Cark park arrangements leave sour taste during Milk Cup clash at JDLC

One of the largest crowds ever at the venue packed in to watch hosts Northern Ireland take on China in the Elite Section of the competition with the men in green needing a win to progress to the next stages.

Local fans were left ecstatic by a resounding 5-0 victory for Northern Ireland but some callers to the Times the following day claimed the evening had been marred due to heavy traffic congestion after the game.

Cars lined both sides of the Garryduff Road and Riada Avenue causing bottle necks when spectators flooded out of the Riada Stadium at the final whistle.

Fans who were at the game said the problem could have been alleviated had a car park adjacent to the ground - which has 84 parking spaces - been opened to the public.

“I wouldn’t say it was chaos,” said one caller.

“But it was pretty frustrating having to sit in the car after the game until other people moved their vehicles.

“People were blocked in and even those who weren’t had difficulties negotiating their way along the Garryduff Road and Riada Avenue as cars were parked on either side of the road.

“And all this when there was a car park sitting empty. It beggars belief really.”

A spokesperson for Ballymoney Borough Council said: “The car park was kept closed at the request of Milk Cup representatives.”

A Milk Cup spokesperson was unavailable for comment prior to going to print.