Bluebirds supporters face a mammoth commitment to get behind their boys in the 2017/18 campaign – travelling the equivalent distance of a trip to San Diego, California, and back.
The loss of northern sides Southport, York City and North Ferriby United to National League North has hit the Bluebirds, while journeys to Football League-bound Lincoln City and Forest Green were far from the longest they encountered last season.
While AFC Fylde’s promotion means their shortest trip next year is now just 72 miles each way – one of only two trips of fewer than 100 miles, along with Guiseley – and Hartlepool and FC Halifax Town offer trips of 125 and 121 miles respectively, other newcomers to the division are much further afield.
Only Braintree Town of the sides relegated or promoted from the National League offered a one-way trip of more than 300 miles (309 to be exact from stadium to stadium), but both Ebbsfleet United (313 miles) and Leyton Orient (303 miles) will break that barrier next term. Maidenhead United (274 miles) are hardly close to South Cumbria either.
The longest outing of the season remains the 367 miles to Dover Athletic, just ahead of the 346 miles to Torquay and the 343 to Maidstone United. In total, 10 stadia are more than 300 miles from Holker Street – 11 if you were to get a little lost on the 297-mile adventure to Woking.
All added up, it makes for 10,576 of travelling from door to door for supporters making the journey from Holker Street to every away league game, an average of 460 miles for each match.
That would be some commitment, but spare a thought for the supporters of Gateshead. Their total travelling distance is 10,802 miles – or 470 miles per match – throughout the season. By comparison, the Bluebirds may have it easy.
DOOR-TO-DOOR DISTANCES (BY ROAD, IN MILES) FROM BARROW AFC TO OTHER NATIONAL LEAGUE GROUNDS
AFC Fylde 72
Aldershot Town 307
Boreham Wood 274
Bromley 327
Chester FC 126
Dagenham and Redbridge 308
Dover Athletic 367
Eastleigh 309
Ebbsfleet United 313
Gateshead 134
Guiseley 86
Hartlepool United 125
FC Halifax Town 121
Leyton Orient 303
Macclesfield Town 118
Maidenhead United 274
Maidstone United 343
Solihull Moors 186
Sutton United 310
Torquay United 346
Tranmere Rovers 107
Woking 297
Wrexham 135
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