Long distance fury (From Kidderminster Shuttle)

Long distance fury

4:59pm Wednesday 19th May 2010

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Stourport Swifts and their dedicated fans are set for another season of gruelling travel after they were moved to the Southern League Division One South and West.

Swifts have been switched from the Midlands Division, which has been rebranded the Central Division, to tackle sides on the south coast in the 2010-11 campaign by the FA’s leagues committee.

This means even more travelling for Swifts, who had already endured lengthy trips last season.

The club will cover 4,318 miles over the course of the season, with dedicated supporters who follow the club home and away set to average 206 miles per game for each round trip. The league reshuffle saw Sutton Coldfield Town and Romulus moved to the UniBond League Southern Division.

While Bromsgrove Rovers will provide a lone a familiar face, Swifts will also be have matches against Gloucestershire and Somerset sides such as Clevedon Town, Mangotsfield, Bishops Cleeve and Cinderford.

However, manager Richard Colwell and his troops face marathon trips to Southampton-based VT FC and AFC Totton, with the longest journey a 350 mile round trip to Bideford.

The extra travelling is set to have a massive impact on travel costs and the number of fans attending matches.

Chairman Chris Reynolds said: “I just think this is totally crazy.

“We’ve been moved again without any consultation and put in a league where the travelling is going to cost us more money.

“Teams like Clevedon, Bishops Cleve and Mangotsfield aren’t too bad but if you're travelling to somewhere like VT FC in Southampton on a Tuesday night it’s almost not worth the trip.”

Reynolds is set to write a letter of complaint to the FA and Southern League chief expressing his concern to the move.

Meanwhile, new manager Richard Colwell is hoping to secure his assistant in the next few weeks.

Southern League South and West Division 2010-11: Abingdon United; AFC Totton; Almondsbury Town; Andover; Bideford; Bishops Cleeve; Bridgwater Town; Bromsgrove Rovers; Cinderford Town; Clevedon Town; Frome Town; Gosport Borough; Hungerford Town; Mangotsfield United; North Leigh; Paulton Rovers; Stourport Swifts; Taunton Town; Thatcham Town; Wimborne Town; VT FC; Yate Town; AFC Totton; Andover; Gosport Borough; VT FC.

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