MOOR LANE’ S CLASS ACT
SALFORD CITY UPGRADE MOOR LANE TO RETAIN THEIR 2020 VISION
The current Main Stand at Moor Lane Photo: Paul Claydon
Thanks to the success of the BBC series Out of Their League, Salford City ' s fame extends far beyond the usual non-league circles. Part owned by Paul Scholes, Nicky Butt, Ryan Giggs and the Neville brothers, the involvement of the Manchester United ' Class of 92 ' alumni has reaped great rewards so far, with the club rising from the Northern Premier League Division One North to the upper reaches of the National League North. But what of their Moor Lane ground, which has provided a suitably gritty and down at heel backdrop to Salford City ' s recent adventures? As we speak, Moor Lane is undergoing a complete refit, which will eventually see new stands on all fours sides of the ground, with an EFL satisfying 5,000 capacity. But how many know that Moor Lane and its environs has a rich sporting history going back to the 17th century?
The current ground at Moor Lane occupies a portion of the old Manchester racecourse which once formed part of Kersal Moor. Meetings took place from 1681 until 1847 when some of the site was reshaped to create the Kersal Cricket Ground. After athletics and tennis, rugby union side Manchester FC were the next sporting concern to be connected to Moor Lane, the club moving there in 1919. Formed in 1860, they predate both Manchester City and Manchester United and, at a time when there was still some fluidity between the association and rugby codes, Manchester FC even competed in the FA Cup in the 1870s and 1880s. With seating initially confined to the finely tooled but tiny grandstand on the Moor Lane side of the ground, additional accommodation arrived in the mid-1930s, when a concrete stand was opened parallel to Nevile Road. Unusually for the time period it was entirely made of pre-cast concrete, and was as solid and strong as the stand facing it was delicate and effete. Six extra-thick beams bore the weight of the roof, with the slightly elevated seating deck made of concrete also. Beautiful it might not have been, but this was a stand that wouldn ' t get blown down in a hurry.
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