Rowdy Manchester football fans are being warned not to “ruin” the FA Cup final for the “real” supporters this weekend.
History is repeating itself, as Manchester United and Manchester City are training hard in preparation to face each other again in an all-Manchester final of the Emirates FA Cup at Wembley Stadium on Saturday 25 May.
2023 was the first time the two Manchester clubs battled it out for the FA Cup title in the final in the 153-year-old football competition’s illustrious history, and it was victory for the Citizens, with the trophy forming a crucial piece of their treble-winning season… but, in what seems to be a repeating turn of events, 2024 is the year of the re-match.
To no surprise, tensions are building by the day as it’s all set to be a massive day for football-obsessed fans in our football-obsessed city.
Some 90,000 fans are expected to be heading to England‘s national stadium for the game on Saturday – with rival supporters urged to take different travel routes to prevent traffic build-up and keep everyone safe – but thousands more will be watching it out and about across instead Greater Manchester.
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And now, with only a couple of days to go until kick off now, Greater Manchester Police (GMP) has issued a warning to all those potentially-rowdy ‘football-obsessed’ fans who are planning to watch the game in public places around the region that they should avoid “ruining the day” for the “real” supporters.
Police said supporters at last year’s final were “a credit to both teams”, and is pleading with them for the same the time around.
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Manchester City and Manchester United will face each other in the FA Cup final on Saturday 25 May at 3pm / Credit: The FA
“This final promises to be a great day for our city, and we want to ensure everyone enjoys the day, whether that is in Manchester or in London,” commented Chief Superintendent Colette Rose, who is GMP’s Gold Commander for the FA Cup final.
“GMP has been working closely with partners, including other including the Met and West Midlands police forces, the UK Football Policing Unit, and British Transport Police, to ensure the day runs smoothly and that everyone can enjoy the game safely. Please also only travel down to London if you have a match ticket, as there are no alternative sites for fans to gather in large numbers.
“There will be a large police presence across the city of Manchester, as we always have for high-profile events, to ensure the safety of everyone, and we will also have officers on the routes down and in London.”
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Speaking directly to fans, Chief Superintendent Rose continued: “It doesn’t matter where you are intend to watch the match, don’t let a moment of poor judgement lead to a criminal prosecution or a football banning order.
“We will take a firm approach to anyone ruining the day for the real football fans. If you have any concerns, please speak to one of our officers who’ll be more than happy to assist where possible.
“Be safe, be responsible, look out for each other and enjoy the game.”
Featured Image – GMP
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Pat Regan at the Fairfield Social Club – a brilliantly unhinged evening of standup comedy
Clementine Hall
There’s a particular kind of chaos that only Pat Regan can deliver, and the recently re-recognised Fairfield Social Club got the full force of it last night.
Making his Manchester debut as part of the ‘A Lovely Time’ series at the equally as lovely Fairfield Social Club, the New York comic, writer, and podcast host arrived with the energy of someone who had already lived through three emotional breakdowns before breakfast and somehow still had the worst to come.
Known for his work on HBO’s Hacks and the cult-favourite podcast Seek Treatment with fellow comic Catherine Cohen, Regan’s stand-up feels less like your traditional comedy set and more like being trapped in the world’s funniest group chat.
The perfectly intimate room beneath Fairfield’s railway arches was packed with adoring fans who were immediately on side as Regan launched into stories about traumatic trips to Paris, Grindr dates, massage tables and having crushes at the gym.
The audience was in the palm of his slightly sweaty hands (don’t worry, he’ll be fine with me saying so), laughing at every awkward punchline and self-deprecating anecdote.
The material is nothing groundbreaking, but this is what makes it so deeply hilarious; never before has shopping for the perfect pair of jeans been so serious and unserious at the same time.
There was laughter rolling through the venue for virtually the entire set, and after an hour of never-ending quips and jokes, we were left wanting more.
And the best part is, it won’t be long until we get more from this place, and it’s no wonder they’re starting to get the hosting plaudits they deserve.
It’s safe to say Fairfield Social Club has become one of Manchester’s most exciting homes for alternative comedy, and this felt like exactly the sort of booking that justifies its growing reputation.
By the time Regan left the stage, the audience looked equal parts exhausted and delighted. An absolutely classy evening indeed.
Find out about what else is on at the Fairfield Social Club HERE.
First-ever JD Wetherspoon pub to open at Manchester Airport
Danny Jones
In news that we feel many Mancs and travellers all-round have been waiting on for a long time, the well-known British chain, JD Wetherspoon, will be opening its first-ever pub at Manchester Airport.
That’s right: soon that first airport pint of the holiday could actually be a relatively cheap one.
While Wetherspoons are no strangers to popping up in terminals across the UK and Ireland, they’ve never done so here in Manchester despite having three, yes THREE, in Gatwick alone.
Not for much longer, though, as soon T2 will be lending more than 3,000 square feet of its prime leisure and retail real estate to a new Greater Manchester ‘Spoons’.
Posting on social media, the airport wrote: “Wetherspoon comes to Manchester Airport this September! The pub will be located in the Terminal 2 Departures lounge and will have more than 300 seats.
“This will become the final major food and drink venue to open its doors as part of our decade-long £1.3bn transformation of Terminal 2. It will be named ‘The Belle Vue’, in a nod to Manchester’s historic showground [now a sports complex and leisure hub].
“It was a focal point for social life in the city from the Victorian period up until 2020, when the final event was held at Belle Vue stadium. The design of the pub is inspired by the history of Belle Vue and the sporting culture of the North West of England. We look forward to welcoming you all in September!”
While a lot of money has been pumped into T2’s refurb as a whole over the past few years, it remains unclear just how much this particular new addition will cost; we do know that great sums were set aside for the launch of the Great Northern Market last year.
The inaugural Manchester Airport Spoons is just the latest in a series of major renovations.
As mentioned, the company already operate several up and down the country – 10 airport pubs, to be specific – but this will be the first in the North West.
Speaking on the news, JD Wetherspoon chief executive John Hutson said in a statement: “We are looking forward to opening at Manchester Airport. We believe our new pub will prove popular with travellers of all ages and be an asset to the new terminal.”
With Manchester Airport adding a dozen new routes to its roster this summer, you can expect to see even more people flying in and out than ever – no doubt having already polished off a cut-price pint or two beforehand.
Emily Sergeant -
23rd May 2024 
