Celtic fans Keane on United match
MANCHESTER (AFP) - Roy Keane's testimonial match at Old Trafford next month is set to attract one of the largest numbers of away fans ever seen at a British football match.
Celtic, Keane's current club, have requested an astonishing 20,000 tickets for the May 9 match which is being staged in honour of the Republic of Ireland midfielder's 12 years with United.
Following talks with safety officers, United decided the only way they could cope with such a huge influx of away fans was by allocating Celtic the entire North Stand, which has a capacity of approximately 25,000.
It is still anticipated Celtic will sell their entire allocation, helping to swell the attendance to well over 70,000.
Former United captain Keane has already pledged to give away 1,000 tickets to Manchester schoolchildren and local United supporters clubs.
And it is expected the proceeds, which are likely to be in excess of 2.5 million pounds, will be donated to the Irishman's favourite charities.
Meanwhile, officials are confident of breaking the United record for a home game at Old Trafford when they entertain Arsenal on Sunday.
With more seats set to be made available in the new quadrants, United chiefs believe they will surpass the 70,504 crowd which attended a league game against Aston Villa back in 1920, long before the advent of all-seater stadiums set a limit on attendances at major football grounds.
However, even when the expansion is fully completed, Old Trafford's capacity will still fall short of the 76,962 who saw the FA Cup semi-final between Wolves and Grimsby at the ground in 1946.
Celtic will clinch the Scottish Premier League title if they beat Hearts at Parkhead later Wednesday.
But Keane, who won seven Premiership titles and four FA Cups in the course of 480 appearances for United, will not be playing in that match as the 34-year-old is currently out of action with a hamstring injury sustained in Celtic's Scottish League Cup Final win over Dunfermline last month.