Blue2112
Well-Known Member
Saw us play Luton there when I was a kid but no idea what year it was. Seems like it was a lifetime ago.
Rammyblues said:dwent there in the mid/late seventies to see us play Luton in a 2nd replay in the League Cup. Seem to remember their keeper, Milija Aleksic (later played for Spurs), had a blinder. Can't recall the score, but pretty sure we won. The crowd was small, with a lot of the ground closed. I stood in the Stetford End.
Count me in for that game, I am sure Futcher brothers played for them and later signed for us.
watsonshead said:didn't we play Luton in one of the many cup replays there ?
Didsbury Dave said:liscal said:I went there in the mid/late seventies to see us play Luton in a 2nd replay in the League Cup. Seem to remember their keeper, Milija Aleksic (later played for Spurs), had a blinder. Can't recall the score, but pretty sure we won. The crowd was small, with a lot of the ground closed. I stood in the Stetford End.
I don't remember this at all. Anyone remember why it was at Old Trafford? Was it seen as a neutral ground or something?
Gary James said:2nd replays were often at neutral grounds (this changed later when sides tossed a coin to determine who would stage the 2nd replay) and they tried to make them equi-distant but I don't think that ever actually worked out. Looking at the opponents for those 70s games it looks like they've just gone for the next nearest ground to City!
The Stamford bridge game v Norwich was in 1975 League cup run and I know City weren't happy with the venue choice - only 6238 attended. The same happened in 1966 when the FA cup replay with Everton went to Wolves - Joe Mercer said he'd have preferred to play again at Goodison because 60,000 would have watched instead of 27k.
Gary James said:Here goes. As well as Bury 85:
Luton L cup 2nd replay 1977
Walsall 2nd replay L C 1973
Halifax town FA cup 2nd replay 1924
Don't think I've missed any but you never know.
From memory City had all scoreboard end and part of main stand while Bury had rest of main stand and maybe Stretford End. Can't remember Utd Road being open. There were some photos in the 2nd leg prog and again from memory they basically show empty seats in the background with busy-ish paddocks.
Didsbury Dave said:Has anyone out there seen City play someone who isn't United at Old Trafford?
I know it has happened quite a few times but I only remember one: we drew Bury away in one of the very early rounds of the League/CArling/Rumbelows/whatever it was at the time cup. Bury couldn't cope with the invasion so the game was played at Old Trafford. I don't remember much apart from that we won (1-0?) and I seem to remember the crowd being around 11,000. That was of course a typical crowd for that stage of the cup. At a guess I'd say this was about 1986.
Was anyone there? Did they open all the stands or just some? And can anyone remember any other games where Old Trafford was used?