Demolished Premier League ground named after US state alcohol ban and hosted concerts by Oasis and David Bowie

0


The Etihad has become synonymous with Manchester City's recent success, but go back 20 years and fans associated the club with a completely different identity.

The current Europeans and first division The champions have played at the former Manchester City Stadium built for the 2002 Commonwealth Games since the summer of 2003.

5

The last match at Maine Road was played in 2003.Credit: GETTY

But anyone born before the millennium will remember that before moving into the modern realm, City He played his matches at Maine Road in Moss Side.

The club spent 80 years there after moving from its former Hyde Road ground when a fire in its 4,000-seat stand led to its sale for tram development.

Maine Road, designed as a 'Wembley of the North', became the town's new ground, and had a capacity of 35,000 at the time of closure.

The road on which it was built, about three and a half miles south of Etihad, was originally called Dog Kennel Lane, which would have been some name for a football stadium.

But in the 1870s the Temperance movement, which owned land on the road, pressured the local authority to change the name to Maine Road.

This is believed to have been due to the Maine Temperance movement in the United States, also known as the Maine law, which made the production, sale and transportation of alcohol illegal.

A brickyard on that street was later rebuilt into the Maine Road football stadium, and City moved there in 1923. So if you've ever wondered why their ground was called 'Maine Road', there you have it.

A local newspaper of the time said: “Dog Kennel Lane took its name from the kennel where the dogs were kept. It was on the right hand side of the bend, about a thousand yards from Moss Lane, facing the road that turned left and led to Demesne Farm.

“The common name of this lane is so 'common' and unappealing that when the Temperance Company purchased the Trafford land they asked the local board to change the name to Demesne Road, and the issue was compromised by calling it Maine Road in homage to the Temperance principles of the petitioners.”

In 1994, in response to the Taylor report requiring all-seater stadiums after the Hillsborough disaster, the city rebuilt Kippax Terrace.

Maine Road was right in the middle of the houses in Moss Side, south Manchester.

5

Maine Road was right in the middle of the houses in Moss Side, south Manchester.Credit: GETTY
The Kippax stand replaced the Kippax terrace which was demolished in 1994 following the Taylor report.

5

The Kippax stand replaced the Kippax terrace which was demolished in 1994 following the Taylor report.Credit: GETTY

It was transformed into a three-level, six-story stand, also called Kippax.

It offered 10,178 seats and, most interestingly, it was the highest grandstand in the country.

St James' Park Final – Eat Your Heart Out!

Premier League rivals Liverpool and Everton could have built a strange Siamese stadium

Unlike many modern stadiums today, Maine Road had the old school feel combined with its newer features.

The Kippax was largely separated from the other stands, making it a perfect sight for when Oasis He played at Maine Road in 1996.

Long-time Man City fans performed there as part of their (What's the Story) Morning Glory? Route.

The Maine Road gigs were described by Creation Records boss Alan McGee, the man who signed Oasis, as a “religious spectacle”, saying that the band's fans were more “disciples” than music lovers.

Oasis played Maine Road in 1996.

5

Oasis played Maine Road in 1996.Credit: GETTY

Hundreds of people camped outside the Maine Road walls to get their hands on one of 80,000 tickets costing £17.50 each. Today's fans would love to have paid so much this time!

David Bowie also performed at Maine Road, as did The Rolling Stones, Simple Minds, Queen, Fleetwood Mac, Pink Floyd, Bryan Adams, Jean Michel Jarre, Dire Straits and Guns N' Roses.

As well as musical icons, Maine Road was home to a number of iconic moments in Man City's history.

Before Sheikh Mansour's arrival in 2008, Man City had trophies to their name but were in a more humble position, particularly during the Maine Road years.

New housing development on former Maine Road site pays homage to former downtown

5

New housing development on former Maine Road site pays homage to former downtownCredit: GETTY

In fact, four years before leaving Maine Road, they were playing in League One, then known as the Second Division.

At their old ground they won the top flight in 1937 and 1968. They also welcomed them by lifting the second division title trophy, now known as the Championship, in 2002.

Now, 21 years later, Maine Road has been demolished and is now a housing development.

But the remains of the town of yesteryear are still there, with the central spot honored on a patch of grass in the middle of the estate, as well as streets named after the club, such as Blue Moon Way.

A stadium that hosted FA Cup semi-finals, the Charity Shield, a League Cup final and England matches has not been easily forgotten by those old enough to have witnessed it.



Source link

Leave A Reply

Your email address will not be published.