Old Trafford 'bomb' scare: Manchester United supporters come to the rescue of heartbroken fan from Sierra Leone

Members of the Manchester United Supporters Trust clubbed together to extend Moses' stay

'Moses' was one of many overseas supporters to be left disappointed on Sunday (Twitter / Ian Stirling)

A Manchester United supporter from Sierra Leone who made his first-ever trip to Old Trafford for Sunday’s abandoned game against Bournemouth will get the chance to see his heroes play after all - thanks to show of solidarity from his fellow fans.

The man known as ‘Moses’, who works in security in the west African country, had planned to attend United’s final league fixture of the season with members of the Manchester United Supporters Trust.

Moses and many other overseas fans were left disappointed, however, when the discovery of a suspect package in a toilet at the ground led to the match’s abandonment.

It later transpired that the package, an "incredibly lifelike but non-viable explosive device", had been mistakenly left behind after a private company’s security training exercise.

After news of the abandonment broke, MUST members came to the aid of the distraught Moses, clubbing together to pay for a later return flight home and tickets to this weekend’s FA Cup final between United and Crystal Palace.

"A friend of mine worked with Moses out in Sierra Leone and he said he should come over some time for a game,” Ian Stirling, vice chair of MUST, told the Press Association.

"We were at the MUST House having a few drinks before the game when news came out there was a suspect package and the game would be delayed until 3.45pm.

"That was unusual but no real concern, but then when we heard the game was abandoned we had to tell Moses and the poor lad was distraught - being so close to the ground and not being able to go in, not knowing when he might get this chance again.

"We had a quick discussion between us and we've agreed to rearrange his flight - so he'll fly home next week instead of tomorrow - and sort him out with a ticket for the FA Cup final. A couple of friends will put him up in Manchester as well.”

Moses, it seems, will also be able to fulfill his dream of watching a game at Old Trafford, after the match was rescheduled for Tuesday 17 May, as an 8.00pm kick-off.

All ticket holders for Sunday’s abandoned fixture will be awarded a full refund by the club and offered free entry to the rescheduled game.

Additional reporting by PA