Promoted Braintree Town set for long road trips

Liam Carr (left) says supporting a football team allows him to visit places across the country

Fans of a football club are preparing for a season of long journeys as their recently promoted side starts its new campaign this weekend.

Braintree Town supporter Liam Carr, 21, said he was looking forward to visiting new places in the name of football.

The club won promotion last season to the National League and their first match in the fifth tier is away at Oldham Athletic - 220 miles (354km) from Braintree - on Saturday.

Mr Carr said: "I'll be going, I am a bit mad for doing it, but that's what we do for our football team."

The Braintree Town fan says he has supported the club for the past 10 years

Last season, Braintree Town only played teams in the south of England but now players and fans will be travelling as far as Gateshead near Newcastle.

The club, nicknamed The Iron, attracted an average crowd of about 800 last season.

Mr Carr, a supporter of the club for the past 10 years, lives in Braintree and will travel to Oldham for the team's first away game.

He said: "[I am] looking forward to it, [we] get to visit a few different places, and you get to support your team while you're doing it and get a few beers with your mates as well.

"Usually, I get the train or they run us a supporters' coach."

Some fans could rack up to 6,550 miles on the road this season.

"It's just going to different places, there are some places I wouldn't hurry back [to]," Mr Carr added.

"I prefer watching the lower league because I feel like I'm a little more part of it."

Although there are some very long away trips, The Iron can also look forward to an Essex derby against Southend United in April - a mere 32 miles (51km) away.

A selection of Braintree Town's longest away trips

• Gateshead: 269 miles (432km)

• AFC Fylde: 253 miles (407km)

• Hartlepool United: 251 miles (403km),

• Oldham Athletic: 220 miles (354km),

• Rochdale: 216 miles (347km)

• Altrincham: 210 miles (337km)

• York City: 201 miles (323km)

• Halifax Town: 200 miles (321km)

• Yeovil Town: 188 miles (302km)

• Forest Green Rovers: 165 miles (265km)