What it used to be like.

[Ticketmaster]

Great thread, brings back some memories.

 

[carlos]

Well, while we're taking a trip down memory lane...here's something my Mum, who died last month and who was a blue for more than 70 years, emailed to me about the last match at Maine Road. I couldn't attend as I was with the UN if Afghanistan but her note made me smell the dodgy burgers, the horse crap and bovril! She was a lifelong season ticket holder and her family were old friends with Frank Swift. Apologies for its length and typos but didn't want to alter it at all.

We set off early as we wanted to call at sainsburys to get some sandwiches. Whilst there I bought a half bottle of champagne ans two champagne flutes {plastic}. We already had the thermos flasks as usual so we had everything we needed for a long emotional day. We arrived at the ground a 12 noon. Gates didn't open until 1pm. We got a good parking place just opposite the Parkside. The pub was crowded outside, Chips and Gravy was doing a roaring trade and everyone, just everyone was either dressed in blue, carrying a blue flag or had a City scarf round their necks. We sat in the car watching everthing. Dad went for a couple of cans of lager and we drank them whilst watching the flags, balloons and painted faces pass by. Right then, lets go.We walked up Lloyd St to the road we always turn down. Maine Road ahead. I burst into tears. That was a good start. I asked Dad if he would get a photo of the ground from that corner, then another of the Main Entrance. Whilst I was waiting for him to come back people near me started clapping and it was Goater making his way from the Car Park to the entrance. Next thing everyone was singing "feed the Goat". and cheering him. The ground was empty when we got in as the turnstiles hadn't opened, but we had gone through disabled. It soon filled up though. Dad was busy taking photographs. I wanted one of the goalmouth in front of me from the position I had when I went with my Dad as that was where Frank Swift used to wave to me from. Another of the Gene Kelly Stand where I used to wave to you and Phlilip. Suddenly applause started from the Gene Kelly stand and George Kinkladse was making his way round to the players tunnel. What an ovation.. Then the parade of legends started The fifties first. Roy Little was the oldest ex player there Joe Fagin, Smith , Hart. Then the sixties. seventies and so on. So many players. Mike Doyle, Francis Lee Mike Summerbee . Geo Kinky said he always had a special affection for Maine Road, and we cheered him again. In fact we cheered anything and everything. Tony Book was there and his hair is as white as Dads. I didn't recognise him. Denis Law looks younger than ever. Then it was time for the teams to come out. "Maine Road will you welcome your Mamchester City team out for the last time ever here at Maine Road" !!! the place erupted Blue Moon I saw you standing alone etc. Crikey Moses Carl, there wasn"t a dry eye to be seen. The cheering went on and on and so did Blue Moon, City till I die, and all the others. Schmeicel {?} went to every player and shook their hands. The players all lined up outside the players tunnnel and Mike Summerbee escorted Mrs Mercer out to meet both teams. What a reception she got. Mike Summerbee is going to present her with Joe Mercers shirts and caps from the Trophy Room. Then out came Colin Bell. "Theres only one Colin Bell" to meet the teams. Finally out came Malcolm Alison. The place went mad. Apparently he is in an old folks home in Sale, and he suffers from depression. Lets hope the occasion lifted him a little. The teams were announced and when it came to the Captain all you could hear was FEED THE GOAT. It seemed to go on for ever. The match was nothing to write home about. When the players came back after half time, they hung back and let Goater come out on his own. Very very emotional. The second half wasnt much better than the 1st, but thats City for you. Roller Coaster. Perhaps thats why we love them. Match over. We waited for a while then the lads came out to walk a lap of honour. They were clapping us, we were clapping them. They slowly made their way round and then one more wave and they went in forever. Time the champagne came out. It did taste good. We kept the bottle out of sight in case we got told off and we had prawn sandwiches{ just to let the Reds know they aren't the only ones to eat them ! The presentation started Smeichel was first and Goater came on to the stage. Apparently he was a bit weepie. We wouldn't let him go for a long while. It was sad to see him walk slowly off the pitch for the last time. There were three bands playing the sort of music you and Philip like, you know boom boom boom. In between times Ricky Hatton came on . His match at Maine Road is off because he had to have plastic surgery on his eye. Very disappointed he said he was, but there it is. Then Paul Dickov came on and said how much he loved this place, but now that Leicester were in the Premiership he was looking forward to playing at the new stadium. Kicking a few was how he put it. Them came the fireworks, and what a great display it was. Two machines then blew out blue and white tickertape all over the ground. Everyone was still singing blue moon right to the end. Not one person went on the pitch, nothing was ruined. Everone behaved and a wonderful, nostalgic, emotional time was had by all. We left the ground very subdued. Not just us, - everyone. You could feel the sadness and see lots of tears. I crossed Maine Road, stopped on the corner. I turned to look at the stadium one last time. Goodbye Old Lady , thanks for so many happy, and sad times. Your'e looking tired now, it"s time for a well earned rest. God bless.

 

[levets]

I think Blue b4 the moon is right, i think that is platt lane with the two entrances/exits at the back.

I was wondering that but apparently they seated the Kippax for the event - Billy Graham

The seats arent right for Platt Lane either and if you notice the crush barriers are still in place.

Definitely the Kippax...

 

[fbloke]

Well, while we're taking a trip down memory lane...here's something my Mum, who died last month and who was a blue for more than 70 years, emailed to me about the last match at Maine Road. I couldn't attend as I was with the UN if Afghanistan but her note made me smell the dodgy burgers, the horse crap and bovril! She was a lifelong season ticket holder and her family were old friends with Frank Swift. Apologies for its length and typos but didn't want to alter it at all.

We set off early as we wanted to call at sainsburys to get some sandwiches. Whilst there I bought a half bottle of champagne ans two champagne flutes {plastic}. We already had the thermos flasks as usual so we had everything we needed for a long emotional day. We arrived at the ground a 12 noon. Gates didn't open until 1pm. We got a good parking place just opposite the Parkside. The pub was crowded outside, Chips and Gravy was doing a roaring trade and everyone, just everyone was either dressed in blue, carrying a blue flag or had a City scarf round their necks. We sat in the car watching everthing. Dad went for a couple of cans of lager and we drank them whilst watching the flags, balloons and painted faces pass by. Right then, lets go.We walked up Lloyd St to the road we always turn down. Maine Road ahead. I burst into tears. That was a good start. I asked Dad if he would get a photo of the ground from that corner, then another of the Main Entrance. Whilst I was waiting for him to come back people near me started clapping and it was Goater making his way from the Car Park to the entrance. Next thing everyone was singing "feed the Goat". and cheering him. The ground was empty when we got in as the turnstiles hadn't opened, but we had gone through disabled. It soon filled up though. Dad was busy taking photographs. I wanted one of the goalmouth in front of me from the position I had when I went with my Dad as that was where Frank Swift used to wave to me from. Another of the Gene Kelly Stand where I used to wave to you and Phlilip. Suddenly applause started from the Gene Kelly stand and George Kinkladse was making his way round to the players tunnel. What an ovation.. Then the parade of legends started The fifties first. Roy Little was the oldest ex player there Joe Fagin, Smith , Hart. Then the sixties. seventies and so on. So many players. Mike Doyle, Francis Lee Mike Summerbee . Geo Kinky said he always had a special affection for Maine Road, and we cheered him again. In fact we cheered anything and everything. Tony Book was there and his hair is as white as Dads. I didn't recognise him. Denis Law looks younger than ever. Then it was time for the teams to come out. "Maine Road will you welcome your Mamchester City team out for the last time ever here at Maine Road" !!! the place erupted Blue Moon I saw you standing alone etc. Crikey Moses Carl, there wasn"t a dry eye to be seen. The cheering went on and on and so did Blue Moon, City till I die, and all the others. Schmeicel {?} went to every player and shook their hands. The players all lined up outside the players tunnnel and Mike Summerbee escorted Mrs Mercer out to meet both teams. What a reception she got. Mike Summerbee is going to present her with Joe Mercers shirts and caps from the Trophy Room. Then out came Colin Bell. "Theres only one Colin Bell" to meet the teams. Finally out came Malcolm Alison. The place went mad. Apparently he is in an old folks home in Sale, and he suffers from depression. Lets hope the occasion lifted him a little. The teams were announced and when it came to the Captain all you could hear was FEED THE GOAT. It seemed to go on for ever. The match was nothing to write home about. When the players came back after half time, they hung back and let Goater come out on his own. Very very emotional. The second half wasnt much better than the 1st, but thats City for you. Roller Coaster. Perhaps thats why we love them. Match over. We waited for a while then the lads came out to walk a lap of honour. They were clapping us, we were clapping them. They slowly made their way round and then one more wave and they went in forever. Time the champagne came out. It did taste good. We kept the bottle out of sight in case we got told off and we had prawn sandwiches{ just to let the Reds know they aren't the only ones to eat them ! The presentation started Smeichel was first and Goater came on to the stage. Apparently he was a bit weepie. We wouldn't let him go for a long while. It was sad to see him walk slowly off the pitch for the last time. There were three bands playing the sort of music you and Philip like, you know boom boom boom. In between times Ricky Hatton came on . His match at Maine Road is off because he had to have plastic surgery on his eye. Very disappointed he said he was, but there it is. Then Paul Dickov came on and said how much he loved this place, but now that Leicester were in the Premiership he was looking forward to playing at the new stadium. Kicking a few was how he put it. Them came the fireworks, and what a great display it was. Two machines then blew out blue and white tickertape all over the ground. Everyone was still singing blue moon right to the end. Not one person went on the pitch, nothing was ruined. Everone behaved and a wonderful, nostalgic, emotional time was had by all. We left the ground very subdued. Not just us, - everyone. You could feel the sadness and see lots of tears. I crossed Maine Road, stopped on the corner. I turned to look at the stadium one last time. Goodbye Old Lady , thanks for so many happy, and sad times. Your'e looking tired now, it"s time for a well earned rest. God bless.

Thats a brilliant post thanks to you and your mum.

Lets hope she doesnt have to put up with any of that boom, boom, boom music in heaven fella ;-)

 

[Gary James]

Before that, I thought the new Main Stand roof looked a bit incongruous set against the rest of the ground, but it was never something that I thought had too detrimental an effect on the atmosphere of the place.

Of course, that new roof for the stand was supposed to be the start of a complete overhaul of the stadium, which would - I think - have had a roof like that going all round the ground. The plans were in the match programme in the 1981/2 season, and from memory the intention was to go from a capacity of 52K with 26K seats to 48K with 32K seats, and I remember reading somewhere that it could subsequently be made all seater with a capacity of over 40K. It was also going to incorporate executive boxes and corporate facilities which were an innovation back then. Of course, we couldn't afford to do anything after phase one because of a lack of cash - despite Swales saying that it would be funded by the Development Association and not the club itself (at least, I'm fairly sure the Pink quoted him on this).

The other possible redevelopment of Maine Road was in the nineties, after redevelopment of the Kippax, as an alternative in case we didn't get the move to the Commonwealth Stadium. I know the club had to, and did, look at the possibility of a redevelopment in case Eastlands didn't become a reality and there was no way we could have afforded to build our own brand new stadium. I do recall a design being published in King of the Kippax which would have taken us to an all seater capacity of around 46K, I think, by basically adding an extra tier to the North, Main and Platt Lane Stands and filling in the corners.

How official that was in terms of representing a Plan B that the board had come up with, I don't know. I do know that there were a lot of complaints from residents because they claimed it affected their TV reception, and City were worried that they wouldn't get planning permission for rebuilding other stands to the height we'd need to get the capacity up above 40,000.

There were many crowd figures in the pre-all seater days where I could well believe that the actual gate was larger than the one officially given by the club (most strikingly, the Charlton promotion game in 1985), and that Liverpool match may be one.

Maine Road's development is something I've done a lot of research on and I tried to include as much detail as possible in "Farewell To Maine Road" (while also making it entertaining. There's so much that can be said, perhaps it's time to republish Farewell To Maine Road.

Anyway, as far as the 1982 redevelopment goes... you're right about the Exec boxes. They were going to 'hang' from the roof at the front on that silly criss-cross set of girders - that's why the initial roof build cost £1m (it would have been a lot less had they not needed to allow the weight in their designs.

The plan was to mirror this roof on the Kippax (but keep the terracing) and to rebuild Platt Lane to resemble the North Stand (these would also be extended into the Kippax corners). Estimated build was £6m (I guess about £2.5m for the 2 roofs and a new stand for £3.5m). Swales once said the capacity was supposed to increase to around 56,000, though how that could happen is a bit of a mystery as the 'old' Platt Lane Stand held around 9,000 (about 1,000 more than the North Stand), so I guess the Kippax terracing would have been increased but then we'd have also lost the extra standing places in the corners.

The plan was put on ice prior to relegation in 1983, although most claim it was relegation that ended it (Swales stopped the plan when he realised the financial mess he'd created). I actually had a City official (who is still at the club) tell me once the Exec Box plan was stopped because of safety after the Bradford fire, but Wembley had a similar set up, so I find that extremely hard to accept. It was more about money.

The Francis Lee 1994 plan for Maine Road was to see a new Kippax (what we got), a new tier on the North Stand (with boxes between tier 1 and 2) and Platt Lane Stands, part of the Main Stand removed and then 2 new tiers (to resemble the new Kippax's 3 tiers) added. Total capacity was around 50,000 (Lee desperately wanted a capacity of over 50k at this time). All of this would be enclosed to form one continuous roof.

A new amenities building was to be built on 'the croft' (including museum, shop, social etc.), and the players tunnel was to be moved to the Kippax/Platt Lane corner.

Both these plans appeared in the City programmes of the period (Lee's plans were given away as a poster).

These also appear in "Farewell To Maine Rd" and Lee's plans show the different phases of development (phase 1 = Kippax & Kippax/Platt Lane Corner; 2 = Amenities building; 3 = North Stand (and reduction in Main Stand); 4 = Main Stand; 5 = Platt Lane).

Had the move to the new stadium not happened, then it's likely Lee's plan would have been used as a template for improving Maine Rd but clearly finance was always the issue.

The best Maine Road plan was the initial one, which the club adhered to until WW2 - again it's a fascinating plan.

 

[Maintainin]

All you litluns please add this song to ya favs n' be proud of our past n' future !
<a class="postlink" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kBNi2dxqKus&feature=related" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kBNi2dxq ... re=related</a>

<a class="postlink" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kNlfGK-Xu0U" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kNlfGK-Xu0U</a> (tho no sound still a top flashback)

<a class="postlink" href="http://video.google.co.uk/videoplay?docid=...374433624797661" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://video.google.co.uk/videoplay?doc ... 3624797661</a>

 

[Gary James]

<a class="postlink" href="http://www.britishpathe.com/record.php?id=83765" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://www.britishpathe.com/record.php?id=83765</a>

Have a look at this. It shows Maine Rd 1949. People Queueing at Main Stand and Kippax.

Some of it's repeated in this but this also has the game and commentary about Swift etc.:

<a class="postlink" href="http://www.britishpathe.com/record.php?id=27041" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://www.britishpathe.com/record.php?id=27041</a>

 

[Dyed Petya]

Maine Road's development is something I've done a lot of research on and I tried to include as much detail as possible in "Farewell To Maine Road" (while also making it entertaining. There's so much that can be said, perhaps it's time to republish Farewell To Maine Road.

Anyway, as far as the 1982 redevelopment goes... you're right about the Exec boxes. They were going to 'hang' from the roof at the front on that silly criss-cross set of girders - that's why the initial roof build cost £1m (it would have been a lot less had they not needed to allow the weight in their designs.

The plan was to mirror this roof on the Kippax (but keep the terracing) and to rebuild Platt Lane to resemble the North Stand (these would also be extended into the Kippax corners). Estimated build was £6m (I guess about £2.5m for the 2 roofs and a new stand for £3.5m). Swales once said the capacity was supposed to increase to around 56,000, though how that could happen is a bit of a mystery as the 'old' Platt Lane Stand held around 9,000 (about 1,000 more than the North Stand), so I guess the Kippax terracing would have been increased but then we'd have also lost the extra standing places in the corners.

The plan was put on ice prior to relegation in 1983, although most claim it was relegation that ended it (Swales stopped the plan when he realised the financial mess he'd created). I actually had a City official (who is still at the club) tell me once the Exec Box plan was stopped because of safety after the Bradford fire, but Wembley had a similar set up, so I find that extremely hard to accept. It was more about money.

The Francis Lee 1994 plan for Maine Road was to see a new Kippax (what we got), a new tier on the North Stand (with boxes between tier 1 and 2) and Platt Lane Stands, part of the Main Stand removed and then 2 new tiers (to resemble the new Kippax's 3 tiers) added. Total capacity was around 50,000 (Lee desperately wanted a capacity of over 50k at this time). All of this would be enclosed to form one continuous roof.

A new amenities building was to be built on 'the croft' (including museum, shop, social etc.), and the players tunnel was to be moved to the Kippax/Platt Lane corner.

Both these plans appeared in the City programmes of the period (Lee's plans were given away as a poster).

These also appear in "Farewell To Maine Rd" and Lee's plans show the different phases of development (phase 1 = Kippax & Kippax/Platt Lane Corner; 2 = Amenities building; 3 = North Stand (and reduction in Main Stand); 4 = Main Stand; 5 = Platt Lane).

Had the move to the new stadium not happened, then it's likely Lee's plan would have been used as a template for improving Maine Rd but clearly finance was always the issue.

The best Maine Road plan was the initial one, which the club adhered to until WW2 - again it's a fascinating plan.

Thanks - I hoped you'd be around and able to add to the thread.

As far as I recall with the Swales plan, there was no announcement of it being dropped or shelved. The work simply didn't happen, and no one in the local media ever said anything about it, presumably because they didn't want to be blacklisted by the club.

Manchester announced in May 1995 that we were going for the Commonwealth Games and we were awarded them in November of that year, so it was always likely we'd move to that stadium. There was no way it was ever going to become the national stadium ahead of Wembley and I think United were always likely to stay at Old Trafford, so I suspect that Lee's plans for Maine Road were only going to be seriously developed if the Commonwealth Stadium move had failed to come off. They may have had to be changed to get planning consent, I suspect, but we'll never know.

 

[bluevengence]

Well, while we're taking a trip down memory lane...here's something my Mum, who died last month and who was a blue for more than 70 years, emailed to me about the last match at Maine Road. I couldn't attend as I was with the UN if Afghanistan but her note made me smell the dodgy burgers, the horse crap and bovril! She was a lifelong season ticket holder and her family were old friends with Frank Swift. Apologies for its length and typos but didn't want to alter it at all.

We set off early as we wanted to call at sainsburys to get some sandwiches. Whilst there I bought a half bottle of champagne ans two champagne flutes {plastic}. We already had the thermos flasks as usual so we had everything we needed for a long emotional day. We arrived at the ground a 12 noon. Gates didn't open until 1pm. We got a good parking place just opposite the Parkside. The pub was crowded outside, Chips and Gravy was doing a roaring trade and everyone, just everyone was either dressed in blue, carrying a blue flag or had a City scarf round their necks. We sat in the car watching everthing. Dad went for a couple of cans of lager and we drank them whilst watching the flags, balloons and painted faces pass by. Right then, lets go.We walked up Lloyd St to the road we always turn down. Maine Road ahead. I burst into tears. That was a good start. I asked Dad if he would get a photo of the ground from that corner, then another of the Main Entrance. Whilst I was waiting for him to come back people near me started clapping and it was Goater making his way from the Car Park to the entrance. Next thing everyone was singing "feed the Goat". and cheering him. The ground was empty when we got in as the turnstiles hadn't opened, but we had gone through disabled. It soon filled up though. Dad was busy taking photographs. I wanted one of the goalmouth in front of me from the position I had when I went with my Dad as that was where Frank Swift used to wave to me from. Another of the Gene Kelly Stand where I used to wave to you and Phlilip. Suddenly applause started from the Gene Kelly stand and George Kinkladse was making his way round to the players tunnel. What an ovation.. Then the parade of legends started The fifties first. Roy Little was the oldest ex player there Joe Fagin, Smith , Hart. Then the sixties. seventies and so on. So many players. Mike Doyle, Francis Lee Mike Summerbee . Geo Kinky said he always had a special affection for Maine Road, and we cheered him again. In fact we cheered anything and everything. Tony Book was there and his hair is as white as Dads. I didn't recognise him. Denis Law looks younger than ever. Then it was time for the teams to come out. "Maine Road will you welcome your Mamchester City team out for the last time ever here at Maine Road" !!! the place erupted Blue Moon I saw you standing alone etc. Crikey Moses Carl, there wasn"t a dry eye to be seen. The cheering went on and on and so did Blue Moon, City till I die, and all the others. Schmeicel {?} went to every player and shook their hands. The players all lined up outside the players tunnnel and Mike Summerbee escorted Mrs Mercer out to meet both teams. What a reception she got. Mike Summerbee is going to present her with Joe Mercers shirts and caps from the Trophy Room. Then out came Colin Bell. "Theres only one Colin Bell" to meet the teams. Finally out came Malcolm Alison. The place went mad. Apparently he is in an old folks home in Sale, and he suffers from depression. Lets hope the occasion lifted him a little. The teams were announced and when it came to the Captain all you could hear was FEED THE GOAT. It seemed to go on for ever. The match was nothing to write home about. When the players came back after half time, they hung back and let Goater come out on his own. Very very emotional. The second half wasnt much better than the 1st, but thats City for you. Roller Coaster. Perhaps thats why we love them. Match over. We waited for a while then the lads came out to walk a lap of honour. They were clapping us, we were clapping them. They slowly made their way round and then one more wave and they went in forever. Time the champagne came out. It did taste good. We kept the bottle out of sight in case we got told off and we had prawn sandwiches{ just to let the Reds know they aren't the only ones to eat them ! The presentation started Smeichel was first and Goater came on to the stage. Apparently he was a bit weepie. We wouldn't let him go for a long while. It was sad to see him walk slowly off the pitch for the last time. There were three bands playing the sort of music you and Philip like, you know boom boom boom. In between times Ricky Hatton came on . His match at Maine Road is off because he had to have plastic surgery on his eye. Very disappointed he said he was, but there it is. Then Paul Dickov came on and said how much he loved this place, but now that Leicester were in the Premiership he was looking forward to playing at the new stadium. Kicking a few was how he put it. Them came the fireworks, and what a great display it was. Two machines then blew out blue and white tickertape all over the ground. Everyone was still singing blue moon right to the end. Not one person went on the pitch, nothing was ruined. Everone behaved and a wonderful, nostalgic, emotional time was had by all. We left the ground very subdued. Not just us, - everyone. You could feel the sadness and see lots of tears. I crossed Maine Road, stopped on the corner. I turned to look at the stadium one last time. Goodbye Old Lady , thanks for so many happy, and sad times. Your'e looking tired now, it"s time for a well earned rest. God bless.

Great read on a great thread carlos....took me back to that day like it was yesterday...we also parked by the parkside then a few pints and then a visit to chips n gravy...i also remember the goat getting mobbed outside and getting his autograpgh

still got a program in it`s celophane wrapper never been opened

 

[Gary James]

Thanks - I hoped you'd be around and able to add to the thread.

Manchester announced in May 1995 that we were going for the Commonwealth Games and we were awarded them in November of that year, so it was always likely we'd move to that stadium. There was no way it was ever going to become the national stadium ahead of Wembley and I think United were always likely to stay at Old Trafford, so I suspect that Lee's plans for Maine Road were only going to be seriously developed if the Commonwealth Stadium move had failed to come off. They may have had to be changed to get planning consent, I suspect, but we'll never know.

Ah.... Utd at COMs - I have performed interviews which will appear in the next edition of "Manchester: A Football History" which reveals how key players at Manchester Council were desperate to move Utd to Eastlands. The story is a bit of a shocking one, but believe me, until City signed the deal in 1999 to move (signed after our promotion to Div 1 was guaranteed) Utd were being 'courted' behind the scenes.

Don't forget the original plan was for an 80,000 capacity stadium and during the mid 90s OT's capacity was about 45,000, rising to 68k by 2003.