Published: Saturday, 17th May, 2008 12:00
Gers fans have fan-tastic party
By Brian Hossack
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COP THAT: Rangers fans party with a helping hand from the long arm of the law during the countdown to the UEFA Cup final.
INVERCLYDE Rangers fans have hailed their trip to Manchester for the UEFA Cup final an unforgettable success.
Supporters partied the day away — and they say they are still on a high, despite seeing their team lose 2-0 to Russian outfit Zenit St Petersburg.
Jim Lepick, president of Greenock Cricket Club, travelled to the game with a group of three friends, staying in Didsbury just six miles outside the city.
While a tiny minority of fans were arrested after trouble flared, the vast majority of the 200,000-strong travelling support revelled peacefully in the carnival atmosphere.
Jim said: “We had an absolute ball and never saw a hint of trouble. There was a real party atmosphere.”
The group travelled down by car on Tuesday morning and Jim said: “We stopped at several service stations on the way down and it was a sea of red, white and blue.
“When we got to Manchester, the atmosphere was fantastic and their wasn’t really a police presence at all.
“The officers we spoke to were very helpful and friendly, directing us to the best places for food and drink. We had a great night.
“We came back into the city centre at around 10.30am on the day of the match on a bus and the banter between fans and locals was great. We went in to the Piccadilly Gardens fanzone but there were just too many people, so we went and found bars in the city centre.”
Jim described how the group sat on a balcony looking down on happy partying Rangers fans. He said: “There were people drinking and singing, but it was all very good natured.There was no sign of what happened later that night.”
Jim joined friends and fans to watch the game in the Paramount Bar in the Manchester’s Portland Street — which eventually ran out of several drinks despite the disappointing result.
He added: “Everyone knew that Rangers were facing an uphill battle to beat Zenit, so although lots of people were disappointed, there wasn’t an air of unpleasantness anywhere.
“I know around 30 people who went to Manchester for the game and they all said the same, the atmosphere, event and the weather was fantastic and they were oblivious to the bother. It’s a shame a few managed to tarnish the reputation of the club.”
Another Gers fan, who didn’t want to be named, said: “The atmosphere in the Albert Square fanzone was fantastic all day.
“People were out to enjoy themselves and it was like a carnival, there was plenty of drink about but no trouble.
“We didn’t know there had been trouble until we left for our hotel.”
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