Trouble-free day as fans enjoy match.
Byline: Alex LemonTHE first Millennium Stadium match day of the new sporting season brought tens of thousands of football fans to Cardiff. The city centre was a sea of red as more than 60,000 Arsenal and Liverpool fans descended for the FA Community Shield - the first big match since Wales played Germany.
South Wales Police reported a virtually trouble-free day, with just seven arrests made.
Four men, including one from Cardiff, were arrested for ticket-touting offences, a Liverpool supporter was questioned over a public order offence, and a London man wanted for violent disorder in his home city was arrested. A police operation to target increased levels of car crime proved a success, with a 19-year-old Cardiff man arrested for theft from a vehicle.
Event commander Chief Superintendent Jeff Cooksley said: ``A large majority of the fans travelling to Cardiff came by car.
``The operation aimed to create a safer environment for vehicles that may not have been able to park at the secure designated areas.''
Football fans filled the city's pubs with friendly North-South rivalry. Many braved busy roads and rail delays to watch their teams kick off the new season.
Pete Mills, 34, an Arsenal supporter from Middlesex, said: ``There's a really good feeling out and about in Cardiff and the stadium is brilliant. I'm really looking forward to the season and this is a great start.''
Liverpool fan Christopher Mackey watched the match in a pub with friends. ``We didn't get tickets but it's the start of the season and we wanted to get a bit of atmosphere. There's a real buzz here so we don't mind not being in the stadium as much,'' he said.
See Monday Sport
CAPTION(S):
SHOWING SUPPORT Brother and sister Liverpool fans Ceara, seven, and Sean Dunn, nine. Inset, Arsenal fans Kelly Mitchell and her son Lee, five. PICTURES: Richard Swingler
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| Publication: | South Wales Echo (Cardiff, Wales) |
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| Date: | Aug 12, 2002 |
| Words: | 312 |
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