Football fans to arrive in Trafford

7:08pm Tuesday 13th May 2008

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AS Manchester gears up for the UEFA Cup Final tomorrow (Wednesday May 14), Trafford is also preparing up for an increased number of visitors.

Arrangements have been made by the Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Executive (GMPTE) and Lancashire County Cricket Club for around 400 coaches, carrying approximately 20,000 Rangers FC fans, to park on land off Elsinore Road, Stretford, land used regularly for parking for other sporting events in the borough.

Fans with tickets are being taken on coaches straight to the stadium however the screens displaying the match in the city centre have also attracted a similar number of fans, without tickets to the match. As a large parking facility was needed, this site was seen as the most appropriate by GMPTE.

Once the coaches have parked, the fans will then be using an enhanced Metrolink service from Old Trafford Metrolink station and a specially laid on shuttle bus service, to travel out of the borough into the city centre.

As extra traffic will be entering the borough, the council is advising people to consider allowing extra time for their journeys and public transport will be busier than normal.

Coaches will be leaving Glasgow from early morning onwards and are expected to enter the borough from mid morning until mid afternoon. The match is due to finish around 9.30pm though extra time may have to be played. The enhanced transport arrangements will, remain in place to ensure fans are returned safely and promptly to their coaches.

Executive Councillor for Community Safety, Culture and Sport, John Reilly, said: "We are expecting a degree of disruption on local transport networks due to the large amount of people using public transport and roads into to the city centre.

"We are not expecting any local disorder from the fans however, policing and community safety patrols at the Old Trafford Metrolink station and the surrounding area will be stepped up, portable toilets will be put into place and litter issues managed on local routes to ensure the fans cause as little disruption as possible for local residents and commuters.

"Trafford has a lot of experience of managing large numbers of sports fans successfully and this event is no exception. Trafford Council and the police would like to thank local residents in advance for their cooperation during this event."