Manchester Football Grounds: Where to Get a Pre-Match Treat

Old Trafford, the home of Manchester United, opened in 1910 and was designed by Archibald Leitch. With 74,500 seats it is the largest club football stadium in the UK, and Sir Bobby Charlton gave it its nickname, the Theatre of Dreams. Its four stands include the Sir Alex Ferguson Stand, the Sir Bobby Charlton Stand and the Stretford End.

Before kick-off, grab a photo at the United Trinity statue of George Best, Denis Law and Sir Bobby Charlton, which stands across Sir Matt Busby Way from the East Stand, and visit the Munich Clock memorial. The stadium is also home to the Manchester United Museum and trophy room. To get there from the city centre, hop on a tram at Market Street or Piccadilly Gardens and ride to the Old Trafford stop.

The Etihad Stadium, officially the City of Manchester Stadium, was built for the 2002 Commonwealth Games and became Manchester City's home in 2003 after the club left Maine Road. Designed by Arup, its striking cable-stayed roof is held up by twelve exterior masts and won a Royal Institute of British Architects award in 2004. It sits at the heart of the Etihad Campus in east Manchester.

The stands include the Colin Bell Stand, the Family Stand and the East Stand, still known to many fans as the Kippax. As well as match days, the stadium runs stadium tours and has a City Store, so you can pick up a new shirt before the game. From the city centre, catch a tram at Market Street or Piccadilly Gardens to the Etihad Campus stop, which opened in 2013 to serve the stadium.

The Joie Stadium, originally named the Academy Stadium, opened on the Etihad Campus in 2014 as the home of Manchester City Women and City's Elite Development Squad and Academy teams. It holds 7,000 fans and is linked to the Etihad Stadium by a 190-metre bridge over Ashton New Road and Alan Turing Way. It is a great place to see the next generation of City players up close.

Manchester City Women were founded in 1988, won the Women's Super League title in the 2015-16 season, and lifted the Women's FA Cup in 2017 and 2019. From the city centre, take a tram from Market Street or Piccadilly Gardens to the Velopark or Etihad Campus stop, and buses also stop beside the North Gate entrance. Pair a match here with a walk across the bridge to see the Etihad Stadium.

Moor Lane in Kersal has been the home of Salford City since 1978. The club was founded in 1940 as Salford Central and is nicknamed the Ammies, after its former name, Salford Amateurs. In 2014 it was bought by former Manchester United players from the Class of '92.

A redevelopment that began in 2016 raised the capacity from 1,600 to 5,108, including 2,246 seats, and the renewed ground reopened in 2017. The mix of seating and standing gives Salford City fans a modern home in the heart of Kersal. It is a ground to add to your list if you are exploring football across Greater Manchester.

Broadhurst Park in Moston is the home of FC United of Manchester, a fan-owned club formed in 2005 by Manchester United supporters. Every member gets one vote on how the club is run, from electing board members to choosing kit designs and setting season ticket prices. The team plays in red shirts, white shorts and black socks, with a badge inspired by Manchester's coat of arms.

The club opened Broadhurst Park in 2015, with £2 million of the cost raised through community shares bought by supporters. The 4,900-capacity ground also provides sports facilities and activities for local children and teenagers, and is home to FC United Women and Moston Juniors. By membership, FC United is one of the largest fan-owned football clubs in the UK.

Edgeley Park has been the home of Stockport County since 1902, making it one of the oldest football grounds in England still in use. It was first built in 1891 for Stockport's rugby league club. Stockport County were formed in 1883 as Heaton Norris Rovers and are nicknamed the Hatters, after the town's hat-making history.

County have played in blue and white since 1914. The ground's stands include the Danny Bergara Stand, the Cheadle End, the Family Stand and the Railway End, and its record crowd of 27,833 came when Liverpool visited for an FA Cup tie in 1950. The club has a 250-year lease on Edgeley Park from Stockport Council, securing its home for generations to come.

Leigh Sports Village is where Manchester United Women play most of their home matches, along with United's men's Under-21 and Academy teams. The 12,000-seat stadium opened in 2008 and was officially opened by Queen Elizabeth II in 2009. It is also home to the Leigh Leopards rugby league club.

Manchester United Women were re-established in 2018 and won their first major trophy, the Women's FA Cup, with a 4-0 win over Tottenham Hotspur in the 2024 final. Like the men's team, they are known as the Red Devils. Catch a match here, then head into Manchester city centre for dessert at BLACK MILK.