Fans' anger at FA Cup round trip

Wolves will travel to Ninian Park in Cardiff for the FA Cup fifth round

Football fans have complained they have to travel over 100 miles to catch a coach back to Wales for an FA Cup game.

Wolverhampton Wanderers fan Claire Elliot says she will boycott the game against Cardiff City as it means travelling past her home in Cwmbran.

South Wales Police defended their plan for 2,000 Wolves fans to use official club coaches for the fifth round clash.

The force said Cardiff fans would face similar restrictions in the event of a return fixture after the 16 Feb game.

The ruling has been brought in following a history of crowd trouble between the two sides.

We'll have to drive all the way to Wolverhampton, get on a coach back to Cardiff which passes my house on the way, watch the game, then get back on the coach and drive back to Wolverhampton before driving back to Cwmbran Claire Elliot, Wolves fan from Cwmbran

Nurse Ms Elliot, 40, speaking to the Express & Star newspaper in Wolverhampton, said: "There are lots of [Wolves fans] in south Wales and we think it's crazy."

She added: "I've been told that if we want to attend the match, we'll have to drive all the way to Wolverhampton, get on a coach back to Cardiff which passes my house on the way, watch the game, then get back on the coach and drive back to Wolverhampton before driving back to Cwmbran - it's ludicrous.

WOLVES' FANS' LONG JOURNEY Wolves fan Claire Elliot would have to start her journey from Cwmbran home She would have to make her way to Wolverhampton She would then have to join the official coach from Wolverhampton to Cardiff After the game she would be supposed to leave Cardiff and head back on the official coach back to Wolverhampton From Wolverhampton she would then have to drive back to Cwmbran

"There are a lot of Wolves fans who live a long way from Molineux [stadium] and we've been totally ignored and neglected.

"I see every [Wolves] home and away game and have had a season ticket for 23 years, but I am going to boycott the game and complain to the FA over this."

Wolves supporter Kevin Jones, 51, from Llanedeyrn, Cardiff, said: "I've had a season ticket for 10 years and have been travelling to every game since 1990. I think it's absolutely disgusting.

"I just think there's no respect for the fans these days."

Wolves have criticised the restrictions imposed on their fans. Chief executive Jez Moxey has claimed the club had done "everything possible" to persuade South Wales police to change the restrictions.

'Intelligence-led'

South Wales Police Supt Bob Tooby said the travel restrictions had been "implemented successfully many times previously and will be implemented again at the Cardiff City v Bristol City game in a few weeks' time".

He said: "The plan allows for 2,000 away fans to travel to Cardiff City by organised coaches only. West Midlands Police fully support our plan and have reciprocal arrangements in place should a draw dictate a return fixture.

"Our policing plan is intelligence led and takes into account factors such as significant building work in the vicinity of the stadium as well as reconstruction work on the M4 corridor.

"South Wales Police is considered best practice in terms of policing football and specialist officers are experienced at policing football matches at all levels."