old trafford cricket travel

Old Trafford - Travel

PLAN YOUR JOURNEY

It’s never too early to start thinking about your travel!

Plan ahead so you can make the most out of your day at Old Trafford during the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2019.

Old Trafford is located in the borough of Trafford, only 3 miles from Manchester city centre and is well connected by local tram and bus services if you want to leave the car at home.

TRAVEL GUIDE

To download the Travel Guide for Old Trafford click here. This can be used on your phone/tablet or printed for use before and during your match day.

Old Trafford tram station is located right beside the cricket ground and provides the easiest and most direct link to the ground.

Journeys take around 15 minutes from Manchester City Centre with four stops within easy walking distance of the ground: Old Trafford, Trafford Bar, Exchange Quay, Salford Quays.

Services to Old Trafford provide a direct link to Piccadilly Station and Victoria Station.

You must have a valid ticket before you board a tram. Please be aware that ticket checks take place across the network.

PARK & RIDE

Metrolink (the tram) provides several Park and Ride options along its network. For a direct service to Old Trafford we would recommend that you use the following car parks:

Sale Water Park: 300 spaces + 16 Blue Badge spaces. Easy access of the M60. 12 minutes from Sale Water Park to Trafford Bar Station and a short walk (0.6 mile) to the ground.

East Didsbury: 302 spaces. Kingsway, Parrs Wood, M19 1TB. 28 minutes from East Didsbury to Old Trafford.

Ladywell: 250 spaces. Eccles New Road, Eccles, M6 8HD. 30 minutes from Ladywell to Old Trafford.

If travelling to Manchester by rail we recommend to arrive into Manchester Piccadilly Station or Victoria Station and connect onto a Metrolink service to Old Trafford.

If you’re travelling into the city centre by rail you can purchase a Metrolink add-on to your rail ticket allowing onward travel to the stadium by tram. Plan your journey here .

If you have accessible requirements and require assistance, please make this known with your rail operator so they can ensure that you have a safe and comfortable journey.

For general rail timetable information please visit www.nationalrail.co.uk.

Old Trafford does not sell any match day parking on the venue however there are a number of car parks which are located near to the ground. The official car parking is located at the Manchester United Football Ground. Vehicles will be directed to N3 – the North Car Park which is located off Wharfside Way.

Blue badge parking can be booked directly through Lancashire County Cricket Club. To book your blue badge parking please email: [email protected]

Currently, the 53, 79, 250, 255, 256, 263 and x50 bus services all run within a short five-minute walk to Old Trafford.

For the latest timetable information please see: https://my.tfgm.com/#/planner

Bus operators will always have the latest information about their services. Follow them on Twitter or get their contact details in advance @stagecoachGM, @arrivanorthwest, @diamondbusnw and @firstmanchester.

DROP OFF & PICK UP / TAXI, PRIVATE HIRE, UBER

The official ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Pick Up Drop Off is located in Trafford College. This is a short walk from the ground and the pedestrian walking route is via Talbot Road. This Pick Up Drop Off will be available on all matches except for the June 18th (ENG v AFG) and June 27th (WIN v IND). This location will be sign posted and staffed to assist with any of your Uber enquiries. Alternatively there is an official Hackney taxi rank located at Old Trafford Football Stadium on Sir Matt Busby Way and this is only 450m away from the ground.

If you are local to the area, walking is a great way to get around. World Cup Cricketeers will be along the route to help answer any questions and guide you to the ground!

Old Trafford Talbot Road Manchester M16 0PX

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Emirates old trafford.

Welcome to the venue information page for Emirates Old Trafford, home of Manchester Originals.

Emirates Old Trafford on a matchday

Here you can find all the information you need ahead of your matchday, including gate opening times, food & drink, travel options, accessibility provision and on-site facilities.

Sustainability

The Hundred is partnered with Sky Zero

This summer, Sky Sports and Sky Zero are encouraging fans to use low-carbon transport options and protect the sport they love from the impacts of climate change. Sky will be activating this campaign at the first two home fixtures at Emirates Old Trafford. Look out for the Sky Zero Walk of Fame activation in the Pavilion, where you can have some fun and recreate the greatest walk in cricket – the Walk to the Wicket.

See Transport for Greater Manchester’s travel advice for Emirates Old Trafford here Getting to Emirates Old Trafford | Transport for Greater Manchester (tfgm.com).  

Club Initiatives:

After setting up a Sustainability working group at the end of the 2022 season, Emirates Old Trafford is operating a number of projects and systems to support this ambition, including:  

• Eliminate single-use plastic  
• Reduce our carbon footprint  
• Increase recycling and minimise waste  
• Electricity from renewable sources  
• Reduce energy use  

Our goal is to be a fully net zero venue and deliver major events using the most sustainable practices  

Waste and Recycling

• Emirates Old Trafford uses eco-friendly take away food containers  
• The venue ensures food waste is composted  
• The venue strives to reduce food waste by planning menus suitable for the quantity of people eating  
• The venue works with a waste management supplier- Zero to waste landfill with our supplier  

Food and Beverage Products and menus

• Emirates Old Trafford uses local food suppliers and local sourced food  
• Diverse dietary, cultural and religious requirements are catered for  
• Venue has healthy and fresh food options available  
• Seasonal produce available in menus  
• Catering staff are trained in sustainable food provision, what the food they are serving contains and where the ingredients come from  
• Halal, vegan and vegetarian options on site for all matchdays.  

Food and beverage options will be updated closer to the competition so make sure you check back in to find out which options we’ll have on matchdays.  

City of Trees

Emirates Old Trafford have partnered with local based charity City of Trees, which have planted trees and hedges around site.  

• 4 new trees situated in car park 2  
• 2 trees planted in the wedge to prevent flooding  
• Hedge planted in players parking  
• Future tree planting at Emirates Old Trafford  

The Bread and Butter Thing

• Monthly food donations from staff and guests  
• Food organisation based in Trafford  

The green choices available to you on a matchday are highlighted as bold*  throughout this page.

Opening times

Your ticket gives you access to both the men’s and women’s matches on the same day, so make sure you get there for the first match!

Match day start times vary, so make sure you’ve looked at your ticket in the app to see what time the first match starts.

Click here to view the Ground Regulations .

The view at Emirates Old Trafford

There is a network of cycleways, dedicated lanes, paths and routes providing links across Greater Manchester. 

Bikes* are allowed inside the venue but cannot be ridden. They can be pushed through gates and parked in bike stands under E Stand, where there are 10 cycling bays.

Manchester Originals are pleased to team up with Transport for Greater Manchester this year to encourage our fans to travel sustainably to our home fixtures at Emirates Old Trafford. Getting to Emirates Old Trafford on the tram* system couldn’t be easier.

Trams on the Altrincham line operate to Old Trafford which is directly next to the stadium. However, with so many people going to the match, services will be very busy and you may want to walk to another stop before or after the fixture to avoid the crowds.

There are several stops within a short walking distance of the venue.

Firswood : A 10-minute walk away. Board an East Didsbury line or Manchester Airport line service from this stop.

Wharfside :  A 15-minute walk away.

Exchange Quay :  A 20-minute walk away. Board a tram on the Eccles line

For those visiting the region from further afield there is free parking for Metrolink customers at Park and Ride sites across the network.

Attendees should use contactless for payments, it's the easy way to pay. Just remember to touch-in and touch-out! Plan your journey in advance .

Manchester Originals have teamed up with Transport for Greater Manchester

Manchester Piccadilly, Deansgate Castlefield and Victoria train* stations all have access to tram stops, which will take you directly to the ground.

Accessible parking

A limited number of accessible parking spaces are available at Emirates Old Trafford (car park three, entry via Great Stone Road) on a first come, first served basis. To book, please contact [email protected]

INSIDE THE GROUND

Accessibility.

To purchase tickets in wheelchair or accessible areas, please call 0161 876 2185 - 9am-9pm Monday to Saturday and 10am-8pm on Sundays.

Fans love watching Manchester Originals!

There is level access around the venue. However, if you encounter any difficulties, please ask the nearest steward for assistance. Gate 15 is a dedicated Family and Accessible entrance for all matches.  

There are accessible toilet facilities in the concourses of all stands. There are also facilities for disabled people within the Pavilion for Members and within The Point on the first floor, accessed through the Atrium Bar area. A steward will be able to direct you to the most convenient and/or nearest toilet. RADAR keys are being installed to all concourse toilets and stewards will be provided with a key who will be able to facilitate access.  

A “changing places” facility will be available in the Wedge Car Park, for all matches, for all ticket-holders.  

Emirates Old Trafford welcomes all assistance dogs to the venue. Should water be needed please request this from your nearest steward or member of staff. Please inform the Ticket and Membership Office if you wish to bring an assistance dog. Unfortunately there is no designated exercise/relieving area for assistance dogs - if this is required, please contact [email protected] .

Bring your family!

Multi-faith Room

The Faith Room is situated under the Pavilion in the tunnel. It is available for all ticket-holders at all times during The Hundred matchdays.  

Sensory Room

A sensory room will be located on the second floor of the Players & Media Centre. Ticketholders will be able to register online for access to the room.  

Sensory packs will be available to hire or buy from the Pavilion for attendees who wish to do so.  

Get the Manchester Originals kit before your trip to Emirates Old Trafford. You can get the kit online here, via The Hundred's Online Store . At Emirates Old Trafford, the shop is located behind C Stand, next to the Indoor School.

Internet Access

To access the Cloud please see the following steps below.

• Check your WiFi is on
• Select WiFi Zone - The Cloud from the available network list
• Follow on screen instructions to register or log on

Crowd Behaviour

The Hundred is for everyone. We want everyone to feel welcome on our match days and to have a brilliant experience. Anti-social or discriminatory behaviour of any kind is unacceptable and will not be tolerated. Reporting these types of behaviour will help us to ensure The Hundred is a welcoming and inclusive competition and experience for everyone.

Support the Originals this summer!

If you experience or witness any anti-social or discriminatory behaviour on a match day at Emirates Old Trafford, please report it as soon as possible by speaking to the nearest steward, texting HELP to 07800 008086 with your stand, row and seat number, or emailing [email protected] , so that Emirates Old Trafford can try to deal with the issue at the time.

If you wish to report discrimination direct to the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), click here .

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Travelling Beyond Sport

Old Trafford Cricket Ground (Manchester)

Not to be confused with the football ground of the same name (only half a mile away), Old Trafford has been home of Lancashire County Cricket Club since 1864.

The ground hosted the first ever Ashes test in 1884, as well as the 1983, 1999 and 2019 Cricket World Cup Semi Final’s.

Tenants: Lancashire County Cricket Club

Opened:  1857

Capacity:  19,000 (Domestic) / 26,000 (International)

Address: Emirates Old Trafford, Talbot Road, Manchester, M16 0PX

Location & Travel to Old Trafford Cricket Ground

The ground sits within the area of Old Trafford in Manchester, approximately 3 miles west of the City Centre.

Airport: Manchester Airport is the third busiest in the UK and serves a number of international destinations. The airport is approximately 9 miles south of Old Trafford and has a train and tram station, where you can travel to the city to connect with the ground.

Thinking of going to Manchester? Search & book your flights through Skyscanner here.

Coach:  Manchester Coach Station is close to the city centre, about 3 miles from Old Trafford, with tram line 1 and 2 going to the ground.

National Express  has links to many destinations from Manchester, you can search and book your tickets  here .

Alternatively,  Megabus  offers cheap travel to Manchester and offers over 10 routes from Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Inverness, Leicester, Liverpool, London, Newcastle and Sheffield. You can search and book your tickets  here .

Driving:  The ground has 4 car parks available, on a first come first served basis, chargeable by the hour. An alternative, is to use the free park and ride on offer at a number of Metrolink stations.

Train: Manchester Piccadilly is the main station in the city, with links to all major cities including Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leeds, Liverpool, London, Newcastle, Sheffield, Southampton and York. From the station, you can catch a Tram straight to Old Trafford.

Thinking of catching a train to Manchester? Search and book your journey through the  Trainline here.

Tram:  Manchester is served by an extensive tram network, operated by Metrolink. Tram line 1 or 2 both stop at Old Trafford station, directly outside the ground.

Further information can be found on the Club’s Official Website,  here .

Tickets at Old Trafford Cricket Ground

Tickets for the 2018 season were priced as follows and can be purchased online through the club website here .

Vitality Blast

• Adults – From £5
• Juniors & Concessions – From £1

Royal London One-Day Cup

• Adults – £15
• Juniors & Concessions – £5

Specsavers County Championship

• Adults – £10
• Juniors & Concessions – £8
• Lunch time Admission – £5
• Groups of 7+ – £8

Where to stay in Manchester

Use TripAdvisor to find some great places to stay in Manchester by clicking here.

Further Information

Lancashire Cricket Official Website

England v Pakistan – 3rd Twenty20 International (2021 Series)

Last Updated on May 21, 2021 by Sports Tourist

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Rebuilding Old Trafford: What the local residents and businesses think

Most weeks between August and May will see more than 75,000 people descend on Old Trafford to watch Manchester United.

If you take a walk down Sir Matt Busby Way on a matchday, the road is full of pop-up shops selling unofficial merchandise, and supporters — some for the very first time — making their way towards the stadium and food stands.

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There is a buzz along the famous road.

But as you make that walk, you might notice the houses that line one side of the street. And as you step closer to Old Trafford, and before the security checks, you’ll spot another street, Railway Road, to the left.

The Mary Earps mural will catch your eye, but if you look beyond that, you will see hundreds of houses. The people that occupy them are Manchester United’s neighbours; many can see Old Trafford from their back garden or window.

To some, they may be the envy of United supporters who have to travel from around the country or overseas to watch their team. But the relationship between the local residents and Manchester United is not as straightforward as you may think. 

Whether it is having litter thrown into their front garden, someone urinating down the side of their house, battling for a car parking spot, or hearing the drum of extractor fans, myriad issues accompany living next door to the biggest domestic club stadium in the United Kingdom.

In February, the club and Trafford Council joined forces to explore a significant infrastructure project, with a new stadium at the heart of those ambitious plans, to regenerate the area via the Trafford Wharfside development.

Their draft Trafford Wharfside masterplan, something they hope will turn into a reality over the next 15 years, would see up to 5,000 new homes being built, improved public transport and “a high-quality setting for Manchester United as they develop their plans for a world-class football stadium” .

As the graphic above demonstrates, the club already owns a significant portion of the land that encompasses the Trafford Wharfside masterplan, meaning that United and Trafford Council will have to work hand-in-hand to turn their vision into a reality.

There are, however, already question marks concerning who would foot the bill for the plans, with United actively exploring the possibility of using public money to help fund a new stadium.

Sir Jim Ratcliffe, the club’s co-owner, has discussed plans for a 90,000-seater replacement on the same site as Old Trafford, while still keeping the upgrading of the existing venue as an option. Ratcliffe estimates a refurbishment would cost £1billion, with a new build costing double that.

But what do the plans mean for the club’s neighbours and the local businesses who rely on match days for their income?

Living in the shadow of Old Trafford can be a fruitful existence for business owners who are turning a profit due to their close proximity to the stadium.

On a match day, especially down Sir Matt Busby Way, there are countless opportunities to buy unofficial merchandise. Whether it is a scarf with your favourite player on it or a pin badge, there is plenty on offer.

Angelo Agathaggelos has been the owner of the Red Star Sports Souvenirs shop for 33 years and it has been in the family for nearly 56 years. It is a long-running family business that relies on 75,000 people descending on Old Trafford.

“It’s everything,” Agathaggelos says when asked how important match days are for business. “Without United, we wouldn’t be here and that goes for everyone else.”

That sentiment is replicated among other business owners, so what do they think of the club’s plans to either redevelop Old Trafford or build a new stadium on the same site?

“If they’re going to move the ground, that’s not fabulous for us, but also there’s opportunity in what they could do with the existing ground and development,” explains Nick Buckle, the owner of Trafford Pub, which is located over the road from Sir Matt Busby Way. 

“We need to see what’s really going to happen. If it was a new stadium and it left Old Trafford that would be a huge issue as we’re a matchday-only pub. We can only either be a pub or a matchday pub. There’s no furniture in here. You can’t cater for both markets. 

“If they moved the whole ground to somewhere else, that’d be a killer to us but if they just rebuild or it’s a new stadium just behind, that’s OK. That can only add value to things, and bring more supporters.”

Agathaggelos believes a redevelopment of Old Trafford would be the “perfect” tonic for those working in the area as a new build, even though the plan is for it to be on the existing site, creates uncertainty.

He also criticised Ratcliffe, the club’s minority shareholder who spent $1.3billion to purchase a 27.7 per cent stake in February, who has injected a sense of vigour into the plans for rebuilding a new stadium.

Agathaggelos claims Ratcliffe is “not a real United fan” and that they are “businessmen” who “don’t give a toss” about the club, nor are they “thinking of United’s history and tradition”.

“And I don’t buy all these excuses, it’s (the roof) leaking, it’s leaking,” Agathaggelos added. “My house got a roof leak, I fixed it! It’s going to last another 20 years. Bigger stadium, more fans, more money. I say keep it real, Old Trafford boys! That’s the way it is.”

“I’d prefer that they refurbish the existing Old Trafford, being the Theatre of Dreams,” says Bobby, co-owner of United Cafe Bar and Off Licence at the top of Sir Matt Busby Way. 

“Old Trafford as it is, only updated, bringing it up to standards basically. They haven’t invested anything in Old Trafford’s infrastructure for years now, decades. Certainly since the Glazers have been the owners.”

Although they are on the same side of the street as the matchday businesses, the local residents have an entirely different view of what it means to live in the shadow of Old Trafford.

Even on a rainy April afternoon, and despite there being no match on, there is still a hum of activity on Sir Matt Busby Way, as people walk towards Old Trafford taking pictures and videos, while others head in the opposite direction proudly carrying their club-store shopping bags.

In that sense, it is business as usual for the club; the tills continue ringing and people keep coming. But for Andy Cavanagh and Sandra Aguilera, who live on Railway Road, their normal is somewhat different.

They talk of an ‘us and them’ relationship. On one side of the railway line is Manchester United; the other side, in their eyes, the forgotten neighbours.

“I appreciate there are human beings in their system, but it definitely isn’t geared up to listen to people or to concerns,” Cavanagh says. “We don’t want to complain about the quality of service on the pitch; they could do a great job, like most businesses, if they communicated better. 

“We live on Railway Road. OK, we know there is going to be noise from a train. But that comes and goes. The club is just in defence mode all the time.

“Everything is painting over this terrible facade of a company that has been hollowed out. I don’t know how much of that is the Glazers or the culture, but the outcome is the same. It’s them and us. There is no community.”

United say they have multiple touch points with the community, which stems from several departments across the club, while also mentioning the work of the Manchester United Foundation.

The club note how they have met directly with members of community groups on several occasions over the last 12 months, but have since created a formal process to funnel discussions through local councillors. United meet with councillors representing Gorse Hill and Cornbrook, Old Trafford and Longford every quarter, where matters raised by local businesses and residents are discussed.

The next meeting is scheduled for this evening.

Cavanagh and Aguilera recall an issue they had with the club’s extraction fans, which they said would be left on for days on end, causing a high level of noise pollution in their back garden.

They described it as a “struggle” getting hold of anyone at United to raise their complaint, so went to Trafford Council to see if they could apply pressure on the club to remember to turn the fans off.

“The club’s way of resolving it was to give Sandra, who is from South America, an Alexis Sanchez shirt. In their mind, the issue was sorted,” Cavanagh added.

“They had given us a jersey, but the only way we could have used the jersey to resolve the issue with the extraction fans was to cut it up and stick it in our ears, because we have to live with the noise.”

This example, the pair say, sums up United. And the Sanchez shirt is no longer in their possession after they gave it away.

“When we got to the end of our communication with them, they mentioned about raising any other issues through the fans’ forum,” Cavanagh adds. “But we are not in the fans’ forum, we are not fans of Manchester United. We are neighbours of Manchester United rather than customers.”

“I think there has always been an unusual relationship between the local community and Manchester United the PLC,” Ruth Hannan, a local resident and co-founder of the community group Gorgeous Gorse Hill, says. “Loads of people who live in Stratford and Gorse Hill are Manchester United fans, but they are fans of the football team, and that is where the tension lies.

“I have spoken about the idea of businesses in a place acting like neighbours and being part of that community, and therefore having consideration for their neighbours. 

“That becomes a more and more unusual relationship when one of those neighbours has a lot more power than the others. That is the approach I have always taken and that is where my concern lies about the redevelopment proposal.

“The concern for a lot of residents is that it will be talked about ‘benefits for the local community’, but as someone who has lived here for over 20 years, those benefits are very hard to see. A bigger stadium with all the additional challenges that will come with that won’t change that relationship, nor will it change what benefits the local community.”

Through the quarterly meetings with councillors, United say they have increased their engagement in the community, which has led to ‘Warm Hub’ evenings that have run throughout the last two winters, as well as working with Manchester Mind and ‘Talk About It Mate’ to offer the opportunity for local residents to speak with mental health experts.

To improve dialogue, United say they have recently launched a community newsletter aimed at keeping residents and local businesses updated on club matters, while also seeking to hear their views, which will then form part of the quarterly meetings with councillors.

United also note how a significant proportion of their matchday casual workforce is from the local area, with 1,400 members of staff living within a five-mile radius of Old Trafford.

In December 2022, Trafford Council launched a survey to look at the impact events at Old Trafford have on the local community. The survey went live on January 13, 2023, and closed on February 10, 2023. There were 486 responses, of which 97 per cent stated they were local residents.

The majority of respondents — 46 per cent — claimed to have never been to a match at Old Trafford, while only five per cent said they attend events there every week.

When asked by Trafford Council what issues events at Old Trafford cause residents, 87 per cent selected travel disruption into and out of the area. Seventy per cent said illegal or dangerous parking; 63 per cent complained about the litter; 35 per cent flagged anti-social behaviour as a key issue; and 10 per cent selected criminal behaviour.

Just under half (46 per cent) of the respondents said they struggle to get on with their day-to-day life if Manchester United are playing at home, with only six per cent saying they are not impacted when a match is taking place.

United point to their work with Trafford Council and Transport for Greater Manchester to develop a traffic-management system to reduce the impact on the road network on matchdays, while also saying they have continued to support Greater Manchester Police with their clampdown on anti-social behaviour when United are playing at home.

They say £25,000 was spent towards the installation of alley gates on residential streets within the local community to reduce anti-social behaviour issues.

When it comes to complaining about such issues, which is something Cavanagh and Aguilera have had to do, the negative experiences far outweigh the positives. Only 11 per cent, however, said they had raised their complaint to Manchester United compared to 36 per cent complaining to Trafford Council.

“I have complained to the Council and GMP (Greater Manchester Police) about the parking fraudsters, the alcohol and drug consumption, public urination, illegal removal of parking restriction signs, intimidation, criminal damage and littering. It’s got me nowhere,” said a respondent.

It was not all doom and gloom, though, with another respondent saying: “The positive impact to the local economy far outweighs any issues.”

From the mid-1990s to 2008, Manchester United, via their Alderley Urban Investments company, purchased freeholds and leaseholds near Old Trafford. As well as owning most of the land in Trafford Park, the club also has a leasehold or freehold interest in around 100 properties, including on Sir Matt Busby Way, Clyne Street and Railway Road. 

They own the leasehold to Cavanagh and Aguilera’s house, which means they own the land the house sits on. Owning the freehold means you own both the property and the land it sits on.

If you own the property but not the land it sits on, then you often need to pay ground rent to the company that owns the leasehold. So for the leaseholds owned by United, they can charge a ground rent.

Cavanagh and Aguilera say that they have not had to pay any ground rent since Alderley Urban Investments bought the leasehold.

The club strategy of acquiring property over time is why they now have the opportunity to consider a new build or expansion of Old Trafford. Different leadership groups at the club have decided to invest in property.

In some cases where the club has sold a property, they did not sell the leasehold along with it. This has been with the notion of a potential stadium in mind, only for those plans in the early 2000s to fail to take off.

“There has been 20 years of uncertainty, maybe less so with the Glazers because they haven’t invested much, but it is always up in the air,” adds Cavanagh.

“It is difficult to know whether they would have to make a compulsory purchase and take out the road if this were to become a forecourt. But now they are talking about building another stadium on the other side, so it is up in the air. ”

United insist that their tenants and leaseholders will be fully consulted during the process.

The local residents and business owners are yet to be consulted by the club on the plans to either develop Old Trafford or build a new stadium, and it is something they would welcome.

Hannan believes that now presents an opportunity for United to change the way they engage with the local community and knock down the notion of there being an ‘us and them’ relationship.

United say that a range of consultation methods will be used to ensure they hear from everyone who will be impacted by the regeneration of Old Trafford and the wider area.

One of the issues raised by Hannan, Cavanagh and Aguilera is that even though the club’s newly-created task force includes Andy Burnham, the mayor of Greater Manchester, and Tom Ross, the leader of Trafford Council, there is no local representation.

“Rather than the club approaching the local community going, ‘This is what we are going to do, what do you think?’, it should be, ‘What are the challenges? And what does good look like for you?’,” Hannan says. “They should be asking what we want the experience of living next to a big football ground to feel like.

“There should be community representatives on the task force. There is a real chance to create a participatory experience and create a community panel, which has representatives from the local community and get them to really feed into the process and shape it. 

“T here is still an opportunity for them to make things better for the community and still make money. The two don’t have to be separate.”

United insist that the task force will be made up of people with a variety of experiences, skills and backgrounds, representing the key stakeholder groups who need to support the Trafford Wharfside plan and that further appointments to the task force will follow.

They say that they want to hear from a full range of voices and perspectives as they work towards delivering the project.

“I wouldn’t say I speak for the community, I wouldn’t do that, but that relationship between the local community and the club has always been the power sitting squarely with Manchester United,” adds Hannan.

“I have lived here for over 20 years and the engagement with residents, bypassing our local councillors and engaging with us as residents, has always been poor. It’s like they will keep throwing us a bone while knowing they don’t really have to listen to us.”

Those The Athletic spoke to believe this is a good opportunity for United to, in Hannan’s words, “do things differently”. 

They want “meaningful engagement” and want the club to not only think about the money that a new stadium could generate.

“If Ratcliffe is going to bang on about being a good northerner and a Manchester United fan, then he needs to show that,” Hannan added.

“Some of that will mean the plans they end up with may not make as much money as they’d hoped. But sometimes that is worth it.

“They could really solidify a relationship with the local community, where the local community works with them and supports them and are a partner in the same way they could do that with the fans.”

(Top photo: Getty Images)

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NEWS... BUT NOT AS YOU KNOW IT

Andreas Pereira names biggest Man Utd flop and takes swipe at old club

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Andreas Pereira has named the biggest Manchester United flop from his 11-year spell at the club and has appeared to take a swipe at his former side.

The Brazil international joined United from PSV Eindhoven in 2011, starting off in the youth ranks before making his first-team debut three years later.

Pereira played 75 games for United and spent time out on loan at Spanish sides Granada and Valencia as well as Italian club Lazio and Brazilian team Flamengo.

The 28-year-old left Old Trafford permanently in 2022, moving to fellow Premier League side Fulham , and has opened up about his United stint in a new interview.

‘Sometimes it’s not the right time at the right club,’ Pereira said on Rio Ferdinand’s YouTube channel. ‘Some things don’t go well for you, it doesn’t mean you’re a s*** player.

‘I’ve seen it with a lot of players at Man Utd, big names that come and then don’t play good.’

Asked to name any specific players, Pereira added: ‘For me, Angel Di Maria. From the first session, he was unbelievable.

‘He arrived from the Champions League final, being the best player, after the first session everyone said we would win the league. This guy was amazing.

‘The Leicester goal… When he did the dink and the heart (celebration) after… Then you know what happened. It was crazy.

‘He didn’t adapt. Then the thing happened with this family. I was thinking, ‘How can this kind of player not play at United?’ – so the pressure is there.

Why did Angel Di Maria flop at Man Utd?

Angel Di Maria joined Manchester United from Real Madrid in 2014 for a then-club record fee of £59.7m. He spent just one season at Old Trafford before the Red Devils sold him to Paris Saint-Germain at a £15m loss.

The Argentine wrote an open letter to Real Madrid fans that he had never wanted to leave the Spanish side. His wife later admitted he only joined United for the money and described living in the city as ‘horrible’.

Rio Ferdinand suggested that Di Maria was not suited to being the ‘creative force’ or ‘main man’ at United. Di Maria has also cited his difficult relationship with Louis van Gaal and the impact of a house break-in as reasons for leaving.

‘It’s difficult to play for United. To wear the No.7 shirt. It is difficult.’

Meanwhile, Pereira has appeared to aim a dig at United, insisting he ‘didn’t feel loved’ at the club and told he was ‘crazy’ for wanting to join Flamengo on loan.

‘I wanted to play,’ Pereira said when asked about his desire to leave the club. ‘After Covid, I wanted to play.

‘I was going crazy. I wanted to show I was good enough. I was very close to joining Everton.

‘Suddenly, my father called me and told me I had never played in Brazil. I was thinking, ‘Where do we go then?’ – then the president of Flamengo called my dad and said if he wants to come, he can come.

‘I said let’s go to Flamengo. Everyone at United said I was crazy, that I would stay in Brazil and I would never come back to Europe. [But] I wanted to play in Brazil.

‘I wanted to feel loved. I didn’t feel the love I thought I should get. I wanted to feel the love, from my own people, be close to my family and enjoy my football.’

MORE : Manchester United target Julian Nagelsmann in advanced talks to return to Bayern Munich

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Where to see medieval Moscow: Take a stroll through a historical oasis

In Krutitskoe podvorye , an old area of Moscow, you feel like you’ve been teleported to another time and dimension. This is an incredibly ancient place on the banks of the Moscow River. It was first mentioned in historical chronicles back in 1350 and as early as the 13 th century Prince Daniel of Moscow founded a temple here. A monastery was established here in 1272.

In the 17 th century this area evolved to become the residence of the Sarsky and Podonsky bishops and it experienced its peak influence from 1664-1676. The Krutitskoe courtyard stood at the crossroads of several very important routes leading from Moscow to Kolomna and Ryazan .

In times past, Krutitskoe podvorye was a lively and busy street. Churches were full of worshippers, carts bustled about and the metropolitan blessed people gathered in the square from the windows of the Krutitsky palace. He would give alms to the poor, while undoubtedly enjoying his view of the city.

Krutitskoe podvorye experienced turbulence with the arrival of Polish forces during the Time of Troubles in 1612 and the Moscow fire during the war with Napoleon in 1812. Despite medieval turmoil and complete neglect during the Soviet era, Krutitskoe podvorye has preserved 80 percent of its architectural buildings and is currently serving as the metochion (an ecclesiastical embassy church) of the Moscow Patriarch.

Fortunately, Krutitskoe podvorye hasn’t lost its ancient aura and there is much for those that love pre-revolutionary Moscow: The streets are paved with round cobblestones and there is an abundance of wooden buildings, brick chambers, defensive fortifications and 17 th -century churches.

Its touristic advantage is in its location, which is away from the main attractions while also being relatively close to the city center. There are no tourist buses or long lines: Solo travelers, photographers and filmmakers are typically the only ones that come here.

Two churches on the territory of Krutitskoe podvorye currently operate: The Temple of the Resurrection and the Dormition of the Blessed Virgin Mary of the Assumption Cathedral. Public masses are held there and entry is open to tourists.

Krutitskoe podvorye was restored from 1950-1984 under the direction of the architect Pyotr Baranovsky, who invested half of his life to this cause. Baranovsky celebrated his 75 th , 80 th and 85 th birthdays here.

Krutitskoe podvorye is surrounded by the Moscow International House of Music , the Holiday Inn Hotel and other large and encroaching structures. So, take some time to walk through this medieval corner of Moscow before it is overwhelmed by modern buildings or the mega-mansions of Russian billionaires.

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