It was such a special day that cameras were sent to film the kick off and general scenes. This was not simply a new ground, this was the most modern stadium in the country and a genuine rival to the newly-opened Wembley Stadium in London.
The original plans had claimed Manchester’s new venue would be ‘The English Hampden’, however many historians have fallen for the trap of claiming that Maine Road was designed as the Wembley of the north. This is not true as the City plans had mostly been approved before Wembley had been completed.
As two new venues, built by the same company and both capable of holding over 80,000, comparisons between Maine Road and Wembley became inevitable and, for the opening decade or so, Maine Road received the more positive headlines. The Blues’ ambitions were to develop the best stadium in England and for many years that’s how it was viewed.
When the original plans talked of basing Maine Road on Hampden Park they did so because the Glasgow venue was viewed as the most significant ground in the UK, possibly the world, and City’s aims were to match that significance.
Plans for Maine Road had altered quite a bit in the year leading up to its opening, with the club eventually settling on a development that had a Main Stand seating 10,000. That stand did not go to the ends of the pitch, instead it would finish roughly in line with each penalty area – that’s why in later years it always seemed a little odd. Developments in the years that followed perhaps should have extended the stand to the corners but they never did.
Next to the stand - and looping around the pitch - was terracing that would hold somewhere in the region of 75,000 spectators. This meant the capacity was viewed as about 85,000 - a phenomenal figure for a team used to playing in a cramped 40,000 capacity venue and when comparisons with rival venues were made.
Even this capacity was not viewed as enough by the club and, over the following seven years, City developed a long term plan to extend the stadium in phases. Their ultimate aim was described as 120,000 in the 1920s and 130,000 in 1935! In the end the highest capacity was around 86,000 after 1935 although safety legislation after the war would reduce that to about 77,000.
In almost every respect Maine Road was not only significantly better than Hyde Road but the majority of British grounds. It had more seats than any other club venue and a lot more cover than most too.
On the eve of the season, most newspapers carried stories of the new stadium. The Manchester Evening News seemed particularly proud of the stadium’s development: ‘That this vast stadium should have been practically completed between April 24 and August 24 of this year is the subject for wonder and admiration. It unquestionably creates a record in building construction, and it is a splendid testimonial to the organising powers of the contractors, Sir Robert McAlpine and Sons.
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‘Most people were freely sceptical as to whether the enclosure would be ready for tomorrow. A month ago it did not seem possible that it could be, but by the employment of hundreds of skilled workmen all but the internal work on the huge stand has been completed, and even the remaining task will not occupy more than a fortnight. As already stated the enclosure will accommodate well over 80,000 spectators.
‘Sheer curiosity will attract many hundreds of people to this magnificent new ground in Maine Road, Moss Side, but the bulk of the club’s supporters will be keen on participating in what is an historic event in local football activities because of the re-appearance of Max Woosnam, whose career as captain of the team was so, unluckily suspended for a whole season owing to the fracture of his leg.’
Woosnam’s return as captain was an appropriate tribute to the all-round sportsman. His injury was as a result of an unfortunate accident and had not only deprived him of a year in football, it also prevented him from defending his Wimbledon Doubles title won with Randolph Lycett in 1921. He must have been immensely proud to lead the first City side into the new stadium. Significantly, Shaun Goater was given a similar honour in the stadium’s closing match.
On the opening day, the Manchester Evening News boasted that this would be a proud moment in ‘the history of the City’s premier football club’, although not all Mancunians were convinced the move would be a good one. There was some scepticism, just like when City moved from Maine Road to our current home.
For many, the 36-year-old Hyde Road was the only venue for the Blues. As with the 2003 move, some doubted that City’s unique atmosphere would survive the transfer away from Hyde Road, while others thought the new ground was too far away. Harry Hughes, who I interviewed in the 1990s when he was in his mid-90s, was one such sceptic. He knew that the densely-populated Moss Side/Rusholme area offered potential, but felt that many from east Manchester would desert the Blues (as had happened when United moved from Clayton to Old Trafford): ‘When they moved to Maine Road I thought it wouldn’t be popular. None of us did! But we had to accept it. We were all so sad about it at the time, even though Maine Road was the last word in ground design. Hyde Road was home - it was City’s ground and had grown with the club - and we loved it despite its appearance. United fans used to say that Old Trafford was better than Hyde Road. They’d say ‘you can see at Old Trafford’ and we’d respond ‘well there’s not many people in your way.’ They didn’t get big crowds then.
‘But Maine Road seemed so far away. It wasn’t, but sometimes I couldn’t afford the fare, even though it was only a penny from Belle Vue to Claremont Road. Sometimes I would get a tram - the little single deckers with seats outside - but when I could afford the fare they always seemed too busy, so I’d give up and walk to the new ground. Even though it wasn’t our real home, the atmosphere was there and we quickly turned it into City’s home. Hyde Road became a thing of the past, never forgotten, but rarely missed.’
Maine Road’s opening game was covered extensively in the local media with the main reports featuring descriptions of the stadium, not the football. In an otherwise excellent piece, the Manchester Guardian covered the entire match in one simple passage and failed to mention any of the goalscorers, such was their reporter’s lack of interest in the playing side of the day’s events. In actual fact the City goalscorers were Horace Barnes, who scored the first goal at the ground after about 68 minutes, and Tommy Johnson. In addition, Frank Roberts made history by being the first player to miss a penalty at the new ground as his shot went straight to the ‘keeper. Sheffield United pulled a goal back two minutes from time, thus providing the Blues with a 2-1 win before a club record crowd of 58,159.
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By the end of the first season, that record crowd had been eclipsed with City establishing a new national record. 76,166 paid to watch City v Cardiff in a FA Cup tie which was the record crowd for any game outside of London and Glasgow, not only that but it was a record for any game played on a club ground. The value of Maine Road was clear and, as with the move to the current stadium in 2003, it helped the club fulfil its potential.
For more on Maine Road and City’s history follow Gary on Twitter: @GaryJamesWriter or check out his website: www.GJFootballArchive.com.
