Old Trafford Stadium tour – “Theatre of Dreams”

Old Trafford is a football stadium located in Manchester, England and home to the “Red Devils” –  Manchester United football club. Popularly known as the “Theatre of Dreams”, this nickname was popularised by Sir Bobby Charlton. It reflects the club’s rich history, with the stadium being witness to numerous historic moments and the stage for many of ManU’s greatest triumphs. And of course, the dreams of countless footballers and fans associated with the Manchester United club.

A bit of history: The Old Trafford Stadium witnessed it’s first football match in 1910 with ManU playing host to Liverpool. From then till now, the stadium has well withstood the test of time and also the wrath of humankind. During the Second World War, Old Trafford was used by the military as a depot, and on March 11, 1941 was heavily damaged by two German bombing raids.
The first bombing, in December 1940, damaged the ground to a significant extent but after repairs, football resumed on March 8, 1941. But just 3 days later, another raid completely destroyed the stadium, including the main South Stand, and thus put the stadium out of action until it was rebuilt  and reopened on August 24, 1949.

This museum and stadium guided tour offers a behind the scenes look of the most iconic stadium.

Highlights:

The Munich Memorial clock :

Feb 6, 1958, the team nicknamed The Busby Babes, had beaten Red Star Belgrade in the quarter final of the European Cup. Their plane had stopped to refuel in Munich. Upon the third attempt at take-off, the plane crashed due to slush on the runway, killing 23 people including eight players and three staff members at the club.

The Munich Clock, a simple 2-faced clock, attached to the southeast corner of the stadium has remained in the same position since it was first installed on Feb 25th 1960. The clock time is not fixed.

The Munich Disaster Clock:

This clock inside the Old Trafford museum remains permanently frozen at 3:04 p.m. on Feb 6, 1958, the time and date when a plane carrying the Manchester United team crashed on takeoff from Munich’s airport.

The museum also houses memorabilia and artefacts that the club has collected over time, and a trophy room which houses the trophies the team has won. The historical displays and interactive exhibits portray the history and legends behind the club which has united millions of fans across the globe.

The Munich Tunnel:

Almost all of Archibald Leitch’s (architect of Old Trafford Stadium) original design has been destroyed, modified and / or rebuilt over the years. The only remaining bit is the brick tunnel what used to be the players entrance. This tunnel under the South Stand was renamed the Munich tunnel in February 2008 on the 50th anniversary of the Munich air disaster. There’s an exhibition on the interior wall which commemorates Matt Busby’s team which were tragically lost in the disaster.

The Sir Alex Fergusson Stand :

One of the most distinctive features of Old Trafford Stadium is the seating arrangement in the Sir Alex Fergusson Stand, which was formerly known as the North Stand. The seating area spells out “Manchester United” in gigantic red letters.

There is also the Stretford Stand, Sir Bobby Charlton Stand (South Stand) and the East Stand, notable sections that make up the stadium.

The Holy Trinity Statue:

Just outside the stadium, stands the statue of the three legendary players – “The Holy Trinity” of Manchester United: Sir Bobby Charlton, George Best and Denis Law, who are celebrated for their contributions to the club’s success during the 1960s.

The changing room:

Where you get the goosebumps when you find yourself inside the changing room where the world’s greatest players have breathed and lived so many emotions.

Old Trafford remains a symbol of football tradition and success, attracting fans from around the globe who come to witness the magic of Manchester United on its hallowed turf.

Getting tickets to a United game on their home turf is extremely difficult with the limited allocations. As per our guide, most tickets are sold out due to lifetime membership subscriptions. But this stadium tour is totally possible and should not be missed. Here’s the link where stadium tour can be booked. Hope you’ve enjoyed reading through and will hopefully go witness the Theatre of Dreams.