Thousands to flock to Colwyn Bay for play-off final and Prom Day

 Source: Daily Post

 * by Dave Powell, DPW West
 * Apr 30 2011

 POLICE are putting in place plans to handle a major football match which will attract 2,000 supporters.

Soccer fans will descend on a resort for a showpiece play-off final involving a team backed by spin-off Manchester United fans.

It comes on Bank Holiday Monday, May 2 – the same day as Colwyn Bay Prom Day, which attracted 15,000 revellers last year.

The clash between Colwyn Bay and FC United of Manchester will be at 3pm at the Llanelian Road ground of the Bay.

But officials want to avoid a repeat of crowd trouble when Colwyn Bay played a tense pre-season friendly against Chester FC last July 10.

Chester were trailing 2-0 away to Colwyn Bay when 15 to 20 travelling supporters clashed with police and security staff. The match was held up for a couple of minutes before the fracas calmed down – and several fans were arrested as the police helicopter hovered overhead.

Yesterday Inspector Glyn Brumby, of North Wales Police, said: “We are aware of the football fixture and plans are currently being put in place to police the event.”

Cllr Glyn Jones, who is a North Wales Police Authority member and lives 200 yards from the Llanelian Road ground, said: “There was trouble on the day Colwyn Bay played Chester. That took us by surprise and I’m quite confident that the police will have in place adequate precautions to deal with this match.

“I’m sure they and British Transport Police at Colwyn Bay Station will keep any disruption to a minimum. Most fans will act responsibly.”

He said it would be most straightforward to ask away fans to go along the Promenade and up past The Marine pub to Llanelian Road.

He added: “It’s a tremendous coup for Colwyn Bay FC to reach this play-off final. It would be nice if they won.”

Due to a capacity restriction of 2,000, both clubs have been allocated 1,000 tickets for this Evo-stik sponsored Premier Division play-off final. The Seagulls’ average gate is 400-500.

Mark Williams, a Colwyn Bay FC director, said tickets, costing £10 or £6 for concessions (OAPS and under 16s) go on sale today at 10.30am. Fans must go in person to Llanelian Road ticket office.

Mr Williams apologised to fans who had turned up yesterday but said both sides’ 1,000 ticket allocations had to go on sale simultaneously.

Victory would propel the Seagulls into the Blue Square Conference North division, one league below Wrexham in the Blue Square Conference Premier.