THOUSANDS of football fans were last night travelling to Eindhoven to roar on Middlesbrough in the biggest match in the club's history.

As the players flew out yesterday morning for tonight's UEFA Cup final, tens of thousands of fans were preparing to follow.

Although only 9,200 tickets were made available to Boro fans, many more are expected to travel to Holland for manager Steve McClaren's last match before he takes over the England job from Sven Goran Eriksson after the World Cup.

Tickets for Boro's clash with Spanish side Sevilla were changing hands for 20 times their face value last night as desperate fans paid huge amounts to get a seat in the PSV Stadium, which has a capacity of under 32,000.

A spokesman for the Eindhoven Tourist Information office said every hotel in the town was fully booked. The nearest accommodation was 25 miles away.

He said: "The town is totally full. Fans who come here without accommodation already booked will have nowhere to sleep."

But the lucky ones were simply delighted to be following their team, who have performed heroics in this season's European campaign.

Building site manager Tony Adams, 63, from Darlington, said: "To me this is a dream come true."

Some Boro fans said they were surprised by the number of Sevilla supporters who had made the long journey from southern Spain.

Boro supporter Esme Richardson, 25, who lives in Carlisle but who is originally from Yarm, paid £170 on Internet auction site eBay for her ticket.

Her fiance, Stephen Roscamp, 23, will watch the match in an Eindhoven square set aside for Boro fans.

Esme's sister, Sophie, 21, who works for Stockton Borough Council, and boyfriend James Hirst, were also soaking up the sun in the Dam Square and enjoying the atmosphere.

The sisters have made a banner for their father, Rob, who works in the oil industry in Azerbaijan, and cannot make it to the game.

Esme said: "There's hundreds of ex pat Boro fans out there who will be staying up all night to watch the match. I just hope he sees the banner."

Few fans believe there would be a repeat of trouble that has marred previous European Boro away matches this season.

A police spokesman in Amsterdam said: "We are prepared, but I do not think we will be surprised by hard-core hooligans. We are laid back about it."

Back home, pubs and clubs are expected to be packed with fans who were unable to make their way to the game.

Middlesbrough Mayor Ray Mallon, who is recovering from a broken leg, has handed over his seat to his deputy, Councillor Bob Brady.

He said: "I am sorry I won't be there in person to see what promises to be the biggest night in the club's history - and of course a great event for the whole town."

Heart attack victim Malcolm Green, from Billingham, near Stockton, is planning to try to remain calm while he watches the final at his home.

The 65-year-old suffered a heart attack on his last visit to the Riverside Stadium on March 26.

He said: "My two sons are going but, unfortunately, I'm watching the game at home."

Cleveland Police headquarters will be awash with red and white today as staff show their support for the club and raise cash for charity.

The civilian workers will pay £1 for the day with all funds raised going to children's hospice Zoe's Place.

l A man suspected of being involved in trouble at Boro's UEFA Cup quarter final in Switzerland has been banned from travelling to the final.

Ashley Walker, 19, was taken off a ferry in Hull on Monday, along with his father, Ian, 43. The pair appeared in court yesterday.

The teenager had his passport confiscated and was barred from travelling outside England and Wales until he appears in court again next week.

District Judge Stephen Earl allowed Ian Walker to travel, but he will have to find an alternative way of reaching Eindhoven.

Mr Walker's solicitor, David Dedman, told Teesside Magistrates' Court that preventing him going to the game was "extremely unfair and extremely upsetting".

Mr Dedman said: "He spent a lot of money setting this trip up with his partner, who is already there.

"Irrespective of how much money he loses, it would be the impact of missing the greatest game in Middlesbrough's history."

The father and son, of Aintree Road, Redcar, east Cleveland, are alleged to have been involved in crowd trouble at Boro's quarter-final first-leg defeat at the St Jakob Park stadium in Basle on March 30.

Judge Earl said the allegations against Ian Walker were not conclusive and ordered a full hearing to be arranged before the World Cup.