Threave Rovers face what is believed to be the longest journey in non-league Scottish football this weekend.
They will make the 450-mile round trip to the Kintyre peninsula to face Campbelltown Pupils in the West of Scotland League fourth division on Saturday.
Boss Vinnie Parker said: “We’re heading up the road on Friday and staying in Dumbarton. We’re travelling the rest of the distance on Saturday morning, then straight back down the road after the game.
“It’ll be some bus journey back but some of the best years of your life are spent in the back of a minibus so it should be a good laugh.
“I’ve been all over the Highlands in the Scottish Cup and all over the place in the Lowland League. These trips are good for team bonding and morale – and if you get a result it makes it even better.”
When the sides met earlier in the season in Castle Douglas, Threave ran out comfortable 4-0 winners. However, Parker is expecting a tougher encounter this weekend.
He said: “I’ve been keeping an eye on their scores and Kilsyth only narrowly beat them. Teams are just scraping by them.
“They were decent when they played us and I think we were in a good bit of form.
“I think, like every other team in the league, they’re stronger. It’s going to be tough and, looking at the scores, it looks like it’s a hard place to go.”
Threave go into their epic road trip on the back of a free weekend after their game against Glenvale was postponed due to the Meadow Park pitch being waterlogged. The players effectively had a day off as a result.
“There was no real point in bringing them in for training. Instead, they had to upload a 5k run from Strava onto the group chat or get a £5 fine. It was a decent way to get fitness in – or to get the fine kitty up a wee bit!”
