Mad Eyed Screamer
Moderator
HAPPY 100TH BIRTHDAY MAINE ROAD!
Maine Road: 1923 - 2003
The first match at Maine Road took place 100 years ago today - 25th August 1923, when 58,159 fans watched the home side beat Sheffield United 2–1. Only the Main Stand was covered. (Picture 1) The first changes to the ground took place in 1931, when the corner between the Main Stand and the Platt Lane end at the south of the ground was rebuilt to incorporate a roof. (picture 2) This renovation was the first of many, as Maine Road's layout and capacity was varied throughout its lifespan.
In 1934, the highest attendance at an English domestic football game at a club ground (outside of Cup finals and Wembley Stadium) was recorded at Maine Road between Manchester City and Stoke City in front of 84,569 fans in the sixth round of the FA Cup in 1934.
Maine Road holds two other attendance records - highest crowd for a League game - 81,962 when tennants Manchester United played Arsenal in 1948 and the highest crowd for a midweek game when 80,407 watched the FA Cup semi final replay between Derby County and Birmingham City in 1942.
Changes at the Platt Lane end took place in 1935, extending the terracing and providing a roof for the full stand. (Picture 3) This marked the peak capacity of the ground, estimated at around 88,000.
Floodlights for the stadium were installed in 1953 and further development took place in 1957. The long terrace facing the Main Stand (which until that time was generally known as the Popular Side) was redeveloped, covered and named the Kippax Stand after a nearby street. (Picture 4)
In 1963, benches were installed at the Platt Lane end, meaning that Maine Road had more seats than any other English club ground of the time.
The next major redevelopment came in the 1970s, with the construction of the Scoreboard End - a cantilevered seated stand, renamed The North Stand - which remained in place until the closure (picture 5)
In 1982, the Main Stand roof had been replaced at a cost of £1 million (picture 6)
By 1990, some areas of the ground were becoming outdated, and two disasters at other football grounds led to stadium changes throughout the country. Wooden structures within stands were outlawed after the fire at Bradford City's Valley Parade in 1985. As a result, the Platt Lane stand was demolished in 1992. It was replaced by the Umbro Stand that also incorporated executive boxes, and was opened in March 1993 (picture 6). The name reverted back to the Platt Lane Stand in the late 1990s.
Then the era of standing accommodation at Maine Road came to an end in May 1994 as the stadium became all-seater to comply with guidelines following the Hillsborough disaster in 1989. This meant the demolition of the Kippax Street Terrace, where a three-tier stand was built in its place, holding nearly 14,000 spectators, and on its completion in 1995 it was the tallest stand in the country. (Picture 7)
In the late 1990's the club filled in the gap between the Kippax stand and the North Stand by installing temporary seating often seen at major golf tournaments (picture 8). This area was nicknamed "The Gene Kelly Stand" as fans wede literally singing in the rain! In 2000, the "Little Gene Kelly Stand" was installed, a similar but smaller structure between the Kippax stand and the Platt Lane stand.
As well as being "home" to Manchester United when Old Traffiord was being repaired after being bombed during the WW2 and for the reds first 3 European games as Old Trafford did not have floodlights, the stadium had also hosted 2 England international games in the 1940's, along with numerous FA Cup semi finals, the League Cup final replay in 1984 between Everton & Liverpool, Rugby League Cup finals and many rock concerts in the summer too.
The site was flattened in 2003 (picture 9) and a school and new housing is on the site. There is a little grassed area in the middle where the centre spot was (picture 10) called "Gibson's Green", named after the clubs legendary groundsman Stan Gibson.
Maine Road: 1923 - 2003
The first match at Maine Road took place 100 years ago today - 25th August 1923, when 58,159 fans watched the home side beat Sheffield United 2–1. Only the Main Stand was covered. (Picture 1) The first changes to the ground took place in 1931, when the corner between the Main Stand and the Platt Lane end at the south of the ground was rebuilt to incorporate a roof. (picture 2) This renovation was the first of many, as Maine Road's layout and capacity was varied throughout its lifespan.
In 1934, the highest attendance at an English domestic football game at a club ground (outside of Cup finals and Wembley Stadium) was recorded at Maine Road between Manchester City and Stoke City in front of 84,569 fans in the sixth round of the FA Cup in 1934.
Maine Road holds two other attendance records - highest crowd for a League game - 81,962 when tennants Manchester United played Arsenal in 1948 and the highest crowd for a midweek game when 80,407 watched the FA Cup semi final replay between Derby County and Birmingham City in 1942.
Changes at the Platt Lane end took place in 1935, extending the terracing and providing a roof for the full stand. (Picture 3) This marked the peak capacity of the ground, estimated at around 88,000.
Floodlights for the stadium were installed in 1953 and further development took place in 1957. The long terrace facing the Main Stand (which until that time was generally known as the Popular Side) was redeveloped, covered and named the Kippax Stand after a nearby street. (Picture 4)
In 1963, benches were installed at the Platt Lane end, meaning that Maine Road had more seats than any other English club ground of the time.
The next major redevelopment came in the 1970s, with the construction of the Scoreboard End - a cantilevered seated stand, renamed The North Stand - which remained in place until the closure (picture 5)
In 1982, the Main Stand roof had been replaced at a cost of £1 million (picture 6)
By 1990, some areas of the ground were becoming outdated, and two disasters at other football grounds led to stadium changes throughout the country. Wooden structures within stands were outlawed after the fire at Bradford City's Valley Parade in 1985. As a result, the Platt Lane stand was demolished in 1992. It was replaced by the Umbro Stand that also incorporated executive boxes, and was opened in March 1993 (picture 6). The name reverted back to the Platt Lane Stand in the late 1990s.
Then the era of standing accommodation at Maine Road came to an end in May 1994 as the stadium became all-seater to comply with guidelines following the Hillsborough disaster in 1989. This meant the demolition of the Kippax Street Terrace, where a three-tier stand was built in its place, holding nearly 14,000 spectators, and on its completion in 1995 it was the tallest stand in the country. (Picture 7)
In the late 1990's the club filled in the gap between the Kippax stand and the North Stand by installing temporary seating often seen at major golf tournaments (picture 8). This area was nicknamed "The Gene Kelly Stand" as fans wede literally singing in the rain! In 2000, the "Little Gene Kelly Stand" was installed, a similar but smaller structure between the Kippax stand and the Platt Lane stand.
As well as being "home" to Manchester United when Old Traffiord was being repaired after being bombed during the WW2 and for the reds first 3 European games as Old Trafford did not have floodlights, the stadium had also hosted 2 England international games in the 1940's, along with numerous FA Cup semi finals, the League Cup final replay in 1984 between Everton & Liverpool, Rugby League Cup finals and many rock concerts in the summer too.
The site was flattened in 2003 (picture 9) and a school and new housing is on the site. There is a little grassed area in the middle where the centre spot was (picture 10) called "Gibson's Green", named after the clubs legendary groundsman Stan Gibson.
