It's the family final for four generations

At just two-years-old, little Emmie Smillie could well be the youngest fan in the City of Manchester Stadium tonight.

And she will be sitting on the knee of the woman who might be the oldest supporter in the ground her 78-year-old great-grandmother Isa. Needing shelter? That's par for the course

RANGERS fans desperate for shelter in Manchester are being invited to camp out - on a golf course.

Supporters heading to the Uefa Cup final can pitch their tents on the fairways of the makeshift site in the south of the city, which has space for up to 10,000 people.

The nine-hole golf course is owned by Burnage Rugby Club, which is also opening up its three pitches to fans.

Thousands began arriving today at the Bear Camp' site in Heaton Mersey, just seven miles from the city of Manchester stadium.

Ian Morrison, one of the campsite organisers, said: "2000 people have booked in advance and we're expecting thousands more.

"We've got the golf course for overspill and we're expecting to use it."

The site has a bar, while temporary shower and toilet facilities will also be available.

The price will be £15 per person for a single night, or £25 for both nights.

For more info, visit www.uefaheroes.com

No fewer than 17 members of the Smillie clan boarded a bus in Mount Vernon at 7am along with several of their friends.

The journey is being paid for by grandad Andy, aged 56, who is determined every member of his Rangers-daft family sees their beloved football team play in a European final.

Andy, who's wife is also called Emmie, said: "My mother, brother, son, daughter-in-law, three daughters, three sons-in-law, two grandsons and my grandaughter, among others, are all travelling.

"In total, there are 17 members of the family heading south and 26 of us travelling in total. A few friends are joining us in the bus we have hired.

"My grandsons - James Martin, who is 12, and Andrew Simpson, nine - are both season ticket holders and they don't miss a game. They share the same passion as the rest of the family.

"They can't normally go to away European matches because of school, but they have been to every game in Scotland. And they managed to travel away to the games in Barcelona and Lisbon this season on their holidays "And the youngest member of the family, little Emmie, who is only two, is going to be with us in Manchester.

"She is already Rangers daft too and can't wait for the game.

"Her great-grandmother, my mother Isa, is also going to be there. Obviously, she doesn't get to many games any more because of her age, but this is a special occasion. In 20 or 30 years from now my grandchildren will be able to look back on the day they went to see Rangers play in a European final with their great-grandmother and their entire family."

Incredibly, big Andy, who runs city firm AS Scaffolding, has been present at every European final that Rangers have ever been involved in.

He was at Ibrox as a nine-year-old schoolboy in 1961 to see Rangers play Italian club Fiorentina in the first leg of the Fair Cities Cup.

THEN, six years later, he went to Nuremberg when German giants Bayern Munich beat the Gers in the final of the European Cup Winners' Cup.

He was there in Barcelona 36 years ago, in the most recent European final for the Ibrox club until now, when the light blues beat Moscow Dynamo 3-2 in the European Cup Winners' Cup in the Nou Camp.

Andy said: "I'm not the only Rangers fan who has attended every Euro final we have been in there are quite a few of us.

"Most of the family are Rangers' official travel club members and we got the majority of our match tickets that way but the others I know, like a lot of fans, paid over the odds."

Andy insisted it will all be worth it even if Rangers fail to beat the Zenit St Petersburg side managed by the Ibrox club's old team boss, Dick Advocaat. Paul's heading for stardom

By GRAEME MURRAY A FREESTYLE footballer who's a Celtic fan has been handed the dream chance to showcase his amazing keepie-up skills at tonight's final.

Glasgow student Paul Donnelly, 18, will perform his routine at half-time in front of 47,000 people at the City of Manchester Stadium. He is the only freestyler to perform at the showpiece game and has spent years perfecting his spectacular tricks.

The sport and fitness student at Cardonald College was invited to Manchester after he impressed Uefa bosses.

The football-obsessed teenager first started freestyling around the time of the 1998 World Cup after watching professionals performing amazing tricks in Nike TV adverts.

Paul entered a freestyling competition and won the chance to perform his tricks at the CIS Cup Final. He was spotted while there and offered the chance to do the same at the Uefa Cup Final.

Freestyle is a relatively new trend among footballers who use it to showcase their skills with the ball.

It became popular after the acrobatic TV ads featuring Manchester United player Ronaldo and Barcelona superstars Ronaldinho and Thierry Henry.

Freestylers use the ball to create a complex sequence of tricks, stalls, sitdown and ground moves.

Paul said: "I'm thrilled to have been asked to go down to Manchester for the Uefa Cup Final.

"I first started learning how to perform these tricks when I was eight years old.

"I was really inspired by the Nike ads with lots of top players doing amazing tricks and started copying their moves.

"I do spend a lot of time practising but - with an invitation like this - it's been worthwhile.

"I have to admit, Rangers aren't my team, but it'll be a great day for Scottish football and I'm proud to have been asked to entertain the fans."