FURIOUS fans descended on Middlesbrough's Riverside stadium after they missed out on tickets to the club's biggest game in its history.

Supporters were left gutted after learning they will not be going to the Uefa Cup final despite some holding a season ticket for more than 20 years.

Thousands were left disappointed after the club was limited to only 9,200 tickets for new England manager Steve McClaren's last game in charge of the club.

The paltry allocation meant there was huge scramble to ensure passage to Eindhoven to watch the club take on Spanish side Seville, on Wednesday night.

Club bosses said the last few lucky fans to get tickets will receive them in the post this morning and will receive a phone call from the club's ticket office as confirmation.

But that was little consolation to supporters who turned up to the ground on Saturday to be told they had missed out.

Julie Henry, 42, of Middlesbrough, was left angry that her application had been refused because she attempted to use her father's season pass to apply for a final ticket for her 18-year-old daughter, Amy.

She said: "I'm absolutely gutted - there is no justice at this club. To say I was trying to trick the club is an absolute disgrace. My father is 72 and he wanted his granddaughter to have his ticket - what is wrong with that?"

Peter Stockdale, 52, of Great Ayton, has held a season ticket since 1972, but still missed out.

He said: "I live for my football and this is a massive blow. I can't believe that I have not managed to get a ticket for the club's biggest ever game."

Another lifelong fan, Les Dring, 55, of Middlesbrough, said: "I'm seriously thinking about not renewing my season ticket. I am so disappointed in a club that I have followed home and away for nearly 30 years."

A club spokesman said applications from season ticket holders other than the longest standing patrons - which have an S or T prefix on their tickets - were unsuccessful.

And he said that the 12,000 S or T applicants were competing for just 9,200 tickets.

Boro's communications manager, Dave Allan, said: "We understand and sympathise with the great disappointment that will be felt by those who will not get a ticket for the final.

"The club stuck to its long-term and well-known policy of giving first priority to S and T season ticket holders.

"Unfortunately, 12,000 S and T supporters into 9,200 tickets does not go, no matter how hard we may try."

Boro fans have also hit out after they were unable to secure flights direct to Eindhoven on their big day.

The travelling fans will be landing in airports across Europe, including Cologne, Amsterdam, Brussels and Hanover, before being bussed to the football ground.

However, 35 direct flights from Seville will be landing at Eindhoven airport in the build-up to the game.