That's how many miles Raphoe hockey club anticipate they have travelled and how much they have spent in the last 35 years and, that could be a conservative estimate.

Raphoe celebrate their 35th anniversary this month and where other teams have come and gone, Raphoe have gone from strength to strength.

Back in the top flight for the fifth time, the County Donegal side have five men’s and two ladies teams playing regularly in their respective leagues this season.

In 1972 when the club was formed, Irish hockey President, Walter Dowdall said: “a club that arose out of nothing to what is regarded as the most forward looking efficiently run and progressive club in the 32 counties,” and those words still ring true today.

Whilst hockey has been played in Raphoe since the early 1900's in various guises and leagues. It was the 1972/73 season that they officially formed and joined the Ulster Branch. The Troubles were at their height and it still did not put them off travelling to Belfast, Bangor, Newry and Banbridge week in week out.

But teams also enjoyed the 'away' trip to Donegal and, this correspondent can personally testify that many a good weekend was had, experiencing the post match Raphoe hospitality and sampling the local 'hooley' at the Kees hotel. But no more tour talk.

In their first season Raphoe tasted the joys of promotion when they won Section Two of the old Intermediate league, this was to be the foretaste of further promotion as the club accelerated up the leagues.

In 1974/75 Raphoe stalwarts, Uel Blair, Billy McConnell, Jeffrey Vance, Cairns Witherow and Tommy McKean ensured the club continued to flourish and they were delighted when they were able to field a second team. The following season the third eleven were formed and the firsts gained promotion to Senior league two.

With the club still growing, in 1978/79 it experienced top flight hockey for the first time but unfortunately this was to be short-lived, as they returned to the lower division, despite reaching the Irish cup quarter-finals that same season.

Then came a barren period for the club as Don Peason club media officer explained: “The club struggled to field teams and unfortunately we suffered a down turn for a number of seasons when we only managed to field two sides. But in 1985 we returned to the top flight only to be relegated straightaway.”

Then in 1993/94 Raphoe went a full season with a 100 per cent record and this time it was a case of third time lucky not only returning to Senior One but they stayed there.

“It was a great season,” said Don.

“We reached the last eight in the Irish senior cup and we had a memorable game against Banbridge at Havelock Park only to be just beaten. But that was the springboard we needed as the club began to flourish.”

They also had some Interprovincial representation in David Buchannan who was Ulster goal-keeper and played for the firsts for nearly 20 years.