Newport County face long trips in 2023/24 League Two 'North'

The Exiles are braced for another testing campaign on the road in 2023/24 and already know 22 of their 23 opponents, with the fixtures announced at 9am on Thursday, June 22.

Stockport County and Carlisle United clash in the play-off final at Wembley on Sunday (kick-off 1.30pm) for the right to go up against the likes of former Premier League clubs Derby, Bolton and Reading in League One.

One more northern side is sure to stay in the fourth tier with the Exiles at least having the consolation of the return of a Gloucestershire trip courtesy of Forest Green Rovers’ relegation.

They drop down from League One along with MK Dons, Morecambe and Accrington Stanley, swapping places with Leyton Orient, Stevenage, Northampton and Stockport/Carlisle.

Rochdale and Hartlepool have gone down to the National League and have been replaced by Wrexham and Notts County, two potentially attractive trips for the Amber Army.

County have just two trips that can be considered short – Forest Green Rovers and Swindon.

Last season they racked up 8,277 miles travelling to and from League Two games (a figure that was actually higher due to the late postponement of the Hartlepool game when they were already on the road).

The tally for 2023/24 will be 7,839 miles if Carlisle remain in the fourth tier and 7,621 miles if it’s Stockport who have Wembley woe.

League Two's teams for 2023/24 ahead of the play-off final (Image: the92bible)

RETURN DISTANCE
(Calculated on Google maps, quickest suggested route)
Forest Green - 92
Swindon – 119
Walsall – 196
Wrexham – 252
MK Dons – 252
AFC Wimbledon – 274
Sutton – 280
Crewe – 288
Tranmere – 310
Stevenage – 314
Crawley – 314
Mansfield – 322
Salford – 362
Gillingham – 364
Doncaster – 376
Accrington – 414
Colchester – 422
Bradford – 432
Morecambe – 444
Harrogate – 454
Grimsby – 474
Barrow – 522
TOTAL SO FAR: 7,277

Stockport – 344
Carlisle – 562