Very first programme for a game at Maine Road

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worsleyweb

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I have just won this in an auction and it arrived this morning.

Fascinating to read some of the articles in it and the a change in language

The opening statement reads - "Today marks an epoch in out history. For the first time we have a ground worthy of the club, and we are hoping it will bring us increased patronage commensurate with our enterprise and which is necessary to maintain it" It also goes on to say the ground is designed to hold 90,000 spectators and has the largest span of any football ground (see we have allways been massive)"

There is an advert for the Denmark Hotel / The ardwick Empire??? and an advert for the Film John Lee - the man they could not hang.

I don't suppose anyone knows anyone still alive who might have gone to this game. It was 92 years ago!!
 
worsleyweb said:
I have just won this in an auction and it arrived this morning.

Fascinating to read some of the articles in it and the a change in language

The opening statement reads - "Today marks an epoch in out history. For the first time we have a ground worthy of the club, and we are hoping it will bring us increased patronage commensurate with our enterprise and which is necessary to maintain it" It also goes on to say the ground is designed to hold 90,000 spectators and has the largest span of any football ground (see we have allways been massive)"

There is an advert for the Denmark Hotel / The ardwick Empire??? and an advert for the Film John Lee - the man they could not hang.

I don't suppose anyone knows anyone still alive who might have gone to this game. It was 92 years ago!!
Click to expand...

Sounds really interesting mate. Would like to have a read of it.

Used to walk past the Denmark pub on the corner of Denmark Road and Lloyd Street on my way to Maine Road in the late 70's. The Ardwick Empire used to be near Ardwick Green and the Apollo Theatre, although I dont remember it!
 
worsleyweb said:
I have just won this in an auction and it arrived this morning.

Fascinating to read some of the articles in it and the a change in language

The opening statement reads - "Today marks an epoch in out history. For the first time we have a ground worthy of the club, and we are hoping it will bring us increased patronage commensurate with our enterprise and which is necessary to maintain it" It also goes on to say the ground is designed to hold 90,000 spectators and has the largest span of any football ground (see we have allways been massive)"

There is an advert for the Denmark Hotel / The ardwick Empire??? and an advert for the Film John Lee - the man they could not hang.

I don't suppose anyone knows anyone still alive who might have gone to this game. It was 92 years ago!!
Click to expand...
Just be greatful you didn't have to count the seats in that mate.
Or is it a family thing and great grand dad Worsley do it ?
 
mrtwiceaseason said:
Just be greatful you didn't have to count the seats in that mate.
Or is it a family thing and great grand dad Worsley do it ?
Click to expand...

Only 10000 seats apparently! Space for 80,000 standing!

Apparently the Denmark was a High Class Hotel.
 
Mike N said:
Sounds really interesting mate. Would like to have a read of it.

Used to walk past the Denmark pub on the corner of Denmark Road and Lloyd Street on my way to Maine Road in the late 70's. The Ardwick Empire used to be near Ardwick Green and the Apollo Theatre, although I dont remember it!
Click to expand...

Empire was on the other side of Hyde Road to where the Apollo is, although it was demolished in the early 60's. I dont think that corner has ever been built on?
 
danebanksheik said:
Empire was on the other side of Hyde Road to where the Apollo is, although it was demolished in the early 60's. I dont think that corner has ever been built on?
Click to expand...
I remember going in the early 60s my elder sister took me,but I always thought it was called the Ardwick Hipadrome.
 
danebanksheik said:
Empire was on the other side of Hyde Road to where the Apollo is, although it was demolished in the early 60's. I dont think that corner has ever been built on?
Click to expand...

Apparently it was renamed the New Manchester Hippodrome in the thirties when the old Manchester Hippodrome on Oxford Street was demolished: http://manchesterhistory.net/manchester/gone/empire.html - big music hall venue in its day.

If you scroll down to the bottom of that link, there's a photo of the site in the present day. Never been built on.
 
Fascinating stuff WW. Could you scan and post the pages please? Also, if you don't mind me asking, how much did you have to pay for it and was there much competition at the auction?
 
I paid 490 for it which was 200 over what I wanted to. There were 3 of us bidding and it just kept going up in 10 pound increments. I was going to stop at 500 so am delighted to have won it. It is the oldest one in my collection.

I am not the best at uploading pictures etc but I will scan it to jrb and see if he will upload on here.
 
Images of Maine Road at this time appear in my book Farewell To Maine Road and some can be seen in my facebook pages:

The 1923 opening game programme is a great piece of history with images of Furniss and Woosnam, plus adverts for bikes etc. All great stuff.
 
worsleyweb said:
I have just won this in an auction and it arrived this morning.

Fascinating to read some of the articles in it and the a change in language

The opening statement reads - "Today marks an epoch in out history. For the first time we have a ground worthy of the club, and we are hoping it will bring us increased patronage commensurate with our enterprise and which is necessary to maintain it" It also goes on to say the ground is designed to hold 90,000 spectators and has the largest span of any football ground (see we have allways been massive)"

There is an advert for the Denmark Hotel / The ardwick Empire??? and an advert for the Film John Lee - the man they could not hang.

I don't suppose anyone knows anyone still alive who might have gone to this game. It was 92 years ago!!
Click to expand...
Would this programme be for the Sheffield United game 25th August 1923.
 
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