The Football Association have been accused of ignoring the needs of rank-and-file supporters after brushing aside warnings from train operators that a 5.15pm FA Cup final kick-off next month could lead to some fans being stranded in London after the game.
The FA announced that the showpiece clash between Wigan and Manchester City on May 11 will kick off in a late afternoon slot, meaning that fans of neither club will be able to make the final trains back to the north-west scheduled for that day.
Now Wigan and City supporters have reacted angrily after it emerged Richard Branson's Virgin trains company told the FA that they would not be able to get fans home if they decided on a 5.15pm start.
City slickers: Carlos Tevez (centre) leads the celebrations as he lifts the 2011 FA Cup following a 1-0 win over Stoke - that final kicked off at the traditional time of 3pm
All aboard: Passengers prepare to board a Virgin service from Euston last year - football fans will face a dash to make the last trains home after next month's Cup final
Kevin Parker, general secretary of the Manchester City Supporters Club, said: 'It is not often you see the words FA and common sense in the same sentence and they have excelled themselves again here. In fact, those words are rarely even in the same chapter these days.
'There is just no logic or clear thinking to this at all. They just don't care about us. I wasn't surprised when I heard the game would be at 5.15pm. But to find out now that Virgin had actually warned the FA of the problem before they made the decision is astonishing. It just makes the whole thing even worse.
'The hotel companies will be rubbing their hands and putting their prices through the roof and the fans will just be further out of pocket.
'Even a 12.45pm kick-off would have been better than this. I still don't know what's wrong with a good old 3pm, of course, but the FA don't seem to like those anymore do they? They seem to want to look after the people who may want to watch on TV. That is what they put it on at 5.15pm.
'But what about the die-hard fans who want to actually go to the game? Do we not matter anymore?'The last train from London back to Wigan on a Saturday evening is at 8.30pm while the final service to Manchester leaves Euston at 9pm.
This means that fans will have to travel by road — with both sets of supporters using the same motorways — or stay over in expensive London hotels.
Branson warned the FA about the problem a year ago when last season's final between Chelsea and Liverpool was scheduled for the same kick-off time.
In a statement, Virgin said: 'We have had a direct dialogue with both the FA and Wembley Stadium [and told them] that if teams from the North West were to be involved in the FA Cup final at Wembley then a 17:15 kick off would mean supporters would be unable to return to the North West that evening.
'We appreciate that the FA do have major commercial considerations in agreeing to a teatime kick off, but to be fair to all concerned we thought that that at least it (the FA) should be made aware of the situation as soon as possible.
'Because of the possibility of extra time and penalties, Wigan and Manchester City supporters will be unlikely to see the end of the match and catch any advertised return service back to Wigan or Manchester that evening.
'The railway for longer distance travel on the West Coast Main Line closes earlier on a Saturday to give Network Rail sufficient time to carry out essential maintenance and inspections on Western Europe's busiest mixed traffic railway.'
'The unpredictability of exactly when the match will end, coupled with the earlier close down of the route for essential maintenance and inspection, means that the planning of any additional services is extremely difficult given the high numbers of supporters that would attempt to return to the North West that evening.
'We would much rather that everyone fully understands the position well in advance so they can make their plans accordingly.'
Parker also warned that some fans will already have bought train tickets anticipating a 3pm kick-off.He added: 'One problem will be that some fans will have bought train tickets for the Saturday already, not knowing that the game would be at 5.15pm.
'I don't envisage any crowd trouble on the day between the two sets of fans. But there is always greater potential if you encourage people to drink all day. That is just another reason why this doesn't make any sense.'
Holders: Chelsea's English contingent (from left) Daniel Sturridge, Gary Cahill, Ashley Cole, John Terry and Frank Lampard celebrate with the Cup last year
Wigan Supporters Club spokesman Jason Taylor said: 'It seems the FA are more interested in what the television companies want than the logistics of supporters getting to and from their final.
'It's not just us, it affects Manchester City as well. They are only 18 miles away and we will be using the same roads and, if it was possible, train lines. It was a nightmare for the semi-final.'
The FA didn't wish to comment last night but it is understood that their previous research has told them that less than 3,000 supporters usually travel to an FA Cup final by train.
The governing body have also stressed privately that the money they receive from TV coverage of the game is ploughed back in to the game.
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