Home to one of the most prestigious football clubs in the world, Old Trafford remains one of the most popular stadiums in the world. Many have wondered why Manchester United’s Stadium is called “Old Trafford.”
Currently, there is not solid answer; however, there are speculations about why Manchester United’s Stadium is called Old Trafford. The stadium is located in Stretford which is part of Trafford Metropolitan Borough. Also, there is a cricket stadium close to it with the same name.
Keep reading to know more about Old Trafford.
Why Manchester United’s Stadium Is Called Old Trafford?
The River Irwell originally crossed through Old Trafford. When there were two Trafford Halls, Old Trafford Hall and New Trafford Hall, the phrase “Old Trafford” may have first appeared. It’s possible that Old Trafford was used to shorten the name of the area that surrounds Old Trafford Hall. Other names for this place have been proposed.
Old Trafford is regarded as one of the pillars of English football and has hosted spectators for more than a century. Old Trafford is also the home of Manchester United. It was given the name “The Theatre of Dreams” by Bobby Charlton. Numerous titles have honoured this sacred ground. The Red Devils, one of football’s titans, have won a record 20 league crowns, 12 FA Cups, and six European medals.
The stadium can be found in the market town of Stretford, which is part of the Trafford Metropolitan Borough. Naturally, Manchester City, whose previous stadium Maine Road was in the Moss Side, also calls the region home. The fact that there is another Old Trafford cricket stadium 800 metres away is another possibility for how the stadium came by its name.
The cricket stadium had existed since 1857, whereas Old Trafford had been built in 1910. Therefore, it is likely that the locals decided it would be better to model the football stadium after the existing cricket one.
History Of Old Trafford Stadium
Construction of the stadium began in 1909 and was completed in 1910. It was initially intended to house 100,000 people and was designed by renowned stadium architect Archibald Leitch. However, because to escalating expenses, it was trimmed back to 80,000, earning United the nickname “Moneybags” for their extravagant expenditures.
On February 19, 1910, Liverpool arrived for the first game, which they won 4-3. Before Wembley was built in 1923, the FA Cup final was frequently held at Old Trafford. It went more than ten years between 1939 and 1949 without staging a league match as a result of the severe bomb damage it sustained during World War II. United had to move their home games to Maine Road because they were in so much debt, and the War Damage Commission had to contribute to the cost of repairs.
Before the 1966 World Cup, which England hosted, the roof pillars were taken down and a roof installed. The building had additional renovations in the 1990s, with the most recent taking place in 2006 when second-tiers were erected to raise the capacity to nearly 76,000 once again.
What Is The Origin Of The Old Trafford Name?
The de Trafford family owned the land on which the pitch was constructed as well as two manors known as Old Trafford Hall and New Trafford Hall during the 11th century, according to one theory. The latter was converted into the Lord of the Manor’s mansion and is now a hotel with the name of the location.
Another concept dates back to 1851, when John McLean (who had been collaborating with Charles Dickens on his book “A Christmas Carol”) created several brand-new ground stands. Old Trafford was instantly renowned as the stone stands that had taken the place of the previous wooden ones. The epithet “Old” relates to both the building’s previous use as the Old Trafford Cricket Club’s home and the fact that it predates contemporary advancements like artificial lighting.
Last but not least, the term “United Kingdom” did not occur in any records until 1066, many years after Sir Edward Mansell had given the Crown his Old Trafford property. Old Trafford was once a part of the Mansel estate, thus it can be inferred that he would have been pleased for the nation to know that he was the owner of this region.
What Does Old Trafford Mean?
Old Trafford of Ontario Manchester serves as the home base for Manchester United Football Club, an English football team. Old Trafford of Ontario A cricket field is located near to the Manchester United stadium. A billionaire brewer who wished to provide his employees with a nice residence had it constructed in 1910.
Over the years, the soccer stadium has gone by numerous names, including Thistle Stadium when it was a baseball stadium and Maple Leaf Park before that. Since it is situated in an urban area, it is now known as Old Trafford.
Since the team moved from the Stade de Reims in France in 1917, it has served as Manchester United’s home field in the Premier League. The soccer match between Manchester United and Chelsea of London on May 5, 1953, saw the highest attendance of 423,076. The greatest sporting event to ever take place in Britain is still thought to be this contest.
There are now 75,134 seats available, however only roughly 65,000 of them are typically filled. The stadium complex also has roughly 4,500 parking spots. One of the most well-known stadiums in both Europe and the entire globe is Old Trafford.
Does Manchester United Own Old Trafford?
Old Trafford is the home ground for English team, Manchester United. It has a capacity of 75,365. The stadium was built between 1909 and 1910 and cost roughly £90,000 to build it at the time. It has since gone under several renovations though.
The highest attendance ever recorded at Old Trafford was way back in 1939 where Wolverhampton Wanderers played against Grimsby Town on March 25. Total Attendance that day was 76,962.
