30th April 1994 - The Kippax's Last Stand

[Mad Eyed Screamer]

30th April 1994
The Kippax Street terrace's last stand.

Although Maine Road opened in 1923, the famous Kippax Street terrace was only given that name in 1957, when a roof was built over the terracing running along the length of the pitch to provide fans standing with some shelter from the frequent Manchester rain.
Prior to that the terrace had been known as the Popular Side.

In 1963, the Platt Lane end had wooden benches installed and in 1971 the scoreboard end was also covered and seated (and renamed the North Stand). This meant that the Kippax remained as the only standing area at Maine Road, which was unique in being along the length of the pitch and not behind the goal.

Looking on from the pitch, the top right corner of the Kippax was reserved for away fans, with those clubs bringing a lot more support also being given the open curved section between the Kippax and the Platt Lane stand.

On this day in 1994, fans stood on the terrace for the final time, in a 2-2 draw v Chelsea, before the terrace was demolished to comply with government legislation requiring football grounds to be all seated.
Maine Road was never the same again......

 

[blue b4 the moon]

A sad day.

 

[Deleted member 77198]

Never been the same club since.

There’s still something missing at the club despite how good we are as a club these days, and it’s a proper vocal stand that we all want to be part of and proud of.

My Uncle stopped going to games after the Kippax was torn down. He went to a few in the years after but said it wasn’t the same and just stopped going.

 

[Deleted member 77198]

 

[MCFC Wirral]

I’d have loved to have stood on The Kippax but was yet to go to a match due to my age. What was it like?

 

[Lavinda Past]

I’d have loved to have stood on The Kippax but was yet to go to a match due to my age. What was it like?

It was shite, but it was our shite.
I still miss it.

 

[MCFC Wirral]

It was shite, but it was our shite.
I still miss it.

Anyone else?!

 

[Lavinda Past]

Never been the same club since.

There’s still something missing at the club despite how good we are as a club these days, and it’s a proper vocal stand that we all want to be part of and proud of.

My Uncle stopped going to games after the Kippax was torn down. He went to a few in the years after but said it wasn’t the same and just stopped going.

Whether it was Maine Road, the Etihad or any other all-seat ground... They sucked the life out of the game for the traditional supporter.

I've never felt any personal attachment to the Etihad in 20 years. It's a superficial concrete block.

 

[Trojan1962]

Whether it was Maine Road, the Etihad or any other all-seat ground... They sucked the life out of the game for the traditional supporter.

I've never felt any personal attachment to the Etihad in 20 years. It's a superficial concrete block.

I must admit part of our great club died when we moved

 

[Lavinda Past]

Anyone else?!

It's hard to explain how it was, especially on a rainy evening with the rain and fag smoke filtering through the biggest, bestest floodlights in the universe.

 

[Betterdeedthan red]

I’d have loved to have stood on The Kippax but was yet to go to a match due to my age. What was it like?

As a teenager it was the most amazing place ever.
I felt absolutely massive.
Football hasn't been the same since that day

 

[salford blue 62]

30th April 1994
The Kippax Street terrace's last stand.

Although Maine Road opened in 1923, the famous Kippax Street terrace was only given that name in 1957, when a roof was built over the terracing running along the length of the pitch to provide fans standing with some shelter from the frequent Manchester rain.
Prior to that the terrace had been known as the Popular Side.

In 1963, the Platt Lane end had wooden benches installed and in 1971 the scoreboard end was also covered and seated (and renamed the North Stand). This meant that the Kippax remained as the only standing area at Maine Road, which was unique in being along the length of the pitch and not behind the goal.

Looking on from the pitch, the top right corner of the Kippax was reserved for away fans, with those clubs bringing a lot more support also being given the open curved section between the Kippax and the Platt Lane stand.

On this day in 1994, fans stood on the terrace for the final time, in a 2-2 draw v Chelsea, before the terrace was demolished to comply with government legislation requiring football grounds to be all seated.
Maine Road was never the same again......View attachment 77194View attachment 77195View attachment 77196View attachment 77197View attachment 77198

Great photos mate,lots of memories,it was my second home for about twenty five years.

 

[york away to this!]

I’d have loved to have stood on The Kippax but was yet to go to a match due to my age. What was it like?

We all had shite on our shoes after walking down dog shit alley to get there, impending gastroentiritis after buying a burger, spittle in our hair from standing next to the away fans, smelly clothes from the fag smoke, piss down the back of our flares - and didn't see half the match after being under that "massive" flag.
Ahhhh, the memories!...

 

[blueinsa]

For those of us old enough to have stood on it, we can appreciate what it meant but time and life moves on.

Lucky enough to have been there for the last time on both Kippax stands.

Great times and days even if the football on offer made us suffer.

 

[blue44]

i used to love the buzz walking through the tunnel nearest to the away fans,seeing the pitch , especially on night games,daft things but mean a lot.

My dad and grandad nearly always parked their car near the eye hospital and we walked to the ground, was always exciting getting glimpses of the floodlights inbetween the houses walking up.

Seen some rght fights in and around the kippax,riots outside it, i will never forget tbe bananas and inflatables on the kippax in the 1980's and that bloody " trombone " at the back.of the kippax during the 5-1 promotion game v charlton,what a day on the kippax that was.

 

[Hoghead]

Born in '59, first match against Newcastle in '68 (I think, 1-1 draw and abandoned after 41mins due to rain ️). Many matches in the Kippax as a teenager and beyond.
Prefer the Etihad personally though.

 

[Mad Eyed Screamer]

i used to love the buzz walking through the tunnel nearest to the away fans,seeing the pitch , especially on night games,daft things but mean a lot.

My dad and grandad nearly always parked their car near the eye hospital and we walked to the ground, was always exciting getting glimpses of the floodlights inbetween the houses walking up.

Seen some rght fights in and around the kippax,riots outside it, i will never forget tbe bananas and inflatables on the kippax in the 1980's and that bloody " trombone " at the back.of the kippax during the 5-1 promotion game v charlton,what a day on the kippax that was.

What trombone?

 

[denislawsbackheel]

I’d have loved to have stood on The Kippax but was yet to go to a match due to my age. What was it like?

You could never replace the sound of coins thrown by the opposition rebounding off the rafters just before hitting you on the head or the warm spray of bottled piss thrown and shattering in the rafters.
It was my home from the day I started watching City until the day it was pulled down.
The greatest standing area ever in my opinion.

 

[blue44]

What trombone?

someone had brought one in,or some similar instrument and kept playing on it/blasting away, after we had scored,one of the funniest things iv ever heard at a football.match.
tbat was the 5-1 game v charlton,not the last game.

 

[Mad Eyed Screamer]

someone had brought one in,or some similar instrument and kept playing on it/blasting away, after we had scored,one of the funniest things iv ever heard at a football.match.
tbat was the 5-1 game v charlton,not the last game.

I was in the open bit in the Kippax / Platt Lane corner so don't recall hearing that