Old Trafford Football Ground Sir Matt Busby Way Old Trafford

Rumours of a proposed move by Manchester United from their Clayton ground to a new purpose-built stadium at Warwick Road North, Old Trafford were first reported in August 1907 although it was not until the submission of a planning application in November 1908 that details of the scheme became public. In late January 1908 this scheme was withdrawn. A few weeks later an amended and improved version was submitted, this being approved by Stretford Borough Council on 2 March 1909.  Construction work commenced two weeks later with the first match held on 20 March 1910.

Leitch designed the stadium in collaboration with the Manchester architects Brameld and Smith. Essentially pub architects frequently employed by the club chairman, John Henry Davis, their role in the design of the new stadium is uncertain, the surviving elevational drawings of the south stand emanating from the temporary office Leitch set up in King Street, Manchester. His roof design comprised a series of gables towards the pitch, with a larger central gable at the centre emblazoned with the club’s name.  A similar design was also adopted at Arsenal’s East Stand at Highbury three years later and at Wolves. Although the stadium cost some £60,00 it was still found necessary to make savings. During design development the capacity of the ground was reduced from 100,000 to 80,000 and the roof over the north terraces omitted. Although the terraces were gradually roofed over, the Scoreboard End – allocated to the away fans - was still open to the elements in the late 1960s.

Archie Leitch’s south stand was totally destroyed in a bombing raid in March 1941 although the two wing stands, added by E Wood and Sons in 1938 survived. As a result, United were forced to share Manchester City’s Maine Road ground until repair work was complete in 1950. His terraces too have been swept away in subsequent improvements and all that now remains of his work is the central tunnel in the south stand.

MANCHESTER UNITED'S LARGE SCHEME - The new ground which the Manchester United Football Club has bought at Old Trafford will probably be ready for use next season. It was mentioned in the "Manchester Guardian" some weeks since that plans of the stands and offices to be built on the ground had been submitted to the Stretford District Council for approval. Further details of the scheme are now available. When completed the ground will accommodate 80,000 people, or twice as many as can now see game at Clayton. Of the 80,000 about 12,000 will be able to obtain shelter in covered stands. Neither money nor care is to be spared in ensuring the comfort of players, officials and spectators, For the players there are to be a billiard room, a recreation room, a massage room, gymnasium, and a plunge bath; for the public the usual refreshment attractions will be supplemented by a tearoom, and reporters-and officials will be taken to their boxes in an electric lift. In its comprehensiveness the scheme is worthy of the Manchester United Club. and if it is carried out. with the elaborate attention to detail which is promised, no football club in the British Isles will be able to boast of better headquarters. [Manchester Guardian 13 January 1909 page 3]

UNITED CLUB’S NEW GROUND - The Manchester United Football Club directors were hosts yesterday to many Lancashire and Yorkshire newspaper men who had come to have a look at the club's new ground at Old Trafford, Manchester.  As to the ground itself there can be no two opinions; it is excellent. The playing "pitch" is as perfect as a tennis lawn, and its system of drainage is such that it will need very extraordinary weather to upset its fitness. And the arrangements for spectators are in no way behind those for the playing of the game. In fact, as a place for seeing a football match the United Club's new ground, whether one occupies a sixpenny standing place or a five-shilling upholstered tip-up seat, will stand out pre-eminent, among the football grounds of the country You can compare it mentally with-Ibrox Park,  Queen's. Park, Crystal Palace, and any of the "swell" grounds, and in no case does in come out behindhand. Some of these may be bigger, but for compactness and "nearness to the playing pitch," which, after all, is the thing to be considered, the United's new ground has certainly the pull over any.The plan of the place is, roughly, that of the old Roman amphitheatre. The playing field in the centre is raised some feet from the actual ground level, so that it is about on a level with the spectators occupying the lowest stands round the field. These stands rise quickly, step by step, to a considerable, height, and the safeguard against any collapse lies in the fact that the earth is banked up underneath them. For a stand to collapse and do any damage there would have to be a pretty big landslip as well, which is not a likely thing to happen. A solid outer wall bounds the banks right round the field. There will be seats and stands for some hundred thousand people, nearly half of whom will be under cover. The dearer seats are for all the world like theatre stalls but with this advantage—each row is so far above the row in front of it that no obstruction. of view is possible; the most advanced matinee hat would be quite innocuous.The ground is to be opened on, Saturday with a match against Liverpool. The finishing touches have not yet put on all the stands, but there will be ample room for any number of spectators likely to turn up to the match. [Manchester Guardian 17 February 1910 page 3]

“The most handsomest, the most spacious and the most remarkable arena I have ever seen. As a football ground it is unrivalled in the world, it is an honour to Manchester and the home of a team who can do wonders when they are so disposed.” [Sporting Chronicle Feb 1910]

Reference    Simon Inglis; Engineering Archie page 114-119
Reference    Athletic News 8 March 1909
Reference    Manchester Guardian 17 November 1908 page 10 - First planning application
Reference    Manchester Guardian 13 January 1909 page 3
Reference    Manchester Guardian 3 March 1909 page 3 – planning approval granted
Reference    Manchester Guardian 21 April 1909 page 3 – construction started
Reference    Manchester Guardian Thursday 17 February 1910 page 3
Reference    Manchester Guardian Monday 21 February 1910 page 3 – match report