A travellers camp set up at a Birmingham City car park prevented supporters from parking for the club’s FA Cup tie, leading to traffic disruption and frustration among fans.
The unauthorised encampment occupied the car park at the club’s training ground, which is normally used for matchday parking. As a result, hundreds of supporters were forced to find alternative parking or were delayed in reaching the stadium for the third-round fixture.
Matchday parking chaos
Birmingham City had designated the car park for fans attending the FA Cup game, but the travellers’ presence meant the facility was unavailable. Stewards and club staff redirected vehicles to other parking areas, but the situation caused significant tailbacks on surrounding roads.
One supporter, speaking to BirminghamWorld, said: “We arrived early, but the car park was blocked off. There was no warning, and we had to drive around for nearly an hour to find somewhere else to park. It was chaos.”
Club response and police involvement
The club issued a statement acknowledging the disruption and said it was working with the local authority and police to resolve the situation. A spokesperson for Birmingham City said: “We are aware of the unauthorised encampment at our training ground car park and are liaising with the relevant authorities to have the matter resolved as quickly as possible.”
West Midlands Police confirmed they were aware of the encampment and were assisting the club and the council. A police spokesperson said: “We are working with partners to address the situation and ensure the safety of all involved.”
Impact on fans and community
The disruption added to the frustration of fans already dealing with the usual matchday congestion. Some supporters missed the start of the game, and others expressed concerns about the lack of advance notice.
The encampment also raised broader issues about the management of unauthorised traveller sites in the area. Local councillors have called for a review of security measures at the training ground to prevent similar incidents in the future.
A council spokesperson said: “We are aware of the situation and are working with the club and police to find a lawful solution. We understand the impact this has had on supporters and the local community.”
The FA Cup match went ahead as scheduled, but the parking disruption served as a reminder of the challenges posed by unauthorised encampments on matchdays. The club has said it will review its parking arrangements for future fixtures to minimise the risk of recurrence.
