FA Cup final thrown into disarray with latest train strikes

There is set to be chaos for Manchester United and Manchester City fans getting to Wembley for the FA Cup final, thanks to the latest train strikes.

Last weekend, City took another step towards winning The Treble this season, when they easily dispatched Sheffield United in the semi-final.

The most noteworthy part of the game was the number of empty seats at Wembley, again bringing questions about the final four matches exclusively taking place in London.

Victor Lindelof's penalty the following day, with more fans present, ensured that June 3rd will see the first Manchester derby in a major final.

Should City have wrapped up the Premier League title, which they would most likely have done the week before, and advanced to the Champions League final, it could be a pivotal game in their quest for the top three trophies in one campaign.

Either way it will be a massive occasion, with the national stadium likely to be full, mainly of fans who have travelled down from Manchester, all jokes aside.

The game had been moved to a 3pm kick off, due to concerns about policing, the first time the game will have kicked off at that time in 12 years.

But fans now face issues getting to the game on time when coming down from the north west, with the ASLEF Union confirming more rail strikes for June 3rd.

Amongst the 16 train operating companies affected are Avanti, with the company running the service that goes from Manchester Piccadilly to London Euston.

United players celebrate beating Brighton. Image: Alamy

Members of the union, which includes some 13,000 drivers, will also walk out on both May 12th and 31st, the former which could affect the first leg of a League One play-off.

But it is the walk out in June which will have the greatest impact on football, with fans going to be travelling down in their hoards.

The lack of trains will mean that supporters could have to find alternative transport or travel down the day before with a much greater cost, in terms of both travel and accommodation.

Aslef's general secretary Mick Whelan rightly said, "The blame for this action lies, fairly and squarely, at the feet of the employers who have forced our hand over this by their intransigence."

On the reason for the latest strikes, Whelan added, "Our executive committee met this morning and rejected a risible proposal we received from a pressure group which represents some of the train companies.

"The proposal - of just 4% - was clearly not designed to be accepted as inflation is still running north of 10% and our members at these companies have not had an increase for four years."