RTG’s totally and utterly (we hope) indispensable guide to this season’s away grounds.
THE OPPO – Man Utd
VENUE – Old Trafford, Manchester
DATE – Saturday 1 Sept
KO TIME – 1715
THE GROUND – Old Trafford – click here and here for maps of the area – the circle/arrow near the middle shows where the ground is.
Old Trafford is about two miles south-west of Manchester city centre, close to the ring road and handy for the M62 and its connection to the M6. The stadium itself is the largest league ground in England, holding just over 67,000 people.
S/T holders have priority until close of business on 13 August (voucher 27). General sale commences on 21 August subject to availability.
GOING BY CAR?
Travelling from the north east, get yourself onto the A1/A1M southbound; just after you pass junction 45 (for the A64 Leeds/York road) you’ll see signs for the M1 – so take the M1 southbound.
You join the M1 at jcn 48 and you need to stay on it until you reach jcn 42.
Then leave the M1 for the M62 westbound, signposted ‘Manchester’.
At M62 jcn 18 (just after Birch Service Area) go straight ahead at the interchange onto the M60 westbound.
Leave the M60 at Junction 9 and join Parkway (A5081) towards Trafford Park.
At the first island take the 3rd exit onto Village Way and remain on this road until the next island (controlled by traffic lights).
At this island take the second exit and then join Wharfside Way.
The right-turn into Sir Matt Busby Way will be closed on the day but you should already have seen signs for car parking by this point, and the stadium is off to your right.
PARKING
– There are lots of officially-run, secure car parks close to the ground – you’ll see the brown direction signs on all approaches to the ground.
– As for street parking, it’s risky – on matchdays there are “Residents Only” and “No Waiting” schemes in force on most roads in the immediate vicinity of the ground, and you run the risk of being fined, clamped or towed away if you take the risk.
– You can park at Old Trafford Cricket Ground which will set you back £5
– or even drive to nearby Altrincham town centre – park there and get the Metrolink to the ground (the ground has its own railway and Metrolink stations).
– Some pubs in Altrincham will let you use their car park for free, providing you have a pre-match drink with them.
– You can also take the Metrolink Park & Ride service from Ladywell Halt in Eccles to the stadium, with the added benefit of secure free parking at the station, the Metrolink return fare is £1.20.
GOING BY TRAIN?
Old Trafford stadium has its own railway station behind the south stand. The stop is only open on matchdays, for trains arriving before the match from Manchester, Crewe and Macclesfield, and for the return trains after the final whistle.
For train times for that day, check the National Rail website.
STOPPING OVER?
Golden Tulip Hotel, opposite stadium – tel 0161 873 8899
Travelodge Manchester Central (2 miles away) – tel 0870 191 1659.
Travel Inn Salford Quays (1 mile away) – tel 08701 977 176
Express by Holiday Inn, Salford Quays (1 mile away) – tel 0161 868 1000
SCRAN AND BOOZE
Alcohol is usually sold in the stadium itself but the Red Café is closed for all but hospitality package clients on matchdays.
The Bishop Blaize on Chester Road is a typical Wetherspoons and over the road to that is The Trafford, the closest pub to the stadium.
LEND US A FIVER I’M OUT OF CASH
Nee probs – there are two ATMs actually at the stadium (HSBC and Halifax) , and another at Chester Road News, a a short walk away.
Credits: Manchester United FC, United We Stand, Link, Soccerbase, Yellow Pages, The AA, BBC, Streetmap, Multimap, National Rail, National Express.
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