Does anyone wish we still played at Maine Road and why?

[Eaststander1]

Everything is a breeze when you're young.

I can absolutely guarantee that if we were still at Maine Road, the same people whinging on a weekly basis about the public transport to the new ground, would be doing the same about getting to and from Maine Road.

You never had a tram system in place back then , as the Etihad now does, but you had so many bus services that frequented the various roads around Moss Side that getting there and back never seemed to be much of a problem, buses were everywhere, as you'd probably expect with so many students etc living in Moss Side and its surrounding areas .... and you also had Oxford Road train station probably 20-25 mins walk away.

 

[gordondaviesmoustache]

The 2-1 win against liverpool doesnt get talked about enough in terms of great maine road nights.
Balmy august evening. Home debut for the new record signing(ooh curley wurley) and a thrilling win against the perennial champions.
Theres a brilliant shot of whitey running away after the second goal with the full length kippax going mental behind him. Limbs and then some.
Obviously it was another false dawn but what a night.

Don’t think it’s fair to say that game was a false dawn as we had a great season and finished fifth for the second season on the spin. And we finished about Liverpool that season. 1990 to 1993 was a good period for the club.

 

[ONTHERUNWITHTHAKSIN]

Lived 10 minutes walk from Maine Road as a youngster/teenager in the 60s and 70s

Loved the ground and the atmosphere and the fans(no tourists to be seen)

Wonderful,mad,exciting and dangerous time in my life following the team I love.

Lived on Horton Rd until I was 7

Was gutted when we moved

 

[ysmsa]

Yes because despite now being nearer to the city centre the Etihad is 10X harder to get to and from on public transport or by driving. Maine road was a breeze to get to and from

Interesting, based on what, your own experience I guess.

Piccadilly railway station to Etihad, 1.5 mile, half hour walk. Signposted safe walk or the better option of the canal path.

Piccadilly railway station to Maine Road, over 2 miles, 45 minute walk, not pleasant either.

Metrolink, to Etihad

There was no such thing to Maine Road.

Match day buses to both, a brilliant option by Tfgm.

Car parking issues would be similar at both grounds. Whatever used to happen at Maine Road 25 years ago wouldn't happen now. The whole area would be permits with expensive car parks.
Car crime was horrendous in Moss Side, most drivers must've have had an experience of this at some point.

The area now along the Parkway near the old bus garage is like some 3rd world dump.
No way would I like to be in that area every other week or midweek.

If we were getting 53k in a redeveloped Maine Rd I think it would be a lot worse than the Etihad.

 

[ONTHERUNWITHTHAKSIN]

Interesting, based on what, your own experience I guess.

Piccadilly railway station to Etihad, 1.5 mile, half hour walk. Signposted safe walk or the better option of the canal path.

Piccadilly railway station to Maine Road, over 2 miles, 45 minute walk, not pleasant either.

Metrolink, to Etihad

There was no such thing to Maine Road.

Match day buses to both, a brilliant option by Tfgm.

Car parking issues would be similar at both grounds. Whatever used to happen at Maine Road 25 years ago wouldn't happen now. The whole area would be permits with expensive car parks.
Car crime was horrendous in Moss Side, most drivers must've have had an experience of this at some point.

The area now along the Parkway near the old bus garage is like some 3rd world dump.
No way would I like to be in that area every other week or midweek.

If we were getting 53k in a redeveloped Maine Rd I think it would be a lot worse than the Etihad.

Depends where you live

I’m South Manchester and always have been so didn’t have to drive through centre of town/Mancunian way

Buses were 10 a penny

Now it’s a ball ache getting to and away from the Etihad

Stuck on Ashton old road then Mancunian way

 

[ysmsa]

Depends where you live

I’m South Manchester and always have been so didn’t have to drive through centre of town/Mancunian way

Buses were 10 a penny

Now it’s a ball ache getting to and away from the Etihad

Stuck on Ashton old road then Mancunian way

South Mcr myself, on a good day I can do it in an hour, includes a brisk 20 minute walk.

Parking close to the ground is always going to be problematic, wherever it is.

When I have no car there are multiple options using bus, train and tram. Maine Road would be buses only and an incredibly long journey.

Is via Stretford not a better option than Mancunian Way?

 

[ONTHERUNWITHTHAKSIN]

South Mcr myself, on a good day I can do it in an hour, includes a brisk 20 minute walk.

Parking clise to the ground is always going to be problematic, whereever it is.

When I have no car there are multiple options using bus, train and tram. Maine Road would be buses only and an incredibly long journey.

Is via Stretford not a better option than Mancunian Way?

I do go through Stretford

Park on Ashton old Rd for £5 so off Manc Way

At times use different routes but still so fucking long

4 of us so £32 on City bus

Maine Rd parked at Uni and walked down or street parking

No chance street parking near Etihad

 

[ysmsa]

I do go through Stretford

Park on Ashton old Rd for £5 so off Manc Way

At times use different routes but still so fucking long

4 of us so £32 on City bus

Maine Rd parked at Uni and walked down or street parking

No chance street parking near Etihad

Pretty similar to me but I refuse to pay to park anywhere if possible, it does include a slightly longer walk but there are benefits to that.

 

[Blue Til Death]

The match day experience at Maine Road was far better than the Etihad ever has been or will be for me..
I know im a FOC but having sampled both many times, there is no contest.
Standing in the Kippax watching the mighty Blues will never be matched ..
in those days, football was for the fans, alas those days are also long gone…!!

 

[ONTHERUNWITHTHAKSIN]

Pretty similar to me but I refuse to pay to park anywhere if possible, it does include a slightly longer walk but there are benefits to that.

Used to park at Uni off Sackville St and walked down but now closed

Also parked on Every St until no parking zone

It’s all aimed at sustainable transport but I see it as a fucking inconvenience and penny pinching

 

[Marvin.]

Used to park at Uni off Sackville St and walked down but now closed

Also parked on Every St until no parking zone

It’s all aimed at sustainable transport but I see it as a fucking inconvenience and penny pinching

That's quite a long walk from Sackville St to City. My Dad used to park up in the side streets off Dickenson Rd, Rusholme.

 

[Scottyboi]

Sadly never got to experience Maine Rd as an adult, but as a kid I loved it felt edgy and exciting but maybe that's just youthful nostalgia. Was pretty much built into and part of a local community. The area around the Etihad feels soulless in comparison like our ground doesn't belong there.
Still got my Match Day Ticket board that I ripped off the wall before the last game on my mates shoulders.

 

[eastmanc]

A lot of folk remarking how Maine Rd lost its soul after the Kippax was demolished and I would agree to an extent. Remember however the Wigan play off in 99 and the Birmingham game 12 months later, two of the greatest Maine Rd atmospheres I can ever remember.

Good shout.

 

[eastmanc]

Different times from the 60’s. How many walked there? How many caught public transport and how many came in their own vehicles. I doubt back in the 60’s even 5,000 came in their own vehicles. Now you’d be looking at 20,000 plus vehicles looking for somewhere to park.

My dad used to make me walk to the match from Openshaw every home match from being eight years of age.

 

[mexico1970]

My dad used to make me walk to the match from Openshaw every home match from being eight years of age.

Are we there yet? Is something you knew very very well mate.

 

[jaiguruKun]

The move to the new stadium was a key factor in the takeover. So I suppose it depends on whether you wish we were still shit (which some do!l)

 

[normskih]

Depends where you live

I’m South Manchester and always have been so didn’t have to drive through centre of town/Mancunian way

Buses were 10 a penny

Now it’s a ball ache getting to and away from the Etihad

Stuck on Ashton old road then Mancunian way

Same for me in the old days, 100 (except it stopped at every lamp post) or any bus from Civic.

 

[Gingers Dad]

The match day experience at Maine Road was far better than the Etihad ever has been or will be for me..
I know im a FOC but having sampled both many times, there is no contest.
Standing in the Kippax watching the mighty Blues will never be matched ..
in those days, football was for the fans, alas those days are also long gone…!!

View attachment 174208

Great as it was its been 30 years since you could stand on the Kippax

 

[tregyblue61]

 

[Blue Til Death]

Great as it was its been 30 years since you could stand on the Kippax

True but the question I answered was, do I wish we still played at Maine Road and why ..