Manchester welcomes Celtic football club

THE City of Manchester has sent out a message of welcome to Celtic supporters attending the club's forthcoming UEFA Champions League match against Manchester United.

Sir Richard Leese, Leader of Manchester City Council, Chief Supt Gerry Donnellan, Greater Manchester Police and David Gill, Chief Executive of Manchester United FC have issued the following welcome statement to fans travelling to the city.

“Manchester is looking forward to welcoming Celtic fans visiting the city for Tuesday 21 October's UEFA Champions League tie with Manchester United. We're a city that's passionate about football with a proud reputation for hospitality.

“In return, we are sure that Celtic fans will want to uphold the great reputation of the club and its travelling supporters.

“Along with Celtic, we are urging supporters who do not have tickets not to travel to the city. Ticketless supporters will not be able to get into the game and facilities will not be provided for fans to watch the match elsewhere.

“We promise to show the greatest respect to visiting Celtic fans and are sure that they will respond in kind by helping keep our streets litter-free and abiding by local bye-laws. These laws obviously include a ban covering on-street drinking and this will be enforced.

“We have welcomed Celtic supporters to Manchester on many previous occasions with great success. We are sure next week will enjoy the same great experience. We hope you will all enjoy the match and visiting Manchester.”

Celtic Chief Executive Peter Lawwell added: “Celtic supporters have a tremendous reputation and have become renowned across Europe for the positive manner in which they travel and support the club.

“This was again in evidence just a few weeks ago when our supporters travelled to Vila-real in numbers and despite the result once again made friends and enjoyed a great sporting occasion.

“We are delighted that Celtic Football Club and Manchester United FC also enjoy such a fantastic relationship.

“We have met on a number of occasions previously in both competitive and friendly matches, with thousands of our supporters travelling to the city to honour such great footballing names as Bobby Charlton, Mark Hughes, Roy Keane and Ryan Giggs.

“We are sure our fans will travel to Manchester once again with the aim of supporting the club positively as they enjoy another great meeting between two of Europe's great clubs.

“We would like to thank the city of Manchester in advance for hosting our club and our supporters next week.”
I hope they do their usual and just have a party with the local chaps. They certainly did in Vilarreal and received high praise for it. A wee bit of mending Scottish supporters' reputation in Manchester would be no bad thing.