Rangers fans rush to book travel to Seville

Thousands of Rangers fans are caught up in an online stampede to book travel to Seville for the Europa League final.

The team secured a place in their first European final in 14 years after a 3-1 victory against RB Leipzig at Ibrox.

Up to 9,500 tickets have been made available for fans, according to the club's supporters liaison officer. The Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán stadium has a capacity of about 40,000.

Supporters have rushed to book travel to get to Spain a week on Wednesday.

John Lundstram's goal sent fans rushing to travel websites looking to find any way they could to get to the city for the final against Eintracht Frankfurt.

One Scottish travel agent, Barrhead Travel, has arranged a charter flight after being contacted by thousands of fans hoping to head to Seville.

• Rangers couldn't write better script

• Rangers stun Leipzig to reach Europa League final

• Rangers reach final...how the action unfolded

Fans, however, will have to pay at least £849 per person for the day return flight, which does not include tickets for the match.

Post-Brexit travel rules also mean that passports must have been issued less than 10 years ago, and be valid for at least three months after the date of leaving.

The firm's president, Jacqueline Dobson, said: "This is a once in a lifetime trip for many Rangers fans. We're pleased that we have been able to quickly react to demand and help hundreds of fans realise their dreams of being in Seville while their team plays in the final."

The travel company said it was continuing to investigate more charter options.

Rangers fans want to see their team compete in the Europa League final against Eintracht Frankfurt

Glasgow Airport said "a number" of airlines had asked for extra slots to fly Rangers fans to Seville.

The airport was unable to say which airlines and how many requests had been lodged for additional direct flights. Bosses were holding meetings on Friday afternoon to work out what would be possible.

Simon Calder, travel editor at The Independent, said fans would find ever more creative routes to Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán Stadium.

He told BBC Radio's Good Morning Scotland programme that flights were already scarce.

"The only direct flights from the UK that will get you there on the day of the match in good time and fly you back the next day are Easyjet from Gatwick and it looks as though Rangers fans who live in London are already flying out on those flights," he said.

He added: "Bluntly, the longer you can stay in Spain the less it will cost. So you could book a lovely package holiday on the Costa del Sol and make a side trip. Trains from Malaga only take a couple of hours and cost £50 or £60 return."

Return Easyjet flights from Glasgow to Seville, which are not even direct flights, had soared to £1,379 by Friday afternoon.

Hotel charges have also been soaring online.

The cheapest deal for a three-star hotel on a popular hotel booking site for one night on Wednesday 18 May, was £476 for two people the morning after the Ibrox side made the final.

'Seville will be rocking'

Richie Marr, 37, from Glasgow, booked flights and accommodation to Seville before the semi-final "in the hope we'd make it".

Mr Marr and four others will fly to Alicante on 17 May staying at a friend's house in Torrevieja. On the day of the final they will make the five-hour drive in a rental car to Seville, with an Airbnb booked in the city for the evening.

Richie Marr, Alistair Matheson and Harry Bain are Seville-bound

Mr Marr said he was hoping to get tickets but said: "Just being there will be amazing.

"We are absolutely over the moon they did it. Seville will be rocking. There's nowhere else in the world we'd rather be."

Jim Shields from Stewarton is travelling with his niece for the game. They are flying into Barcelona and will need to find a way to get to Seville which is about a six-hour train journey away.

He said: "We have managed to get a flight into Barcelona from Edinburgh on Wednesday morning and a flight back from Barcelona on Thursday morning.

"We need to figure out a way between Barcelona and Seville in between, we are looking at flights, trains, bus and hiring a car."

West Ham fans have also been selling plane tickets to Rangers fans via social media after buying them early in case their team made it to the final.

Sam Kilbey from London booked seven flights from London Luton to Malaga.

West Ham fans Jack Kilbey, Alfie King, Tommy Kilbey, Alfie Yeoman, Sam Kilbey wanted to help Rangers fans

He said: "Rangers fans are through to the final, so I will do the name transfer on the flight if any of them want it."

Harry Mortimer from Essex sold his tickets to two Rangers Fans at their face value of £90.

"You can't be ripping football fans off," he said. "It's a once in a lifetime opportunity."

'Need a bigger stadium'

There is not expected to be any shortage of fans willing to pay whatever it takes.

Sports writer and commentator, Roddy Forsyth, told BBC Scotland: "The Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán stadium has a capacity of not that much more than 40,000.

"So if we take all the Rangers fans who were there last night, plus all the relatives and friends who want to go then we would need to have a stadium four or five times that size."