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Football fans flock to Manchester City invaded by Rangers' support
(about 1 hour later)
Thousands of Rangers fans have already flooded into Manchester city centre in preparation for the Uefa Cup Final against Zenit St Petersburg. Manchester city centre is awash with a sea of blue as tens of thousands of Rangers fans gather ahead of the Uefa Cup final.
Up to 100,000 fans from both sides are expected in the city for the match, swelling the local economy by an estimated £20m. They are mingling with a smaller number of supporters of Russia's Zenit St Petersburg to await the match.
Every hotel room in Manchester and for up to 20 miles beyond - about 45,000 rooms - is booked up. Up to 100,000 fans from both sides are expected in the city and they are expected to give a £20m boost to the local economy.
Many fans are expected to camp, sleep rough or spend the night in their cars. The City of Manchester stadium is to host about 47,000 fans for the final.
Commuters arriving in the city on Wednesday morning were greeted by the sight of thousands of fans in Piccadilly Gardens. Just 13,000 Rangers fans were allocated official tickets, so thousands more will watch the match on big screens and the city's pubs and bars.
Councillor Pat Karney, city centre spokesman, said the city "had never seen anything like it". Commuters arriving on Wednesday morning were greeted by the sight of thousands of blue-shirted fans in Piccadilly Gardens - determined to savour the team's first appearance in a European final for 36 years.
Disruption 'worth it' I think we might find a few more than 100,000 coming down Jim Templeton, Rangers Assembly
"The difficulty is it's an ordinary working day in Manchester, people are going to their places of work and so there's going to be a lot of disruption as everyone knows, but it's for 24 hours," said Mr Karney. The singing and drinking started early, with supporters staking their claims for places in front of the screens in Fan Zones at Albert Square, Piccadilly Gardens and Cathedral Gardens.
"It's worth £20m to Manchester's economy all this - the numbers have been upgraded from the last few days. The zones also boast beer tents, toilets and programme sellers.
"Millions and millions of people are going to be watching the match and Manchester tonight, so it's worth it." Jim Templeton, 56, from Ayrshire, the president of the Rangers Assembly, said: "The atmosphere among Rangers supporters is absolutely phenomenal.
A large-scale movement of fans happened on Tuesday with more than 100 vehicles decorated with balloons, flags and scarves setting off from Ibrox together with Rangers' overseas fan-base flying to Manchester from North America, Australia and the Middle East. "We have heard about the possibility of 100,000 coming down - I think we might find a few more than 100,000 coming down.
The largest movement of fans, most of them ticketless, is expected to happen on Wednesday. "I was fortunate enough to be there in 1972, there's others who have never witnessed Rangers in a European final, it's a shame they can't all be accommodated."
Greater Manchester Police, who have a huge presence in the city centre, warned roads into the city were extremely busy.
The force said three fans had been arrested so far - two for public order offences and one for possessing a false ticket.
Rangers fans start the party in central Manchester ahead of the Uefa Cup finalIn picturesRangers fans start the party in central Manchester ahead of the Uefa Cup finalIn pictures
Strathclyde Police have advised those travelling by coach and car not to form a convoy as they said it could lead to traffic congestion. Police in Glasgow and Manchester have previously issued warnings over counterfeit tickets which could be in circulation.
They also warned that officers would be carrying out spot checks at various locations on the route. Although beer is being sold in fan zones, long queues have formed at city centre supermarkets and alcohol is said to be flying off the shelves.
An early morning crash on the M74 near Lesmahagow in South Lanarkshire caused a seven-mile tailback but traffic was now said to be moving well. With the warm weather, police and council officials have urged people to consume plenty of water and "drink sensibly".
Network Rail urged fans planning to travel by rail from Glasgow Central and Edinburgh Waverley to only arrive at the stations if they had reserved seats. Councillor Pat Karney, city centre spokesman, said the city "had never seen anything like it".
The Glasgow side has only been allocated 13,000 tickets for the match but big screens have been put up at special fan zones in Manchester to allow those without tickets to watch the game. "It's worth £20m to Manchester's economy all this. Millions and millions of people are going to be watching the match, so it's worth it."
Big screens Every hotel room in the city and for up to 20 miles beyond - about 45,000 in total - is booked up.
Flag-waving fans dressed in blue have been wandering the streets of Manchester since dawn and with the forecast of another sunny day ahead, it is hoped that the atmosphere remains jovial. Many fans are expected to camp, sleep rough or spend the night in their cars.
With a number of flights also bringing fans in from Russia, Manchester Airport welcomed 600 plane spotters to its aviation viewing park. About 3,000 Rangers fans are camping at Burnage Rugby Club, which is about four miles outside the city centre.
Spotters needed advance tickets in the hope of seeing unfamiliar Russian aircraft, and the area was full by 0900 BST.
Fans remaining in Glasgow will be able to watch the match on big screens at Ibrox Stadium.Fans remaining in Glasgow will be able to watch the match on big screens at Ibrox Stadium.
Strathclyde Partnership for Transport is running free buses from Buchanan Bus Station to Edmiston Drive between 1730 and 1930 BST - with entry to the stadium and seats on the buses will be available on a first-come-first-served basis.Strathclyde Partnership for Transport is running free buses from Buchanan Bus Station to Edmiston Drive between 1730 and 1930 BST - with entry to the stadium and seats on the buses will be available on a first-come-first-served basis.
Are you going to be at the match? What is the atmosphere like? Did you have problems finding somewhere to stay? Where will you be watching the game? Send us your comments on the form below or text your pictures to 61124.
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