Police have advised pubs to close early on Saturday in a bid to avoid fan congestion before Palace take on Manchester United.

More than 25,000 fans are expected to travel to Selhurst Park on Saturday but with roads and train stations closed for a variety of reasons fans are being told to leave plenty of time for their journeys to the game which kicks off at 5.30pm.

The A22 at Purley and Kenley is closed following flooding in the area so motorists are planned to use another route.

Selhurst and Thornton Heath train stations are also going to be shut due to enigineering works. This means fans will need to travel to Norwood Junction if they are getting a train to the ground.

Fans who are sitting in the Whitehorse Lane stand will only be able to access the stadium through E8 as entrance E7 in Park Road will be closed.

A police spokesman confirmed they have liaised with pubs around the stadium and asked them to stop serving alcohol an hour before kick off.

The spokesman said they want to get fans safely into Selhurst Park in time for kick off.

Chief Inspector Duncan Slade, who is leading the policing operation the match said: "Our advice to both home and away fans on Saturday is to plan your journey in advance and aim to get to the ground early to make sure you don't miss any of the game.

“Both Selhurst and Thornton Heath train stations will be closed due to planned engineering, so Norwood Junction is expected to be extremely busy.

"This, coupled with the issues on roads, particularly in south Croydon where the A22 Godstone Road has been closed due to flooding, will mean it is likely to be extremely busy in and around South Norwood and Croydon on Saturday evening.

“The turnstiles open at 4pm and we'd encourage fans to get there in plenty of time to help ease congestion."

Bars open at Selhurst Park from 2.30pm and the club will also be showing the first half of the England v Ireland on screens around the ground. More information at cpfc.co.uk.


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