5 MILLION CELTIC FANS DOWN FOR KEANO'S TESTIMENIAL

Last updated : 28 April 2006 By Ed

BBC:

Celtic star Roy Keane's testimonial against his former club Manchester United at Old Trafford on 9 May is a 68,000 sell-out. The match is expected to break all records for receipts in benefit games.


Daily Record:

Manchester United will erect a tented village to cope with the thousands of Celtic fans attending what is being billed as Seville Mark II.

Police will also sanction the sale of alcohol at the ground for almost eight hours before Roy Keane's Testimonial next month.

The travelling legions will officially be registered as 25,000 - the number of tickets United have sent north. But with thousands more English-based Hoops suporters snapping up tickets as well, it's possible Celtic could outnumber their hosts.

The game between Keane's current and former clubs on May 9 is expected to earn the Irishman a £2.5million pay-day.

The attendance will set a new British record for the number of visiting fans attending a match and it's the biggest mobilisation of Celts supporters since the UEFA Cup Final in Seville three years ago.

A giant marquee - the Fanzone - will be opened next to the North Stand at Old Trafford and will serve food, alcohol and show football DVDs on giant screens from noon until kick-off. The £5-a-head Fanzone will open again after the match.

The Fanzone has been used at other United games this season without any problems and Greater Manchester Police don't expect this match to be any different.

The facility mirrors the efforts made by authorities in Andalucia to accommodate the 80,000 Hoops fans who travelled to Seville for the UEFA Cup Final against Porto in May 2003.

Another record may fall at the game. Earlier this month Old Trafford was filled with 70,908 fans for the match with Arsenal, a Premiership record.

But it is also possible this figure could be beaten by the visit of Celtic.'