The staggering distances Argyle will have to travel next season

One of the challenges for any Plymouth Argyle boss is getting used to the long distance, time-consuming trips to away games, and it will be no different for new head coach Wayne Rooney.

While the Pilgrims’ squad might have the relative luxury of flying to some of the furthest afield fixtures, the Green Army will be on the motorways and A roads to support their team. Fans travelling there and back to Plymouth to all 23 Championship away games next season will clock up 11,884 miles – around the same total as last term – at an average of 516 per match.

That comes after Luton Town, Burnley and Sheffield United were relegated from the Premier League while Portsmouth, Derby County and Oxford United were promoted from League One.

Read More: Argyle announce pre-season schedule including Spain training camp

You can read more of our Argyle stories from Plymouth Live by clicking HERE

Argyle’s longest journey of the 2024/25 campaign will be the 804-mile round trip to play Sunderland at the Stadium of Light. While it is a mammoth undertaking to make for the Green Army, the 49,000-capacity venue is one undoubtedly of the best in the country, although the away allocation of seats are very high up in one of the stands.

The Pilgrims’ second-furthest trek next season will also be to the north-east of England, but it will be Teesside not Wearside the destination when they play Middlesbrough at the Riverside Stadium, which is 756 miles there and back to Plymouth.

Argyle recorded one of their only three away Championship wins last term when they went there and beat Boro 2-0 after first half goals from Matty Sorinola and Ryan Hardie.

Next up on the mileage chart for 2024/25 are the away games against Hull City and Norwich City, which both come to 680 miles, followed by Leeds United – who lost 1-0 in the Championship Play-Off Final to Southampton last month – at 640 miles.

Then come round trips in excess of 600 miles to a trio of Lancashire clubs – Burnley, Blackburn Rovers and Preston North End.

Only four of Argyle’s away Championship matches in 2024/25 will involve round trips of less than 400 miles. They include the games in Wales against Swansea City (378) and Cardiff City (304) and the journey to and from Fratton park to play League One champions Portsmouth (346).

As was the case last season, the Pilgrims’ ‘local derby’ will be against Bristol City, with the trip to Ashton Gate and back clocking up 238 miles.

Argyle had the support of 3,394 members of the travelling Green Army when they played there on a Tuesday night last September but there was little for them to cheer about as their side conceded two very early goals and were eventually beaten 4-1.

MILES TO ARGYLE’S CHAMPIONSHIP AWAY TRIPS IN 2024/25

804 – Sunderland

756 – Middlesbrough

680 – Hull City

680 – Norwich City

640 – Leeds United

628 – Burnley

614 – Blackburn Rovers

608 – Preston North End

590 – Sheffield Wednesday

572 – Sheffield United

508 – Derby County

484 – Millwall

480 – Stoke City

462 – Luton Town

442 – Coventry City

432 – Watford

424 – Queens Park Rangers

412 – Oxford United

402 – West Bromwich Albion

378 – Swansea City

346 – Portsmouth

304 – Cardiff City

238 – Bristol City

Total mileage: 11,884 (mileage calculated using AA Route Planner)