minutes from time.
Transport – Car (9 seater)
Admission – £11
Programme – £2.50
Hurricane Amber Ale – £4
Strongbow – £4
Hot Dog – £3
Travel Buddies – Mark Beverley, Barry Milligan, Ron Ratchford, Claire Pellow, Adam Carpenter, Alan Wilton & Arthur Parsons
❤️🖤
16 – Eynsham Park, North Leigh – Saturday 22nd April 2023 – Southern League Premier South – W 2-1 (Neal 2, Sullivan 49)
As we entered North Leigh’s ground, I couldn’t believe how basic it was and how much the pitch sloped! First half, we attacked down hill and I was expecting a glut of goals especially after Rocky Neal opened the scoring after just two minutes, but it wasn’t to be. North Leigh equalised but early in the second half Dan Sullivan restored our lead and that remained the score as Truro City finished the league campaign in a respectable third place.
Transport – Car (9 seater)
Admission – £5
Programme – £2
Guinness – £4
Travel Buddies – Mark Beverley, Arthur Parsons, Ron Ratchford, Alan Wilton, Adam Carpenter & Chris Baines
❤️🖤
17 – Bottom Meadow, Sandhurst, Bracknell Town – Monday 1st May 2023 – Southern League Premier South Play-Off Final – W 3-2 (Harvey 45, Neal 58, Riley-Lowe 90 + 4)
What a day!! I missed the first goal scored by Tyler Harvey as I was in the portaloo having a pee! Captain Fantastic Connor Riley-Lowe grabbed an injury time winner at the far post and injuring himself in doing so, as City beat second-placed Bracknell Town 3-2 in the play-off final at their place and won promotion to the National League South next season.
Transport – Car
Admission – £12
Strongbow Dark Fruits (Can) – £2.50
Attendance – 1,554
Travel Buddies – Shane Hendra & Alfie Morris
See also ‘2023 Play-Offs’
❤️🖤
18 – The Sports Ground, Bideford – Friday 21st July 2023 – Pre-Season Friendly – D 1-1 (Neal 66)
Transport – Car
Attendance – 170
Travel Buddy – Shane Hendra
❤️🖤
19 – Huish Park, Yeovil Town – Tuesday 15th August 2023 – National League South – L 1-2 (Neal 55)
For about 85 minutes little Truro City had mighty Yeovil Town on the ropes! Then a misplaced pass by Ed Palmer – who was having a cracking game until this error – gave Yeovil possession and they made City pay for it with an equalising goal and then to rub salt in the wound, they went on to get the winner.
Transport – Car
Admission – £14
Attendance – 3,315
Travel Buddies – Graham Hamshaw, Shane Hendra & Alfie Morris
❤️🖤
20 – Bulpit Lane, Hungerford Town – Saturday 18th November 2023 – FA Trophy 2nd Round – L 0-2
Transport – Car (9 seater)
The Bulpit Beast & Chips – £8.50
Travel Buddies – Mark Beverley, Ron Ratchford, Arthur Parsons, Adam Carpenter, Alan Wilton & Adam Wolczuk
❤️🖤
21 – Woodspring Stadium, Weston-Super-Mare – Saturday 16th December 2023 – National League South – W 3-2 (Dean 52, Greenslade 56, Law 64)
Transport – Car (9 seater)
Admission – £14
Attendance – 764
Travel Buddies – Mark Beverley, Barry Milligan & Adam Carpenter
❤️🖤
22 – Twerton Park, Bath City – Tuesday 20th February 2024 – National League South – L 1-2 (Riley-Lowe 90)
For a big non-league club like Bath City, their ground is seriously outdated! On first glance the pitch looked immaculate but on further inspection it looked like there was a huge swell going on (surfing reference) in the goalmouth at the bottom end. The clubhouse was outside the ground and once I was in, the lady on the turnstiles said I couldn’t really go out and that their pop up bar would open in a minute, so I waited patiently for that, only to find out they only sell cans! The toilets were absolutely disgusting, wading through hundereds of peoples piss before pissing against a black wall with no urinal cakes to take away any smell!
The game itself was poor from a Truro City point of view and we opened very sluggishly. Attack after attack on our goal was the norm for Bath but to no luck, then a Bath player possibly Tom Daley, “dived” in the box and looked at the ref as he was falling “won” a penalty and former TCFC player Cody Cooke put Bath in front, we then had a chance through Tyler Harvey to equalise but his head didn’t connect with the ball. We didn’t really get going til around the 70th minute which was a great shame for the travelling support. Good to see Captain Connor Riley-Lowe get off the mark for the season but it was a case of too little, too late!
Transport – Car (9 seater)
Admission – £16
Programme – £3
Tribute (can) – £4.50 + £1 reusable cup
Guinness (can) – £4.50 + £1 reusable cup
Attendance – 1,051
Travel Buddies – Mark Beverley, Arthur Parsons, Ron Ratchford, Berwyn Finlay, Adam Carpenter & Chris Baines
❤️🖤
TCFC 1889 