Plymouth Argyle fans on 800-mile odyssey for FA Cup clash

Even they couldn't agree whether they were very keen or just a bit crazy. Sixty hardy fans of Plymouth Argyle FC were dodging blizzards and motorway chaos today during an 800-mile round trip to watch their team take on Newcastle United in the FA Cup. The gruelling journey was expected to take around 24 hours and cost a good few of them two days' work. What's more, there was no guarantee they would make it through the snow ‑ and there was a chance the match could be called off. And if they did get there, and the game did go ahead, most expect to see their beloved team lose. "Why do we do it? I can't really answer that," said Bryan Holden, a 41-year-old forklift truck driver. "I know lots of people must think we are mad but we love our team. That's what this trip is all about." Holden's trip began even earlier than the rest, as he had to journey up from Cornwall to Devon to meet the coach. "I know it's pretty stupid," he said. Chances of winning? "Pretty slim." The Guardian caught up with the two official coaches at Strensham services, in Worcestershire, four hours into their odyssey. The younger fans (some had taken a sneaky day off school) were throwing snowballs in the car park. One very young lad was building a snowman. A few miles away in the Malvern hills there were 6ft snowdrifts. Eighty-two-year-old Peter Hall preferred to smoke his pipe under a canopy at the entrance to the service station. Hall worked for the club for almost 40 years, is now vice-president and travels to every away game possible. "I'll hopefully be having a doze on the way back. It's nice and comfortable and warm on the coach." Friends Doreen and Moira said they went "everywhere" with the team, which wisely travelled by plane. Doreen said: "This is the most snow we've seen on a trip. As long as we can get there and the game is played it'll be worthwhile." They had paid £45 for the coach fare, £15 for their match tickets and had to find the money for meals and drinks on the way, as well as standing to lose two days' wages. Some will be a few hundred pounds out of pocket. Another supporter, Mark Havard, said: "We won't be very happy if the match is called off." He sighed when asked why he did it. "Good question. I've followed Argyle since I was five and go to every game. You just keep going. I may be a bit mad, I don't know." With that the lads at the back launched into a rendition of In Plymouth's Fair City and the coach rolled onward.