600 came from Plymouth

[ecc]

Or there or thereabouts.

Looking at them made me realise what makes England a relative exception namely the number of people who travel away. It's true for the majority of clubs. You've got to be keen to travel that far midweek knowing statistically your team may well lose. And that's before the very considerable ticket/travel cost.

Respect to all people who travel to away matches irrespective of the club.

[Leisure]

It was 658 but I would guess that a fair chunk of those were northern based fans. Still a decent following for a midweek game Their supporters coaches set off at 10.30am, so probably a good 7/8 hour trip!

[colner]

Fair play to all that came up but it would have made more sense for us to play PNE on a Tuesday night [not ideal i know] and PAFC on the Saturday

[ecc]

Fair play to all that came up but it would have made more sense for us to play PNE on a Tuesday night [not ideal i know] and PAFC on the Saturday

Too simple that, colner.

[jollyjack]

They do a lot of miles over a season. Us, PNE, Rovers, Sheffield x 2, Hull, Boro, Sunlan, Norwich all crap journeys. When I lived and worked down there I would only consider coming up 3 or 4 times a season as it was a slog. Sunlan dont have as many teams in the south or southwest to visit so I would guess Argyle fans do the most in a season of away travel though I suppose its been worked out...

[NottsClaret]

All credit to them, must be hard work following Plymouth, it's a long trek to anywhere from there.

[DCWat]

I think I’m right in saying that their 3 closest games are Bristol, Cardiff and then Portsmouth. Nearest being well over 100 miles!

Isn’t our reverse fixture with them on a Wednesday night? Surely, they could arrange these long distance ones on a Saturday.

[Dark Cloud]

Fair play to all that came up but it would have made more sense for us to play PNE on a Tuesday night [not ideal i know] and PAFC on the Saturday

Absolutely this. Surely the "powers that be" could show a lot more understanding when fixtures are being set. I do accept that (as one Plymouth fan once said to me actually) "everywhere is a long way for us", but there's loads of nearer places than Burnley and to send them there on a Tuesday night was utterly ridiculous. We haven't hosted them in ages and they're very well supported and I guess they could have pretty much sold out their seats for a Saturday game. Their fans miss out and we lose money. I'd just stopped shaking my head about it when I remembered we're playing there on a Wednesday!!! Brilliant planning!! I was surprised they managed 600 on Tuesday, but fair play to them, it was a great effort.

[ecc]

First motorway is the M5, 45 miles away in Exeter.

[aggi]

I think I’m right in saying that their 3 closest games are Bristol, Cardiff and then Portsmouth. Nearest being well over 100 miles!

Isn’t our reverse fixture with them on a Wednesday night? Surely, they could arrange these long distance ones on a Saturday.

I think the theory is that they put them midweek when not as many fans would be going.

[distortiondave]

I thought the theory was that longer trips didn't need a hotel for the players as they can travel up the day of the game for a 7.45 kick off, but would have to stay over friday night for a 3pm saturday kick off.

[DCWat]

I think the theory is that they put them midweek when not as many fans would be going.

Theory schmeory!

[JR1882]

Top top effort that I was expecting 200ish max.

[Leisure]

I thought the theory was that longer trips didn't need a hotel for the players as they can travel up the day of the game for a 7.45 kick off, but would have to stay over friday night for a 3pm saturday kick off.

I'd be mighty surprised if we when play them down there we don't go the day before!

[Loyalclaret]

I was told years ago that clubs request the long distance games midweek like DD said.

Be interesting to see how many we take down there.

[Plissken]

I think I’m right in saying that their 3 closest games are Bristol, Cardiff and then Portsmouth. Nearest being well over 100 miles!

Isn’t our reverse fixture with them on a Wednesday night? Surely, they could arrange these long distance ones on a Saturday.

Because the clubs lose out on revenue.

Let's put some numbers in place. Let's make the assumption that a team will bring 25% fewer fans on a Tuesday than a Saturday. Reasonable assumption, right?

If Plymouth bring 600 on a Tuesday, that is 800 on a Saturday. 200 tickets difference.

For Preston, they will likely bring around 2,000 tomorrow. 25% off that is 1500. That's 500 tickets difference.

So you can see why they do it.

And that's assuming a straight 25% drop across all clubs. Preston fans might decide to come to the Turf on a whim. They had a good result midweek, it's a short trip, why not? Plymouth fans most certainly aren't going to decide on a Wednesday night to make the trip to Burnley on the Saturday.

Finally, the cost of putting a midweek game on is largely the same, or higher than for a Saturday. Revenue is not as high so saving some expense on staffing, stewarding and policing costs by having a smaller away attendance offsets some of those expenses.

[IanMcL]

It was 658 but I would guess that a fair chunk of those were northern based fans. Still a decent following for a midweek game Their supporters coaches set off at 10.30am, so probably a good 7/8 hour trip!

More the 'First season back and playing top club' syndrome. They are keen down there.

[bfcmik]

Fact is that Plymouth have to play 23 home games and 23 away games over the season. All involve supporters travelling a long way. For Plymouth fans the difference between, say, a 5.5 hour journey to Stoke is not that different to a 6.5 hour journey to Burnley, for evening kick-offs they still have to leave at an inconvenient time during the early afternoon and don't get back until silly o'clock in the early morning.

For our return visit, it is just 30 miles further than travelling to Brighton, same sort of roads too, motorways and dual carriageways all the way. Probably a similar journey time with no M25 to slow things down!