As anticipated, Banbury will appear in the North side of the Vanarama National League for the second year, making round trips totalling 5,993 miles – an increase from the 5,472 miles last season. This is an equivalent distance for a Puritan fan club pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia to watch former loan player Igor Coronado face Cristiano Ronaldo. Despite the increase in travel, the club will be visiting many familiar faces alongside meeting three new clubs for the first time in their history – Scunthorpe United, South Shields and Warrington Town.

With Blyth securing their league position on the final day of the season this sustains their status as the longest trip of the season with mileage totalling up to 516. Our first visit to Croft Park came in October 2022 as Giorgio Rasulo equalised from the spot to ensure the points were shared. However, unlike the 22/23 season Blyth won’t be our only visit to the Northeast this upcoming season as 16 miles south of the Spartans is newly-promoted South Shields. This will be the first meeting between the two sides.

Our shortest journey of the season sees the club travel to National League North mainstay Brackley Town, which is just 11 miles away. Last season's fixture on Boxing Day saw Henry Landers strike a fine long effort to level the game, sending the away end into raptures. This will only be our second league visit to Brackley Town in the past 12 seasons, despite the ground being a mere bus stop distance from Banbury.

The Puritans will have their first league meeting with ex-football league side Scunthorpe United where Banbury have a chance to put on a show in the Glanford Park, a stadium which boasts an impressive capacity of 9,088. This fixture serves to highlight the progress our club has made in the last decade: on the same weekend Banbury got relegated with a 5-0 defeat away to Corby Town at step 3 in April 2009, the Irons gained a precious point away at Leicester City in a 2-2 draw to help them secure promotion from League 1 to the Championship!

We are excited to be facing Warrington Town for the first time in our 92-year history, Warrington having been newly promoted after beating Bamber Bridge 1-0 in the playoff final of the Northern Premier League. Warrington Town provided the underdog story of FA Cup in 2014, where they beat league two Exeter City 1-0 live on BBC2 in the first-round proper. Furthermore, the club has a long-standing history, having been the starting point for England World Cup winner Roger Hunt, who scored 78 goals during his three-season stint with the Yellows and attracted the attention of Liverpool. As the Puritans embark on a 252-mile round trip to Cheshire, we look forward to our first encounter.

Overall, the total mileage of the away matches provides insight into the club's development and success since entering the National League North for the second season, allowing us to encounter familiar and new opposition.

*Distance is based on the recommended route on Google Maps from Banbury Plant Hire Community Stadium, Station Approach, Banbury, Oxfordshire, OX16 5AB.

Thank you to Alfie O'Sullivan for this article.