Stretford End

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Lore & Background

Before the Taylor Report, which required all Premier League and Division One clubs to have all-seater stadia by the start of the 1994–95 season, the Stretford End was the main standing area at Old Trafford, accommodating around 20,000 fans. The very upper tier of the end did actually have form seating where generally families with younger children used to sit. The last game played in front of the terrace was the final match of the 1991–92 season, a 1–0 win over Tottenham Hotspur on 2 May 1992. The terrace was demolished in the 1992 close-season and replaced with a £10 million all-seater cantilever stand by the end of the 1992–93 season, and its name officially changed to the West Stand, although it is still often referred to as the Stretford End and has white seats spelling the name out. The construction work was carried out by Birse Group. The redevelopment of the Stretford End was already being planned by 1989, when Michael Knighton's proposed takeover included a £10 million pledge for the Stretford End redevelopment as part of his offer; however, the proposed sale of the club to Knighton fell through and Edwards remained the club's owner for another 16 years. For the 2000–01 season, a second tier of seating was added. As well as hosting a number of executive boxes, the first tier of the West Stand is now partly occupied by The Red Army, a fan led group dedicated to restoring the stand’s atmosphere. The players' tunnel is located at the corner of the Stretford End and the Sir Bobby Charlton (South) stand.

In Their Own Story

Historical records in the source indicate that by the mid-19th century, the area was a fashionable place to live with large recreation areas like the Royal Botanical Gardens. The town's identity was deeply tied to its proximity to Manchester and its agricultural past, once known as 'Porkhampton' due to the pigs produced for the market. While the source lists notable residents such as suffragette Emmeline Pankhurst and singer Morrissey, it does not recount specific stories of matches played at Old Trafford or the evolution of fan culture within a specific stand. The text mentions that between 1972 and 1975, a venue on Great Stone Road hosted major artists like Led Zeppelin and David Bowie, but this is distinct from stadium events.

Reader's Guide

The Stretford End has a statue of Denis Law on the upper concourse, which was unveiled on 23 September 2002. Law was known as the 'King of the Stretford End' as he was idolised by the End's faithful.

Did You Know?

• Striker Denis Law (who played for United from 1962 to 1973) was nicknamed 'King of the Stretford End' by the club's fans for his prolific scoring.