Fans from rival Manchester football teams are being urged to take separate travel routes to the FA Cup final this weekend.
History is repeating itself and tensions are building by the day, as Manchester United and Manchester City prepare to face each other 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.
And, to no surprise, it’s all set to be a massive day for football fans in our football-obsessed city.
But for those fans who are planning to make the trip down to London for the big day on Saturday, National Highways is urging them to take separate travel routes.
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Man City and Man United fans urged to take separate travel routes to FA Cup final / Credit: The FA / Manchester City (via Twitter)
With kick-off at 3pm, England’s motorways operator has set out a plan to help fans avoid traffic hold-ups before and after the crucial match.
To make it as smooth as a journey for everyone as possible, City fans travelling to the capital have been advised to use the M62 and M1 to get to Wembley, while United supporters should use the M6, M42, and the M40 instead, according to National Highways.
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Given the fact the FA Cup final this year has already sold out, this means that some 90,000 fans are expected to be heading to England‘s national stadium for the game.
Hundreds of extra coaches are being laid on to get both sets of fans to Wembley and home again, while many others are expected to drive themselves to the match either on the day, or as part of a weekend break to the capital with family and friends.
And of course, the influx of football traffic will be on top of all the rest of the journeys being made on the major motorway routes by the general public for a variety of other non-football related reasons across the weekend.
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Because of increased traffic numbers, the FA is also urging fans to “plan their journey well in advance” and “consider the options in place to support them” as a means of keeping everyone safe.
The two Manchester teams will face each other in the FA Cup final on Saturday 25 May at 3pm / Credit: The FA
National Highways has also provided travel tips for football fans.
“Our message to everyone driving down for the final is to plan their journeys carefully, follow our advice on routes, look out for incidents or congestion once they are on the road, and heed any advice on our electronic signs,” explained Gary Farrell – who is National Highways’ senior network planner for the North West.
“Stopping for regular breaks will not only help keep you fresh, but will also give you a chance to check for congestion or incidents and adjust your travel plans accordingly.”
More information on advised travel routes to Wembley ahead of the final this Saturday 25 May at 3pm can be found on the National Highways website here.
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Live traffic updates on the day of the final can be found here.
Luxury Manchester gym Blok confirms permanent closure after weeks of uncertainty
Daisy Jackson
Blok Manchester has announced its permanent closure, weeks after the doors to the premium fitness facility mysteriously closed.
Around a fortnight ago, members began to arrive to their classes to find the gym on Ducie Street locked up and a forfeiture notice on the door – but at the time, Blok said that it was fighting to reopen.
Sadly, in an email sent to members today, its founder has confirmed that the studio is now permanently closed.
Blok – which has several very successful sites down in London – said that its relationship with its landlord has ‘broken down to a point where trust has been lost’.
The gym wrote that it’s been left with ‘no workable way forward’.
They said: “BLOK Manchester was a space built by our loyal and dedicated community. Whether you joined us for one class or one hundred, we are deeply grateful. You helped create something genuinely special in an incredible city.”
In the immediate future, they said they’ll be supporting the team of fantastic trainers who worked here, as well as looking after members.
Members will be contacted within a few hours with options and refunds owed.
Blok Manchester has announced its permanent closure. Credit: The Manc Group
CEO and founder Ed Stanbury said: “While this marks the end of a chapter, we don’t see it as the end of our story in Manchester. We’re already speaking with developers about potential future sites and remain committed to returning to the city when the time is right.
“Thank you for being part of our story so far. Let’s shape the future of wellness. The mission continues.”
Commenting on Blok’s Instagram post – its first in almost a fortnight – people have been sharing their sadness at the closure of its Manchester site.
One person wrote: “beautiful space, beautiful staff and beautiful community.”
Another said: “Sending love to all the instructors !! :(((( gutted”
Someone else commented: “THE BEST CLASSES. I’m gutted.”
Manchester City plotting spending spree ‘before’ Club World Cup
Danny Jones
Manchester City are set to embark on somewhat of a spending spree this summer transfer window as the club’s higher-ups are looking to get business done before the 2025 Club World Cup.
With FIFA’s intercontinental club competition set to get underway in mid-June, the Blues don’t have too long to welcome in new players, but Man City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak has reiterated their urgency regarding recruitment.
Despite having brought in four new acquisitions in a very short space of time last season, the 50-year-old argued that he wasn’t completely happy with the extent and speed of their business.
Giving a lengthy interview this week, CFG‘s founding chairman has imposed an internal deadline ahead of the lucrative knockout competition.
Speaking with club media, Khaldoon recognised that while there were incomings in January of this year, he believes they “should have been more aggressive in some of the changes we needed to do, adding that he believes it “cost [them].”
“I can tell you today, we have clearly identified who exactly [the targets are], in what positions, and we have our clear number one option, our clear number two option”, he continues.
More importantly, he goes on to add: “We’ll go about our business, and it will be very clear, very swift. Our objective is to try to be ready with the new squad for the Club World Cup.”
He also suggested the flurry of activity this past January was not just atypical of the administration, but felt the squad fell into a crisis state with the number of injuries, insisting they “had to act.”
City have already been linked with a hugely talented and highly-rated European target in the wake of Kevin De Bruyne‘s departure and a lack of strength in depth in midfield.
An initial bid is said to have been received already and will likely be the first of many City summer signings.
He also insisted that the players who joined last season weren’t scattershot, emergency transfers (perhaps barring the resigning of İlkay Gündoğan) but were the start of the rebuild and “gives [fans] an idea of what’s coming this summer.”
Another player linked with a move to the Etihad Stadium is Lyon star Rayan Cherki, who scored in big moments during their Europa League run this year, registering 32 goal contributions across all competitions throughout the 24/25 campaign.
Who would you like to see added to Pep Guardiola’s side this summer, then, Man City fans?
You can watch Khaldoon Al Mubarak’s interview in full down below:
Emily Sergeant -
22nd May 2024 
