An elderly Liverpool fan who has followed the Reds to all their European finals will miss the big match after his flight to Kiev was cancelled at the last minute.
Ernie Ashley has supported Liverpool for 68 years, and tonight’s Champions League clash would have been his 13th European final.
But instead the 75-year-old will be listening to the game on the radio alone with no way of joining his fellow diehards at the match.
Ernie Ashley, 75, has supported Liverpool for 68 years, and tonight’s Champions League clash would have been his 13th European final – but instead his flight was cancelled
Last night, Mr Ashley received the devastating news that his flight to Kiev was cancelled – just hours before he was due to leave for the airport.
‘This would have been the 13th final for me. I was in bed at 7pm because I had to be up early for my taxi at 3am,’ he said.
‘I got a call at 7.10pm saying the flight had been cancelled. The girl was in tears telling me and I was in tears with her to be honest with you.’
‘There’s definitely something unlucky about 13 finals for me.’
Thousands of Liverpool fans descended on Kiev for the Champions League final against Real Madrid
Instead the 75-year-old will be listening to the game on the radio alone with no way of joining his fellow diehards at the match
With a ticket to the final but no way of getting to Kiev, Mr Ashley said he could’t bear the idea of going out to watch the match anywhere in Liverpool tonight, so he’ll be following the game on the radio.
‘I’ll be putting the wireless on – my nerves are gone. I’m just so sad that there’s a ticket here and there are some good lads that have not got one,’ he said.
‘I’ll live to see another final under [Liverpool manager Jürgen] Klopp – that’s the main thing.’
The Anfield season ticket holder said he feared it may be too late for him to pass his ticket on to another lucky supporter who is heading to Kiev.
‘Here I am stuck with my match ticket. I’d love to go down to the airport and give it to a genuine fan but you don’t know in this day and age – they might sell it over the odds and it would come back to me,’ he said.
‘I could lose my season ticket. I’ve been watching them for 68 years, I don’t want that to happen. It breaks my heart, the Reds fans, good lads with no tickets, and there’s me here with a ticket.
Last night, Mr Ashley received the devastating news that his flight to Kiev was cancelled – just hours before he was due to leave for the airport
The Anfield season ticket holder said he feared it may be too late for him to pass his ticket on to another lucky supporter who is heading to Kiev
‘I’m scared to go down and give it to someone in case it goes in the wrong hands.’
Hundreds more football fans were stranded after another Liverpool to Kiev flight was cancelled last night.
Myriad Travel said one of their chartered flights set for the Champions League final would not be able to travel this morning.
Passengers booked on JTA flight number 1 from Liverpool Airport at 6am were told of the news just after 6pm yesterday.
Liverpool Football Club claimed the cancelled flight was operated by Air Partner Ltd and booked through Myriad Travel and Crown Travel.
With a ticket to the final but no way of getting to Kiev, Mr Ashley said he could’t bear the idea of going out to watch the match anywhere in Liverpool tonight, so he’ll be following the game on the radio
Hundreds more football fans were stranded after another Liverpool to Kiev flight was cancelled last night
Myriad travel is based in Woolton and Crown Travel is based in Allerton.
‘Liverpool FC has been made aware of the cancellation of a further charter flight to Kiev operated by Air Partner Ltd and booked through travel agents Myriad Travel and Crown Travel,’ the club said.
The team said those with cancelled flights were entitled to apply for a refund of their match ticket for the Champions League final.
‘We are sorry to advise that flight 1 (SVB116) to KIEV has been cancelled by our supplier JTA in the last few hours,’ Myriad Travel said.
‘We have been desperately trying to source an alternative but none are available. Flight refunds will be issued ASAP. The other three flights are not affected.’
Passengers booked on JTA flight number 1 from Liverpool Airport at 6am were told of the news just after 6pm yesterday
Liverpool FC said those with cancelled flights were entitled to apply for a refund of their match ticket for the Champions League final
The tweet also included a statement from JTA that claimed the charter provider did not hold the correct licence to fly.
Supporters were sent a document from Myriad Travel last night which appeared to come from the provider JTA travel.
‘It is with great regret we have to advise of the cancellation of your upcoming flight to Kiev,’ it read.
‘The aircraft charter provider has notified us that the aircraft does not have the correct licence to fly and has refused to provide any further assistance or suitable alternative.
‘JTA are the agent of air partner and have exhausted all alternate options due to such late notice and therefore cannot provide an alternative flight due to aircraft availability and slots available at such a late stage.
Hundreds of other fans who booked with World Choice Sports were also delivered a devastating blow on Thursday when three planes bound for Kiev were cancelled
JTA claimed the charter provider did not hold the correct licence to fly
‘This is no reflection on your reputable independent travel agent Myriad & Crown Travel you have booked via, who we have worked extensively with to try secure alternatives for you.
‘A full refund of all monies paid for flights will be reimbursed to your agent and we cannot express our sincere apologies and regret for this cancellation.’
‘We deeply regret that the original aircraft was not able to fly,’ Air Partner said.
‘On Thursday morning, we offered a number of alternative aircraft solutions to the travel agent that contracted us, but they declined them, and we fully refunded the travel agent.’
Hundreds of other fans who booked with World Choice Sports were also delivered a devastating blow on Thursday when three planes bound for Kiev were cancelled.
Hundreds of other fans who booked with World Choice Sports were also delivered a devastating blow on Thursday when three planes bound for Kiev were cancelled