Cardiff prepares for Stadium final

Last updated : 25 May 2003 By Michael Morris
Cardiff City players
Cardiff City players are gearing up for the match
Final preparations are being made for Cardiff City's all important promotion battle against Queens Park Rangers on Sunday.

If the football club win the Division Two play-off final at the Millennium Stadium, they will be promoted to the First Division for the first time since 1985.

The sizeable fan bases of Cardiff and QPR mean the 72,500-capacity Millennium Stadium is a sell-out, and police are urging supporters to arrive early and to obey directions.

Supporters are also being asked to look out for forged or stolen tickets for the match.

Brass band

Before the game, Cardiff City fans are being invited to their home ground for drinks, games, and music.

They will then form a procession behind a brass band, and will walk from their ground at Ninian Park to the Millennium Stadium in preparation for the match.

For those who are not walking, Wales & Borders Trains will be putting on extra services to and from Newport and Abergavenny.

Valley Lines will be also be strengthening their services where possible, and the Sunday bus services from Treherbert, Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney will also run.

But no reservations on return journeys for any of the services will be accepted.

The Millennium Stadium
The Millennium Stadium is hosting the match

For fans travelling by car, there will be Park and Ride facilities on the Valley Lines rail network to avoid city centre road congestion.

They will be at Treforest, Taffs Well, Radyr and Caerphilly stations, operating before and after the game.

Forged

South Wales Police are warning fans to be aware of forged or stolen tickets on the day of the match.

Officers targeting ticket touts in the city for the FA Cup final seized tickets which looked official, but in fact bore no resemblance to how the genuine tickets should look.

We always stress that fans should only buy tickets from an authorised outlet
Mike Long, South Wales Police

Chief Inspector Mike Long, from major events planning said fans should be careful.

"We always stress that fans should only buy tickets from an authorised outlet." he said.

"If you buy one of these tickets off the street it is being sold to you illegally and is likely to be stolen or forged.

"You will not get access to the stadium and will lose any money you have paid for it."

A dry and sunny day is predicted for the match, which kicks off at 1500 BST.