Coventry City fans queue for Ricoh Arena game tickets

Fans started arriving at midnight to queue outside the club shop that opens at 09:30 BST

Coventry City fans have been queuing since midnight to buy tickets to see the side's return to the Ricoh Arena.

Tickets for the game against Gillingham next Friday, went on sale at 09:30 BST.

Until a long-running row over rent was resolved last week, the club had been playing home games at Northampton Town's Sixfields stadium.

When season tickets for the Ricoh went on sale on Wednesday, people queued for up to five hours at the club shop.

'Jovial queue'

Mark Hornby, the club's marketing manager, said that demand is expected to be very high.

He said: "The staff here will absolutely try their hardest to serve as quickly as they can and we've bought in additional equipment.

"The fans have been jovial in the queue, there's been a really positive attitude within the fans and everyone's just really excited to see the club back."

Equipment had to be replaced after the club shop was ram-raided on Sunday, with thieves taking two tills as well as football strips.

Fans are being advised to buy tickets online to avoid queues.

The club's development director Steve Waggott said tickets bought online will be posted "to deflect some of the stresses and strains on people" waiting for collection.