Clean-up after mayhem

Dean Kirby

May 15, 2008

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Fans walk through piles of rubbish.

Fans walk through piles of rubbish. 1/4 Play Slideshow

A MASSIVE clean-up operation was underway today as Manchester took a deep breath and began dealing with the aftermath of last night’s mayhem.

The city centre was strewn with 250,000 tonnes of rubbish, with many areas including Piccadilly Gardens left looking like a giant waste tip.

Millions of empty bottles, cans and fast-food wrappers carpeted the streets – and there was a strong smell of urine, stale beer and vomit.

An army of workmen arrived to clear away the mess as dawn broke.

Commuters and city centre residents expressed their astonishment at the devastation that greeted them as they walked through Piccadilly early today.

Hundreds of Rangers’ supporters were meanwhile trying to snatch some sleep as they waited for trains at Piccadilly station, as workers swept up around them.

"Shock"

Debbie O’Malley, 43, from Sale, said: “It was a shock coming into the city this morning. I’ve never seen it like this.

“The devastation is just unreal. I’ve got Scottish blood in me and it makes that bit of me cringe to see what’s happened. I’m in shock.”

City centre resident Sven Morris, 42, also expressed his shock, but said Manchester should have been better prepared for the Rangers fans’ arrival.

He said: “Manchester has made a lot of money out of this, but it’s a disgrace the way they’ve handled it.

“There should probably have been more fans’ zones in the city. The idea that people are freely drinking alcohol around the city is a bit out of order really.

“But what do you expect? There’s more than a 100,000 people here drinking. I’m absolutely astonished. This was nice, peaceful Piccadilly Gardens – but look at it now.

“They came to party and they certainly did.”

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miss_manc, Swinton (15/05/2008 at 10:43)

yep alot of rubbish mixed in with wee and poo :s

Feelin Blue, Alderley Edge (15/05/2008 at 10:46)

Pat Karney you are a disgrace. Rangers fans, you shame your city and your country.

Rachel (15/05/2008 at 10:55)

It is absolutely disgusting, Piccadilly Gardens is a lovely place, now it is no more than my local rubbish tip that stinks of urine. These Ranger fans should be ashamed of themselves. Their behaviour after the match was despicable and they should be made to clean up, not go back to Scotland and leave it to the Council here to deal with.

What an unpleasant sight and smell it was greeting me this morning when I arrived in Manchester on my way to work.

I am most disappointed.

jonno (15/05/2008 at 10:59)

I would be embarrassed to say I support Rangers and came to Manchester last night. I had to wipe my feet before I came into my office to get rid of the broken glass, urine, sick and kebabs from the soles of my shoes. They are disgusting. Okay so the screen didn't work but is this the way to respond?

J C (15/05/2008 at 11:04)

So who is paying for this???
Manchester Tax payers?
OR is Glasgow football club or councils going to foot the bill???????

It's their mess, make them pay not us who work hard and get nothing back!!!!!!

alvinlwh (15/05/2008 at 11:10)

That looks like a picture of Glasgow.

Mr Manchester (15/05/2008 at 11:21)

Shame on these Rangers fans. What a reflection on your city.

Never, never return.

jomov, Manchester (15/05/2008 at 11:22)

Well if MCC had supplied enough facilities the fans wouldn't have had to turn our city into a toilet would they.

I think it's a disgrace that MCC couldn't think ahead and provide more bins, toilets etc.

It's not rocket science!!

Neil Walbran (15/05/2008 at 13:27)

I woke up this morning to find a drunk rangers fan trying to break into my car. He then accosted a woman on her way to work who was clearly terrified and broke free when i started shouting down from my balcony. Walking to work through the wreckage and mess was appalling. I used to be an exponent of Scottish fans but no longer. Manchester - and Scotland - deserve an apology from Rangers

Mr Manchester (15/05/2008 at 13:28)

Jomov: wake up.

Rangers fans attacked the police. Rangers fans stabbed a Russian fan. Rangers fans trashed areas of the city centre to 'thank' Mancunians for their hospitality, and for laying on facilities. Who's footing the tab for the aftermath? The people of this city.

And you're saying more bins and toilets would have made for an orderly evening?

Rachel Fiddy (15/05/2008 at 13:30)

If MCC did put in extra toilets and bins, that would not have changed a thing as when people are drunk, the bins and toilets are not convenient enough, the floor is. People could go on all day by saying if MCC did this and if MCC did that, that would not have changed a thing with what the Rangers fans did.

Minxie, Manchester (15/05/2008 at 16:31)

"People could go on all day by saying if MCC did this and if MCC did that, that would not have changed a thing with what the Rangers fans did. " I heartily agree, Rachel. At the end of the day, it was the 'fans' that caused the problem of the carnage in town.
The only thing I want MMC to do is never permit this sort of "party" to happen again in OUR city.

R.A.D. Stainforth, Manchester (15/05/2008 at 16:34)

I'm booking a trip to Glasgow so I can urinate in Sauchiehall Street.

bluesincebirth (15/05/2008 at 17:27)

My lovely City - yes I am proud to be a Manc although live just over the border down Cheadle way now - now tell me - there might not be enough loos on Sunday for the Great manchester Run - granted only 31,000 running it but could be another 20,000 watching it - BUT there will be no wrecking of the City that day or people urinating or worse on the streets - why is it that football fans - no - a certain portion of football fans - have to begave like this - I wont say like animals - animals only do what is natural

Mr Manchester (15/05/2008 at 18:11)

Manchester Council: address the clean up bill to the Scottish Parliament.

They should be made to pay for their filth, from their scum, to be removed.

Papa John (15/05/2008 at 20:42)

Having been in Manchester yestderday i can say that although there is always going to be mess during this kind of event i really dont think there was enough prep.

We arrived in the City around 1pm and already what few bins we seen were already over flowing. We did not see any portaloos until after the game when we passed 4 ina random street in fact police officers were directing people to an alleyway when being asked where th toilets were. I am not someone who would ever urinate in public but when pubs dont lt anyone in and their is a no portaloos what do people really expect????

Also the fanszones were so crammed that manouvering in them was hard enough - seaching in these areas for bins was impossible.

I think in future a little better thought is needed in advance....

jomov, Manchester (15/05/2008 at 21:51)

Mr Manchester - wake up yourself - for the amount of fans that arrived here to watch the match you would expect proper facilities to be supplied (unless you were a dog who isn't a stranger to cocking his leg up a lamp post), the amount of bottles, cans etc. that were piled up all over the place as well - it was diabolical. And that is without 12 hour drinking (at least) prior to the game.

What would you expect? A tap dance? Be real man, I know from what I saw (and could smell) that it wasn't good enough. Unprepared and unplanned sums it up.

Shannon D, manchester (16/05/2008 at 20:00)

I'm wondering.... with all the plastic carrier bags, cans and bottles littering our city, how much of it was sent for recycling.....

mark gordon (16/05/2008 at 23:28)

How many tonnes of free papers? Silly idea really to give these out or was it part of a bigger plot?

mark gordon (16/05/2008 at 23:35)

Your corrupt council should pay for the clear up and never be allowed any type of event in the future.First impressions last ""WE DONT WANT YOU HERE"" well see how moscow copes and looks next week shall we.Councillors watch out you will slip up somewhere and we will be waiting shame on you to stitch up rangers fc.

g fit, salford (17/05/2008 at 04:56)

200,000 people penned into such a small area are going to create litter its impossible not too,manchester council provided no bins and very little in portaloo,s either.
it did however create around 50million pounds for the city that day so maybe a very small proportion of that should have been for more skips bins and whatever else was needed.
mr manchester you are a first class div by the way.i live in manchester myself but never in a million years would i proclaim myself as the voice of the city.you want to have a word with yourself.

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