Old Trafford Manchester

Manchester United

Manchester United were founded in 1878. Their address is Old Trafford Stadium, Sir Mat Busby Way,  Manchester M16 0RA. Tel: (0161) 8721661/9301968  Fax: (0161) 8765502 they can also be found on the web at http://www.manutd.com/home/default.sps
United were founded in 1878 and were originally a railway workers side, under the name Newton Heath Lancashire and Yorkshire Cricket and Football Club. Newton Heath joined the football league in 1892 but went bankrupt 10 years later but re-emerged as Manchester United very quickly, though some members wanted the side to be called Manchester Celtic. Manchester United spent the first half of the century very much in the shadows of their neighbours Manchester City. Old Trafford was destroyed by bombing during the Second World War and United had to play their games at City's Maine Road ground while Old Trafford was rebuilt. During this period they employed Mat Busby as their new manager and he was to lead them to great success, winning the European Cup in 1968. This was an almost unbelievable feat after the Munich air disaster of 1958 which saw 8 United players killed after their plane crashed while taking off on a return journey from Munich Airport following a European match in Belgrade against Red Star. This disaster could have so easily been the end for Busby, after seeing so many young players that he had brought through at United wiped out, but Busby survived the disaster and set about rebuilding the side as he had first done when he took over originally. As a mark of respect to the victims of the Munich disaster a clock was erected outside Old Trafford and is set at 3.04 - the time the plane crashed.
A year after winning the European Cup, at Wembley against Benfica, Busby moved upstairs. This was to see numerous successors fail to bring the same glory to the club as Busby had brought and in fact in 1974 United were relegated to Division 2, after former hero, Denis Law scored for Manchester City in a derby game against them to seal relegation for United. More managers came and went until Alex Ferguson took over in 1986, even he struggled initially but the board stuck by him, and he eventually brought the league title back to Old Trafford again in 1993. Fergie was to lead United to success almost every season culminating in the winning of the Champions League in 1999 (formerly the European Cup).
Old Trafford itself, is an all seated stadium which olds approximately 55,300. The South Stand is the original stand, destroyed in the Second World War and rebuilt during the immediate post war years. The players used to emerge from a tunnel located in the middle of this stand. The stand was always known as the 'Main stand'. The old tunnel still exists and is part of the tour of Old Trafford. This stand is now the home to all the dignitaries and vips.
The West Stand is the old and famous Stretford End. This part of the ground was originally uncovered but a cover was erected around 1960. This was the part of the ground which gave Old Trafford it's unique atmosphere that was famous throughout the football world during the 1960's and 1970's
The North Stand is known by all as the 'Popular Side'. This was the first area of the ground to be redeveloped to become the Old Trafford of today. In 1965 work began to on the cantilever stand for the 1966 World Cup. This stand became known as the 'Cantilever stand' or, simply, 'G stand'.
The East Stand was known by all as the Scoreboard End. The Scoreboard End was completely uncovered until the cantilever was extended around that part of the ground in the early 1970's. At that time the Scoreboard End became known as 'J' and 'K' stand.
When the Stretford End was demolished most of the loyal fans of the time moved (en-masse) to 'K' stand and thus
it has remained. The real atmosphere at Old Trafford emanates from 'K' stand - or to give it it's correct title 'East Lower'. To get to Old Trafford you should take the Metro link tram heading for Altrincham from the city centre. Get off at Old Trafford and walk down Warwick Road, past the cricket ground and eventually you will reach Busby Way and the stadium. There are a number of pubs near the ground in Chester Road and Warwick Road. The Trafford pub is always packed out on match day, but there's always the Gorse Hill Hotel further down Chester Road which is always quite busy with United fans on match days before, during and after the game. The ground itself has the Red Cafe in the North Stand, which is always booked up in advance.
Getting a ticket for Old Trafford is near impossible, your best chance is the touts outside the ground, but you'll have to pay inflated prices. The club has the Megastore and Superstore shops which sell virtually everything you can think of to do with Man United. The United Review is the match day magazine (£1.50) and there's the monthly United publication (£1.95) as well as a number of fanzines available on match days. Old Trafford also houses the clubs museum which has trophy cabinets and a theatre to view old films as well as other memorabilia.
Manchester itself is the home to some of the best nightlife in Britain with lots of music clubs and cafe bars to visit, all of which are packed out at weekends. Accommodation in Manchester is easy to find with prices to suit all pockets.

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