The Cliff (training ground)
Encyclopedia
The Cliff is a sports ground in Broughton
, Salford on the banks of the River Irwell
, that was used as rugby league
club Broughton Rangers
' home ground until 1933. It was purchased by association football club Manchester United F.C.
for use as their training ground. It continued to be used by United until 1999, when it was replaced by the Trafford Training Centre
in Carrington, Greater Manchester
. However, it continues to host some Manchester United academy matches, and it is sometimes used by the Salford City Reds
rugby league side as a training venue.
rugby league club moved to the Cliff in 1913 and continued to play there until 1933 when the team moved to Belle Vue Stadium
, in the Gorton
area of Manchester
.
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In May 1938, the site was earmarked by Manchester United F.C. chairman James W. Gibson
as a potential site for practice matches and as a regular venue for the Manchester United Junior Athletic Club (MUJAC) A team's matches. By the end of June 1938, a tenancy had been agreed. Manchester United purchased the ground in 1951. Until the late 1950s, Manchester United's first team trained on the pitch at their Old Trafford
stadium, but the club's management had decided that using the Cliff training ground was necessary to avoid doing needless damage to the Old Trafford pitch. Floodlights were soon erected at The Cliff – an improvement that Old Trafford did not receive until March 1957 – and a rugby league amateur international match was held there in 1952. That same year, Manchester United entered their youth team in the FA Youth Cup
for the first time. Matches were played at night, meaning that the team had to play under the floodlights at The Cliff. In the second round of the competition, the Manchester United youth team recorded the biggest win in the history of the FA Youth Cup; David Pegg
, John Doherty
and Duncan Edwards
scored five goals each and Eddie Lewis
scored four in a 23–0 victory over Nantwich Town
's youth team.
At the end of the 20th century, Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson
came to feel that The Cliff had become too open to the press and the public for him to successfully run the training of the club's first team players, with journalists and opposition spies able to get a look at his tactics all too easily and supporters holding the players up for hours after training with requests for autographs. The club, therefore, decided to construct a new training facility in Carrington, Greater Manchester
, away from prying eyes. First team, reserve and academy training is now carried out at the Trafford Training Centre
, but The Cliff is still retained for the training of the club's youngest players. The Cliff has even been used by the England national team
as a training camp prior to international matches held at Old Trafford.
In 2003, plans were put forward by Manchester United for a set of 16 metres (17.5 yd) floodlights at The Cliff, but this was met with opposition from local residents. The club had originally planned to install 19 metres (20.8 yd) lights, but this was later reduced.
Broughton, Greater Manchester
Broughton is an inner city area of Salford, in Greater Manchester, England. It lies on the east bank of the River Irwell and A56 road, in the northeastern part of the City of Salford, north-northwest of Manchester city centre and south of Prestwich. Broughton consists of Broughton Park, Higher...
, Salford on the banks of the River Irwell
River Irwell
The River Irwell is a long river which flows through the Irwell Valley in the counties of Lancashire and Greater Manchester in North West England. The river's source is at Irwell Springs on Deerplay Moor, approximately north of Bacup, in the parish of Cliviger, Lancashire...
, that was used as rugby league
Rugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
club Broughton Rangers
Broughton Rangers
Broughton Rangers was a British rugby football, and subsequently a rugby league club. It was based in Broughton, Salford.-History:Broughton Rangers was founded in 1877 as Broughton and added Rangers for its second season...
' home ground until 1933. It was purchased by association football club 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...
for use as their training ground. It continued to be used by United until 1999, when it was replaced by the Trafford Training Centre
Trafford Training Centre
The Trafford Training Centre, often referred to simply as Carrington, is the training ground and Academy base of English football club Manchester United. It is located in the village of Carrington in Greater Manchester...
in Carrington, Greater Manchester
Carrington, Greater Manchester
Carrington is a village and civil parish in the Metropolitan Borough of Trafford, Greater Manchester, England. Historically a part of Cheshire, the village is west of Greater Manchester Urban Area, and is the site of a large gas and chemical works, which produce gases by fractional distillation of...
. However, it continues to host some Manchester United academy matches, and it is sometimes used by the Salford City Reds
Salford City Reds
Salford City Reds are an English rugby league club based in Salford, Greater Manchester. Formed in 1873, they currently play in the Super League. They have won six Rugby Football League Championships and one Challenge Cup...
rugby league side as a training venue.
Rugby league
The Cliff, located on Lower Broughton Road in Broughton, Salford, started out as a cricket and tennis ground. The now-defunct Broughton RangersBroughton Rangers
Broughton Rangers was a British rugby football, and subsequently a rugby league club. It was based in Broughton, Salford.-History:Broughton Rangers was founded in 1877 as Broughton and added Rangers for its second season...
rugby league club moved to the Cliff in 1913 and continued to play there until 1933 when the team moved to Belle Vue Stadium
Belle Vue Stadium
Belle Vue Stadium is a greyhound racing track in Belle Vue, Manchester where the very first race around an oval track in Britain was held on 24 July 1926. It is also used for speedway as the home ground of Elite League team Belle Vue Aces since 1988 and since 1999 has British Stock Car Association...
, in the Gorton
Gorton
Gorton is an area of the city of Manchester, in North West England. It is located to the southeast of Manchester city centre. Neighbouring areas include Longsight and Levenshulme....
area of Manchester
Manchester
Manchester 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...
.
Association football
James W. Gibson
James William Gibson was a British businessman who was the owner of the English football club Manchester United from 1931 until his death in 1951.-Early life:...
as a potential site for practice matches and as a regular venue for the Manchester United Junior Athletic Club (MUJAC) A team's matches. By the end of June 1938, a tenancy had been agreed. Manchester United purchased the ground in 1951. Until the late 1950s, Manchester United's first team trained on the pitch at their Old Trafford
Old Trafford
Old Trafford commonly refers to two sporting arenas:* Old Trafford, home of Manchester United F.C.* Old Trafford Cricket Ground, home of Lancashire County Cricket ClubOld Trafford can also refer to:...
stadium, but the club's management had decided that using the Cliff training ground was necessary to avoid doing needless damage to the Old Trafford pitch. Floodlights were soon erected at The Cliff – an improvement that Old Trafford did not receive until March 1957 – and a rugby league amateur international match was held there in 1952. That same year, Manchester United entered their youth team in the FA Youth Cup
FA Youth Cup
The Football Association Youth Challenge Cup is an English football competition run by The Football Association for under–18 sides. Only those players between the age of 15 and 18 on 31 August of the current season are eligible to take part...
for the first time. Matches were played at night, meaning that the team had to play under the floodlights at The Cliff. In the second round of the competition, the Manchester United youth team recorded the biggest win in the history of the FA Youth Cup; David Pegg
David Pegg
David Pegg was an English footballer and one of the eight Manchester United players who lost their lives in the Munich air disaster on 6 February 1958....
, John Doherty
John Doherty (footballer)
John Peter Doherty was an English football player. His regular position was at inside right.Born in Manchester, Doherty started his professional career with Manchester United in 1952. He was part of the United squad that won the 1955-56 league title and scored seven goals in 26 appearances...
and Duncan Edwards
Duncan Edwards
Duncan Edwards was an English footballer who played for Manchester United and the England national team. He was one of the Busby Babes, the young United team formed under manager Matt Busby in the mid 1950s, and one of eight players who died as a result of the Munich air disaster.Born in Dudley,...
scored five goals each and Eddie Lewis
Eddie Lewis (English footballer)
Edward "Eddie" Lewis was an English footballer who played as a centre-forward and later as a full-back. Born in Manchester, he played for Goslings before joining the now-famous Manchester United Junior Athletic Club...
scored four in a 23–0 victory over Nantwich Town
Nantwich Town F.C.
Nantwich Town Football Club is a semi-professional football club based in Nantwich, Cheshire, England. The club was founded in 1884 and is nicknamed The Dabbers. The club is currently a member of the Northern Premier League Premier Division, with home matches played at the Weaver Stadium.Nantwich...
's youth team.
At the end of the 20th century, Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson
Alex Ferguson
Sir Alexander Chapman "Alex" Ferguson, CBE is a Scottish association football manager and former player, currently managing Manchester United, where he has been in charge since 1986...
came to feel that The Cliff had become too open to the press and the public for him to successfully run the training of the club's first team players, with journalists and opposition spies able to get a look at his tactics all too easily and supporters holding the players up for hours after training with requests for autographs. The club, therefore, decided to construct a new training facility in Carrington, Greater Manchester
Carrington, Greater Manchester
Carrington is a village and civil parish in the Metropolitan Borough of Trafford, Greater Manchester, England. Historically a part of Cheshire, the village is west of Greater Manchester Urban Area, and is the site of a large gas and chemical works, which produce gases by fractional distillation of...
, away from prying eyes. First team, reserve and academy training is now carried out at the Trafford Training Centre
Trafford Training Centre
The Trafford Training Centre, often referred to simply as Carrington, is the training ground and Academy base of English football club Manchester United. It is located in the village of Carrington in Greater Manchester...
, but The Cliff is still retained for the training of the club's youngest players. The Cliff has even been used by the England national team
England national football team
The 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...
as a training camp prior to international matches held at Old Trafford.
In 2003, plans were put forward by Manchester United for a set of 16 metres (17.5 yd) floodlights at The Cliff, but this was met with opposition from local residents. The club had originally planned to install 19 metres (20.8 yd) lights, but this was later reduced.