Stretford End
Encyclopedia
Stadium
A modern stadium is a place or venue for outdoor sports, concerts, or other events and consists of a field or stage either partly or completely surrounded by a structure designed to allow spectators to stand or sit and view the event.)Pausanias noted that for about half a century the only event...
of Manchester United F.C.
Manchester United F.C.
Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958...
It took its name from the town of Stretford
Stretford
Stretford is a town within the Metropolitan Borough of Trafford, in Greater Manchester, England. Lying on flat ground between the River Mersey and the Manchester Ship Canal, it is to the southwest of Manchester city centre, south-southwest of Salford and northeast of Altrincham...
, in which the stadium is located, as it is in the direction of the centre of Stretford, looking from the centre of the pitch. The stand is divided into two tiers, and in common with the rest of the stadium, it has a cantilever
Cantilever
A cantilever is a beam anchored at only one end. The beam carries the load to the support where it is resisted by moment and shear stress. Cantilever construction allows for overhanging structures without external bracing. Cantilevers can also be constructed with trusses or slabs.This is in...
roof.
History
Boeing 747
The Boeing 747 is a wide-body commercial airliner and cargo transport, often referred to by its original nickname, Jumbo Jet, or Queen of the Skies. It is among the world's most recognizable aircraft, and was the first wide-body ever produced...
taking off. The last game played in front of the famous old terrace was a 3–1 win over Spurs on 2 May 1992 – the final game of the 1991–92 First Division
Football League First Division
The First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
campaign.
The terrace was demolished during the 1992 close-season and replaced with a £10 million all-seater
All-seater stadium
An all-seater stadium is a sports stadium in which every spectator has a seat. This is commonplace in football stadiums in nations such as the United Kingdom, Spain, and the Netherlands. Most soccer and American football stadiums in the United States and Canada are all-seaters, as are most baseball...
cantilever
Cantilever
A cantilever is a beam anchored at only one end. The beam carries the load to the support where it is resisted by moment and shear stress. Cantilever construction allows for overhanging structures without external bracing. Cantilevers can also be constructed with trusses or slabs.This is in...
stand by the end of the 1992–93 season, giving Old Trafford an all-seater stadium to comply with the Taylor Report
Taylor Report
The Hillsborough Stadium Disaster Inquiry report, better known as the Taylor Report is a document, whose development was overseen by Lord Taylor of Gosforth, concerning the aftermath and causes of the Hillsborough disaster in 1989. An interim report was published in August 1989, and the final...
(which required all Premier League and Division One clubs to have all-seater stadia by the start of the 1994–95 season), and its name was officially changed to "West Stand", although it is still often referred to as the Stretford End and even has white chairs proclaiming it so.
The redevelopment of the Stretford End was first proposed in mid-1989, when chairman Martin Edwards
Martin Edwards
Charles Martin Edwards was the chairman of Manchester United from 1980 until 2002. He now holds the position of honorary life president at the club.- Education :...
was proposing to sell the club and was willing to sell his shares for £10 million and pledge £10 million to any new owner for the redevelopment of the Stretford End.
For the 2000–01 season, a second tier of seating was added. As well as hosting a number of executive boxes, the first tier of the West Stand is now partly taken up by the family seating area. At the corner with the South Stand is the players' tunnel.
Only Denis Law
Denis Law
Denis Law is a retired Scottish football player, who enjoyed a long and successful career as a striker from the 1950s to the 1970s....
and Eric Cantona
Eric Cantona
Eric Daniel Pierre Cantona is a French actor and former French international footballer. He played for Auxerre, Martigues, Marseille, Bordeaux, Montpellier, Nîmes and Leeds United before ending his professional footballing career at Manchester United, where he won four Premier League titles in...
have reached the status "King of the Stretford End" among the United faithful. The former for his formidable goal record, the latter for his on-pitch charisma and aura.
Following Manchester United's premature ending with the clubs sponsor Vodafone
Vodafone
Vodafone Group Plc is a global telecommunications company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the world's largest mobile telecommunications company measured by revenues and the world's second-largest measured by subscribers , with around 341 million proportionate subscribers as of...
, the next sponsor, AIG was not displayed in the seats; the 'Nike Swoosh
Swoosh
Swoosh is the symbol of the athletic shoe and clothing manufacturer Nike. It is among the most easily recognized brand logos in the world.-History:...
' was relocated to the East Stand and the words "Stretford End" were written on the seats of the West Stand.
Banners
Once work on the second tier was complete, the club allowed supporters to mount banners on the wall in front of the second tier, and groups of supporters got together to produce and pay for them. The slogans on the banners included:- 019 Times — replacing the 35/36 year banner, referring to United's record haul of 19 league titles achieved in 2011. The banner replicates the style of the old 35/36 banner but adds an extra '0' infront of the current 19 count, for future success to be properly recorded. The banner made its debut on 22 May 2011 in the final game of the season vs. Blackpool. This banner was only made to temporary fill the ticker space and as such was only ever in place for the one game
- 35/6 Years — a retired banner providing an unending reference to the length of time between 1976 and 2011 that United's rivals Manchester CityManchester City F.C.Manchester City Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Manchester. Founded in 1880 as St. Mark's , they became Ardwick Association Football Club in 1887 and Manchester City in 1894...
went without winning a major trophy. The ticker banner housed a complete set of numbers within the banner, which were rotated several times a season to give the effect that the ticker was rotating. The original banner was removed by its owner after the Glazer takeover - Stretford End Flags have created a replica "ticker" banner which can be seen from the Pundit box at half time on TV. In the past, every year on 28 February (the anniversary of the 1976 final) the banner was updated to show another year has passed without success for City. Following Citys FA Cup win in May 2011 the ticker banner made its final appearance showing 35 years. - MUFC The Religion — symbolizing fanaticism and loyalty for the club. MUFC stands for Manchester United Football Club.
- Manchester is my Heaven First seen in January 2010, this red banner features Matt Busby and the words "MANCHESTER IS MY HEAVEN". It is a reference to an event in 1956 when Busby turned down an offer made by Santiago Bernabéu YesteSantiago Bernabéu YesteSantiago Bernabéu Yeste was a Spanish sportsman, one of the single most important men in Real Madrid's history. He is generally considered the one to whom much of the credit can be given for transforming Real Madrid C.F. from the second most successful club in Madrid into the most successful in...
to manage Real MadridReal MadridReal Madrid Club de Fútbol , commonly known as Real Madrid, is a professional football club based in Madrid, Spain. The club have won a record 31 La Liga titles, the Primera División of the Liga de Fútbol Profesional , 18 Copas del Rey, 8 Spanish Super Cups, 1 Copa Eva Duarte and 1 Copa de la...
, and was said by Busby in response to Bernabeu comparing managing Madrid to being offered paradiseParadiseParadise is a place in which existence is positive, harmonious and timeless. It is conceptually a counter-image of the miseries of human civilization, and in paradise there is only peace, prosperity, and happiness. Paradise is a place of contentment, but it is not necessarily a land of luxury and...
. - Giggs – Tearing You Apart Since 1991 – First seen in March 2011, this banner celebrates Ryan GiggsRyan GiggsRyan Joseph Giggs OBE is a Welsh professional footballer who plays for Manchester United. Giggs made his first appearance for the club during the 1990–91 season and has been a regular player since the 1991–92 season...
' 20 year career at Manchester United. It reference a chant for Ryan Giggs which plays on the Joy DivisionJoy DivisionJoy Division were an English rock band formed in 1976 in Salford, Greater Manchester. Originally named Warsaw, the band primarily consisted of Ian Curtis , Bernard Sumner , Peter Hook and Stephen Morris .Joy Division rapidly evolved from their initial punk rock influences...
song 'Love Will Tear Us Apart'. - Republik of Mancunia – Red Army — written in faux CyrillicFaux CyrillicFaux Cyrillic, pseudo-Cyrillic, pseudo-Russian or faux Russian typography is the use of Cyrillic letters in Latin text to evoke the Soviet Union or Russia, regardless of whether the letters are phonetic matches. For example, R and N in RUSSIAN may be replaced by Cyrillic Я and И, giving "ЯUSSIAИ"...
showcasing the MancunianManchesterManchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
pride of the supporters and, for some, their apathy towards the England national football teamEngland national football teamThe England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
. - 2GEND — a reference to the now retired United Legend Ole Gunnar SolskjærOle Gunnar SolskjærOle Gunnar Solskjær is the manager of Norwegian first division side Molde. He is better known as a former footballer who spent most of his career playing for Manchester United. Often dubbed "the baby-faced assassin," he played 366 times for the Red Devils and scored 126 goals during a very...
who had been injured for over a year when the banner was made. Solskjær wore the number 20 on his shirt. - One Love – Stretford End – MUFC — One Love is the title of a song by Manchester band The Stone RosesThe Stone RosesThe Stone Roses are an English alternative rock band formed in Manchester in 1983. They were one of the pioneering groups of the Madchester movement that was active during the late 1980s and early 1990s...
that was played at the 1999 European CupUEFA Champions LeagueThe UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
final, which Manchester United won. - 6 February 1958 – The Flowers of Manchester — A tribute to the Munich air disasterMunich air disasterThe Munich air disaster occurred on 6 February 1958, when British European Airways Flight 609 crashed on its third attempt to take off from a slush-covered runway at Munich-Riem Airport in Munich, West Germany. On board the plane was the Manchester United football team, nicknamed the "Busby Babes",...
, in which eight United players died. The Flowers of Manchester is the title of a tribute song by The Spinners. - Form Is Temporary Class Is Permanent – This banner is a reference to United's history in saying that the Manchester United first team has always had great players. Although anybody can beat anybody else on their day, this does not reflect the quality of the team. The banner incorporated 16 Premier League Trophies and was aimed as a dig at ChelseaChelsea F.C.Chelsea Football Club are an English football club based in West London. Founded in 1905, they play in the Premier League and have spent most of their history in the top tier of English football. Chelsea have been English champions four times, FA Cup winners six times and League Cup winners four...
. This banner was only in place for a few games at the start of the season. - ""Sent To Me From Heaven...You Are My World"" — this is in reference to the late George Best and are lyrics taken from the Manchester band The Stone RosesThe Stone RosesThe Stone Roses are an English alternative rock band formed in Manchester in 1983. They were one of the pioneering groups of the Madchester movement that was active during the late 1980s and early 1990s...
' song, Sally CinnamonSally CinnamonSally Cinnamon is a non-album single released by the band the Stone Roses in 1987.The song is the second single to be released by The Stone Roses, and was released before Mani joined the band. It is the first single by the Stone Roses to feature their classic sound...
. The banner features images of Best, Charlton and Law, Busby and Fergie, Robson, Keane and Cantona. It blends the old Busby era with the Ferguson era.
The banners were temporarily removed in June 2005. Initially, this was caused by building work on the corners of the stadium, but the majority of their owners decided not to put them back up as a protest against Malcolm Glazer
Malcolm Glazer
Malcolm Irving Glazer is an American businessman and sports team owner. He is the president and chief executive officer of First Allied Corporation, a holding company for his varied business interests, most notably in the food processing industry...
's takeover of Manchester United. As the original banners belonged to Manchester United fans and no fans were consulted in their removal process, the majority of the original banners were returned to the Stretford End and still remain on the Stretford End till this day. The original banners that still remain include "Flowers of manchester", "One Love - Stretford End", "Republik of Mancunia" and "MUFC The Religion". Some of these banners can now be found on the back wall of tier 2 of the Stetford End.
More Banners have returned to Stretford End designed by the fans along with the old ones (i.e. the "ONE LOVE STRETFORD END MUFC" banner). All Manchester United Supporters are encouraged to submit their ideas for banners and information on how to submit can be found at www.stretfordendflags.com All of the banners are funded by Manchester United fans.
New Banners
- The Phoenix Banner – "MUFC - EST 1878 WE'LL NEVER DIE" (first in place at the Blackburn match)
- Blue Nose Day Banner – "Blue Nose day comic relief for 29 yrs" (in place at the Manchester City match)
- In Memory of Noel CantwellNoel CantwellNoel Euchuria Cornelius Cantwell was an Irish cricketer and football player born in County Cork, Irish Free State...
Banner – "Noel Cantwell 1932-2005 RIP" (in place at the Manchester City match) - Eusebio I Say Kiddo Banner – "Eusebio and I say Kiddo...Kiddo,Kiddo - Wembley'68" (in place at the Benfica match)
- United > England (in place at the Tottenham match, but has been banned since due to complaints)
- or verymanc eligion (in reference to the Ian Brown song "F.E.A.R.")
- European Capital of Trophies - Manchester 08 – A reference to Liverpool being made the European Capital of Culture for 2008, a year in which Manchester United won the Premier League, Champions League and World Club Championship but their rivals Liverpool finished trophy-less.
- Sir Alex's Impossible Dream – A banner made in November 2011 to celebrate Sir Alex Ferguson's incredible 25th year at the club. The banner depicted Ferguson and the 37 major trophies he had won during his quarter of a century at the club. It was the biggest banner SEF had created, at a massive 72 meters, costing £3,600 (of which came from fans donations). The design of the flag was by two club fans 'Stowe Gregory' and 'Gav McFarland'. The banner was first seen at the Sunderland league game on November 4, 2011.
Given the wear and tear on the banners from years of exposure, some of the original banners can now be found in other locations within Old Trafford. The original One Love - Stretford End banner was turning pink, so a new replica stands in its place, the original banner now hangs within the concourse area on Stretford End Tier 2. Many of the other banners are now hanging on the very back wall off the Stretford End Tier Two, above the last row of stadium seats.
Statue
It also has the statue of United's 1960s legend Denis LawDenis Law
Denis Law is a retired Scottish football player, who enjoyed a long and successful career as a striker from the 1950s to the 1970s....
on the upper concourse which was unveiled on 23 September 2002. Law was known as the "King of the Stretford End" as he was idolised by the End's faithful.