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One of the features of modern football is fans travelling up and down the motorway network to reach games. This has boosted away attendances. Fifty years ago going to an away game either meant a trip or on a special train or a long trip (sometimes overnight) on an unheated coach. However, the ability of fans to travel away is increasingly threatened by rising fuel prices, although no doubt the really keen ones will find the money somehow or switch to trundling coaches. Deferring the 2p increase in petrol prices only gives temporary and marginal respite. For some clubs even transporting the team is a major expense. The problem is particularly serious in the Scottish Highlands were fuel is more expensive and the travelling distances greater. Highland League outfit Wick Academy are the the tip of Scotland and on average the team bus travels around 4,000 miles a year. The longest journey is to Cove, south of Aberdeen, which involves a round trip of 418 miles involving 10 hours on the road. In 2001, Threave Rovers from Dumfries had to make a round trip of 702 miles to play Wick. Supporters of SPL side Inverness Caledonian Thistle face a 372 mile round trip if they fancy the match at Kilmarnock.
In England we used to have a third division north and south. Now even the Conference is not divided on regional lines and at Step 2 of the non-league, Midlands teams in Conference North and South can face some long trips. Would bringing back regional leagues reduce costs for fans, boost attendances and be environmentally friendly? Or would it reduce the interest of the competition and hit attendances because fewer teams would be in with a chance of being promoted and relegated?
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