Blyth face 560-mile round trip to face Bulls for season opener

BLYTH Spartans manager Alun Armstrong, still looking to add to his squad, has questioned the wisdom of a mammoth opening day trip to Hereford.

The Bulls, promoted to the sixthtier after romping to the Evo-Stik Southern Premier League title, are the furthest club away from Blyth in National League North.

Armstrong’s men face a 560-mile round trip from Northumberland on August 4.

“I can’t believe we’re being asked to make our longest journey of the season on the opening day – where is the sense in that?” he said.

“The most northern club in the competition has been paired with the one furthest south. I just can’t see the logic in it.

“I’ll ask the chairman if we can stay overnight in a hotel before the game, but I don’t expect him to say yes due to the cost. The players will probably have to be up at 6am or earlier for a trip that will take around five and a half hours. We’ve got another game against Bradford (Park Avenue) on the Tuesday, which will also be tough, and we could have done without such a mammoth trip.

“Playing at Edgar Street in front of a big expectant crowd will be a good occasion, just one we’d rather not face on the first day of a long season.”

For Armstrong, whose side flirted with the play-offs last season before falling away, there is a silver lining.

“We have to go to Hereford at some stage, so at least we get our longest journey out of the way straight away. Other than that it’s madness.”