Man Utd v Palace - Dec 18th 2004 - 5.15pm
Man Utd v Palace
Saturday 18th December 5.15pm
Old Trafford
Sir Matt Busby Way, Manchester, M16 0RA
Main Telephone No: 0870-442-1994
Ticket Office (Sales): 0870-442-1999
Ticket Office (Enquiries): 0870-442-1994
Away fans are located in one corner of the ground, taking up part of the East and South stands. The view from the away sections are excellent and up to 3,000 away supporters can be accommodated. Fans are normally searched on the way into the ground by the stewards. The away fans section is set back from the pitch as there is a disabled area to its front. The leg room between rows is a little tight, but the good thing is that the away fans can really make some noise from this part of the stadium.
Tickets
Tickets for this match are SOLD OUT
Disabled facilities -
All information can be found at the Manchester United Disabled Supporters Association website - where a page for visiting supporters is available at http://www.mudsa.com/awayfans.html
Coaches leave Selhurst at 9am. £24 for Eagle gold members, 27 for season ticket holders & members & £30 for guests.
Getting there
From the South:
Come off the M6 at Junction 19 and follow the A556 towards Altrincham signposted Stockport. This will lead you onto the A56 towards Manchester. Keep on the A56 following signs towards Altrincham for six miles and then you will come to see Sir Matt Busby Way on your left. The ground is half a mile down this road on your left, although on matchdays this road may well be closed to traffic.
Alternatively Take the M6 to J19, the A556 to the M56 (following signs for Manchester Airport) and then the M60 following signs for Leeds/Bolton/Preston.
Exit the M60 for the A56 s/p Stretford/Altrincham and follow signs for Stretford.
Follow the A56 for three miles - the stadium is visible after a mile or so.
From the North:
Leave the M6 at Junction 30 and take the M61 towards Bolton. At the end of the M61, join the M63 until Junction 4 and follow the signs for A5081 towards Manchester. After just over two miles you will reach Sir Matt Busby Way on your right for the ground
Alternatively
Exit the M60, either onto the M602 which will take you through Salford towards the ground, or at the Trafford Centre and follow signs for the stadium through Europe's biggest industrial estate, Trafford Park.
From The West:
Follow M56 until its end and then take the M60 (W&N) as for Trafford Centre. At Junction 7 leave M60 and take the A56 towards Stretford/Manchester. Stay on the A56 for 2.1 miles following signs for Man Utd then you will come to see Sir Matt Busby Way on your left. The ground is half a mile down this road on your left, although on matchdays this road may be closed to traffic.
Alternatively take the M62 then on to M63 to junction 4, follow signs for A5081 Manchester, after 2.5 miles turn right into Sir Matt Busby Way, take the first right to old Trafford.
For others travelling from different directions onto the M60:
Junction 9, recommended route from Anti-Clockwise M60 (decreasing junction numbers)
Leave the M60 at Junction 9 and join Parkway (A5081) towards Trafford Park. At the first island take the 3rd exit onto Village Way and remain on this road until the next island (controlled by traffic lights). At this island take the second exit and then join Wharfside Way.
Junction 12, alternative route from Anti-Clockwise M60 (decreasing junction numbers)
Leave the M60 at Jtn 12 for M602 (Salford/Manchester). At the end of the M602 (Jtn3) follow signs for Salford Quays and Trafford Park. At the roundabout turn right into Trafford Road (A5063). On the bridge over the Manchester Ship Canal, keep in the right hand lane so that you can turn right at the next set of lights and follow the road round to Trafford Wharf Road. Turn left at the next set of lights onto Waters Reach, with the Golden Tulip Hotel on your left. The ground is ahead of you.
From the East:
Take M62 to junction 17, join A56 Bury New Road into Manchester, follow signs for South Manchester and Chester, the A56 should become Chester Road for around 2 miles, turn right into Sir Matt Busby Way, then turn into United Road.
Alternatively
Exit the M60, either onto the M602 which will take you through Salford towards the ground, or at the Trafford Centre and follow signs for the stadium through Europe's biggest industrial estate, Trafford Park.
PARKING
Officially - visitors who travel by car are advised to use official, secure, Car Parks which are identified by brown location signs. These are located on all approaches to the stadium and you are advised that the use of these car parks reduces the potential for your vehicle to be the victim of crime.
There are lots of small private car parks near to the ground, otherwise it is street parking. Old Trafford Cricket Ground (cost £5). Try to arrive early to get the best position otherwise it takes ages leaving the car park after the game. The stadium is quite close to the Trafford Centre (a large shopping and leisure/entertainment complex). You can park there for free (even when it's closed) and then take Bus number 250 to the stadium. However, you can't get the bus back, you have to walk. Buses don't go near Old Trafford after matches. The walk takes about twenty minutes'.
On Match Days there is a Residents Parking Scheme in place on roads in the immediate vicinity of the Stadium and you are advised that vehicles parking in contravention of the scheme will be dealt with by the Local Authority which may lead to the clamping or towing away of the vehicle. Likewise any vehicle found to be parked in contravention of 'No Waiting' regulations may be similarly dealt with.
Vehicles which are left indiscriminately and causing an obstruction will be removed by the police and only returned on payment of a substantial fee. A Fixed Penalty Notice will also have been issued for which the driver will be liable.
Alternatively:
Park in Altrincham town centre and take the Metrolink to the ground (20 minutes). Some pubs such as the Bricklayers Arms in Altrincham town centre, will allow parking for the afternoon, as long as you enjoy a pre match drink (they also do good food). You can get the Metrolink to Old Trafford from Ladywell Halt, in Eccles, where there is also free secure parking. You can reach Eccles from the M60 (take the Carrington spur J8 A6144(M)) or M602 Motorway (leave at the first junction for Eccles, turn right, and right again at the lights, onto Eccles New Road. Secure parking is immediately on your right. You are only 200 yards away from the Drinking Capital which is Eccles town centre!'
Going along the A56, as the stadium emerges in front of you, follow the signs for Old Trafford Cricket Ground, which means that you will bear off the A56 to the right. At the end of the park on your left and before you reach the Cricket Ground, turn right into Great Stone Road. Just over the hill you will see a pub called the Quadrant, which is next door to a chip shop. There is plenty of street parking in this area if you are there early enough. You are only a ten minute walk away from the ground. The Quadrant pub itself may be ok for drinking. After the game, head away from Old Trafford (keeping the Quadrant pub on your left) along the side streets. You will reach the A5145 (Edge Lane). Turn right down here and you will eventually join up again with the motorway and avoid all those traffic jams on the A56.
By Train
Probably the best way to get to the stadium is by Metrolink or train from Manchester Piccadilly mainline station, as Old Trafford has both its own railway station halt next to the ground underneath the main south stand, and a Metrolink station which is located next to Lancashire County Cricket Club on Warwick Road, which leads up to Sir Matt Busby Way.
The Metrolink also has another branch line going to Eccles from Manchester
Centre. There are two stops to leave the tram - Pomona and Exchange Quay. These are on the opposite (Salford) side of the ground - probably a quieter line on Matchdays. Pomona is the closest to the ground, only a short walk away and closer than Lancashire CC. Exchange Quay is the one to use for return journeys as the trams get full and may not stop at Pomona going back'.
If using the Metrolink, away fans are better off taking the Altrincham - Bury route and getting off at Old Trafford station, by the cricket ground - just follow the crowds for the football. While the nearest stations to the ground are probably Pomona or Exchange Quays on the Eccles line, they not particularly convenient for getting to or from the away end. However, when leaving, if you have a train to catch after the game, avoid Old Trafford Metrolink at all costs! The best bet is the train to Piccadilly - the entrance to the station is immediately outside the away end.
GMPTE special football buses run from Manchester Piccadilly
If you want to walk its “only” 3 miles .
Drinking
The three pubs nearest the ground generally won't let you in if you wear away colours They are The Trafford, the closest pub to Old Trafford which gets packed and noisy on a match day. Sam Platts in Salford Quays which is members only on a match day, though apparently it’s not difficult becoming a member! Just five minutes walk from the ground, Sam Platts is a modern canalside pub overlooking Salford Quays.
Members of United's Independent Supporters Club meet upstairs for an informal drink before games.
and The Bishops Blaize- a new Wetherspoons pub on Chester Road selling excellent value beers in a typical Wetherspoons environment of no music. There's good value food here too.
The best bet is probably the city centre or along one of the stops on the Metrolink. The Quadrant pub, mentioned on the internet football fans guide, has a mixture of home and away fans and a couple of handy Chinese/Chippies nearby. The pub is about a 10-15 minute walk away from Old Trafford, in the direction of the Cricket Ground Away fans are okay to drink in the Bridge at Sale. It is two stops from Old Trafford on the Metro (about eight minutes journey time)'.
Another suggestions include the Gorse Hill on Chester Road a mile from the ground, A huge Victorian pub which is popular with many of the United supporters branches. The pub has a big screen, pool and serves a limited amount of food on a match day. Not as raucous as the pubs nearest ground and a decent bet with it being just a ten minute walk away.
Also the refurbished Tollgate by Trafford Bar Metro Station.
Manchester City centre has undergone a massive regeneration in the past decades and there are hundreds of pubs and café bars to choose from. The pubs and bars tend to be located in clustered around the following areas: Castlefield and Deansgate Locks (trendy and expensive), Peter Street and Deansgate (chessy and loud), Piccadilly and Oldham Street (rough and unpretentious) and the gay village (trendy and tolerant).
Alternatively alcohol is normally served within the ground, although for some games the Club opt not to sell any.
Also inside are a number of refreshment kiosks. These sell a range of pies and other refreshments,
Accommodation
can be found here: http://www.manutd.com/venue/custom.sps?itype=6988&icustompageid=10875
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