Maine Road -
Manchester City's Former Ground
The image above is shown with the permission of Cybermyth13
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The image above is shown with the permission of Tony Smith
Manchester City Football Club
occupied the Maine Road Football Ground in Moss Side for 80 years, from
1923 until 2003. As you can see on the image above, the stadium
occupied an almost triangular site surrounded by streets of terraced
houses. It is named after the road that formed its western
boundary. When it was built it was the biggest club ground in the
country and only Wembly Stadium was bigger. In 1934 84,569 people
attended
an FA Cup game between Manchester City and Stoke City. Most of
the people attending would have been standing on terraces. At the
time of its closure Maine Road was an all-seater
stadium with the much smaller capacity of 35,150.
The image above is shown with the permission of Cybermyth13
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City didn't always play at
Maine
Road. The Team's origins were across the city in Gorton and
Ardwick. Infact it began as a church football team formed in 1880
by St. Mark's Church, in West Gorton. By 1887 St. Marks Football
Club had become the Ardwick Association Football Club and they played
their home games in the Ardwick Football Ground. It was located
beside Bennet Street, off Hyde Road, in Ardwick. The approximate
location of the
old Ardwick Football Ground is shown by the pink rectangle.
The image is shown with the permission of Eric Rowland of the Artus Genealogy Website
The image is shown with the permission of Eric Rowland of the Artus Genealogy Website
In 1894 Ardwick AFC changed its
name to the Manchester City Football Club. The team took pride in
the fact that in 1920 their Hyde Road ground became the first
provincial football
stadium to be visited by a reigning monarch. However, three years
later a fire destroyed the main stand and City moved to their new
stadium on Maine Road in Moss Side.
The image above is shown with the permission of Cybermyth13
The image above is shown with the permission of Cybermyth13
During the Second World War, City's rivals, Manchester United, were unable to use their stadium in Old Trafford due to bomb damage. For a number of years, until Old Trafford could be restored, United played their home games at Maine Road.
Over the years Maine Road was adapted and updated reflecting changing times. Below you can see it in the post war period circa 1946.
As you can see, two sides of the stadium were uncovered.
Every football stadium has one stand that is home to its most fervent fans and for Manchester City at Maine Road it was the Kippax Stand, named after a nearby street. Once terraces, over the years it turned into one of the tallest stands in the UK and, following the Taylor Report into football stadium safety, it became an all-seater stand.
The image above is shown here with the permission of Alan Duffield
The image above is shown here with the permission of Alan Duffield
Following the closure of Maine Road, City moved into the Commonwealth Games Stadium (now renamed the City of Manchester Stadium) in Eastlands.
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Maine Road was then demolished.
The image above is shown with the permission of Cybermyth13
The image above is shown with the permission of Cybermyth13
During the Second World War, City's rivals, Manchester United, were unable to use their stadium in Old Trafford due to bomb damage. For a number of years, until Old Trafford could be restored, United played their home games at Maine Road.
Over the years Maine Road was adapted and updated reflecting changing times. Below you can see it in the post war period circa 1946.
As you can see, two sides of the stadium were uncovered.
Below you can see it in the
1960s with three covered stands.
Every football stadium has one stand that is home to its most fervent fans and for Manchester City at Maine Road it was the Kippax Stand, named after a nearby street. Once terraces, over the years it turned into one of the tallest stands in the UK and, following the Taylor Report into football stadium safety, it became an all-seater stand.
The image above is shown here with the permission of Alan Duffield
The image above is shown here with the permission of Alan Duffield
The image above is shown here
with the permission of Steve Garry
In 2003 Maine Road's 80 years
of football history came to an end. The photographs below, shown
here with the permission of Tim Salmon, show scenes from the last game
between City and Southampton on Sunday, May 11, 2003.
The image above is shown here with the permission of Tim Salmon
The image above is shown here with the permission of Tim Salmon
The image above is shown here with the permission of Tim Salmon
The image above is shown here with the permission of Tim Salmon
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Following the closure of Maine Road, City moved into the Commonwealth Games Stadium (now renamed the City of Manchester Stadium) in Eastlands.
******************************
Maine Road was then demolished.
The image above is shown with the permission of Tony Smith
Following the demolition, work
began on the creation of a new urban village with its own community
cente designed by the architectural practice of Leach Rhodes
Waker. They say of the development, "The scheme creates
circa 230 houses of 3 to 4 bed units, comprising of terraces, semis and
detached homes, varying between 2 and 3 storeys. Also, 240 apartments
of 2 bed, 3 bed and 4 bed units. These are designed to densities of
circa 80 homes per hectare, and exceeded the development density
required with generous amounts of soft landscaping. ....... The design
seamlessly integrates into the existing street fabric and provides a
catalyst for regeneration of the area. The scheme - value £35m - will
be phased over 5 years."
