THERE'S A LONG TRAIL A'WINDING! ON THE ROAD WITH THE SKY BLUE ARMY The facts and figures of League One life: 5,000 miles, 95 hours and pounds 900 of petrol.

Byline: Alan Poole

COVENTRY City were last in the third tier of English football - or Division Three as we called it in those endearingly straightforward days - in the 1963/64 season when a final-day win against Colchester saw Jimmy Hill's newly-garbed Sky Blues clinch the title on goal difference.

All but half a century on, Coventry and Colchester are two of eight clubs from that season who will lock horns again in 2012/13 alongside Bournemouth, Oldham, Shrewsbury, Walsall, Crewe and Notts County. Of the others Queens Park Rangers and newly-promoted Reading will operate in the Premier League while, at the other extreme, Luton Town face a fifth term in the Conference.

In terms of pastures new, Coventry will make their first-ever league visits to Yeovil, Milton Keynes, Stevenage and Crawley while Colchester and Shrewsbury have switched grounds and Tranmere, Bournemouth, Hartlepool and Leyton Orient completely revamped their premises in the interim.

Fans who intend to follow Coventry every step of the way next term will have to drive 5,000 miles, which sounds like the cue for a Proclaimers singalong.

To be precise, it's 5,112 (marginally more than their Championship swan-song when they logged 4,882) so, assuming supporters follow the AA's recommended routes and stick religiously to the speed limits, the total travelling time will be a tad over 95 hours. And if they average 35 miles to the gallon that's a total of 146 - aka 664 litres which, at the current unleaded rate of around 138p adds up to pounds 916.

The ultimate test of dedication next term will be the trip to Carlisle United. At 211 miles each way Brunton Park is barely ten miles short of the Scottish border - a seven-hour round trip that, if the Football League's fixtures computer runs true to form, will almost certainly be assigned to a December midweek.

Hartlepool is almost as daunting at 184 miles / three hours 22 minutes while Bournemouth and Portsmouth represent the Southern extremes at 3.01 and 2.50 respectively.

There are no forays into Wales this term but Yeovil is a nearenough three-hour trek west - Colchester the most easterly port of call at two hours 44 minutes.

City can no longer look forward to showdowns with Leicester City, Nottingham Forest and Derby County, but Notts County will fill one of the derby vacancies while they renew rivalries with Walsall, a halfhour trip down the M6.

Happy trails.. **THE Sky Blues have been tipped as promotion challengers by most of the bookies - a judgement presumably based on initial talk of a "bounce back budget" rather than later warnings that they will have to be "realistic" with their recruitment policy.

FORMER Sky Blues players who could re-appear at the Ricoh next season include midfielder Michael Doyle whose Sheffield United side missed out in the play-offs despite finishing third in the regular season, nine points clear of their Wembley conquerors Huddersfield. He should receive a warm welcome from City fans who always appreciated his work ethic - in contrast to Notts County striker Lee Hughes who is guaranteed a torrid reception after his off-field issues.

Jermaine Grandison has established himself as a pillar of the Shrewsbury defence and (if City get their way) could find himself in direct opposition to James Collins who has emerged as a prime summer target for Andy Thorn. JUST in case you were wondering, the Division Three finishing order in 1964 read: Coventry City, Crystal Palace, Watford, Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic, Bristol City, Reading, Mansfield Town, Hull City, Oldham Athletic, Peterborough United, Shrewsbury Town, Bristol Rovers, Port Vale, Southend United, Queens Park Rangers, Brentford, Colchester United, Luton Town, Walsall, Barnsley, Millwall, Crewe Alexandra, Wrexham, Notts County.

CAPTION(S):

STAYING PUT: Sheffield United missed out on promotion to the Championship when they lost a nerve-shredding Wembley shoot-out against Huddersfield. But the Blades, now led by former Sky Blues skipper Michael Doyle (No.8) are favourites to step up next summer.