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| Wembley opener attracts thousands | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Thousands of football fans have settled in at the new £800m Wembley Stadium to watch the first official fixture there. | |
| About 60,000 supporters are watchingtch the sell-out match between England and Italy's under-21 teams. | |
| Although it is a world record attendance for an under-21s game, the stadium is only two-thirds full. | |
| The Metropolitan Police advised spectators to use public transport to and from the venue, as there is no general public parking at the site. | |
| Cars towed | Cars towed |
| Ch Supt Dave George said: "Although people travelled to the old stadium by car, there's no general public parking at the new stadium. | Ch Supt Dave George said: "Although people travelled to the old stadium by car, there's no general public parking at the new stadium. |
| "Because of this we're asking people to use public transport and allow plenty of time for queuing and being searched on entry to the stadium." | "Because of this we're asking people to use public transport and allow plenty of time for queuing and being searched on entry to the stadium." |
| Parking at the stadium is pre-booked in advance and strictly restricted to coaches and blue badge holders. | Parking at the stadium is pre-booked in advance and strictly restricted to coaches and blue badge holders. |
| In the surrounding areas a residents' only parking scheme is in place and cars parked illegally will be fined and towed away. | In the surrounding areas a residents' only parking scheme is in place and cars parked illegally will be fined and towed away. |
| The under-21 game is the second of two "ramp-up" events the stadium must host before it can be given a safety certificate - paving the way for May's FA Cup final. | The under-21 game is the second of two "ramp-up" events the stadium must host before it can be given a safety certificate - paving the way for May's FA Cup final. |
| Last week, up to 40,000 people attended a special "community day" at the London venue and watched a celebrity kick-about. | Last week, up to 40,000 people attended a special "community day" at the London venue and watched a celebrity kick-about. |
| On Saturday, officials will also be checking to see how improvements to the main local Tube station at Wembley Park hold up to the pressure of large crowds. | On Saturday, officials will also be checking to see how improvements to the main local Tube station at Wembley Park hold up to the pressure of large crowds. |
| Alex Horne, Wembley's managing director, said: "The community day was our first step towards obtaining our general safety certificate. | Alex Horne, Wembley's managing director, said: "The community day was our first step towards obtaining our general safety certificate. |
| 'Teething problems' | 'Teething problems' |
| "We were very pleased with the event and are now learning from the inevitable teething problems that we experienced on the day." | "We were very pleased with the event and are now learning from the inevitable teething problems that we experienced on the day." |
| Once the London borough of Brent has issued the general safety certificate, the FA will be in a position to confirm the FA Cup final can be held there on 19 May. | Once the London borough of Brent has issued the general safety certificate, the FA will be in a position to confirm the FA Cup final can be held there on 19 May. |
| The international friendly against Italy is being billed as a "key part" of England's preparations for this summer's Uefa European Under-21 Championship. The match sold out in less than six hours. | The international friendly against Italy is being billed as a "key part" of England's preparations for this summer's Uefa European Under-21 Championship. The match sold out in less than six hours. |
| It comes just a few hours before the senior England team take on Israel in Tel Aviv for a Euro 2008 qualifier. | It comes just a few hours before the senior England team take on Israel in Tel Aviv for a Euro 2008 qualifier. |