From its first match – where a crowd of 58,159 fans watched City beat Sheffield United 2–1 - Maine Road subsequently became one of the most atmospheric and famous venues in English football.
Our home up until 2003, as well as being the backdrop to countless memorable City matches, it also holds the distinction of staging the first World Cup game in England – a 9-2 qualifying win over Northern Ireland in 1949 - as well as the first European Cup game staged in England in 1956 when Manchester United were also using the ground as Old Trafford didn’t have floodlights installed.
SIGN UP TO ACCESS EXCLUSIVE CONTENT
Nicknamed the Wembley of the North, Maine Road famously also still holds the record for the record provincial attendance in England – when an incredible 84,569 fans shoehorned into the ground to watch us beat Stoke City 1-0 in an FA Cup tie.
Down the years it also was the venue for many FA Cup semi-finals and also later staged numerous concerts by some of music’s biggest-ever artists including Queen and the Rolling Stones.
But it’s as the vibrant and fondly remembered City home for 80 years that the ground is best recalled.
To celebrate the anniversary, here’s a look at some iconic Maine Road images….
