Saturday 2nd September saw Banbury make the 474-mile round trip north to the 1st Cloud Arena for their first ever encounter against South Shields FC. Nevertheless, beyond the final score, a compelling narrative unfolded, spotlighting the resilience of two fans journey to the game as Liam Meadows and David Clarke fought off no coaches, train strikes, alongside not holding a driving license as they ingeniously devised an alternative method of transportation- opting for two planes and a metro to reach their destination.
Following the defeat on Bank Holiday Monday against Buxton and being informed there was no supporters coaches, the two fans sat in the clubhouse working out the most viable option to get to the game, which was sorted after a short deliberation, Birmingham to Newcastle Via Dublin. They secured return tickets for a cost of £57 and received assistance from Harry a fellow Puritan who offered them a ride to the airport, thus completing the final pieces of this rather unconventional travel arrangement.
On Friday, September 1st, after finishing their work shifts and setting off from Banbury just after 19:00, the epic journey from the banks of the River Cherwell to the shores of the Northeast coast began. Upon reaching Birmingham with only a backpack in tow, they boarded a plane inbound for Dublin. Unfortunately, they arrived in Dublin more than an hour behind schedule, around 2 am in the morning. This delay made visiting the city's downtown bars an impractical option, leading them to instead savour the essence of Dublin within the confines of the airport lobby, where they sampled the iconic Guinness. After sinking a few Irish coffees in the few hours in the capital it set them up for their next flight which was also delayed where both probably thought to themselves ‘Irish I had another Guinness’ as they waited for the plane to depart the EU back to the United Kingdom.
After a Marathon journey of 14 hours and 15 minutes since their departure from Banbury, they finally reached Newcastle at 9:30, where they wholeheartedly embraced the local culture of the Toon by sampling some of the area's cuisine; indulging in a meal from Greggs. After meandering through the city centre, they boarded the metro to make their way to the 1st Cloud Arena. Fortunately, they received some assistance from the former South Shields Kitman, who guided them in the right direction toward the stadium. Upon their arrival, fans from both teams showed their appreciation by applauding and admiring David and Liam's unwavering commitment. They were greeted with a warm and friendly welcome. This gesture of camaraderie was further reinforced by the Banbury United Chairman Ronnie Johnson, who expressed his gratitude to the pair for their incredible dedication by treating them to a drink each, acknowledging the loyal support and devotion they have shown for the club and making the mammoth away trip in unconventional style. The non-segregated nature of the game allowed South Shields to extend a warm welcome to the modest away following, resulting in the creation of a genuine non-league atmosphere. Fans from both sides engaged in discussions and acknowledged each other's presence, fostering a sense of camaraderie and shared appreciation for the love of non-league football.
The Mariners came out on top as they submarined Banbury to a hard-hitting 4-0 defeat, yet this did not dampen the pairs mood as after the full-time whistle, both clubs extended their invitations to allow them into the players’ lounge where they were offered food and drink thus highlighting the hospitality of the newly promoted club. Captain Lawson D’ath ushered his thanks to the plane goers as well as Banbury legend Jack Harding alongside a few other who stay behind in the lounge as endeared their thanks for the support they’ve shown. Not only did the players offer their thanks but South Shields supporters ensured they stayed behind and listened to the story and creating the two sets of fans having a picture Infront of the home teams flag embodying the spirit of the game.
The journey back home turned out to be quite eventful for the duo. Despite the multiple free drinks they received as a token of appreciation for their crazy dedication and limited sleep, fatigue eventually caught up with them. Upon arrival at Newcastle Airport, David inadvertently lost track of Liam. Despite numerous phone calls going unanswered and a period of over two hours passing, with the boarding gates open, the two remained separated. David had already checked in, and there was no sign of Liam. In a moment of apprehension, a Ryanair hostess approached David and asked, "Is Liam Meadows supposed to be traveling with you?" This question heightened the tension until Liam, who had awakened on a chair in a hotel lobby next to the airport with his phone charging on his lap, had to hastily make his way to the departure area. Hoping that this plane might be delayed like the previous two, Liam rushed through customs and departures to catch the 23:00 flight to Dublin, reuniting with David and ensuring they could continue their journey home together.
The final leg of their journey was rather uneventful, with the pair catching some catnaps in Dublin before boarding their last flight, making it a total of four flights in all, to arrive in Birmingham at 7:30. Fortunately, the trains were running smoothly at that point, ensuring they reached Banbury by 10:10 am on Sunday morning. This marathon trip, spanning a total of 40 hours has created memories of a lifetime and it was all their Local Side.
The remarkable journey of Liam Meadows and David Clarke will undoubtedly be etched into the history of loyal Puritan fans. However, it's worth noting that their dedication was not the only one on display. We would also like to extend our appreciation to Dan Bonson, who took a train and a National Express bus and spent two nights in Newcastle to support the club. Additionally, we express our gratitude to all the supporters who made the journey up north to cheer for the famous red and gold army and your unwavering support does not go unnoticed.
✈️UP THE PURITAN AIRWAYS✈️
WE ARE UNITED❤️💛
Thank you for reading
Spencer Reds