THE start time of tomorrow's York versus Luton football match has been brought forward to avoid trouble, but has put many fans off travelling to the game.

Bedfordshire Police made the decision to bring the kick-off at Luton Town forward to prevent a repeat of scenes back in May when violence erupted at the club's Kenilworth Road ground.

The game was due to start at 12noon instead of the usual 3pm kick-off time.

Hayley Clemit, of York Pullman, who provide transport for York City fans, said they were taking only one coach of 30 fans down to Luton when normally they provide three.

She said: “It's definitely the early start time that's putting people off. It means that fans have to be at Bootham Crescent to be picked up for 7am which is an early start on a Saturday.”

A spokeswoman for Bedfordshire Police said: “It's not unusual for us to ask for the start of a game to be brought forward in this was, especially when there has been a history of disturbances at previous games.

“It means we can ensure that people disperse quickly at the end of the game and without incident.”

On May 3 fans invaded the pitch at the Bedfordshire club's Kenilworth Road ground after the Minstermen won the away leg 1-0 to secure a place in the Wembley play-off final, where they eventually lost to Oxford United.

Outside the stadium, out-of-control Luton Town supporters even hurled mops and brooms at police officers after seizing the implements from a display stand outside a nearby DIY store.

Several police officers were injured in the fracas and riot police were called in to help restore order.

The violence led to both Bedfordshire and North Yorkshire Police changing and upgrading policing arrangements for this season's league fixtures between the two clubs, at Luton today and in York in March.