Greater Manchester Police estimated there were 80,000 fans in the city centre at around 2pm today. Officials were expecting 100,000 Rangers supporters to have reached Manchester by game time.

In Albert Square next to the town hall, the party was well under way as fans bopped to the music of a brass band and supporters clambered up the side of a monument and draped red, blue and white flags over it.

Small groups danced under bright sunshine around crates of beer and thirsty supporters flocked to a tent selling drinks on the edge of the zone.

Rangers fan Dave McKinley, who had travelled from Brussels in the hope of watching his side lift the Uefa Cup, was drinking in the atmosphere. The 30-year-old, originally from Irvine in Ayrshire, said: "This is the best final Manchester could have had. I think we have just boosted the local economy quite a lot. People have been really friendly, we are having a great time."

Publicly the council promised a warm welcome, with a relaxed attitude to fans drinking on the street - normally outlawed - and three fan zones with big screens.

Beer was on tap from off-licences with supporters carrying crates of cheap lager around - Tesco opened at 7am, 18 hours before kick-off.

Excitement mounted all day, as did the alcohol levels, with some fans spending hundreds of pounds on travel and hotels just to watch the game in the fan zones.

Privately it is known that city officials wanted "anyone but Rangers" to get through to the final and Manchester City Council has now ordered an urgent inquiry into last night's events.

Butchers Bill
One Russian fan was stabbed and police made 42 arrests in hours of violence in Manchester city centre during and after Glasgow Rangers' defeat.

15 police officers, as well as a police dog, were left nursing a catalogue of injuries as hundreds of riot police and drunken Rangers supporters fought running battles on the streets.

One senior officer was hit so hard his electronic earpiece was left embedded in his head and had to be surgically removed by doctors.

Another policeman was bottled over the head and another lost his front teeth after being head-butted, (the so-called "glasgow kiss" of "Auld Firm" folklore,) by a Rangers hooligan.

Other injuries received by the emergency services included bruised and cracked ribs, a dislocated shoulder, a broken finger and arm, and cuts needing stitches.

Ambulance crews also came under attack in the violence and two paramedics were reportedly also injured.

Gordon Brown already has a lot to answer for, after a miserable first 12 month's in office, but without a doubt the biggest "mistake" made by his administration, was not rescinding the 24 hour drinking laws we as a nation 'enjoy' currently.

It appears the odd drink-fueled "scuffle" which is witnessed every night of the week in towns and cities across the country is to be tolerated under this Labour government.

But last night, under the influence of thousands of gallons of readily available alcohol, a UK city was turned into a war-zone and this morning, Manchester residents, by way of their taxes, are picking up the tab and thats not right.

But perhaps worse is still to come, as UEFA must surely act on this?

Time will tell.

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