Awaydays: Old Trafford, Manchester United

It's the big one in the North West...

Getting there:
By road, leave the M60 at either junction 7 or 9. From junction 7 - route from clockwise M60. Leave the M60 at junction 7 and join the A56 Manchester bound. Follow signs for Manchester United then  turn left into Sir Matt Busby Way. The car park is situated right in front of the stadium. From junction 9 - route from anti-clockwise M60. Leave the M60 at junction 9 and join Parkway A5081 towards Trafford Park. At the first roundabout take the 3rd exit onto Village Way. At the next roundabout take the second exit onto Wharfside Way. Turn right at the junction with Sir Matt Busby Way. Car parking is situated on the left in front of the stadium.

Alternatively you can travel via the Metrolink, which stops at Old Trafford Station, just five minutes away from the ground. It'll be chocker and a bit crammed, but it'll give you a good opportunity to bond with fellow fans. By bond, we mean your hands may end up places you didn't want them to be...

Around the Ground:
Pub: The Dog and Partridge is described as the place to go for a pre-match drink and sing-song. Your typical old-fashioned pub, it’s crowded and smelly, but somehow still worth a visit. If you fancy something a bit quieter, then The Quadrant on Kings Road is about 10 minutes walk from the ground.

Grub: Like at any other ground in the country, Old Trafford is surrounded by burger vans offering the finest in post or pre-match burgers, hotdogs and chips. Other than that, every eatery in Manchester is packed on match-days, so basically eat wherever you can get served.

Inside the Ground:
Fans/Atmosphere: Although some claim that the atmosphere at Old Trafford isn’t what it used to be, when the 75,000 strong crowd at the Theatre of Dreams is in full voice, it can still generate enough noise to wake a baby.

Bogs and Pies: As the Premier League's most impressive stadium, it's no surprise that Old Trafford boasts better than adequate facilities. But don’t forget 70k plus are using them, so don’t expect the ultimate in luxury. As for Pukka Pies, you cant beat ‘em.

Stewards/Police Friendliness: Stewards are as they are at most grounds; they can be a pain but if you do as you're told there won’t be a problem. As you would expect, there's always a big police presence at Old Trafford, but the same rule applies. Beware though, there are often lots of mounted police around, so watch out for what they leave behind. The horses of course, not the police.

Fact!
An anagram of Old Trafford is Lard Trod Off...

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Posted by: Lex