POLICE have backed down over travel restrictions imposed on away fans for the Town v Hull City clash on Saturday, March 30.
West Yorkshire Police had limited Hull to just 1,500 tickets and insisted they must travel from Hull on official club coaches.
That sparked anger from fans and the threat of legal action from a 15-year-old Hull fan from Manchester.
Now, after talks between police and the two clubs, a compromise has been agreed.
That means police have increased the away allocation to 1,700 and Hull fans based outside the city will be able to travel independently.
However fans must park up at Hartshead Moor Services on the M62, collect their tickets and be driven to the John Smith’s Stadium on official coaches.
Police say other arrangements will be made for a small number of Hull fans who live in Huddersfield and those who have already booked train tickets.
West Yorkshire’s assistant chief constable Craig Guildford said: “We have listened carefully to the concerns of fans and those who have raised concerns on their behalf.
“We have worked together collectively in modifying the transport arrangements which will promote safety in line with our collective responsibilities.
“Consequently the transport arrangements have been modified to facilitate free parking in West Yorkshire for fans wishing to travel independently.
“This will be at the Hartshead Moor services between junctions 25 and 26 of the M62 and will be stewarded by Hull City officials who have agreed to provide tickets at the services on the day to Hull City fans who reside outside the area.
“Once they have collected their tickets, those fans will be taken to the ground on buses provided by Hull City“.”
Police initially wanted the game to kick off at 12.30pm and rejected a request for the match to be screened live on Sky with a 5.20pm start.
They were forced to back the later kick-off – with strict conditions – when Town were threatened with a points deduction for breaching the Sky deal by failing to host a live TV game this season.
Police had previously vetoed Sky matches against Leeds and Cardiff.
