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A Legacy in Motion: Sport in Trafford
Trafford while renowned for its industrial heritage also boasts an impressive sporting legacy that spans the decades since the Borough was formed in 1974. From community initiatives to internationally acclaimed athletes and events, Trafford has made a considerable contribution to the sporting landscape of the United Kingdom.
Iconic venues such as Old Trafford Cricket Ground, home of Lancashire Cricket Club and, of course, Old Trafford Stadium, home to Manchester United Football Club, are synonymous with excellence and have played host to a plethora of major sporting events that have captivated audiences worldwide. From hosting Ashes test matches at Old Trafford Cricket Ground to staging international football matches at Old Trafford Stadium, Trafford has consistently proven itself as a premier destination for sporting spectacles.
Old Trafford Stadium
Old Trafford has hosted an FA Cup final and several semi-finals, various England fixtures including European Championship matches in 1996 and 2022 and the 2012 Summer Olympics. Notable international matches played at the stadium include the 2003 UEFA Champion’s League Final between Juventus and AC Milan and on 6 July 2022 the opening match of UEFA Women’s Euro between England and Austria played in front of a record crowd (68,871) for women’s football.
On 6 October 2001 Old Trafford crowds witnessed one of England’s most iconic goals during a World Cup qualifier against Greece. In the final minutes David Beckham’s 25-yard free kick secured England automatic qualification for the 2002 World Cup finals. This goal represented redemption for Beckham following a notorious red card incident at the 1998 World Cup match against Argentina confirming his legendary status as an England player.
Read more about Women’s Football in Trafford
The stadium is also used occasionally for Rugby League matches having been the venue for the annual Super League Grand Final, previously Premiership Final, since 1987 and five editions of the Rugby League World Cup - 1995, 2000, 2013, and 2021 (men's and women's).
Old Trafford has been Manchester United's home ground since 1910. Designed by Scottish architect Archibald Leitch the ground had a capacity of 80,000 spectators with under cover seating in the south stand and three uncovered terraces. The stadium was extensively damaged during a German bombing raid in 1941 so for the next 8 years the club rented Maine Road, the Manchester City ground, for home fixtures which left the club in considerable debt.
With financial support from the War Damage Commission the stadium was rebuilt and reopened on August 24, 1949 and further improvements took place over the next few decades including the restoration of the roof, covered stands and floodlights. Further major expansions during the 1990s and 2000s to improve facilities and increase capacity resulted in Old Trafford becoming the largest club stadium in the United Kingdom.
A substantial redevelopment plan for the stadium and the training grounds at Carrington are currently in the pipeline. According to BBC Sport new co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe wants to demolish the existing stadium to build a new state of the art national stadium on the same site; a “Wembley of the North.”
Under the management of Sir Alex Ferguson from 1986 to 2013 the club enjoyed a renaissance winning the “Treble” in 1999 (Premier League, FA Cup and UEFA Champions League). Sir Alex retired in 2013 as the most decorated manager in football history.
Under Ferguson’s management the club signed and developed players from a very young age. One group of young players, referred to as the class of ’92, including; Nicky Butt, Ryan Giggs, Gary Neville, Paul Scholes and Phil Neville later went on to co-found UA92; a university that offers degrees and qualifications that focus on employability.
Old Trafford has regularly hosted Soccer Aid, a biennial charity match between England and Soccer Aid World XI a team composed of celebrities and former professional players. It was also the venue for “Judgement Day” a boxing match between Chris Eubank and Nigel Benn that took place in front of 43,000 fans on 9 October 1993.
Emirates Old Trafford Cricket Ground
Emirates Old Trafford cricket ground is England's second oldest test venue having hosted the first Ashes Test in England in 1884. The venue has hosted the Cricket World Cup five times; 1975, 1979, 1983, 1999 and 2019 and regularly hosts Twenty20 and One Day International matches. Over the years the crowds at Old Trafford have enjoyed watching first class players including Glen Chapple, James Anderson, Neil Fairbrother, Mike Atherton, Andrew Flintoff, Clive Lloyd and Farrokh Engineer to name but a few.
Read more about West Indian players at Lancashire Cricket Club at Cricket Lovely Cricket
Lancashire Cricket Club has held first class status since 1864 and has won the County Championship 9 times, most recently in 2011. In the 70s, Lancashire’s one day team began an era of unprecedented success winning the Sunday League 1989, 1998 and 1999, the Gilette Cup four times, the Benson and Hedges Cup in 1984 and 1995 and the Natwest Trophy in 1998. In 1990 and again in 1996 they won the both the Benson & Hedges Cup and the Natwest Trophy. The Lancashire Lightning team has also seen success in limited overs cricket winning the Natwest t20 Blast Cup in 2015.
Ashes fever swept the country in the summer of 2005, widely considered one of the greatest test series of all time and a “glorious summer” when cricket captured the imagination of the nation. Following a nail-biting end to the 2nd Test at Edgbaston the 3rd test at Old Trafford saw capacity crowds with 20,000 fans locked out of the stadium unable to buy tickets on the final day of the test. The England team, which included Lancashire player Andrew Flintoff, needed just one wicket with the last few overs remaining to win the series, the match ended in a draw but England went on to win the thrilling series.
Following the loss of test status in 2009 the ground underwent significant redevelopment, including new and improved pitches, stands to increase capacity, conference facilities, players and media suites and restoration of the Pavilion. The ground has also hosted concerts by international artists such as Coldplay, Beyoncé, Ariana Grande, Radiohead and Bruce Springsteen in front of up to 65,000 fans.
Grassroots Sport in Trafford
At grassroots level sport is woven into the fabric of daily life in Trafford.
Successful men’s and women’s football teams including Altrincham FC and Trafford FC
Rugby Union team Sale FC and a strong network of non-league rugby union clubs such as Bowdon RUFC and Trafford MV RFCC.
Athletics is well represented by Sale Harriers Athletics Club, Trafford, Altrincham, and Hale 10k events and the Manchester Marathon and Half Marathon which start and finish in Old Trafford with the routes taking in large areas of Trafford.
Ice skating and ice hockey at Planet Ice in Altrincham; home to Manchester Storm Ice Hockey team.
There are a number of long-established cycling clubs in the borough and Altrincham has been used as one of the stages of the Tour of Britain in 2019 and 2023.
Trafford's sporting history is one of resilience, passion, and triumph and the Borough continues to foster a culture of sport that enriches the lives of all Trafford residents.
Sources
Manchester United F.C. - Wikipedia
Man Utd History by Decade | Manchester United
Lancashire County Cricket Club - Wikipedia
History of The Club | Lancashire Cricket Club
County cricket's greatest overseas players: Lancashire | Wisden
Fergie's Fledglings - Wikipedia
Old Trafford redevelopment: Sir Jim Ratcliffe wants 'national stadium in the north' - BBC Sport
Flintoff makes glorious summer for old romantics and first-time fans | Ashes 2005 | The Guardian