Last Saturday I was at the County Cricket Ground in Bristol partaking in a rare experience. No, not Bangladesh's first win over England, as good as it was to see the Tigers take another step along their development path. It was, in fact, watching international cricket as a home supporter. Last summer I watched Freddie Flintoff finish off Australia at Lords, the rain fall at Edgbaston and an intriguing Sunday at Edgbaston. The first day of 'that test' in the previous Ashes series was my last test outing in England, and a day at Headingley over 10 years ago was my home test debut.

Compare that to my overseas trips. I watched more cricket in one test match in Cape Town in January than I have in my whole life in England. I witnessed England's capitulation in the final test at Wanderers. Throw in two similar two test trips to Melbourne and Sydney, and I've watched many more hours of England's cricketers on foreign soil than I have in my home country. A strange equation you might think, and one that made me think. And I came to the conclusion, that for a genuine passionate fan, who enjoys both the sporting contest and the atmosphere of a sporting equation, you get much more of the latter when you are part of the travelling support.

When I think back, its something I've actually been aware of and involved in since my parents took my brother and me to watch Derby County away games in the 1980s. Trips to Grimsby, Middlesbrough, Doncaster and Blackburn may not tempt any of my South African readers to jump on the next flight out of OR Tambo, but as an eight year old, not only did it improve my geography of the UK immensely, but the enjoyment of waving to the other cars on the road with their Derby scarves flying out the window made what would otherwise be boring motorway journeys much more enjoyable. Even in those days in the old third division Derby had a strong away following, so would fill the sections we had been allocated and even at my tender age I felt part of one mass of people all with a common cause - to see the Rams win. Maybe its fortunate they did more often than not that year, winning promotion, and followed that up by winning the second division the following year, prompting thousands to turn out for a 'Back in the Big Time' Parade round the city centre. But those of us who had been soaked at Oldham, gone mental at Bramhall Lane, forsaken Easter eggs to go to Blackburn, and teased a ginger haired gentleman at Sunderland about driving a Nissan didn't need the parade - we'd been there when it mattered.

I found a similar experience two years ago when I travelled to Louisville to watch the Ryder Cup. A friend and I had 6-day passes, allowing us access to the practice and tournament days of the cross-Atlantic golfing match up. Despite the competition taking place in a part of the US only ever heard of for producing Muhammad Ali, there were also several hundred more European fans who made the trip. However, with 20,000+ spectators on the course, the visiting support still made itself seen and heard, something the players clearly enjoyed and thrived off - especially on the first tee on the last day, as each player was greeted with his own song, something the American fans just couldn't match. British football chants are among the cleverest and most humourous of banter, and even opposing fans often enjoy them. Alas the result didn't go our way in the end, but it was a tremendous week, and something I will definitely do again. I have a 6-day pass for Celtic Manor this September, but I don't expect the experience to be the same as part of the home majority.

So why is it a more enjoyable experience to be an away fan? I have come to the conclusion it is concentrated passion. If you have to make the effort to travel, be it a one hour drive, an eight-hour flight, or travelling half way round the globe, you have an intention to enjoy your time away. Something the Barmy Army totally embody, still growing in numbers every time England visit the old penal colony down under, despite England not getting close to winning a series down there for 24 years. It took Australians around 20 of those years to understand how England fans could enjoy their time at the cricket when England were taking such a beating. They have finally now got it as they realise there is more to watching sport than just the result! But coming back to the point, there are less away fans than home fans at any event, but with almost every visiting fan wanting to get the most enjoyment out of the trip, the energy and passion they show is much more concentrated than when it is spread around the ground as home fans.

We all know season ticket holders or members, who seem to enjoy moaning and complaining about their team than they do in seeing them win. You often wonder why they bother turning up every other week if they don't enjoy it as much as it appears they don't. That's not to say the away fan doesn't get frustrated and vent his anger at mistakes and poor play, but he knows that to enjoy the highs, you have to experience some lows (and in being a Derby fan there have been some very low lows in recent times!). Maybe its now not wanting to miss out on a high, having been through the lows that keeps our passion high, but when they come it will be the travelling fans who really start the party.

In South Africa this last month, you will have seen the enjoyment of the travelling fans at the World Cup - as well as the despair when their team is eliminated - but you will have felt the passion without doubt. If you haven't ever travelled as an away fan to watch your team, make it your aim as soon as possible, and share in the passion of the devoted few. That might be a half hour bus journey, a 4 hour train, or a 12 hour flight, but do it. I can guarantee you'll enjoy, you'll wonder why you didn't do it before, and you'll keep going back for more. Playing away is something everyone should do.