I've been sat in worse but it wasn't brilliant. Being 6'3, I've gotten used to having very tight legroom at matches but I was in the Stretford End yesterday and the legroom was less than what I've experienced at the last two grounds I've been to (the KC Stadium and the Stadium of Light). It wasn't unbearable but I can understand how some people bigger than myself would have cause for complaint.

The bigger problem for me, and no doubt many others, was that I had the shoes of the girl sitting behind me right in my back throughout the game due to the small gap in the seat being at exactly the same level as the floor of the row behind.

Incidentally, it sounded like most of her group were at their first ever game of rugby league and enjoyed it, so it's good to see the World Cup bringing in new support - it's exactly what a lot of us want.

I dread to think what it was like earlier straight after the game in Piccadilly.
We decided we were going to get the 20:13. After queing at Burger king and waiting 10 minutes to be told it will be another 10 minutes, I asked for my money back. Within seconds my food was there. (I should never have eaten it) I don't know why I bothered making a dash to the platform as when I got there, i was only met by every other man and his dog trying to get to the platform.

After been told to go to platform 3, the train arrived and half the platform didn't get on. People were making abusive gestures at others who felt those inside the carriages could move down alittle, and it didn't look long until something would kick off, and I at least 3 women crying.

I went up the escalators on platform 3 to cut through the mayhem on the stairs at platform 13/14. When I arrived, it was quiet. By the time the train came at 21:13, it was abit unsavory. Police had to jump in more than once, people were taking cheap shots and more women were crying. Most of them were going to Stalybridge and didn't know why it was so busy.



Oh, and lastly, I've been throwing up all day due to that Burger. It was either that or not been able to move for 1 hour on a stupidly hot train that made me worse for wear.

I think I will jump on a skateboard next time

Until the last GF I went to last year, the trains on GF day haven't been too bad (busy, but not dangerous). Last time (2012 final), I was surprised that someone wasn't seriously injured the way that BTP and First Transpennine carried on.

Reading FTPE's Twitter feed, their view is that yesterday's failings were the fault of the RLWC organisers for organising a match in a city that they run services to. I really don't understand how, on a day when they know that there is a major event at Old Trafford and on a day when they know 7,000 Leeds United fans are travelling to Blackburn, they can't make arrangements.

As mentioned earlier, Manchester hosts a major football match every week with either City or United. Surely they can't get it this wrong every week?

That's their problem. They are rigid with their timetables and don't make any effort to increase capacity hiding behind the same tired excuses.

My fav moment on a northern train was travelling from Manchester to Preston on a Saturday morning. The train was overcrowded although there was no particular event on. When the tannoy announcer said "we apologise for the overcrowding. This is due to ....." many passengers paused to hear the reason. " the high volume of passengers". Kind of sums up the attitude of rail companies.

Used the metrolink from crumpsall and it was hectic, went for the tram at 12 and 2 went past full. this is a few stops before even getting to the centre. We eventually managed to squash onto one which was packed, it then stopped at victoria and had people running and jumping to squash in which was downright idiotic. then every other station there was no chance.

We left the ground just after the trophy was presented and got our skates on, probably queued for about 25 minutes for a tram which wasn't too bad, a couple went past full because obviously people where just going to altrincham then swapping over but eventually some empty carriages where sent.

I've never seen Manchester so busy, stayed over and today was just as bad because of the markets. It seems that they just couldn't be bothered adding extra services/carriages to cope with the demand, Certainly wouldn't be blaming the RFL.

Never had a problem going to football at Old Trafford. Maybe it's drunken RL fans that are the problem?

It gets busy at Stockport when city are at home but thats about it really.

Leaving your pit village and going to big city must be a huge shift in mindset. Trains, buses lots of people etc

It's bit like your annual trip to Butlins

Driving there, alright until opposite side of Pennines where hit traffic and was crawling through M60 then rammed going towards Old Trafford due to traffic cones and closed lanes. Why oh why do roadworks when there's an event on? Set off around 11:10 and turned up around 13:45.

Parking not clearly signed/poorly signed too and Old Trafford needs signing better from M60.

Coming back, sweet as a nut.

On the whole, though, it was probably easier to get to Eastlands than it was Old Trafford for the Magic Weekend.

Try this next time.
If you go the long way round the M60 (avoiding the usual Saturday mayhem near Trafford Centre). Yes it's longer in miles…but a lot quicker in time.

We did.

There was an accident between Jcn 18 and Jcn 15, which meant the entire M60 was blocked up.